IDPs to Avoid in 2025 Redraft Leagues
Draft season is all about value – finding players who are underrated and avoiding those who are priced too high. Below, I’ve highlighted several defensive players I believe are overvalued as of August 13th. Whether it’s inflated 2024 stats or uncertain roles/scheme changes heading into 2025, these are guys I’m steering clear of at their current ADPs/ECRs.
These are just a few of the many player excerpts and rankings taken out of my 2025 IDP Fantasy Football Draft Guide which is available for purchase here.
2025 IDP Draft Guide Features:
Continually Updated in Real-Time Until Start of the Regular Season (9/4)
300+ Defensive Players Ranked in Tiered Fashion – 100 DL, 110 LB, 100 DB
Customizable Projections for All Ranked IDPs
Detailed Player Descriptions
Overall Top 100 IDP Rankings List
Sleeper/Target/Avoid Notation
Top 70 IDP Rookie Rankings
Rankings Comparison to FantasyPros’ Expert Consensus (ECR) Rankings
Excel Export Functionality
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
Andrew Van Ginkel DE – MIN (6), -7 vs. ECR
Van Ginkel finished as the #1 overall fantasy DL in 2024, but his production was inflated due to two defensive TDs and delivering a handful of sacks above expected according to PFF. Additionally, you have last year’s 17th overall pick in Dallas Turner pushing for more playing time which could lead to fewer snaps for AVG in 2025. All these signs point for a significant reduction in production for Van Ginkel so I’ll be avoiding him at his current ADP.
Khalil Mack DE – LAC (12), -10 vs. ECR
Mack is a future Hall of Famer and one of the best pass-rushers of his generation. And although he’s just two years removed from a career-high 17 sack season, he’s 34 years old and saw a significant decline in both sack production (lowest since his rookie season) and playing time last year (lowest of his career). As evidenced by his current DL21 ADP in The IDP Show’s Best Ball Drafts, he’s currently being overvalued based on his historical production and “big name” status. I have him projected closer to the DL35-40 range.
LINEBACKERS
Robert Spillane LB – NE (14), -4 vs. ECR
Spillane had a career season with the Raiders in 2024 notching season highs in solo tackles, assists, TFLs, and PDs on his way to a top five fantasy finish. I do have some concerns of a production drop-off with the move to New England as there’s a good likelihood the team moves to more man coverage under new Defensive Coordinator Terrell Williams. So I’m projecting him for a bit of year-over-year production regression.
Frankie Luvu LB – WAS (12), -3 vs. ECR
Luvu is a player I am not attracted to for fantasy purposes in standard IDP leagues given his heavy dependence on sacks. He finished as a top 20 linebacker in 2024 and exceeded my projections; however, his production was heavily buoyed by eight sacks which will be difficult to sustain, even though he gets way more pass-rush opportunities than any other off-the-ball linebacker.
Alex Anzalone LB – DET (8), -4 vs. ECR
Anzalone really struggled his first couple seasons in Detroit, so it was a bit surprising he maintained the sole, full-time linebacker role even after the team spent a top 20 selection on Jack Campbell in 2023. To his credit, Anzalone has improved the past couple of seasons, but he’s currently holding out, dealing with an injury, and is projected to be second-fiddle to Campbell fantasy-wise even if the team opts to play both guys in an every-down capacity.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Jaquan Brisker S – CHI (5), -9 vs. ECR
Based solely on his production to-date, Brisker would be several spots higher; however, the concussion history makes me leery. He’s had three of them since entering the league in 2022 and was shut down for 12 games and put on IR last season after suffering his third. Brisker projects out very similarly to several other players in the second tier of DBs, so I just don’t see the need to risk drafting him with this looming concern.
Nick Cross S – IND (11), -1 vs. ECR
Cross was a huge beneficiary of the Colts moving him to strong safety within Gus Bradley’s scheme last season where he was heavily deployed up in the box. This helped him finish with a whopping 146 total tackles, just behind the league-leader Budda Baker amongst DBs. The change in defensive coordinator to Lou Anarumo, however, is going to lead to less box snaps for Cross and therefore less tackle production. I suspect Cross will be overvalued heading into this season as managers chase his 2024 production – don’t fall into that trap.
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Questions, comments, or concerns with any of these recommendations? If so, please let me know by hitting me up on Twitter or emailing me at theidpguru@idpguru.com.