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IDP fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em picks for Week 10 of 2025. Chris looks at IDP streamers, fades, matchups, and starts/sits for NFL defensive players.
The NFL’s trade deadline used to be an afterthought, where few deals ever happened and none of significance could cross the threshold. More noteworthy were the deals that didn’t happen, such as the botched last-minute trade between the Bengals and Browns for A.J. McCarron. However, the days of insignificant trade deadlines appear to be done, and the impacts on IDP are real.
The biggest IDP winner of the trade deadline is arguably Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner. It is nearly impossible to start shutdown corners in fantasy unless the matchup is tremendous, but Sauce should see more elite matchups with Indianapolis. Unlike the Jets, these Colts get out to big leads that force opponents to pass, plus Indy has four shadow-worthy matchups left on the schedule.
The biggest losers of the trade deadline are largely those who are being replaced in a trade. Kenneth Murray Jr. made our Disappointment of the Week for that reason, but Mekhi Blackmon (DB38 in fantasy PPG) could be another big loser if Charvarius Ward and Sauce are both healthy. Quinnen Williams also takes a hit, as he has less help on that Dallas line and in the secondary.
Editor's Note: Stay competitive in IDP fantasy football leagues with RotoBaller’s IDP rankings, sleepers, and waiver wire pickups for individual defensive players.
Patience Preach of the Week
Brian Branch, DB, Detroit Lions
If you feel disappointed in the output of Branch this season, get in line. He was DB2 overall in fantasy points per game last season and was drafted as DB1 overall in redrafts this year. Those factors led to high expectations, and disappointment is natural when you pay DB1 overall cost but get DB27 in fantasy points per game.
Badass play by Brian Branch in run defense — effortlessly shed T.J. Hockenson’s block and delivered a nice stick on the tackle.
Strong work from Anzalone, O’Connor, and McNeill too for forcing the play outside and eliminating any cutback lanes. pic.twitter.com/Qu0QJTBmbD
— Al Karsten (@FootballGuy_Al) November 4, 2025
With that said, Branch has registered at least five tackles in all but one game this season, and he continues to play half his snaps in the valuable slot/box role. He also has six favorable fantasy matchups left on his schedule, with two of them coming in the fantasy playoffs.
Casual IDP Streamers and Fades
Stream: Alex Highsmith, DL/LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Highsmith was a fade for us earlier in the year, due to inefficiency and usage. However, his usage has returned to normal after the Steelers brought him back slowly from injury. His advanced metrics also spiked last week, when he notched two sacks against a tough Colts offensive line.
Now, the Steelers face a Chargers offense that surrenders the third-most quarterback pressures in the league. That line also just lost starting left tackle Joe Alt for the second time this season, yet they continue to average the fifth-most pass attempts per game despite multiple injuries to their offensive line.
This is a premium matchup.
Stream: Devon Witherspoon, DB, Seattle Seahawks
The Cardinals have averaged the sixth-most pass attempts per game since Jacoby Brissett became their starting quarterback. That should continue this week, with the ultra-efficient Seattle passing attack keeping things interesting for Arizona.
In his three healthy games this year, Witherspoon is DB8 overall in fantasy ppg. Despite that fact, and his strong matchup this week, Witherspoon is just the 20th most started and 18th most rostered DB in fantasy.
We project the Illinois alum to face Marvin Harrison Jr. a good amount and finish as a top-10 DB, making him a fine streaming option in shallow leagues.
Fade: Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Miami Dolphins
Josh Allen has the lowest turnover-worthy play rate of any quarterback in the NFL with at least 300 snaps. Worse yet, the Bills' offense averages the sixth-fewest pass attempts per game, and oddsmakers project Buffalo to win this game by the widest margin of any team this week.
Considering how heavily the Bills are favored in this matchup and their preference for running the ball, it is fair to expect precious few pass attempts in this game and even fewer turnover opportunities. Fitzpatrick’s four worst fantasy outputs this year have come against offenses that ranked in the top 10 in rush attempts per game.
Fade: Chase Young, DL, New Orleans Saints
The former Ohio State superstar has been on a tear of late, averaging a whopping 9.25 fantasy ppg since his return from injury. In fact, if you were to factor out Week 1, in which he left with an injury halfway through the game, Young would be DL4 overall in ppg.
To make the former Buckeye even more attractive to streamers, Carolina’s offense is league average in quarterback pressures allowed. Their edge pressure rate is also in the bottom half of the league. So, it makes sense why his roster and start rate are spiking this week.
With all of that said, Young is a fade for us in shallow leagues. The Panthers average the third fewest pass attempts per game when Rico Dowdle is their starter, and they surrender just the 18th most sacks per game. While Young is a fine deep league streamer, the projected volume and opportunity rate in this game make him a fade in shallow leagues.
Premium/Deep League Streamers and Fades
Stream: Jermaine Johnson, DL, New York Jets
This Florida State alum is one of the last threats left on the Jets' defense, so he could get increased attention from opposing blockers. That might spell fantasy problems, especially with Sauce Gardner gone in trade. However, New York’s matchup is premium, and Johnson’s usage is expected to continue rising as he gets healthier.
Jermaine Johnson stabs, swims, beats the tackle, tips the pass pic.twitter.com/nrGcFRbwL6
— Theo Ash (@TheoAshNFL) August 4, 2023
The Browns' offense has the worst pass-blocking grades and the highest pressure rate allowed in the NFL. Only one member of that unit grades positively as a pass blocker, and they surrender 11.2 quarterback pressures off the edge per game. So, deep league IDP managers have to consider streaming Johnson in this matchup.
Stream: Coby Bryant, DB, Seattle Seahawks
As we already noted, the Cardinals are averaging the sixth-most pass attempts per game since Brissett took over as their starter. That gives Bryant and his teammates a quality matchup, especially with how often Bryant is assigned tight end coverage.
The Cincinnati alum is the 85th most rostered DB in fantasy, but the 50th most effective in points per game. He has a solid matchup on tap, and his snap share is secure with Julian Love on IR, so there is value to be had here.
Fade: Josh Sweat, DL, Arizona Cardinals
Sweat is a fine streamer most weeks, and we have mentioned him positively in this space multiple times this season. However, his matchup this week is tougher than it appears on paper.
While the Seahawks' offense is just league average in terms of pressures allowed and pass rush grades, they have surrendered just 27 total quarterback pressures off the edge all season. Worse, the Seahawks are surrendering the second fewest sacks per game and attempt the third fewest passes. Thus, this is a troubling matchup for Sweat.
Fade: Tyson Campbell, DB, Cleveland Browns
It is hard to bench Campbell given his recent fantasy output, especially in leagues that require you to start a CB. However, the matchup is bad enough to consider sitting the former Jaguar in non-CB leagues, even though he has been a full participant in practice.
The Jets are averaging the seventh-fewest pass attempts in the NFL this season, while Justin Fields has the seventh-lowest turnover-worthy throw rate in the NFL. While the return of Garrett Wilson could get Campbell solid volume, Fields’ compulsive need to avoid risky throws dampens that upside.
Defenders Worth Stashing
Nick Emmanwori, DB, Seattle Seahawks
As we have promised for weeks, Emmanwori will remain here until he is one of the 100 most-rostered DBs in fantasy. Currently, he has not met that mark despite registering at least five fantasy points in every full game he has played in the NFL.
Nick Emmanwori has become Seattle's primary nickelback in Devon Witherspoon's absence. The rookie safety played over 90% of the snaps last night for a second straight game after 64% playing time in Week 5, when he returned from his ankle injury.
One of his two PBUs vs. Houston: pic.twitter.com/wRflkiNqCx
— Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) October 21, 2025
Bryce Huff, DL, San Francisco 49ers
Huff returned to practice this week and is averaging a healthy 5.4 fantasy points per game, despite leaving some games early with nagging injuries. He also has a strong matchup on paper this week, as the Rams attempt the 11th most passes and surrender the seventh most pressures in the NFL.
This former Jet is just the 90th most rostered DL in fantasy, so he is readily available. He is also a solid streamer this week, as well as a viable season-long addition whose snap rate should rise with all the injuries on San Francisco’s defensive line.
DeMarvion Overshown, LB, Dallas Cowboys
Overshown is not yet cleared to play, but all reports indicate he is expected back within the next two weeks. His acclimation could be slow, given the severity of his injury last year, but there is a surplus of youth, talent, and opportunity on Overshown’s side.
The former Longhorn is the 65th most rostered LB but was LB14 in ppg last season.
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