Week 4 2025: IDP Match-up Analysis
It's Week 4, and I'm here to provide the information and data to guide you to the best lineups in your IDP fantasy football league.
Week 3 is in the books, and we’re starting to separate noise from signal in the IDP landscape. Early-season breakouts are becoming more real, while a few slow starters are reminding us why patience matters.
You can continue to find my green dots and projections over at The IDP Show.
As always, my goal with this article is straightforward: give you the context, nuggets, and matchup trends you need to feel confident setting your lineups.
I’m not going too deep on cornerbacks here, but if you’re looking for matchup-level analysis, The Cornerback Corner has you covered.
Enough with the dissertation, let’s get into the Week 4 matchups.
Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals
Paris Johnson was inactive, so keep an eye on his injury status throughout the week, as it could benefit Boye Mafe. Kelvin Beachum filled in and received a 54.0 PFF pass block grade, allowing a sack and 7 total QBPs. Mafe is in a nice rebound spot after recording just one QB hit in Week 3.
Demarcus Lawrence should line up on Jonah Williams. Williams allowed 4 QBPs in Week 3 and Lawrence is coming off a game with a 13.3% pressure rate.
Byron Murphy is in a good spot for tackles against Arizona. The Cardinal offense is allowing just over 10 tackles/gm to the IDL position and Murphy is averaging 4.6 tackles/gm and sacks in consecutive games.
Tyrice Knight rotated with Drake Thomas on more snaps in Week 3. In shallow leagues, he’s probably a drop at this point.
Start Ernest Jones as you normally would. The Cardinal offense has allowed 37 total tackles to the LB position in two of the last three weeks.
Keep an eye on the practice reports for the status of Julian Love, and Devon Witherspoon. They were inactive last week.
Josh Sweat has a tougher matchup opposite Charles Cross this week. Cross has an 81.7 pass block grade and has allowed just 4 QBPs on 82 pass block snaps.
Baron Browning has 3+ QBPs in three straight games and has produced a 22.2% pressure rate. I think he gets home on a sack this week on Abraham Lucas. Lucas did well in Week 3, but he’s allowed 2 sacks and a QB hit.
I wouldn’t waste a waiver pick on Akeem Davis-Gaither this week.
Mack Wilson has favorable matchup this week. The Seahawks are allowing nearly 20 tackles/gm to the LB position. Wilson is coming off his best game in Week 3 with 12 tackles and two defended passes. Wilson has LB2 upside.
Minnesota Vikings vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Love the matchup this week for Jonathan Greenard. Broderick Jones has a 47.5 pass block grade. Jones allowed 2 QB hits in Week 3, but has been responsible for 4 sacks and 9 total QBPs this season. Greenard has 4+ pressures in all three games and is generating a 21.1% pressure rate and 21.6% win rate.
Andrew Van Ginkel returned in Week 3 and exploded for 2 sacks in just 8 snaps. He probably sees an increase in usage in Week 4.
Update 9/26/2025: Well, Andrew Van Ginkel has been ruled out for Week 4 with a neck injury. In the gamebook, it didn’t mention anything about an injury, but KOC said he came out of the game with some issues. They aren’t expecting the injury to be long-term, but neck injuries in general are worrisome. Dallas Turner should step in, and when AVG was ruled out in Week 2, he played 91% of the snaps. I really like the matchup on Troy Fautanu. He’s got a 55.9 pass block grade and has given up 2 QB hits. Aaron Rodgers has been responsible for nearly 15% of the pressure allowed.
I think Ivan Pace is probably an LB4/5 in Week 4. With the game in hand, he played 12 of the 16 4th quarter snaps. He could return to his normal snap rate in Week 4.
Eric Wilson is locked in as the green dot while Blake Cashman is on IR. The Steelers are allowing 17 tackles/gm to the LB position. Pittsburgh’s offense has allowed double-digits to an opposing LB in consecutive games.
Josh Metellus played more off-ball LB in Week 3. He saw 15 snaps at LB and 11 snaps in the slot. He’s a DB1 this week.
TJ Watt should draw Brian O’Neill for most of his pass rush snaps, as Watt isn’t moving around as much this season, as he’s been the primary LDE. O’Neill has been responsible for 3 QBPs. However, Carson Wentz was responsible for his two sacks, so he’s holding the ball a bit too long.
Christian Darrisaw returned in Week 3 and allowed just one pressure over 21 pass block snaps. Darrisaw will be Nick Herbig’s pass rush assignment.
Jabrill Peppers looks to be the DB to add while DeShon Elliott is out. Peppers played 60% of his snaps in the box and had another 14 snaps in the slot.