Which players were the top-scoring IDP rookies for Week 5? Check out the Week 5 IDP Rookie Recap to see who they were and the impact that they had.
Each week, I will do an IDP rookie recap of the previous week’s top-scoring IDP rookies. The scoring for the rookies is based on the IDP Nation Listener League 2 scoring. I’ll break down the tier one rookies (top 12 scoring rookies) and what their impact could have on your fantasy team’s rosters.
From stud rookies to one-hit wonders, I will give you everything you need to know about the rookies you drafted. There were some new names on the list this week, so let’s take a look at the top-performing rookies in the Week 5 IDP Rookie Recap.
Brandin Echols, CB, New York Jets
This past week’s top-scoring IDP fantasy rookie on my IDP rookie recap is Brandin Echols of the New York Jets. He makes his third appearance on the list this season with 24.8 fantasy points scored (FPTS) in week 5.
Echols started his fifth consecutive game and played a personal best 59 defensive snaps (76%) in week 5. Last week versus the Atlanta Falcons he recorded nine tackles, seven being solos, one PBU.
Fantasy managers started Echols in just 3% of MFL.com leagues last week. The Jets are starting rookies across the board at a heavy rate and that should equate to more production from them. Through five games this season Echols has registered 22 tackles, with 20 being solos and two PBUs. Echols is a good weekly streaming option at the cornerback position.
Gregory Rousseau, DE, Buffalo Bills
The next top-scoring IDP fantasy rookie on my IDP rookie recap is Buffalo Bills defensive end Gregory Rousseau. This makes the second appearance that Rousseau has made the list and this week he comes in at #2. He scored 24.3 fantasy points last week versus the Kansas City Chiefs.
Rousseau tallied five tackles, four were solos, one TFL, one sack, one interception, and one PBU. He played 36 of the defensive snaps (42%) and four special teams snaps (14%).
Fantasy managers are very high on Rousseau and started him in 79% of MFL.com leagues last week. He has a great matchup this week versus the Tennessee Titans, who have allowed QB Ryan Tannehill to be sacked 20 times through the first five games. Facing a run-heavy offense that gives up four sacks a game, there should be no reason for Rousseau not to be on this list next week.
Brandon Stephens, CB, Baltimore Ravens
Up next is a first-timer on my IDP rookie recap in Baltimore Ravens CB Brandon Stephens. In his second start of the season, Stephens would have a huge breakout performance. Last Monday Night versus the Indianapolis Colts, Stephens played all 69 of the defensive snaps and recorded 11 tackles, six being solos, and one QB hit. Those numbers would equate to 22.8 fantasy points.
The Ravens drafted Stephens in the third round of last year’s NFL draft and so far he’s been everything they thought he would be. Fantasy managers like him as well, as they started him in 39% of MFL.com leagues last week.
Will he continue the big numbers each week going forward? No, but he has shown that he’s worth a roster spot and playing the matchups. In five games played this season, Stephens has totaled 25 tackles, 12 being solos, and one QB hit.
Pete Werner, LB, New Orleans Saints
The next top-scoring IDP fantasy rookie on my IDP rookie recap is New Orleans Saints linebacker Pete Werner, who is making his second straight appearance. Werner scored 21 fantasy points last week versus the Washington Football Team. He played 82 of the defensive snaps (99%) and produced 13 tackles, with eight of those being solo stops.
Werner made his third consecutive start for New Orleans and has seen his production increase with the extra reps. In three games played this season, Werner has registered 25 tackles, 15 of the solo variety, and one TFL. Even with back-to-back ten-plus tackle games, fantasy managers have been hesitant to plug him in their lineups.
Werner was started in just 1% of MFL.com leagues last week, but I expect that to skyrocket going forward. Don’t be afraid to get the rook in your lineups and enjoy the rewards.
AJ Parker, CB, Detroit Lions
We have another newcomer to my IDP rookie recap this week. Coming in at number five this week is Detroit Lions cornerback AJ Parker. The Lions have a lot of holes they need to fix on defense and the loss of their superstar cornerback Jeff Okudah, forced the Lions to throw the youngster Parker in the fire earlier than expected.
Last week he scored 19.8 fantasy points on the road versus the Minnesota Vikings. Parker had his best game to date, with a seven tackle, six solo, and one TFL performance.
Parker has played a steady 35 defensive snaps per game (55%) each week and for the season he has totaled 18 tackles, 16 being solos, and one TFL. Fantasy managers clearly are buying into the strategy of rookie corners get picked on, as they started him in 43% of MFL.com leagues last week.
I have to agree with them here, as the Lions have a lot to figure out on defense and Parker should continue to be targeted on a regular basis.
Paulson Adebo, CB, New Orleans Saints
We continue the IDP rookie recap with a player that is no stranger to this list. New Orleans Saints CB Paulson Adebo is the second Saint to make the list week and is making his fourth appearance in five weeks. He scored 18 fantasy points last week on the road versus the Washington Football Team.
In that game, Adebo compiled four tackles, all solos, one interception, and one PBU. He has started five consecutive games for the Saints, playing 65 of the defensive snaps (93%) on the season.
In five games played this season, Adebo has 23 tackles, 20 being solos, two interceptions, and two PBUs. Fantasy managers are missing out on some prime scoring outputs by the rookie, as they only started him in 4% of MFL.com leagues last week. At a position that gets streamed regularly, Adebo has been a consistently good weekly starter.
Nick Bolton, LB, Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs rookie linebacker Nick Bolton is making his third appearance on my IDP rookie recap. Bolton scored 17 fantasy points last Sunday night versus the Buffalo Bills. He played 43 of the defensive snaps (75%) and registered six tackles, all solos, and two TFLs.
Bolton has started all five games this season for Kansas City and has been one of their most consistent defenders. In five games played Bolton has produced 31 tackles, 23 of those have been solos and four TFLs.
Fantasy managers started Bolton in 59% of MFL.com leagues last week, which is too low in my opinion. For me, he’s a weekly start and great play as an LB3 option for your lineups. A couple of interesting stats that confirms my decision to make him a must-start are, Bolton has blitzed 17 times and also sports a missed tackle rate of 3.1% (1 missed tackle on the season).
Plenty of playmaking opportunities and he’s efficient equals big fantasy points. A must-start in all IDP leagues.
Jaelan Phillips, DE, Miami Dolphins
The next top-scoring IDP fantasy rookie on my IDP rookie recap is our second defensive end Jaelan Phillips of the Miami Dolphins. Phillips scored 15.5 fantasy points last week versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In that contest, he played 57 of the defensive snaps (77%) and recorded four tackles, two being solo, one TFL, one sack, and one QB Hit. In five games this season, Phillips has produced 15 tackles, seven solos, one TFL, 1½ sacks, and five QB hits.
Phillips made just his second start last week but has been steadily making an impact each week. Fantasy managers started Phillips in 43% of MFL.com leagues last week and that should continue to rise going forward.
Miami has been lacking a true pass-rush presence for the last few years and Phillips finally gives them a legit weapon when rushing the passer. A must roster rookie that has a lot of upside.
Jevon Holland, S, Miami Dolphins
Next on my IDP rookie recap, we have back-to-back Miami Dolphins and this time it’s safety Jevon Holland. This is the second appearance for Holland on the IDP rookie recap, who scored 15 fantasy points last week. Holland had his best game to date with a seven tackle, five solo performance versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In just his second start of the season, he played 72 of the defensive snaps (97%). The rookie from Oregon was one of my highest-rated safeties in the past draft class and he’s showing you why. Fantasy managers don’t seem to be as sold on him as I am, as they started him in just 14% of MFL.com leagues last week.
Just as with Phillips above, there are a lot of opportunities for Holland to be a playmaker. If he’s not rostered in any of your leagues, then go pick him up now
Adetokunbo Ogundeji, DE, Atlanta Falcons
The next top-scoring IDP fantasy rookie on my IDP rookie recap is Atlanta Falcons defensive end Adetokunbo Ogundeji. The rookie from Notre Dame is making his first appearance on this list as he scored 14 fantasy points in week 5 in London, versus the New York Jets.
For the game, he played 30 of the defensive snaps (54%) and recorded two tackles, both solos, one TFL, one sack, and two QB hits.
On a team such as the Falcons who are in need of playmakers, this type of performance will surely get him some more reps going forward. He can be picked up off the waiver wire and was only started in 2% of MFL.com leagues last week. Ogundeji is worth a flyer if you play in position-specific leagues.
Micah Parsons, LB/DE, Dallas Cowboys
Next on my IDP rookie recap, is the favorite by many to win defensive rookie of the year, Micah Parsons. While he’s listed as a linebacker, Parsons has seen a good number of reps at the defensive end. On the season he has played 101 snaps at EDGE and 147 snaps at linebacker. As you can see, he’s been badly needed at both positions.
Last week he scored 14 fantasy points versus the New York Giants, where on 63 defensive snaps (93%) he registered eight tackles, six being solo, and three QB hits. Add those to his season totals and Parsons has 25 tackles, 17 solos, three TFLs, 2½ sacks, ten QB hits, and two PBUs.
Fantasy managers are all in on Parsons as they started him in 87% of MFL.com leagues last week. I don’t often advise trading for a rookie regardless of the price tag, but Parsons isn’t your average rookie. It may seem like an overpay now, but whatever the price, it will be a steal in the future. Players like this don’t come along very often, so get him on your IDP rosters now.
Summary
This concludes the rookie recap for this week! I’ll be back next week with the week six results, as we begin to see these rookies and others get more acclimated to the league. With that, I expect the fantasy points scored (FPTS) to begin to climb up. Will next week be the same names or will there be a new group of faces on the list?
Either way, I’ll be here to break it all down for you and give you all the information you need to make the right decisions for your fantasy teams.
Thanks for reading my Week 5 IDP Rookie Recap. I am a member of the FSWA (Fantasy Sports Writers of America). You can read more of my articles on my author page at IDP Guys. Follow me on Twitter at @HollywoodTitan, on Facebook on my IDPNation page, on Reddit in the fantasy football IDP sub — I’m user KingTitan1 — and tune in each week and listen to IDP Nation and Devy IDP Grind, the podcasts that I co-host, on several different platforms. Feel free to hit me up with any questions that you have, as I’m always glad to help fellow IDPers. #IDPNation #IDP #IDPDevy.
