IDP The Guru and The Godfather: Week 3

John Norton ("The Guru") and Gary Davenport ("The Godfather of IDP") are two of the most experienced and knowledgeable IDP analysts in the fantasy football industry. Each week during the regular season, they gather to answer the most looming questions facing IDP managers that week.

The third week of the fantasy football season always features quite a few IDP managers on ledges. Starting a season 0-2 doesn't do much for the ol' systolic. For what it's worth, The Guru and The Godfather can empathize—they are a combined 0-4 in the King's Classic Dick Butkus Division.

When all five injured reserve spots on a fantasy roster are full heading into Week 3, that's what you call a bad sign.

But The Guru and The Godfather have been doing this a long time. They know that an 0-2 start can be overcome just as easily as a 2-0 start can be squandered. They know that every week is a season unto itself—especially when looking to stop a skid.

So, take a breath and come in off that ledge before you catch pneumonia.

Talking to you, Godfather.

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise

Two weeks into the 2026 season, there is no shortage of surprise success stories. Not many would have predicted that Buffalo Bills edge rusher Greg Rousseau, Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Josiah Trotter, and New York Giants safety Jevón Holland would rank inside the top three at their position in fantasy points.

Which of those early breakouts is best positioned to maintain their production over the long term? Who is most likely a flash in the pan?

Guru: Greg Rousseau has the potential to be that guy, but history doesn't exactly shine a bright light on the probability of it. He always gives us a handful of quality outings, a handful of ugly ones, and a few in between, with a remarkable lack of consistency. The fact that he has two big games in a row is interesting and promising, but it's not enough for me to have confidence in him just yet.

Jevon Holland is a defensive back. That's about all that really has to be said, but that would be a boring response, so let's look at the numbers. He had 2 tackles in week one and was 5-3 in week two. The inconsistency there is already apparent. His current rank is based on a rash of big plays, including 2 picks, 2 forced fumbles, and a recovery. Impressive as that is, what are the chances he can keep up such a pace? He's never had more than 2 interceptions or 4 takeaways in a season. It's a safe bet he'll set new career marks in those columns, but I think we'll see a fair number of three- or four-tackle games with no splash-play subsidies.

I've been high on Josiah Trotter since he was drafted, though I had him pegged as more of a dynasty prospect. The production has come earlier than expected, but it was expected. He was the Buccaneers' most talented linebacker the moment he stepped off the bus. There will be some rookie mistakes along the way, but those don't show up on the stat sheet.

Godfather: Well, since you mentioned all of those guys because some moron worded this question poorly (Hate that guy), I'll highlight a couple more guys who have come roaring out of the gate.

Plenty of IDP pundits saw some upside with Minnesota Vikings edge rusher Dallas Turner in 2026. So did the Vikings—he's the reason that Jonathan Greenard was shipped to Philadelphia. But I don't know that many expected the rampage he has been on to start the season—the 23-year-old has seven tackles, three sacks, and ranks third among edge rushers in The Godfather's Default IDP Scoring. Turner wouldn't be the first star on the edge to blossom in Brian Flores' attacking defense. Or the second.

Right now, Trotter and Devin Lloyd of the Carolina Panthers are the only linebackers with more fantasy points than Derrick Barnes of the Detroit Lions. That production just isn't sustainable. Barnes isn't truly an off-ball linebacker. He has spent more time there this year than last, but he's still spending significant time on the edge. Barnes has a sack in each of the first two games, but with just 13 total tackles over those two games, his IDP numbers will go off a cliff when the sacks dry up.

Much like most of my fantasy teams this year.

Walk the Line

OK, we're on to Week 3.

Which defensive lineman will smash expectations and have a huge impact for IDP managers this week? Which big name up front is a disappointment waiting to happen?

GURU: Jaelan Phillips has quietly put up a sack in each of the first two games. He is getting no attention because he's done virtually nothing else. Outside of the sacks, he has one tackle and two assists. After this week's matchup with the Browns, I think we will be giving him more love. Cleveland allowed 7 tackles, 3 sacks, a forced fumble, a recovery, and a batted pass to the Jaguars edge tandem in Week 1. They were better in a close game with the Buccaneers in week two, but I don't see them keeping up with the Panthers offense. That means a more pass-heavy attack and plenty of rush opportunities against a team that has already allowed seven sacks.

I picked on Nik Bonitto last week, and he was shut out. It would be easy to go there again with Denver facing the Rams, but I'm looking at Trey Hendrickson this time. He's dealing with a thumb injury that has him questionable. Hendrickson played with it in Week 2, so there is no reason to expect he will sit. While the bum thumb could have him playing with a cumbersome protective club, it's the matchup with Dallas that concerns me most. The Cowboys' offensive line shut out an outstanding Giants pass rush in Week 1 and has allowed two sacks on the young season. I expect Hendrickson to be closer to his Week 1 one-tackle performance than the 3-0-1 he had versus the Saints. 

GODFATHER: Not for nothing, but some people are talking about Phillips. He's in this week's IDP Studs and Duds here at Footballguys. Just saying.

Defensive linemen can be high-variance—it tends to happen to players so reliant on big plays for fantasy production. So when Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Kwity Paye went from two sacks in Week 1 to just two assists in Week 2, it was penthouse-to-outhouse time. Paye will get back into the good graces of IDP managers this week in New Orleans—Saints quarterback Tyler Shough has been sacked an NFC-high eight times in two games.

At the opposite end of that spectrum, Matthew Stafford of the Rams has been sacked all of once this season, and Los Angeles has been a trash fantasy matchup for edge rushers dating back to last season. The Guru may be above piling on Denver edge rusher Nik Bonitto for a second straight week. The Godfather is not—IDP managers need to both be patient with Bonitto and staple his butt to the bench.

Linebacker Time