The NFL and fantasy football season is cruising right along which has fans, coaches, and fantasy managers believing that this is their year. Not to stress you out but this is already week three! After this week, we’ll be ¼  of the way through the fantasy regular season, so don’t wait to get your rosters in order. Each week I will bring you the IDP Stock Market to help you understand who you should be investing in and liquidating on your IDP portfolios. So without any further delay let’s get started and away we go!

Investments

Henry To’o To’o, LB, Houston Texans

Let's face it, while the Houston Texans have some exciting cornerstone pieces (CJ Stroud & Will Anderson Jr.) they are trying to build around, they are still a really bad team overall. Their defense will be on the field a lot and they already have six players with nine or more tackles through the first two weeks. He earned his first start last week versus Indianapolis and played extremely well. To’o To’o played 46 defensive snaps (81%) which was more than double what he received in week one. He recorded seven tackles with four being solo. As he gets more comfortable in this defense I expect his numbers to continue to climb.

While he may not be the biggest, fastest, strongest, or most talented, his on-the-field football IQ and leadership are second to none. That’s why they drafted him and all they need him to do is just lead and play free. He’ll have some ups and downs along the way, but this may be the last time you can invest in his stock at a decent price. This is more of a dynasty stock than a redraft option, but he could have some sneaky good value if the redraft leagues have deep rosters.

Harrison Phillips, DT, Minnesota Vikings

My next IDP stock market investment, it’s one that is for those of you who play in position-specific leagues. In those types of leagues, you are required to start a defensive tackle(s) and Harrison Phillips a defensive tackle for the Minnesota Vikings has been red hot to start the season. Through the first two games of the season, he has started both games playing 120 defensive snaps (83%) and has registered 21 total tackles (2nd on the team), 12 being solos and one PBU. Opposing teams have elected to run up the middle more versus the Vikings instead of challenging the edges where Danielle Hunter and  Marcus Davenport are. At a position that is hard to find production, Phillips has been an early-season diamond. Right now is the time to invest in Phillips for your IDP portfolios before he has another good game and his price begins to shoot up.

Kamu Grugier-Hill, LB, Carolina Panthers

If you were one of the unlucky fantasy managers who had LB Shaq Thompson on your roster, I offer sympathy and a solution. Thompson suffered a fractured fibula on Sunday and is out for the ROS (rest of the season), but the solution to your problems is his backup, Kamu Grugier-Hill. Once Thompson left the game, it was Grugier-Hill that came in and he played very well. He played 60 defensive snaps (78%) and had a box score consisting of six tackles, five being solo, for an 83.3% solo rate, one TFL, and one sack. If you don’t trust rookie options such as Ivan Pace Jr. or Henry Too Too and want a more established stock option, then Grugier-Hill is for you. He likely won’t cost very much to invest in, if you act quickly before everyone else decides to invest.

Liquidations

John Johnson III, SAF, LA Rams

A stock that I am liquidating is that of John Johnson III. A dependable stock option at the safety position, who has produced at a high level (three 100+ tackle seasons)even with his first stint with the Rams. The thought was that he would be a starter but the Rams have elected to role with Jordan Fuller and Russ Yeast. Johnson did start last week versus the 49ers but only played four (7%) measly defensive snaps and six on special teams. The lack of meaningful defensive reps is very concerning and unless an injury occurs, I don’t trust that he will. Fantasy football is all about what have you done lately and Johnson has done nothing. The safety position is one that is very deep, so I suggest selling (trade or cut) your shares Johnson from your IDP portfolios and finding a better option to invest in.

Leonard Williams, DE, New York Giants

This is a stock liquidation that I had last week too, but feel the need to emphasize that you should be getting away from any shares of him while you still can. Dating back to week nine of the 2021 season, Leonard Williams has recorded just 3½ sacks in 25 games played (including playoffs), and five inactive weeks. This streak of non-existent sack totals reminds me of Clelin Ferrell a couple of years ago. The difference between the two is that Williams was a relevant fantasy option at one point. Williams still carries some name-brand value but that will disappear fast if he doesn’t start producing. We have all been guilty of hanging on to a stock for too long in hopes that it will rebound, but I’m just not seeing it and the fact his snap count has dropped from a career average of 70% to 57% this year doesn’t help. 

As you can see he’s a brand name stock that has been trending down for some time now. When healthy he’ll give you some decent tackle numbers for the position but without the pass rush numbers, he’s not a player I can trust on a weekly basis. His name still carries some value so I suggest trying to flip him to an owner who likes him and has a need at the defensive end. You’re not gonna get a ton for him, but it’s time to liquidate this stock from your IDP portfolios.

All stats provided by Pro Football Reference

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