Who are the IDP adds and drops now? We have had multiple weeks of training camp and two games played in the preseason by all teams. I will share who has the value that you want to add now, and who you want to go ahead and cut ties with now.
Linebackers to Add Now
Chad Muma - Jacksonville Jaguars
Chad Muma is heading into his second year and is the forgotten man in the Jaguars defense. Don't forget that it was Muma who had Devin Lloyd hit the bench in weeks 10-13, and it wasn't because Lloyd was hurt. He was just benched. However, Muma hurt his ankle in week 13, and that gave the job back to Lloyd in week 14. Muma is the forgotten man in the linebacker ranks.
After posting 20 tackles (11 solo), 2 tackles for a loss, 2 QB hits, and 1.5 sacks in his 2 starts combined, I don't think he should be forgotten. Muma is the #73 rated LB on the FantasyPros dynasty rankings (compared to IDPGuys dynasty LB#39 here!). Muma definitely belongs on the add side of the IDP adds and drops list. Another shot will happen, and he will produce.
Dorian Williams - Buffalo Bills
Dorian Williams has seen his stock slide lately with his move out of the middle to the weak side. Don't worry, he is solidly on the IDP adds of the IDP adds and drops list. He has slid all the way down to #103 on the FantasyPros Dynasty rankings (compared to IDPGuys dynasty LB#65here!). Trust me when I say Terrel Bernard and Tyrel Dodson are not the answer. The Bills will realize this fairly quickly and you will have a weekly starter in your lineup sooner than later.
Last year at Tulane, Williams produced a whopping 132 tackles (81 solo), 8.5 tackles for a loss, 5 sacks, 7 passes defended, 2 interceptions, and 2 forced fumbles. There is absolutely zero chance that the Bills will not find an opportunity on the field for Williams in 2023.
Owen Pappoe - Arizona Cardinals
Owen Pappoe is another great value to find himself on the add side of the IDP add and drops list. The only player who is guaranteed play time right now is Kyzir White. Pappoe has as good of a chance of playing as anyone on the squad. Pappoe is a rookie who was selected in the fifth round of this past NFL draft out of Auburn.
His last year at Auburn had him deliver 91 tackles (51 solo), 3 tackles for a loss, 2 sacks, 3 passes defended, 1 interception, and 2 forced fumbles. He might be undersized at 6'1" and 225 lbs, but he has superior athleticism. They said the same thing about Shaquille Leonard at 6'2" and 230 lbs. Pappoe is ranked at #93 on the FantasyPros Dynasty rankings.
Damone Clark - Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys keep trying to find that next linebacker to help man the middle of the field. 2021 brought Jabril Cox in the fourth round of the NFL Draft, and he has pretty much just achieved special teams snaps. In this year's NFL Draft, the Cowboys selected DeMarvion Overshown in the third round. He hit bad luck with a torn ACL in preseason game two, so he is out for the year.
That leaves Damone Clark who was a fifth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, and the only LB left who has real game experience. Clark actually started five of his 10 games played. In those five games, he averaged about 73% of the snaps, 4 tackles (3.5 solo), and .5 forced fumbles per game. He steps in and thrives in 2023.
Linebackers to Drop
Tremaine Edmunds - Chicago Bears
Let's say Tremaine Edmunds is more of a "sell" candidate than an outright drop. He is the 28th-rated linebacker on the FantasyPros dynasty rankings list. I do not understand the hype in Chicago for Edmunds.
Linebackers are graded off of tackles, and solo tackles even more. Edmunds played 13 games last year and accumulated just 66 solo tackles. 2021 had him deliver 70 solo tackles in 15 games. He was ranked 59th overall in solo tackles and 36th in linebacker rankings. He might be the most overhyped linebacker in NFL history.
Myles Jack - Philadelphia Eagles
After six years with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Myles Jack signed a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jack has been pretty productive as he has posted over 100 tackles in each of the past three seasons. For 2023, he signed with the Eagles as they lost their entire crew. Just recently, Jack has decided to retire after seven years in the NFL. You can officially drop him now.
Kenneth Murray - Los Angeles Chargers
Kenneth Murray is now cemented on the drop side of the IDP add and drop list. He has disappointed IDP managers since day one after being a first-round pick out of Oklahoma in 2020. His rookie season had him play nearly 100% of the defensive snaps and he could only rack up 107 tackles (68 solo), 5 tackles for a loss, 1 QB hit, 1 sack, and 3 passes defended.
Don't worry though, as he would only get worse. Last year in his 3rd year with the Chargers, Murray posted 76 tackles (50 solo), 7 tackles for a loss, 4 QB hits, 1 sack, 3 passes defended, 1 interception, and a forced fumble. This was while playing in all 17 games last year.
The writing is on the wall with the Daiyan Henley pick in the third round of the NFL draft this year out of Washington State. You can try to trade Murray and take any offer sent. Otherwise, just drop him. It looks like most are on to him as he has fallen all the way down to linebacker #104 on the FantasyPros dynasty rankings list.
Defensive Linemen to Add Now
Boye Mafe - Seattle Seahawks
Boye Mafe was drafted in the second round of last year's NFL draft. He solidly belongs on the add side of the IDP adds and drops list. Mafe is ranked as the #71 defensive lineman on the FantasyPros dynasty rankings list. As a rookie, he played just one game of more than 50% of the defensive snaps. A majority of his games had him at 39% or less of those snaps. He still produced 41 tackles (28 solo), 3 tackles for a loss, 4 QB hits, and 3 sacks. He will play more than 50% of the defensive snaps for the year and will increase his production by 50%.
Jermaine Johnson - New York Jets
Jermaine Johnson was a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. In week five, he suffered an ankle injury and missed his next three games. He only played 40% of the defensive snaps twice. Johnson still managed 29 tackles (18 solo), 3 tackles for a loss, 5 QB hits, 2.5 sacks, and a safety. He has new competition from incoming rookie, Will McDonald, who is also a first-round pick. I believe McDonald will have a similar rookie year to Johnson. Johnson will then have his second-year breakout. With Johnson being ranked #72 on the FantasyPros dynasty rankings list, you can get him cheap.
Defensive Linemen to Drop
Jordan Davis - Philadelphia Eagles
Jordan Davis is a second-year player who was drafted in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft. His job is to eat up blockers for the linebackers to come in and stuff the run or get the sack. Davis is very good at his job. That job does not create any fantasy football points for your squad.
Davis played over 20 defensive snaps in five of his first seven games. He produced 14 tackles in those seven games. Davis did not hit 20 defensive snaps in his last five games. He had three games with less than 10 snaps. The Eagles drafted Jalen Carter in the first round of this past NFL draft. Carter will be the player to own to get your squad those fantasy points.
Marcus Davenport - Minnesota Vikings
Marcus Davenport is a former first-round pick in 2018 by the New Orleans Saints. He has been a bust since day one. Davenport has yet to play a full season in his five-year career and has yet to post 10 sacks. Davenport has yet to hit the 40-tackle mark or 25 solo tackles. Yet, he received a one-year, $13 million contract. He is ranked the #59 defensive lineman on the FantasyPros dynasty rankings list, and in my opinion, he shouldn't be in the top 100. Do not chase this player.
Defensive Backs to Add
Joey Porter Jr. - Pittsburgh Steelers
Joey Porter Jr. is a rookie cornerback that the Steelers selected at the top of the second round in this year's NFL draft. He is slated to start immediately. Rookie cornerbacks get tested early and often. Porter Jr. already has an interception in the preseason, and he knows how to tackle, as his last two years at Penn State had him post 77 tackles (60 solo) in his 23 games. If you are in a cornerback-required league, he is the proto-typical cornerback in your starting lineup. As the 66th-ranked defensive back on the FantasyPros dynasty rankings list, the price is right.
Taron Johnson - Buffalo Bills
Taron Johnson was a fourth-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft by the Bills. He has been a crucial player and highly productive for the last three years. There is nothing like having the 77th-ranked defensive back on your roster who is a start-and-forget player. In his last three years combined, Johnson has delivered 260 tackles (190 solo), 15 tackles for a loss, 4 sacks, 23 passes defended, 3 interceptions, a touchdown, 2 forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. Even in non-cornerback-required leagues, he would be a starter on your squad.
Defensive Backs to Drop
Terrell Edmunds - Philadelphia Eagles
Terrell Edmunds is a former first-round pick by the Steelers. But, in his five years with the Steelers, Edmunds never excelled at tackles, sacks, or pass coverage. And this is why he only managed a one-year $2 million contract with the Eagles. For some reason beyond my knowledge, the FantasyPros dynasty rankings list has him as the #26 defensive back. No, thank you. I think I might take Sydney Brown, Reed Blankenship, or even K'Von Wallace instead.
Juan Thornhill - Cleveland Browns
This former second-round player from the Kansas City Chiefs has never lived up to his billing. In his upcoming fifth year, Juan Thornhill signed with the Browns. Grant Delpit will manage one safety spot and the other is up for grabs. Rodney McLeod has a real chance to beat out Thornhill for the other.
Thornhill's best season was last year when he posted 71 tackles (43 solo), 4 tackles for a loss, 1 sack, 9 passes defended, and 3 interceptions. McLeod on the other hand, at 32 years of age, delivered 96 tackles (59 solo), 8 tackles for a loss, 8 passes defended, 2 interceptions, 1 for a touchdown, and a fumble recovery. I see McLeod winning this competition.
Thank you for checking out my Last Minute IDP Add and Drop article! You can read all of my articles on my IDP Guys author page. Be sure to follow me on Twitter at @OldMan_FF and @IDPGuys (we have offense, too), and please consider becoming a subscriber!
