IDP Improvements: Moves to Make before Week 15

YaYa Diaby | © Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Jason Abbey Posted On December 11, 2024

The bye weeks may be behind us, but as injuries to defensive players continue to mount and struggling NFL teams pivot to younger options with an eye on 2025, fantasy managers everywhere are weighing up roster moves that best serve their team for the fantasy playoffs and beyond. Here, we delve into some fantasy moves you should consider heading into week fifteen.

YaYa Diaby, EDGE TB – Add/trade for

We recommended Diaby as a player to target back in week seven, highlighting how unfortunate he had been not to convert more of his pressures into sacks.

Some IDP managers will view Diaby’s 2024 as a failure because he has produced only three sacks through week 14. Still, there is dynasty value to be had for patient IDP managers who know that his ridiculously low 5.8% sack-to-pressure ratio – which ranks 107th out of 115 edge rushers – will regress to the mean sooner or later. It’s just a question of when.

Diaby’s dynasty value has dipped slightly since the end of last season, but his underlying metrics suggest a bounce-back season in 2025 is well within his scope of outcomes. His 14.8% pressure rate ranks 11th among all edge rushers, and his 26.4% win rate ranks 12th. Take advantage of the buy-low window.

K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE LV – Trade away

Very few edge rushers have been hotter than Chaisson in recent weeks. In the last two games, the 25-year-old has produced three sacks, an interception, and five tackles.

K’Lavon Chaisson redemption arc.
pic.twitter.com/rxpGRCe1os

— Daniel Griffis (@DanDGriffis) December 8, 2024

We can’t rule out the possibility that the former first-round pick is finally starting to realize his potential and can go on to become the quality player the Jacksonville Jaguars envisaged he would become when they made him the 20th overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft. Stranger things have happened.

However, there are several reasons to temper expectations. Chaisson’s six pressures in week 13 came against a beleaguered Kansas Chiefs’ offense, which has allowed the most pressures and the third-most sacks since week nine. Chaisson’s sack in week 14 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was his only pressure in the game. His 10.5% pressure rate in 2024 ranks 61st among all edge rushers, and his 12.6% win rate is 95th.

The edge rusher position is relatively deep and comprises many more talented and accomplished options than Chaisson has proven to be during his five-year career. Explore trades with a championship contender who believes Chaisson can remain impactful. Don’t tell your potential trade partners that the three teams the Raiders are about to face are poor matchups for opposition edge rushers!

Leo Chenal, LB KC – Add

Chenal has been mired in a heavy linebacker rotation since the Kansas City Chiefs selected him in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. His opportunity to make an impact has been limited by the presence of Nick Bolton and Drue Tranquill in recent years.

There’s a good chance Chenal will remain a part-time linebacker beyond 2024, assuming Steve Spagnuolo remains the Chiefs’ defensive coordinator. Still, the fact that Nick Bolton is scheduled to become a free agent in 2025 offers a glimmer of optimism that Chenal may become more involved.

Leo can do it all 💪 @chenal_leo pic.twitter.com/LuxiyyCt3v

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) October 22, 2024

The Chiefs would almost certainly add another linebacker to the roster if Bolton were to leave. However, adding Chenal would be a low-risk, potentially high-reward move for IDP managers to make until we wait for the situation to become clearer. If things fall Chenal’s way, his current position as the LB58 in DLF’s Dynasty IDP Rankings will almost certainly improve.

Byron Murphy, CB MIN – Trade away

Murphy has been one of the most productive fantasy cornerbacks in 2024. He only has four pass breakups but leads the position with six interceptions, and his 59 combined tackles rank 13th out of 142 at the position. He has undoubtedly helped many IDP teams achieve success this year.

ONE HAND ARE YOU KIDDING ME @byronmurphy 😱😱

📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/eWHDOUl3Mk

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 8, 2024

The Minnesota Vikings’ cornerbacks have an excellent schedule during the fantasy playoffs, so if your fantasy team remains in contention, you should probably ride the wave and hope Murphy remains hot. However, you should explore trades if your team is no longer in the race or you can afford to pivot to another productive cornerback with a good schedule. Shrewd IDP managers should need no reminder of the scoring volatility of cornerbacks in fantasy from season to season.

Conclusion

This is a dynasty-focused article, so some of the recommendations listed here may be inadvisable if you are in the midst of a playoff run and have to drop a more established player who could be more impactful in the short term. As always, consider these suggestions in the context of your league’s scoring format, starting requirements, and roster limitations.