Each week I will recap the top 14 highest-scoring rookies from the previous week. I use 14 as I feel that’s the best average league size of teams The scoring will be based on our IDP Nation Listener League II settings. If you want to look at the scoring used you can use this link to see our scoring system.
#1 Devon Witherspoon, CB, Seattle Seahawks
What an absolute show put on by rookie Devon Witherspoon on Monday night versus the Giants. One of the more impressive games by a rookie defensive back that I can remember in quite some time. He made his third start and played every snap (75) while compiling seven tackles, six were solos, an 85.7% solo rate, two TFLs, two sacks, one PBU, and one interception which he returned 97 yards for a touchdown. He made a major impact on the game and fantasy managers couldn’t have been happier. This makes the third appearance this season for Witherspoon on the IDP rookie recap and his first as the top overall rookie IDP scorer, with a whopping 40.8 fantasy points. His name is now in the hat for Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
#2 Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Washington
This is the third appearance this season on the IDP rookie recap for the Washington rookie. Forbes had a big game at Philadelphia last week, playing 65 defensive snaps (92%) and registering nine tackles, seven were solos, a 77.7% solo rate, and two PBUs. When you add all that up, it equals 27.8 fantasy points. Cornerback that most fantasy managers stream but if you need a corner for the rest of the season, Forbes is a solid plug-and-play option for your fantasy teams. Washington will be in a lot of ugly games this year and that should mean plenty of opportunities for Forbes.
#3 Bryan Bresee, DT, New Orleans
At number three on this week’s IDP rookie recap, we have a newbie in DT Bryan Bresee. I was super high on Bresee coming out of Clemson and now he’s showing what he can do at the NFL level. The first-round rookie selection had his best game to date versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week. He played 32 defensive snaps (45%) and recorded four tackles, three were solos, a 75% solo rate, three TFLs, and one sack. This type of production (27 fantasy points) is what will make him one of the better options overall at the defensive tackle position. A must roster in position-specific leagues.
#4 Julius Brents, CB, Indianapolis
Next up on the IDP rookie recap is Colts rookie CB Julius Brents, who is making his second appearance on this list. The rookie made his first career start for the Colts and had a big game. Brents played 79 defensive snaps (96%) and tallied nine total tackles, with eight being solo for an 88.8% solo rate. This would add up to a 23.3 fantasy point week. Again most stream this position as you can see each week by how many corners make this list. Just like with Forbes above, Brents should see a lot of opportunities with the Colts being one of the worst teams in the NFL.
#5 Brian Branch, SAF, Detroit
One of my favorite rookies in this class is Brian Branch and he continues to make an impact each week. He’s just too good to not be on the field and the Lions know it. This is his third appearance on the IDP rookie recap so far this season. Branch has started the last two games for Detroit and has responded in a big way. Last week versus the Green Bay Packers, Branch played 40 defensive snaps (70%) and had a box score of seven tackles, five were solos, a 71.4% solo rate, and one PBU. If you need help at the safety position then Branch is a player you definitely want on your fantasy rosters.
#6 Karl Brooks, DT, Green Bay
Another favorite of mine in this rookie class is DT Karl Brooks of the Green Bay Packers. Brooks is one of the more underrated prospects in this class but has a game that can match anybody’s. This makes the second appearance for Brooks on the IDP rookie recap. He played 31 defensive snaps (41%) and produced a stat line of two tackles, both solos, one TFL, one sack, and one PBU, for a total of 17.5 fantasy points. Green Bay is going to love this dude on the field and fantasy managers in their lineups. A terrific taxi squad stash in dynasty leagues.
#7 Terell Smith, CB, Chicago
After an impressive week three the Bears gave Smith his first career start last week versus the Denver Broncos and again he performed extremely well. He played 48 defensive snaps (100%) and recorded five tackles, four being solos, an 80% solo rate, one TFL, and one PBU. When added up that equals a 17.3 fantasy point week. It will be interesting to see if Smith will continue to get starts for the Bears. If so he could be a sneaky streaming option based on matchups. This is Smith’s first appearance of the season on this list
#8 Kei’Trel Clark, CB, Arizona
At number eight on this list is Cardinals rookie Kei’Trel Clark, who is the first player to be on all four rookie recaps this season. Due to injuries, Clark has started every game for Arizona, and not only has he gained some very good experience, but he’s producing at a high level. He played 54 defensive snaps (98%) last week registering five tackles, all were solos, and one TFL. Clark leads the team in PBUs (4) and is third in tackles (23). I don’t stream corners like almost everyone else does, but Clark is a CB that I have added to my fantasy rosters in almost every league.
#9 Henry Too Too, LB, Houston
At number nine we get our first linebacker of the week in Henry Too Too who is making his second consecutive appearance on the IDP rookie recap. Too Too has been on fire since taking over as a starter for Houston. He leads the team in both tackles (27) and solo stops (15) and has had seven or more tackles in all three starts. Last week versus the Pittsburgh Steelers he played 56 defensive snaps (95%) and tallied seven tackles, three solos, one TFL, and one PBU, for a total of 14.5 fantasy points. It was just a matter of time until he took over as the starter and now that he has I don’t see him letting it go. Too Too is a play in all IDP formats as an LB3 option.
#10 Myles Murphy, DE, Cincinnati
As we move through the back half of the IDP rookie recap, we get our first defensive end of the week, Myles Murphy. This is his first appearance on this list and he had a nice game versus the Tennessee Titans. He played just 19 defensive snaps (29%) but recorded three tackles, two were solo, for a 67% solo rate, one TFL, and one sack. That stat line added up to a 14.3 fantasy point week for fantasy managers. Murphy is a great taxi squad stash and could be a full-time starter as soon as 2024.
#11 Colby Wooden, DT, Green Bay
The Green Bay Packers are the first team this week to have multiple players (Karl Brooks) appear on the IDP rookie recap this week. More impressive, is that they are both defensive tackles! Wooden is getting work as a rotational piece but played just 19 defensive snaps (25%) last week. Despite the low snap count, he was super efficient, as he produced four total tackles, two were solo, for a 50% solo rate, and one TFL. Wooden could be a sneaky play in position-specific leagues with deep rosters.
#12 Christian Izien, CB, Tampa Bay
Add Tampa Bay rookie cornerback Christian Izien’s name to the shortlist along with Kei’Trel Clark as the only rookies to have made an appearance on each of the four IDP rookie recaps this season. He is another cornerback that I have added to my fantasy rosters. Last week Izien got his first career start and played 47 defensive snaps (72%). He registered six tackles, four being solos, for a 66.6 solo rate. On the season so far, Izien leads the Buccaneers with two interceptions and is fifth in tackles (21). A solid player that you can play on a weekly basis.
#13 Deonte Banks, CB, NY Giants
I normally don’t recommend picking up a corner unless they are balling out or a special type player, but with how the New York Giants are playing this season, it might be a good idea to add rookie Deonte Banks to your fantasy rosters. The Giants have been offensively inept so far and have been routed twice. That defense has been on the field a ton and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. Banks made his fourth consecutive start and had possibly his best game last week versus Seattle. He played every defensive snap (55) and registered five total tackles, four were solos, for an 80% solo rate. If you’re looking for help at cornerback, Banks just might be the answer to your problems.
#14 Drew Sanders, OLB, Denver
As we round out the IDP rookie recap we get a newcomer to the list in Drew Sanders, an outside linebacker for the Denver Broncos. After playing a total of just four snaps the first two weeks he’s made back-to-back starts in the last two. With Randy Gregory now gone, he should continue to see an increased role. Last week versus Chicago, he played 57 defensive snaps (79%) and had a box score consisting of seven total tackles, five being solos, for a 71.4% solo rate. Sanders has been filling in at ILB as well but I expect he’ll stay on the outside. A lot of fantasy managers were high on him in this draft class and have been waiting for him to break out.
Thanks for reading my article. I am a member of the FSWA (Fantasy Sports Writers of America). Follow me on Twitter at @HollywoodTitan, on Facebook on my IDPNation page, on Reddit in the fantasy football IDP sub — I’m user KingTitan1 — and tune in each week and listen to IDP Nation and Devy IDP Grind, the podcasts that I co-host, on several different platforms. Feel free to email or dm me with any questions that you have, as I’m always glad to help fellow IDPers. #IDPNation #IDP #IDPDevy.
