In fantasy football IDP leagues, finding a play who can be a difference-maker can vault managers into championship contenders. Yet while it’s harder to navigate the IDP world, here are some key players from the AFC North division worth targeting in fantasy football leagues.
AFC North Fantasy Football IDP Targets
Cincinnati Bengals
Trey Hendrickson, DE
2023 Stats: 17 games, 3 FF, 17.5 sacks, 43 total tackles, 16 TFL, 25 QBH.
Trey Hendrickson usually goes under the radar but make no mistake about it, he is one of the best defensive lineman in the league. The three-time Pro Bowler rejoined the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason after originally asking for a trade when the team declined to sign him long-term.
Hendrickson was second in the NFL in sacks last season. He has been one of the league’s best edge rushers since the Bengals signed him in 2021. He has 40.5 sacks since and looking for a long-term contract after this upcoming season. He should continue his explosive play and cement his status as a top edge rusher even if he is getting up there in age.
Cleveland Browns
Myles Garrett, DE
2023 stats: 16 games, 4 FF, 1 FR, 14 sacks, 42 total tackles, 17 TFL, 30 QBH, NFL DPOY.
Myles Garrett has established himself as one of the best defensive players in Cleveland Browns history and of this generation. Myles is a five-time Pro Bowler, three-time All-Pro, and reigning defensive player of the year.
Garrett picked up a hamstring injury in July during minicamps and has been held out of practice until just recently. Hamstring injuries could linger for the season, but if the injury bug stays away look for Garrett to continue his destruction of offensive lineman this upcoming season.
Baltimore Ravens
Roquan Smith, LB
2023 stats: 16 games, 1 INT, 1 FF, 1.5 sacks, 158 total tackles, 5 TFL, 5 QBH.
Roquan Smith is one, if not the best, linebackers in the NFL. Playing alongside Patrick Queen last year saw the Baltimore Ravens have their first duo to reach over 130 tackles each. With Queen departing this offseason and a few more defensive departures Roquan is still confident in his defense.
“We still have a lot of these dogs on the team, and it’s just about staying hungry,” said Smith. “We hunt as a pack, and I think of like safaris and things like that — like a pack of hyenas, lions or whoever it is, don’t really want to run up on those guys. So, I feel like we got that kind of mindset and guys on all three levels.”
Look for Roquan to continue his dominance on the defensive side of the ball and his stats will continue to climb.
Pittsburgh Steelers
TJ Watt, LB
2023 stats: 17 games, 1 INT, 8 PD, 4 FF, 19 sacks, 68 total tackles, 19 TFL, 36 QBH.
Like some others on this list, this may be an obvious choice – but that’s for good reason. TJ Watt has shown no signs of slowing down this season. In fact, going into this season it’s likely Watt’s looking for vengeance for losing out on the DPOY award.
Not only does he excel as a pass rusher, but Watt also disrupts the passing game. Last season he had eight pass deflections and one interception.
“There’s no other defensive lineman that I have to treat like a defensive back,” Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow said about Watt. “Like I have to be conscious about where he is at, because he is just going to jump up and catch it. There’s nobody else that can do that … You have to be very alert for him in the pass game, which is very unique, I would say.”
Watt’s career-best sack number was 22.5 in 2021, and he will look to break that number this upcoming season.
