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.
We're far enough into the 2026 campaign to have an idea of what's what—whether it's player valuation or whether IDP squads are headed for the penthouse or the outhouse. But there's also enough time left in the season for some of what we think we know to become what we didn't know because who really knows anything?
Ex-actly.
Thankfully, when it comes to true knowledge, to absolute Zen and becoming one with The IDP Force, you will not find more wise and sage souls than The Guru and The Godfather.
(Sponsored by G&G SuperPAC)
Let's Make a Deal
The NFL's trade deadline is next week, and the deadline in many fantasy leagues isn't far off.
Let's assume that trades in IDP leagues are a thing—we actually saw one in the King's Classic Dick Butkus Division this week. If you could target one undervalued "Buy Low" IDP right now, who would it be? Which "Sell High" candidate do you think IDP managers should bail on while they can still get value?
Guru: Maxx Crosby is slowly trending up, and Alex Highsmith seems to be getting healthy, but my top target is Montez Sweat. He got a two-week vacation courtesy of the commissioner's office, to rest and recharge. That's a plus, but I like him because of the addition of Jeffery Simmons, who makes everyone around him better. The difference for Sweat was evident last week. He showed up at 1-1-1 in the box score, which won't drive the price up for anyone trying to trade for him. What the numbers don't tell is that Sweat had a pair of sacks called back on penalties in the secondary. Simmons forces opponents to adjust their blocking schemes. I think that will make open things up for Sweat going forward.
Dre Greenlaw is a guy I would be looking to move. Except for week five, when he was ejected and suspended for a game, he has at least eight combined tackles in every outing since week two, and twelve combined in each of his last two games. There are two reasons to move him. Greenlaw has a long history of injuries that have seriously impacted his availability and production, and rookie Jaden Dugger, who has been nothing short of impressive, is waiting in the wings to claim the position if Greenlaw slips up or gets dinged.
Godfather: Until last week, you didn't have to buy Indianapolis Colts linebacker CJ Allen at all—he was free after going from one of the most highly-touted rookie linebackers of 2026 to holding down a bench with his butt. But the idiots who like Allen (may know one) were less wrong than late if last week's double-digit stops, sack, and 83 percent snap share are any indication. With Allen at MIKE for the Colts now, the second half of the season should be what the idiots thought the first would be.
In an industry league the Guru and I are in, we just watched a colleague flip Buffalo Bills edge rusher Greg Rousseau into a badly needed replacement for Lamar Jackson under center. It was a wise move—Rousseau's ridiculous start was never going to be sustainable, and last week's sack masked the fact that since Week 4 Rousseau is DE32 in fantasy points per game in The Godfather's Default IDP Scoring.
Winning in the Trenches
OK, we're on to Cincinnati. Or Week 9. Whatever.
Who will be this week's biggest surprise IDP star along the defensive line? Which player who is usually a star is about to wink out and go dark at an inopportune time?
Guru: When in doubt, see who the Browns are playing. This week's lottery winner is Chase Young and/or Carl Granderson, whichever you have or can add. Cleveland is a smorgasbord for pass rushers. They have given up a whopping 22 sacks over the last four games, including 11.5 to the edge position. Add nearly one turnover per game and solid tackle totals, and the Browns are the juiciest matchup in the game for edge defenders.
In answering Question No. 1, I mentioned that Maxx Crosby is trending up recently. His snap counts are back to his normal 90% plus, and he's starting to make plays. I expect that trend to break this week when Las Vegas faces the 49ers. Cleveland gave up 8 sacks last week. San Francisco has allowed 7 on the season; 2 of those were recorded by edge guys. Add that to the average of 3.3 tackles and 3.3 assists per game, and Crosby is more likely to bust than to bust out.
Godfather: Wow, The Guru just got through mentioning my IDP Stud of the Week and stealing a recommendation I was going to make out of the way with the first two calls of the week. Have to respect the efficiency, at least.
He's right on both counts.
The Denver Broncos once again rank among the top-five defenses in the NFL in sacks, but it's been a group effort spearheaded by the interior defensive line. This week, edge rushers Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper are going to eat—of the 23 sacks the Carolina Panthers have surrendered this season, 11 have come in the last two games. Carolina's offensive line has fallen apart.
When Broncos tackle Malcolm Roach got home against Patrick Mahomes II last week to seal Denver's win over the Chiefs (And single-handedly cost me a matchup. Not bitter.), it marked just the ninth time all season long that he's been sacked. Rookie edge rusher David Bailey has been solid for the Jets this season and appears on track to play Sunday at Arrowhead. But he's still a rookie…at less than 100 percent…in a trash matchup.
Linebacker Limbo
Chaos is a constant in IDP leagues. But even by those standards, the linebacker landscape has shifted more this year than the Sunda Megathrust.
Which linebacker is set to rise from obscurity to rampage in Week 9? Which high-end linebacker is going to crack and swallow IDP squads whole?
Guru: Obscurity is relative, but Drake Thomas of the Seahawks isn't a guy most managers consider an every-week starter. Unless you are loaded at linebacker, if he is on your roster, he should be in your lineup this week. Short and sweet, there is no better matchup for linebackers right now than the Cardinals. Arizona gives up an average of 11 tackles, 9 assists, and 1 splash play to the position.
Terrel Bernard of the Bills has been a steady if unspectacular option for us this season. Don't expect much from him this week, though. The linebacker position averages fewer than 7 solo stops per game against the Vikings, has 2.5 total sacks, has not produced a turnover, and has been credited with 3 passes defended. Only the Packers have allowed fewer points to linebackers.
Godfather: Now I get it. The Guru wasn't being efficient. He was only getting started.
I call Shenanigans! I have been wronged!
He's right. I'm wronged. Country song in there somewhere.
The Chicago Bears may be rolling as a team, but tackle production from the linebacker position has been sorely lacking—and we're far enough into the season that expecting a magical reversal isn't especially realistic. But the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are running Vince Lombardi's offense and have allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to linebackers. Devin Bush's best stat line of the season is on tap. Book it.
Devin Lloyd of the Carolina Panthers is becoming a cautionary IDP tale in multiple respects. How much a guy makes matters not. Chasing big plays is bad. Never trust a Libra. You know, the usual. His numbers have been propped up by one week-winning line, but lately Lloyd has been whisper-quiet, and that's not going to change Sunday against the Broncos.
The Last Line of Defense
Defensive backs are what they are. They are mostly high-variance fantasy options. They can be wildly unpredictable from week to week. And the right one can win you a matchup.
Who will come from nowhere on the back end to be that week-winner in Week 8? Which prominent defensive back is about to take the express train to Downtown Disappointment?
Guru: Joshua Metellus kind of came from nowhere to have his best game of the season last week. This week, I think he will prove it was not a fluke. Buffalo loves to attack the middle of the field, whether it's the tight end, the running game, or the best running QB in the game. As a result, safeties put up great tackle totals against them. With the average of 11 solos, 5.7 assists, half a turnover, and 1.3 passes defended, there is no better matchup for safeties.
The last time I called out an ugly matchup for Quentin Lake, he responded with a strong outing. Since I have multiple shares of him across my 10 leagues, I hope I'm wrong again this time. That said, the Commanders make it tough on defensive backs and safeties in particular. Lake lines up all over the place, but it doesn't matter if we consider him a safety or a corner. The tackle totals are dismal: safeties have 6.9 solos and 2.1 assists, while corners have 8.7 solos and 2.3 assists. Lake is a ball hawk, which is a big part of his appeal. The Commanders' only interception of the season was thrown to a linebacker, while secondaries have been responsible for three sacks and two forced fumbles against them all season.
Godfather: Seriously, dude? Did you build a Cerebro? A Cere-bro, bro?
Bro.
Fine, it gives me a chance to talk up Dallas Cowboys safety Caleb Downs. That Downs is a top-20 safety for the season in fantasy points is a bit misleading—said production has come in fits and starts, making him hard for IDP managers to trust. This is a good week to do it, though—the Colts lead the league in fantasy points per game surrendered to the position, and Daniel Jones has thrown nine interceptions so far. The dime gets dropped Sunday. Get it? Dime? 10?
HA! I kill me!
New York Jets safety Dane Belton has been one of the poster safeties for fading the position in most IDP drafts—he's seventh at the position in points and cost exactly squat. But Belton should be glued to the bench in Week 9. Not sure what it is about the Chiefs. Not like they don't move the ball with Mahomes under center—they most assuredly do. But the fantasy points are so scattershot that they are a bottom-10 matchup across the board—again.
Playing Tag
This is simple. Just like the kids' game. And Davenport.
"Tag" one IDP (Any position—dealer's choice) ranked outside the top 40 in Footballguys Week 9 IDP rankings at their position who will wind up a viable (top 24) fantasy starter.
While you're at it, tag one inside the top 15 who will finish outside the top 30. A little boom/bust action. Who is "it"—for better or worse.
Guru: We currently have CJ Allen at LB41 for week nine. I'm not buying it. Yes, the Colts play a Dallas squad that is not a good matchup on paper, giving up the 26th-most points to linebackers. In his first NFL start last week, Allen was LB12 in a matchup with a Jacksonville offense that ranks 30th in points allowed to linebackers. We are talking about two struggling teams circling the drain and picking up speed. Throw out the matchup stats in situations like this. Dallas should be able to run the ball on a weak Colts defense that just traded its best player, and the adrenaline is still pumping for the rookie in his second start.
George Karlaftis has been productive in two of the last three games. Somehow, that has pushed him all the way up to DL11 in this week's rankings. For all of their struggles, the Jets are giving up 1.4 sacks per game and have allowed 5.5 to the edge position this season. That's .7 per game. Don't look for him to excel in the tackle columns either. Opponents' edge positions have averaged 2.6 tackles and 5 assists, not to mention the fact that Karlaftis has recorded more than 2 solo stops in one game this year and is averaging 1.7 solos and 2 assists. He's worth a shot as a bye-week plug-in or a second starter in a pinch, but I can't see him doing much with this matchup.
Godfather: And it all comes full-circle with the echo. It's disquieting how often The Guru and I agree, because neither of us is generally considered agreeable.
Don't get me started on school pick-up lines. We are a non-functioning society. It's a line. Waiting in line is not new OH MY GOD STOP STARING AT TIKTOK AND MOVE THE CAR!!!
It's fine. I'm fine. Long day. What were we talking about?
Oh yeah.
Gonna go with my esteemed colleague with a linebacker for the first half with Henry To'oTo'o (LB49) of the Houston Texans. He's healthy(ish) after a week off, and the Chargers' lack of any kind of vertical offense has meant good things for opposing linebackers—no AFC team has allowed more fantasy points per game to the position in 2026.
Devin Lloyd is LB16, so I can't ding him. Rules are rules. The aforementioned society. You were warned. About Maxx Crosby (DL15), too. We're old and angry, but we're also helpful because manners. Dane Belton (DB4) was brought up.
You know who to fade. And we need a nap.
John Norton (The Guru) and Gary Davenport (The Godfather of IDP) have over 45 combined years of IDP experience. Follow John on Twitter (still not calling it X, so there) at @JohnPNorton and Gary at @IDPGodfather.
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