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 Tariq Woolen, CB, Seahawks
This is the fourth appearance overall this season for Seattle Seahawks rookie cornerback Tariq Woolen and the fourth week in a row that he’s made the list. Woolen has been in the top five each week and leads this week’s IDP Rookie Recap. He scored 23.8 fantasy points this past week against the Arizona Cardinals on a box score of five tackles, all solos, one interception, one PBU, and one fumble recovery. It was the fourth week in a row that Woolen has an interception and is tied for the NFL lead. Woolen played 71 defensive snaps (100%) and five special teams snaps (19%). He’s been one of the hottest IDP rookies since week three and has quickly thrown his hat in the ring for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Woolen is playable in all IDP formats.
#2 Coby Bryant, CB, Seahawks
For the first time this season, we have teammates back to back at the top of the leaderboard of the IDP Rookie Recap. We just talked about Woolen and now we discuss his bookend mate Coby Bryant, who is making his third appearance on the list this season. Bryant just missed being this week’s leading IDP-scoring rookie with a total of 23.6 fantasy points. He had a nice stat sheet for the week, as he recorded eight total tackles, with five being solos, one forced fumble, and one PBU. Bryant played 53 defensive snaps (75%) despite not starting the game. When he plays at least 50% of the snaps, he’s been a solid producer and made the IDP Rookie Recap that week. Needs more consistent reps to be a viable fantasy option overall but I like him in position-specific leagues.
#3 Joshua Williams, CB, Chiefs
Our third cornerback in a row to start on this week’s IDP Rookie Recap and the first appearance for Joshua Williams. He had one heck of a game last week versus the Buffalo Bills. In a backup role, Williams played 55 of the defensive snaps (75%) and six special teams snaps (26%). He scored 23.3 fantasy points for the week with a sta sheet of nine total tackles, six being solos, with one PBU. Last week was his first real opportunity at any meaningful playing time due to the injuries in the Chiefs secondary. When Kansas City’s secondary is fully healthy Williams’s role likely disappears again. A decent taxi squad option in deep position-specific leagues.
#4 Travis Jones, DT, Ravens
At number four we get our first player that isn’t a cornerback, in defensive tackle Travis Jones of the Baltimore Ravens. Jones is making his first showing of the year on the IDP Rookie Recap. Jones scored 23 fantasy points last week and had a box score consisting of four tackles, all solos, one TFL, one sack, and two QB hits. He played 38 defensive snaps (58%) and nine special teams snaps (35%) in his first career start for Baltimore. Jones is a player that I loved before the draft and even more, once I saw he landed with the Ravens. He’s that Raven style of d-lineman that they love upfront and I can see him continuing to be their starter. An excellent fantasy option in position-specific leagues
#5 Martin Emerson, CB, Browns
Emerson is the fourth cornerback in the top five of this week’s IDP Rookie Recap and this is his second appearance overall. With all of the injuries that the Cleveland Browns have suffered this season, Emerson earned the first start of his career. He played 66 defensive snaps (94%) with 11 special teams snaps (38%) and played solid defense all game. He scored 22.5 fantasy points and recorded six tackles, all solos, and added two PBUs. I really like Emerson as a weekly streaming option as long as he continues to get starting opportunities. At the very least he’s a decent option in deep roster dynasty leagues or taxi squads. Just keep an eye on the Browns' injuries to be better informed of when to play him.
#6 Demarri Mathis, CB, Broncos
Yet another cornerback at the top of this week’s IDP Rookie Recap, five out of the top six so far. This makes the second appearance on the list this year for Mathis. He received the first start of his career, playing 93 defensive snaps (100%) and two special teams snaps. While he made the list this week, it really wasn’t because of his good play but more of the fact that they targeted him over and over. He scored 21.1 fantasy points and recorded six tackles, five were solos and two PBUs. If you watched the game he was picked on all night and gave up some big plays. Oddly enough that’s sort of what you want in a corner, but he can’t play that badly and expect to stay on the field. Mathis isn’t someone I am targeting for any of my IDP leagues.
#7 Troy Andersen, LB, Falcons
Our second player to make his debut on this week’s IDP Rookie Recap is Troy Andersen of the Atlanta Falcons. Andersen was a preseason favorite by many, including myself, and they expected him to be a weekly stud on this list. Through the first four weeks he’s been mostly on special teams, but picked up a decent role two weeks ago and made his first start this past week. In that start, Andersen played 60 defensive snaps (100%) and saw his special teams snaps decrease. He registered 13 total tackles, seven being solos, which equaled 20 fantasy points for the week. It’s interesting that his special team snaps were reduced, which could indicate that he’s going to continue to start. With Deion Jones also gone, Andersen’s stock is trending back up.
#8 Kyler Gordon, CB, Bears
This is the fourth appearance for Gordon on this list this season. He has been playing very well since the opener and hasn’t slowed down. Gordon scored 18.1 fantasy points this past week and has started every game so far this season. He played 54 defensive snaps (95%) and three special teams snaps. Gordon produced six tackles, five being solos, and one PBU last week versus the Washington Commanders. He’s locked in as a starter and the Bears trust him a lot. Gordon currently ranks fourth for Chicago in tackles (37) and tied for second in PBUs (3). If you play in position-specific leagues and need a reliable starting cornerback, Gordon is a solid plug-and-play option.
#9 Dane Belton, S, Giants
The first safety to make the list this week is the New York Giants rookie Dane Belton. This is his second appearance on the list this season and his top-scoring fantasy scoring output. He scored 16.8 fantasy points and recorded six tackles, five solos, and one PBU. Belton made his second start of the season and played 42 defensive snaps (71%) and seven special team snaps (27%). The Giants have been mixing and matching in their secondary all season and Belton has been a big part of that. Whether it’s been injury related or a performance issue, Belton has given the Giants another option at safety. As of right now, he’s a matchup-based option for fantasy managers and should be at least on your taxi squads.
#10 Jaylen Watson, CB, Chiefs
This is Watson’s fourth appearance of the year on this list and is having an excellent rookie season for Kansas City. He made his fourth start of the year for the Chiefs and played 72 defensive snaps (99%) and four special team snaps. Watson scored 15.1 fantasy points while tallying six tackles with five being solos. He’s been a very nice option as a bookmate to La’Jarius Sneed on the other side. This was his third game with five tackles and five of those being solos. Andy Reid has no issues with starting rookies, especially when they play as well as Watson has this season. A must-roster IDP rookie in all position-specific leagues and worth a look in general-position leagues with deep starting positions.
#11 Kaiir Elam, CB, Bills
The IDP Rookie Recap continues to be dominated this week by cornerbacks as Buffalo rookie Kaiir Elam makes his second appearance in back-to-back weeks. He scored 15 fantasy points with a box score of four tackles, two solos, one interception, and one PBU. This makes consecutive weeks that Elam has had an interception. Elam played 51 defensive snaps (76%) and just one special team snap. He has made four straight starts for the Bills this season and has played extremely well since he took over for the injured Tredavious White. Elam is a must-roster option and has been playing well enough to be started in all IDP leagues.
#12 Ahmad Gardner, CB, Jets
Another cornerback!!! Gardner was hugely hyped coming out of college and so far he’s been everything that the Jets had hoped he would be. This is Gardner's 5th appearance on the list this year, which leads all IDP rookies. He’s started every game this season for the Jets and played 65 defensive snaps (89%) with three special team snaps last week. Gardner recorded three tackles, all solos, with two PBUs which equated to 14.3 fantasy points. I know he’s a rookie but with his big play upside and he continues to make this list each week, he’s someone I am starting every week.
#13 Jaquan Brisker, S, Bears
We get our second safety of the week on the list and it’s a name that has been seen here routinely. This is Brisker's 5th appearance on this list tying Ahamd Gardner above. Brisker stepped in as the starting FS next to veteran SS Eddie Jackson and has been sensational for the Bears. In his fifth straight start, he played 57 defensive snaps (100%) and two special team snaps. He recorded five tackles, two solos, one TFL, one sack, and one QB hit versus the Commanders last week, and that added up to 13.8 fantasy points. Brisker has been a plug-and-play option from the beginning of the year and has been rewarding fantasy managers. He’s a contender for Defensive Rookie Player of the Year.
#14 Drake Jackson, DE, 49ers
We finish up this week’s IDP Rookie Recap with San Francisco 49ers rookie defensive end Drake Jackson. This is Jackson’s second appearance on this list, as he scored 12.5 fantasy points this week. He played just 12 defensive snaps (21%) and was very efficient on the day. Jackson recorded three tackles, all solos, with one sack. He now has one sack in three of the last four games and has earned more playing time. He would be a terrific bookend to stud Nick Bosa on the opposite side. He should be rostered in all IDP leagues.
This was an interesting and informative week one list. Cornerbacks were the dominant position on the list as they made up nine of the 14 players (64.2%). Linebackers and safeties were tied for second with a 14.2% (2 of 14) share of the list. Defensive ends, defensive tackles, and linebackers had the lowest share (7.1%) The Seahawks and Bears were the only teams to have multiple rookies on the list this week. Trends and statistics of lists can be useful tools for tracking and seeing the trends.
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.
