These five players should be avoided in fantasy football IDP leagues.
In fantasy football IDP leagues, production can fall off quickly from player-to-player. While the following players may not have catastrophic seasons in 2024, they are worth avoiding at their ADP.
Joey Bosa, Los Angeles Chargers
I believe, and have for some time now, that Joey Bosa has passed his prime. Bosa has played in just 14 games the past two seasons, and was forced to take a pay cut from $22 million to $15 million to stay with the Chargers. Not to mention, Khalil Mack still seems to be the man on this Charger defense.
Bosa managed to play only nine games last year and mustered 14 tackles and 6.5 sacks. That leaves a lot to be desired for a player making $22 million per year before the pay cut. Could he have a career renaissance sometime in the future? Perhaps, but I wouldn’t bet on it.
Patrick Queen, Pittsburgh Steelers
Former first round pick Patrick Queen is probably an unpopular name to be on an “avoid” list for fantasy football IDP leagues, but hear me out. The saying “the grass isn’t always greener” couldn’t be more correct in this situation.
Queen left the Baltimore Ravens in free agency this offseason, and while it was impossible for the Ravens to retain him, I believe he will struggle to repay the Steelers the huge three-year, $41 million contract he received.
Roquan Smith, arguably the best linebacker in the NFL, won’t be coming to play alongside Queen with the Steelers. Smith did a lot for the Ravens, whereas Queen had the luxury of sitting back and playing second fiddle. He was a poor tackler in his first two years in the league, although he did slightly improve last season. Now, he’ll be counted on to run that Steeler linebacker room without his ex-teammate. I think he will struggle to do that just like he struggled in Baltimore before Smith got there.
Demario Davis, New Orleans Saints
Demario Davis is the example of consistency. This one hurt to write personally, as I am a fan of Davis. However, sooner or later, father time always comes knocking.
The Saints drafted Pete Werner in 2021 and seems poised to keep expanding his role with the team. Meanwhile, free agent signing Willie Gay Jr is no slouch in his own right. Can the 35-year-old Davis hold off father time? Maybe – but with two promising linebackers hot on his heels, the decline could start to chip away at him.
Quay Walker, Green Bay Packers
The play from Green Bay Packers linebacker Quay Walker hasn’t lived up to the snuff from a former first round pick. While he’s able to put together two 100+ tackle seasons, his lack of pass rushing ability signals a low ceiling in fantasy football IDP leagues. The Packers beefed up the linebacker room in the 2024 NFL draft, too.
Second round pick Edgerrin Cooper from Texas A&M and third round pick from Missouri Ty’Ron Hopper play the same position as Walker – and both have high ceilings despite being part of a lackluster linebacker class.
Walker is expected to wear the green dot this season, something he hasn’t done in his young career. While that could allow his potential to explode, there’s the possibility of it imploding, also.
Devin Lloyd, Jacksonville Jaguars
Devin Lloyd hasn’t been able to excel next to superstar teammate Foyesade Oluokun in a similar fashion as the aforementioned Queen with Smith. Foyesade will continue to flourish in his own right, but Lloyd is going to have to carve out his own role and assert his dominance.
In his final season at Utah in 2021, Lloyd registered 110 total tackles, eight sacks, and four interceptions. He earned Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year honors and was named a First-Team All-American linebacker. Going into his third year in the NFL, however, we haven’t seen that player. It’s hard to foresee him unlocking his true potential at this point, at least while Foyesade is there.
