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 Ahmad Gardner, CB, Jets
This week’s top-scoring IDP rookie is cornerback Ahmad Gardner of the New York Jets. This is his 6th appearance on the IDP Rookie Recap and his 1st time as the number one IDP rookie scorer. Gardner played 79 defensive snaps (100%) and seven special teams snaps (25%). He recorded ten tackles, eight being solos, and three PBUs which equated to 33.5 fantasy points for the week. It marked the second consecutive week that he recorded three PBUs and he now has a league-leading 12 for the season. In seven starts this season Gardner has 33 tackles, 24 being solos, one TFL, one QB hit, one interception, and 12 PBUs. As of now, he is a must-start each week.
#2 Sam Williams, DE, Cowboys
The next highest-scoring IDP rookie this week was the Dallas Cowboys defensive end Sam Willaims. This makes his second appearance of the year for Williams on this list. He played just 14 defensive snaps (24%) and 13 special teams snaps (59%) but was super efficient on the opportunities given to him. Williams registered three tackles, all solos, two TFLs, two QB hits, two sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. As you can see he filled the stat sheet which added up to 29.5 fantasy points for the week. At this time Williams is strictly in a backup role, but performances like this will definitely get him more looks. He can be a nice future piece for Dallas and is worthy of being on fantasy managers' taxi squads.
#3 Jaquan Brisker, SS, Bears
Our third highest-scoring rookie this week is no stranger to the IDP Rookie Recap. The Chicago Bears strong safety Jaquan Brisker is making his 6th appearance of the year on this list. In his seventh consecutive start, Brisker played 51 defensive snaps (98%) and seven special teams snaps (28%), while tallying seven tackles, five were solos, one interception, returned for six yards, and one PBU. He scored 22 fantasy points for the week and is the 3rd highest-scoring rookie IDP on the season overall. If you have Brisker on your roster then you are starting him each week without question. He’s an IDP rookie stud and contender for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
#4 Quay Walker, LB, Packers
Four players into the IDP Rookie Recap and we have four different positions, which is a first this season. Green Bay Packers linebacker, Quay Walker, is making his 3rd appearance on the list this season. In his sixth career start, Walker had his best game to date. He played 54 defensive snaps (73%) and six special teams snaps (21%) while producing 13 tackles, six being solos, two QB hits, and one PBU. That box score would equate to a 21-point fantasy week for fantasy managers. Walker has been an excellent addition alongside veteran Devondre Campbell and has given the Packers a formidable duo at linebacker. Walker is a solid tier 3 LB play for the rest of the season.
#5 Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Lions
At number five on the IDP Rookie Recap, we have Lions defensive end, Aidan Hutchinson, who many have as the Defensive Rookie of the Year. He’s a superstar in the making no doubt. Hutchinson made his 6th straight start and played 56 defensive snaps (89%) and five special teams snaps (23%). He recorded three tackles, two were solos, one TFL, three QB hits, and 1½ sacks that added up to 18.3 fantasy points. This was Hutchinson’s 2nd appearance on the IDP Rookie Recap this season. He’s the pass rusher that the Lions have been desperately needing and leads all rookies in sacks (4½) this season. Hutchinson should be started in all IDP formats and is a dynasty gem.
#6 Coby Bryant, CB, Seahawks
Before the season started not many fantasy managers knew who Coby Bryant was let alone thought he’d be one of the top-scoring IDP rookies this year. Bryant made his second start of the year and played 68 defensive snaps (96%). He scored 17.1 fantasy points on a box score of six tackles, five being solos, and one TFL. Bryant has had six tackles in both of his starts this year and should continue to get starts going forward. Lots of fantasy managers like to stream the cornerback position but Bryant is quickly becoming a plug-and-play option, especially in position-specific leagues.
#7 Roger McCreary, CB, Titans
At number seven, we have our third cornerback of the week Roger McCreary of the Tennessee Titans. This is his 4th appearance on the IDP Rookie Recap this season. McCreary made his 6th straight start of the season and played 64 defensive snaps (100%) and two special teams snaps (8%). He tallied five tackles, all solos, and one PBU versus the Indianapolis Colts last week and that added up to 16.8 fantasy points. Titan’s head coach Mike Vrabel likes and trusts McCreary a lot so he’s going to continue to get starts and that makes him a must-start option in all IDP league formats. In position-specific leagues, his value is increased even more.
#8 Travon Walker, DT, Jaguars
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. Walker scored 16.8 fantasy points for the week and as a defensive tackle that’s huge. 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 Martin Emerson, CB, Browns
Miami Dolphins rookie, Martin Emerson, is the 4th cornerback on the IDP Rookie Recap this week. This makes his third appearance on the list and is a name that IDP fantasy managers should be taking notice of. Emerson made his second start of the season and played 63 defensive snaps (98%) and four special teams snaps (15%). He recorded four tackles, all solos, one TFL, one QB hit, and one sack versus the Baltimore Ravens last week. Emerson scored 16 fantasy points for fantasy managers last week. He is a name that nobody was talking about before the season but seven weeks in, he’s been a fantasy darling. Ride the hot streak, get him in your fantasy lineups and reap the rewards.
#10 Kerby Joseph, SS, Lions
Coming in at number ten on this week's IDP Rookie Recap we have a newcomer in Lions rookie safety Kerby Joseph. He made his third start consecutive start and played 63 defensive snaps (100%) and five special teams snaps (23%). Joseph turned in his best statistical performance of the season, with a five tackle, three solo, one QB hit, one PBU, and one fumble recovery performance against the Dallas Cowboys. With that output, he scored 16 fantasy points on the week for fantasy managers. Joseph is definitely a taxi squad-worthy option with some nice dynasty upside. If Deshon Elliott is out this week, Joseph is a solid option as a replacement this week
#11 Joshua Williams, CB, Chiefs
As we start the back end of the IDP Rookie Recap list, at number eleven we get our fifth cornerback of the week. Joshua Williams is making 2nd appearance on the list in back-to-back weeks. He got his shot last week after injuries allowed him the opportunity to get more snaps and after his breakout performance, he got another shot this week. Williams played 63 defensive snaps (80%) and eight special team snaps (29%) last week. He recorded just one tackle, a solo, but had one interception, returned seven yards, and three PBUs. That stat line would equal 15.8 fantasy points for fantasy managers. I would like to see those tackle numbers increase before I would feel comfortable starting him regularly but he is a flyer as a bye-week replacement
#12 Kyle Hamilton FS, Ravens
At number twelve we have a newcomer to the list and one that everyone thought be a regular on a weekly basis. Baltimore free safety Kyle Hamilton has been playing a backup role each week at a clip of 39% of the defensive snaps per game. This past week Hamilton saw 21 defensive snaps (35%) and 22 special team snaps (81%). He registered four tackles, three were solos, one Qb hit, one TFL, and one sack. Everyone thought that when starter Marcus Williams was lost to an injury, Hamilton would be the one who would step in next to veteran Chuck Clark. That wasn’t the case, as it’s been third-year guy Geno Stone (BTW Stone is an excellent waiver ad) who filled that role. Don’t be discouraged or panic with Hamilton, his time is coming and very soon.
#13 Derek Stingley Jr, CB Texans
We have the sixth cornerback of the week to make this edition of the IDP Rookie Recap, in New York Jets rookie Derek Stingley Jr. This is the 4th appearance on the list for Stingley Jr as he made his sixth start of the season. He played 56 defensive snaps (100%) and had a box score of five tackles, with all five being solos. That added up to a total of 13.8 fantasy points for the week. Stingley Jr has had five or more tackles in five of the six games played so far. As you can see he’s been productive and consistent to this point. Houston is a bad team so their rookies are getting plenty of snaps and that is what fantasy managers look for. Stingley is a solid starting option for position-specific leagues and is worth a look in standard IDP leagues.
#14 Jaylen Watson, CB, Chiefs
We finish up this week’s IDP Rookie Recap with Kansas City Chiefs rookie cornerback Jaylen Watson. This is Watson’s fifth appearance on this list, as he scored 13.5 fantasy points this week. He played 71 defensive snaps (90%) and played so well that the Chiefs took him off special teams. With all the injuries in their secondary Watson and Williams above have taken on a much larger role. Watson tallied six tackles with four of them being solos and that added up to 13.5 fantasy points for the week. Watson is a big-impact play option but that’s not reliable from week to week, but he’s more than that. In four of the last five games, he’s had five or more tackles. Over that same span, he’s totaled 26 tackles with 21 of those being solos. A weekly must-start option
This was an interesting and informative week one list. Cornerbacks were the dominant position on the list as they made up seven of the 14 players (50%). Defensive ends and safeties were next with two each (14.2%). The Chiefs and Lions 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.
