IDP Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em for Week 15 - Streamers, Fades, Matchups for Defensive Players

In our IDP rankings article this week, we reminisced about old rotisserie fantasy football leagues. We discussed how fair and balanced those extinct leagues are, truly rewarding the best teams over a given season. You might wonder what brings that up. Perhaps it is the bitter pill that some of us feel when we lead […]

IDP Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em for Week 14 - Streamers, Fades, Matchups for Defensive Players

As we witness the "Super Bowl Hangover" claim another victim in the San Francisco 49ers, an interesting myth is circulating in the media. This myth centers on the idea that San Francisco is not to blame for this problem, that fantasy managers could not have planned for it, and that San Fran's misfortune is a […]

IDP Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em for Week 13 - Streamers, Fades, Matchups for Defensive Players

Thanksgiving is the most self-explanatory holiday in existence. Its very purpose is in the title. You are giving thanks, hence Thanksgiving. However, there is a small side effect that comes with the smorgasbord of Thursday football gifted to us on our nation’s day of gorging. This side effect has a sneaky impact on the NFL […]

IDP Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em for Week 12 - Streamers, Fades, Matchups for Defensive Players

Week 12 is one of the more significant bye weeks of the season, with Week 14 its primary rival in terms of volume and fantasy playoff impact. What arguably makes Week 14 worse than this week's bye is that some fantasy leagues still start their playoffs in Week 14, rendering key players unavailable when you […]

IDP Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em for Week 11 - Streamers, Fades, Matchups for Defensive Players

Peer pressure is a severe problem for many fantasy football managers and analysts. No matter how many times I tell myself and others to trust your gut, it's next to impossible not to be swayed by the opinions of people you trust or those who evaluate players full-time. As I've documented, it happened to me […]

IDP Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em for Week 10 - Streamers, Fades, Matchups for Defensive Players

How should injuries impact IDP rankings? It’s an interesting issue and a harder question to answer for defensive players than it is for offensive ones. You see, the media is far more interested in reporting on high-profile positions like pass-catchers, quarterbacks, and running backs. As a result, it’s far easier to find practice reports and […]

IDP Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em for Week 9 - Streamers, Fades, Matchups for Defensive Players

Week 9 is yet another unique bye-week scenario for fantasy managers. Specifically, it creates a tough spot for IDP managers who roster some of the top talent at the DL and LB positions. Despite the NFL only resting two teams this week, we lose significant defensive assets from two of the league’s best squads. On […]

IDP Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em for Week 8 - Streamers, Fades, Matchups for Defensive Players

Week 8 marks an odd time in the NFL schedule. It is a period after several teams have had their bye weeks, yet it’s a time before many others do. Despite that, Week 8 is the eye of the storm. It’s a rare moment where no NFL team is on bye … for some reason. […]

IDP Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em for Week 7 - Streamers, Fades, Matchups for Defensive Players

As we state at the beginning of each weekly IDP Rankings article, those rankings are based upon a common scoring format we dub “IDP Standard Scoring.” It's a system geared towards balancing each defensive position equally. LBs and box safeties can profit from tackles, while big play machines can make up the difference with turnovers […]

IDP Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em for Week 6 - Streamers, Fades, Matchups for Defensive Players

In our IDP Rankings column this week, we considered one factor that can cloud the reading of fantasy rankings. Namely, we addressed how rankings can rob some fans of the nuisances they may need in specific leagues or situations. For example, if you're a team in need of a solid floor, sometimes going with a […]

2025 NFL Mock Draft Predictions: Still-Too-Early Edition

Hey, fantasy football fans and draft junkies! We're already a month into the 2024 NFL season and you’re here because, like me, you can't get enough of mock drafts. And even though we're months away from locking in a final draft order and nailing down player rankings, it’s the perfect time to get a leg […]

IDP Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em for Week 5 - Streamers, Fades, Matchups for Defensive Players

  "It was so close!" A phrase well-known to sports fans and the fantasy community. It means the inches between a run becoming touchdown or a fumble. It’s the penalty that undoes a game-breaking throw or tackle. It is the 0.01 points that separate your fantasy team from victory or defeat. Sometimes, the close misses […]

IDP Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em for Week 4 - Streamers, Fades, Matchups for Defensive Players

Sometimes, an elite matchup doesn't work out in fantasy. Worse, sometimes all signs can point to a great player having a great game, yet it doesn't happen. This is something experienced fantasy managers are used to. They know that you don't bench superstars after one or two bad games, don't just start whoever had a […]

IDP Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em for Week 3 - Streamers, Fades, Matchups for Defensive Players

For fantasy writers, sometimes the most obvious matchups are also the most frustrating. When you are writing a fantasy streamers article, our job is to point out strong or weak matchups that could sway a player’s stat line. The idea is that you can help readers find a readily available defender with a great matchup… […]

IDP Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em for Week 2 - Streamers, Fades, Matchups for Defensive Players

Take a deep breath. This is a mantra most fantasy managers have to repeat to themselves at some point or another. Perhaps there is no better time to use it than after Week 1. This is especially true for players whose film and metrics are great, yet their usage or statistics are disappointing. One such […]

IDP Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em for Week 1 - Streamers, Fades, Matchups for Defensive Players

As was noted in my Week 1 IDP Rankings, predicting streamers and fades early in the NFL season can be folly. So much of streaming and fading players is rooted in matchups, but the quality of opposing units can vary greatly from season to season. This variety has a trickle-down effect, impacting defensive opponents in […]

2025 NFL Draft Prospects: Top 30 Rankings Big Board - An Early Look

Alright, team, soon we'll be cruising into the sunny days of summer, and it’s prime time to lay down my Top 30 Big Board for the 2025 NFL Draft. For all you draft junkies who’ve been riding shotgun with me through the mock drafts and scouting reports this season—a huge shoutout to you! Now that […]

Recapping the Biggest Picks and Storylines of 2024 NFL Draft Weekend

Alright, football fanatics, strap in because the 2024 NFL Draft just wrapped up! Boy, did it deliver the drama, surprises, and future fantasy stars we all crave! From unexpected picks to blockbuster trades up the board, this year's draft was nothing short of a roller coaster that even the most seasoned draft gurus couldn't have […]

2024 NFL Draft Grades For Every First Round Pick

As we exit the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, it's fun to offer up "instant reactions" to the impactful decisions teams made with precious first-round draft capital. Many expected this to be a draft that was jam-packed with quarterback and wide receiver selections, and Thursday night didn't disappoint, as QBs went off the […]

2024 NFL Mock Draft Round 1 - Final Predictions from All 32 Teams

Alright, folks, NFL Draft week is finally here: that magical time when every fan can dare to dream again! If you've been reading some of these mocks during the season, you know what a ride it's been and I sincerely appreciate any of you who've been following along. With the first big wave of NFL […]

2024 NFL Mock Draft - Best Case First Three Round Scenario for All 32 Teams

NFL Mock Drafts can be conducted in various ways. The most common practice is attempting to predict what will happen, which is futile, especially in March. That is because so many team opinions are going to change. Teams haven't even started doing pre-draft visits yet, which will undoubtedly shed more light on which prospects teams […]

2024 NFL Mock Draft Round 1 Predictions (Post-Free Agency Update) - Picks from All 32 Teams

We've now reached the point in the year where the disappointment of there not being any live football until the fall has subsided and hope has begun to renew for each fanbase heading into draft season. The first wave of NFL Free Agency has also passed and the rosters of all 32 teams have begun […]

2024 NFL Mock Draft - Rounds 2 and 3 Predictions (Post-Free Agency Update)

It's hard to believe we are now just three-plus weeks out from the 2024 NFL Draft. Warm weather and summer will be here before we know it! Free Agency's initial frenzy has settled down, sketching a clearer picture of what our beloved 32 squads are shaping up to be. If you're looking for Round 1 […]

NFL Free Agent Signings: Instant Analysis from the First Day of Free Agency

Yesterday was fun, wasn't it? When the free agency period began, it started fast and furious with many big-named players signing with new teams and other solid contributors finding their way to their next rosters as well. The biggest names get the attention of course. Kirk Cousins landing in Atlanta and Saquon Barkley finding his […]

Top 10 Defensive Free Agents - 2024 Available Players Include Chris Jones, Danielle Hunter, and more

Entering the offseason, some big-name defensive players were set to hit free agency. Players like Justin Madubuike, Brian Burns, Jaylon Johnson, Josh Allen, Antoine Winfield Jr., and L'Jarius Sneed were all going to be on the open market this offseason. However, with the franchise tag coming into play, six of the top eight defensive free-agent […]

2024 NFL Mock Draft - Making All 32 Fan Bases Happy

Predicting the first round of the NFL Draft is a futile exercise. The “best” mock drafts have a hit rate lower than Kyle Schwarber’s batting average, which probably explains why there are so many of them floating about. Here, we won’t be trying to predict the future of the 2024 NFL Draft. Instead, we will […]

2024 NFL Mock Draft Round 1 Predictions (February Update) - Picks from All 32 Teams

That first dreaded Sunday of the year without football arrived and there's no doubt many of you all across the country needed something to fill the void over the weekend. Have no fear, NFL Mock Draft Season is here! While we are still about seven months away from official 2024 NFL action, the good news […]

2024 NFL Mock Draft Round 1 Predictions 5.0 (January Update) - All 32 Draft Picks

The NFL regular season has come to a close and the first 18 picks are now set! As we are now into the playoffs, coaching and front-office changes are taking place around the league and those decisions could have some ripple effects on what happens on draft day. The draft order for picks 19-32 will […]

Ranking The Top 10 Rookies Of The 2023 NFL Season

The 2023 rookie class was record-setting in numerous ways and appears to be a very deep class after one season. While most of the firepower is on the offensive side of the ball, a few rookie defenders slotted in as some of the best players in the league in year one. Anthony Richardson looked to […]

RotoBaller's Picks For MVP And More

The 2023 regular season is over. While the playoffs will keep fans entertained for the next month, there is plenty to discuss. At the top of that list in the yearly NFL awards. While some seem like a clear-cut call, others are up for debate. Let’s look at my picks for the MVP and many […]