Mid-Season Rookie Report: NFC IDPs

In the first of a two-part series, Jason King checks in on the rookie IDPs from the NFC to see how their debut season has unfolded.

Trades, waivers, and rookie drafts are the three legs of roster construction in dynasty, and rookie picks bring the highest amount of variance. Dynasty managers spend a much higher percentage of time on rookie draft preparation than on the other two legs, but it is simply hard to know how prospects will perform at the highest level, for different coaching staffs, and in various schemes.

Given the value of roster spots on your dynasty squads, you must keep tabs on your rookies to know whether they’re worthy of continued investment at the trade-off of waiver wire additions. It’s a gamble to give up on rookies during their rookie season, but you can essentially double down on losing by bypassing an upside waiver play because you can’t bring yourself to move on from a bad rookie pick.

In this series of two articles, Jase Abbey and I will check in on how rookie IDPs are performing, and how we value them for dynasty based on current performance and outlook. Part one is limited to our NFC IDP rookies.

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Options for All 12-Team Dynasty Formats

I’m considering this category to include rookies rosterable in dynasty setups that combine defensive linemen and defensive backs, with as few as two DLs, three linebackers, and two DBs.

1. Abdul Carter, EDGE, NYG

If not for Travis Hunter bringing wide receiver statistical upside to the cornerback position (where eligible), Abdul Carter would have been a shoo-in for the top IDP prospect. Among all IDP rookies, I have him ranked behind Carson Schwesinger, but that’s no knock on Carter, who easily leads all rookies in pressures with 33—a respectable 21st among all edge rushers.

What is to this point holding Carter back fantasy-wise is a lack of sacks: he has just half of one on the season. Compare that to Brian Burns, who has 11 sacks on 32 pressures, for justification of the argument that sacks are a fluky stat.

Carter is as advertised, and his snap share is fine - arguably nice at 69 percent - even with Kayvon Thibodeaux still around. It’s worth putting out trade feelers to see if the lack of sacks has created a buy window for the rookie.

2. Jihaad Campbell, LB, PHI

Jihaad Campbell is tough to figure out from a positional standpoint right now, but what’s clear is that he belongs. Standing in at off-ball for Nakobe Dean while the veteran recovered from a late-season torn patellar tendon and then eased his way back into the lineup, Campbell was great in NFL terms while giving us serviceable (LB4) NFL starts through seven weeks. Dean’s return to his spot next to Zack Baun means there are not enough meaningful snaps for Campbell at off-ball, and on the edge, the Eagles acquired Jaelan Phillips at the trade deadline and got back Nolan Smith from injured reserve in time for Week 10. If edge is the spot Philadelphia envisions for Campbell long-term, opportunity doesn’t look likely until 2026.

Due to draft capital and quality of play, Campbell is holding high in rookie IDP rankings. Should Dean re-sign with Philadelphia in the offseason, Campbell’s stock will sink precipitously even if a starting edge spot is open. The bottom line is short-term uncertainty, and if that makes you queasy, Campbell is not for you. I personally think he’s going to be a fine fantasy asset either way, and I like playing the upside game with IDPs like Campbell and Edgerrin Cooper.

3. Nick Emmanwori, S, SEA

Nick Emmanwori is Mike Macdonald’s version of Kyle Hamilton in Seattle, a versatile freak (remember his 10.0 RAS?) of a playmaker who can line up in the box, over the slot, or as a deep or split-field safety. For fantasy, the safety position itself is devalued, of course, but Emmanwori’s upside as a stat-sheet stuffer is high. The majority of his snaps since his practical Week 5 debut (he played four snaps in Week 1 before spraining his ankle) have come as a slot defender, a playmaking position that allows for higher tackle volume and sack upside. The vast majority of the remainder of his snaps have come in the box, and we know that’s ideal.

Since Week 5, Emmanwori has provided low-end S1 production, and that’s strictly due to tackle volume. The big plays haven’t even come yet (no interceptions and half a sack), but that’s just a matter of time. Just 21 years old, he’s easily in consideration for a top-five dynasty safety ranking, and I’d hear arguments that he should be No. 1.

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“Five Position” League Options

All below should, in my opinion, be rostered in any 12-team dynasty league with five positions, and certainly any requiring 11 defensive starters (two defensive ends, one defensive tackle, two linebackers, two safeties, two corners, and two flex, for example).

4. Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, DAL

The second-round pick has only seen his stock rise over the past month due to both on-the-field play and Dallas’ decision to add to non-edge defensive positions at the trade deadline. With 22 pressures and two sacks through 10 weeks, Donovan Ezeiruaku is easily the best pass rusher of a bunch that currently includes Dante Fowler Jr., Sam Williams, James Houston, and Jadeveon Clowney. It’s not hard to envision DE2 production long-term, even if the Cowboys add a notable free agent or draft pick to the edge room in the offseason.

5. Jalon Walker, EDGE, ATL

6. James Pearce Jr., EDGE, ATL

What’s this? Atlanta has a pass rush? Indeed, it does, and it starts with the first-round rookies.

Jalon Walker has an inflated sack total (four), but don’t hold that against him. Having played both off-ball and edge at Georgia, Walker has seen an increase in snap volume and share in Atlanta’s past two games. After missing Weeks 7 and 8 with a groin pull, Walker delivered three sacks, 11 total tackles, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and a pass defensed over his next two weeks, and has 12 of his 15 pressures over his past three outings.

James Pearce, meanwhile, ranks third among rookies with 20 pressures through 10 weeks. Rumored during the draft process to, let’s say, have interests other than football, Pearce has serious juice off the line. He’s kind of high-cut, and it’s fair to have concerns about whether his lack of natural leverage will limit him to a pass rush specialist, leading to low tackle totals.

Neither Walker nor Pearce should see a reduced role moving forward, with both Leonard Floyd and Arnold Ebiketie—who the Falcons were reportedly trying to move before the trade deadline—set to reach free agency.

7. Walter Nolen, DT, ARI

Walter Nolen was the closest thing this draft class had to offer to Byron Murphy in terms of quickness off the line and heavy hands. After missing Arizona’s first seven games with a calf injury, Nolen proved to be worth the wait, exploding onto the scene and into the Cowboys’ backfield in Week 9. He followed up his big debut (the DT7 in Week 9) with another pressure in Week 10 and a minor knee injury that cut short his snaps. He’s already established himself as a major asset in defensive tackle-premium scoring leagues, though, even in a quagmire of an interior defensive group that includes four big uglies who have logged more than 200 snaps apiece.

8. Danny Stutsman, LB, NO

Danny Stutsman is going to struggle anytime he’s in man coverage, but otherwise, he’s a strong prospect and leader. He’s spending his rookie year as an understudy to Demario Davis and, in some respects, Pete Werner. Stutsman has only seen 63 snaps on the season, but has an inflated tackle total (28) to show for it—not surprising with most of his snaps coming in garbage time.

While the underwhelming Werner is safely under contract through at least 2026, the 36-year-old Davis will see his contract void after this year, and it’s unknown if he’ll hang ‘em up or return to New Orleans if he does decide to play another season. If Davis indeed moves on, Stutsman’s value will rise substantially. And if not in 2026, he will eventually get his shot.

9. Mykel Williams, EDGE, SF

Hailed as an immediate difference-maker as a run defender with room to grow as a pass rusher, the 11th overall pick was being relied upon heavily before suffering an ACL tear in Week 9. His stats were certainly not gaudy (20 combined tackles and one sack on 19 pressures), but he showed he belongs, using long 34-plus inch arms and sheer strength to defeat combo blocks and keep tackles from anchoring in one-on-ones. His value is fairly dependent on his ability to develop his pass rush chops to become more efficient and more consistent.

10. Cody Simon, LB, ARI

Cody Simon’s value has risen very recently given his elevation to the starting lineup with Mack Wilson Sr. nursing a rib injury and spending time in the concussion protocol. Since Wilson’s Week 9 injury, Simon has logged 82 snaps and made nine combined tackles with a pass defensed, and he was made the defensive signal-caller in Week 10.

Lauded as a mature leader at Ohio State, Simon’s biggest question mark entering the NFL was his coverage ability, and he’s been fine so far in a limited sample size. In short, we have nothing but positive signals for Simon’s dynasty outlook. While Wilson is under contract for 2026 and I expect him to be back, Simon is setting himself up well to compete for a starting inside linebacker job as early as next season, especially if Akeem Davis-Gaither is a one-year rental.

11. Nic Scourton, EDGE, CAR

Nic Scourton is already Carolina’s best all-around EDGE, which I realize is hardly breaking news considering the other viable options: D.J. Wonnum, the injured Pat Jones II, and fellow rookie Princely Umanmielen. His 19 pressures are top five among rookie edge rushers, and his three sacks are second-best among rookies. He looks like a fixture at EDGE for the Panthers for the rest of the season and beyond.

12. Shemar James, LB, DAL

The fifth-rounder from Florida briefly emerged as a bright spot in an uninspiring linebacker corps on an atrocious defense. From Weeks 5-9, Shemar James played 304 of 346 snaps (88%). He’s tallied 49 combined tackles on the year with four quarterback hits, two tackles-for-loss, and a sack. All good things, right?

The downer, of course, is that the Cowboys traded for Logan Wilson, and DeMarvion Overshown was just activated off IR. And, though it makes sense to no one outside of Jerry’s World, Kenneth Murray keeps playing full-time snaps. Ideally, Overshown and James are running mates on a 2026 ticket that does not include Matt Eberflus as defensive coordinator. My faith in Dallas doing something logical is pretty low, though.

13. Xavier Watts, S, ATL

Atlanta seemingly caught a huge break when Xavier Watts slipped toward the end of the third round of the NFL Draft. In desperate need of a quality option next to Jessie Bates, Watts has lived up to his high billing as a prospect, playing all but a handful of Atlanta’s defensive snaps and delivering 56 combined tackles and two interceptions (good for mid- to low-end S2 production on the season). His average production has actually been on par with Bates, and the two have essentially split time playing deep and rolling downhill to the line of scrimmage.

14. Andrew Mukuba, S, PHI

A bit of a surprise at the end of the second round, Andrew Mukuba has been a mainstay at safety after beating out Sydney Brown. With more than 70 percent of his snaps coming at deep safety, Mukuba has had a hard time garnering fantasy lineup consideration given lower tackle totals.

He’s certainly flashed at times, notably in Week 2 when he picked off a fourth-quarter Patrick Mahomes’ pass in the end zone, preserving a Philadelphia lead in a game the Eagles would go on to win (Mukuba finished as the S1 that week).

15. Jonas Sanker, S, NO

This was supposed to be a transition year for Jonas Sanker, but Tyrann Meathieu retired just before the start of training camp, and then replacement Julian Blackmon suffered a torn labrum in Week 1. Instead of easing his way into action as a dime safety, Sanker was pressed into a full-time role by Week 2.

It turns out the rookie from Virginia was mostly ready for the challenge, and his 48 total tackles rank third among rookie safeties behind Watts and Baltimore’s Malaki Starks. Sanker has so far looked like the long-term answer at the second safety spot next to veteran Justin Reid.

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Medium-Size League Options

I’d consider the below to be rosterable in all 14-team leagues that utilize at least two starters at both safety and corner, and a stand-alone defensive tackle with some DT-premium scoring settings.

16. Shaun Dolac, LB, LAR

The only undrafted free agent on this list, Shaun Dolac lacks ideal size but makes up for it with smarts and determination. He had Sean McVay saying nice things about him at the end of training camp, and beat out fifth-round pick Chris Paul for a roster spot. Outside of Week 6, when he logged seven total tackles on 35 snaps, Dolac has been limited to special teams work as a backup behind Nate Landman and Omar Speights. Dolac’s best path to relevance is for Landman to go elsewhere once his one-year deal is up at the end of this season, but the former Falcon has been good enough that I’m willing to bet he returns to Los Angeles on a team-friendly deal.

17. Jacob Parrish, CB, TB

The IDP community had questions about who would succeed Tykee Smith as the Bucs’ slot defender, with Smith making the move to full-time safety. It turned out to be Jacob Parrish, who has been really good—and productive, despite the Week 10 goose egg and a less-than-ideal snap share (67 percent on the season) that goes hand-in-hand with slot defenders. With 41 tackles and two sacks through eight weeks, the third-rounder from Kansas State has served as a steady CB2 with upside.

18. Upton Stout, CB, SF

The Niners found a nice slot defender with the 100th overall pick. A strong tackler (44 combined) and frequent blitzer (his 21 attempts rank second among all defensive backs to the Bears’ Jaquan Brisker), Upton Stout has made for a streamable CB2. I do have some concern with San Francisco’s recent interest in Asante Samuel Jr., and if the 49ers sign the free agent, I’d imagine he’d push Deommodore Lenoir back to the slot. It seems like a long shot, but if it does happen and Samuel’s deal is for more than the rest of the season, Stout will drop to the bottom of this tier of rookies.

19. Billy Bowman Jr., CB, ATL

Billy Bowman returned to the field in Week 10 following a four-week absence due to a hamstring injury. Classified as a safety on MyFantasyLeague but strictly a slot defender, Bowman has been serviceable from a statistical perspective. Dee Alford has probably been better in the slot for the Falcons, but he was pulled early from Sunday’s Berlin game with a possible concussion. Alford is also a free agent this offseason, so Bowman is lined up for the long-term slot job on a defense that runs a blitz out of the slot at a decent rate. (Alford and Bowman combined for 15 blitz attempts through 10 weeks.)

20. Lathan Ransom, S, CAR

From a skill standpoint, Lathan Ransom’s play has been as expected: he’s an excellent downhill safety and run defender. He’s essentially a dime safety at the moment, but a lot can change, and should change given that the primary free safety, Nick Scott, stinks. Tre’von Moehrig is playing more of a box and slot role, but should Ransom take Scott’s role, I think it makes more sense to move Moehrig back and let Ransom work closer to the line of scrimmage. Should that happen, either this year or next, Ransom becomes worthy of consideration as an S2 or S3.

21. Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, CAR

The lesser of Carolina’s two pass rush draft picks, Princely Umanmielen currently finds himself as the third edge option behind Scourton and Wonnum. There’s plenty to be excited about with Umanmielen from a pass rush perspective, and he’s produced 1.5 sacks and nine pressures over 148 snaps. Wonnum is set to reach free agency in the offseason, and even with a return of Pat Jones II (out for the season with a back injury), Umanmielen has an opportunity for a larger snap share over the second half of this season and into 2026.

22. Josaiah Stewart, EDGE, LAR

The biggest knock on the third-rounder is that he’s playing behind Jared Verse and Byron Young, and that’s not likely to change barring injury. Over his 198 snaps, Josaiah Stewart has generally impressed with two sacks on 11 pressures. His most likely path to real fantasy relevance involves Young departing as a free agent after the 2026 season.

23. Nick Martin, LB, SF

After day two of the NFL Draft, many considered Martin to be the favorite to slide into the starting lineup next to Fred Warner. It’s been an inauspicious start to Martin’s career, though, as the third-rounder has yet to play a defensive snap and currently sits fifth on an off-ball depth chart that lost Warner for the season.

As the backup to the backup to Dee Winters, Martin has a long road ahead to provide fantasy value. I’m hopeful he can at least secure the backup role to Winters in 2026, the final year of Winters’ rookie deal. In a best-case scenario for Martin, Winters moves on as a free agent for 2027, and Martin becomes the next Winters. If you (like me) believe in San Francisco’s ability to find and develop off-ball linebackers, you’re hanging onto your Martin shares simply based on upside.

24. Marques Sigle, S, SF

Marques Sigle has at minimum already proven to be a capable NFL backup safety, and has already made the rounds as a priority IDP waiver wire add, and drop. After playing 100 percent of the 49ers’ defensive snaps through the season’s first five weeks, Sigle saw his role scaled back starting in Week 6, when Malik Mustapha made his season debut and Ji’Ayir Brown returned to the coaching staff’s good graces. Sigle hasn’t seen a defensive snap since Week 7, and was inactive in Weeks 9 and 10.

If you need a case to keep Sigle rostered, keep in mind Brown’s NFL career seemed down for the count just a few short weeks ago, and Brown is a free agent after the 2026 season. Current top backup Jason Pinnock is on a one-year deal, and isn’t very good.

25. Elijah Roberts, DT, TB

The fifth-round pick from SMU moved into the starting lineup in Week 7, and has 15 pressures on the season. He’s also coming off his best performance in Week 10 with a sack and a couple of solo tackles. He’s playing more 3-tech right now with Calijah Kancey on the mend from a torn pectoral muscle, but long-term, he’s probably looking at taking over for Logan Hall as the run down 4/4i, with rotational snaps at the “statistically kinder” 3-tech spot.

26. Will Johnson, CB, ARI

Before sitting out Week 10 with a back injury, Will Johnson had started four consecutive games at outside corner. A first-round talent, the former Michigan star turned in a CB1 performance in Week 9. He’s strictly an outside corner, which means he’s very volatile for fantasy, and likely just a streaming play.

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Deep League Options Only

The corners listed here are streamable in most dynasty formats that require two cornerback starters. Otherwise, I’d consider everyone below to be considerations in leagues with 16 teams or more, with 60-70 available roster spots (including taxi squads).

27. Chris Paul Jr., LB, SEA

It hurt my heart but he was cut by the Rams before the start of the season and landed on Seattle’s practice squad. He shouldn’t be ranked this high but he was one of my draft crushes and I still believe if he ever sees defensive snaps, he’ll turn heads.

28. Darius Alexander, DT, NYG

He’s been pushed around a good bit over his 181 snaps, and I suppose that was to be expected given his jump from Toledo. He has seven pressures so far and a sack to his name, so I don’t think all is lost, especially when we consider all that currently stands in his way of a larger role next season is Roy Robertson-Harris.

29. Trey Amos, CB, WAS

Trey Amos was an immediate contributor on the outside for the Commanders, starting all but two games before cracking a fibula in Week 10. Outside corners are tough to trust for fantasy production, but Amos at least looks like a long-term, full-time guy.

30. Jordan Burch, EDGE, ARI

The third-rounder is playing close to 30 snaps per game as part of Jonathan Gannon’s four-man edge rotation, but Jordan Burch has little production to show with zero sacks on nine pressures. He’s probably going to be playing behind Josh Sweat, Baron Browning, and Zaven Collins again in 2026.

31. Barryn Sorrell, EDGE, GB

There was more reason for optimism before Green Bay’s trade for Micah Parsons. We’ll need to see backups Kingsley Enagbare and Lukas Van Ness removed from the picture by way of free agency over the next couple of seasons for Sorrell to see enough snaps for fantasy relevance. When pressed into larger duty (30 snaps) in Week 7, he was a total dud.

32. Ruben Hyppolite II, LB, CHI

The Maryland product seemed like a stretch in the fourth round, and he’s played just 18 defensive snaps, all during the first three weeks of the season. I suppose there’s some appeal on the other side of the 2026 season, when both Tremaine Edmunds and Noah Sewell are set to become free agents, and T.J. Edwards’ contract becomes easy to exit.

33. Collin Oliver, LB, GB

A hamstring injury has kept the fifth-rounder on the physically unable to perform list since training camp. I personally think he has intrigue as a Nick Herbig-like sparkplug off the edge, or perhaps even an off-ball convert in the mold of Kaden Elliss.

34. David Walker, EDGE, TB

The FCS legend tore an ACL in training camp. If you’re holding him in leagues of 16 teams or more, he’s likely stashed on your injured reserve. He’ll be near impossible to carry over to next season’s roster unless you’ve got 20 spots on your taxi squad.

35. Smael Mondon Jr., LB, PHI

He’s played just seven defensive snaps so far—all in Week 8—and his two tackles have come on special teams. A lot needs to go right for him to realize fantasy value over the next several seasons. Baun is locked up through 2027, and that’s one off-ball spot that’s locked up. For the second spot to open up and provide an opportunity, fellow rookie Campbell would need to move to full-time edge, Dean would need to leave in free agency, and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. would need to fall behind Smael Mondon. AND Philadelphia would need to ignore the position in free agency and the draft.

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