Week 8 2025: IDP Match-up Analysis
It's Week 8, and I'm here to provide the information and data to guide you to the best lineups in your IDP fantasy football league.
Week 8 is upon us, and it’s one of the first big bye weeks. If you can believe it, next week is the half-way point. The season is flying.
The picture is starting to come into focus—trends are forming, and the data is stabilizing. We’ve got six teams on bye this week; Arizona, Detroit, Jacksonville, Rams, Las Vegas, and Seattle. So plan accordingly for your IDPs.
Want my latest green dot report and full IDP projections? You can grab them over at The IDP Show.
As always, the goal here is simple: give you the context, insights, and matchup trends you need to set your lineups with confidence.
I won’t go too deep on cornerbacks in this one, but if you’re craving matchup-level analysis, check out The Cornerback Corner.
Alright, enough preamble. Let’s dive into the Week 8 matchups.
Minnesota Vikings vs. Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers are getting good news, which could be bad news for Jonathan Greenard. Joe Alt was listed as “limited” and could be returning Thursday. Alt had been responsible for just 1 sack and 3 total QBPs over 217 pass block snaps, so Greenard’s sledding would be a bit tough this week.
Andrew Van Ginkel turned in limited practices, but he’s listed as out for Thursday night. Neck injuries can be scary. Dallas Turner would, once again, get the snaps alongside Greenard. Bobby Hart has been a better pass blocker than run blocker, as he’s allowed 3 QBPs over 63 pass block snaps.
Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen are in good spots for production for DT-required leagues. They should matchup over Bradley Bozeman and Mekhi Becton. Becton has a pass block grade of 48.9 and run block grade of 40.9. Becton has allowed 3 QB hits and 9 total QBPs over 209 pass block snaps. Bozeman has allowed a sack and 5 QB hits over 327 pass block snaps.
Blake Cashman returned to the field in Week 7 and resumed his three-down role with the dot. The Chargers are a solid matchup for LBs, allowing just over 16 tackles/gm to the position; including 18.3 tackles/gm over the last 3 weeks.
Eric Wilson looks to be the LB2 in Minnesota’s nickel/2-LB defense. Ivan Pace didn’t see a defensive snap, which is odd considering he was the LB2 opposite Cashman when he was healthy. Wilson was used as a situational pass rusher, and generated a 23.1% pressure rate and could see a similar role with AVG out. We’ll see if this is a benching for Pace, but it’s not great for his IDP value.
The Chargers have been a decent matchup for opposing safeties. Josh Metellus has averaged 7 tackles over the last 3 games and has two games of 9+ tackles in the last three weeks.
If you have Tuli Tuipulotu in a league counting QB hits, you’re liking life. He has 6 on the year. Tuli has played most of his snaps as the LDE, so he should line up over Brian O’Neill for most of his rush snaps. Not a great matchup, but he’s generated consistent pressure this season. Registering a 16.2% pressure rate. O’Neill has allowed a sack and 0 QB hits over 144 pass block snaps.
Khalil Mack returned to the field in Week 7 and played just 12 snaps. He was disruptive in that small sample, as he recorded a sack and a 20% win rate.
I’m not sure what to say about Daiyan Henley. Maybe we need to send him flu-infected food. That was his only double-digit tackle performance, when he had the flu. He’s been “okay”, but hasn’t been an elite tackle producer and coming off a 2 tackle performance, isn’t going to help. The Vikings have been a below-average matchup for LBs. He’s on pace for 117 tackles, but that’s not what you were expecting from your LB1.
Derwin James is on pace for DB1 type numbers, as he’s on pace for 119 tackles and 12 TFLs.
Miami Dolphins vs. Atlanta Falcons
Chop Robinson continues to see fewer than 50% of the snaps in the Dolphins’ edge rotation. Last week, he saw just 14 pass rush snaps. He’s off the redraft radar.
Jaelan Phillips has a nice matchup on Elijah Wilkinson. Phillips is coming off a nice game against Cleveland, where he produced a 28.6% win rate and a sack. Wilkinson is coming off a rough game, where he was responsible for two sacks, and a QB hit. He’s been responsible for 20 total QBPs and has a 58 pass block grade.
Bradley Chubb has the tougher matchup with Jake Matthews. Matthew has an 86.3 pass block grade and allowed just his second sack of the season. I might leave Chubb on the bench.
Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson are matchup proof. Don’t overthink it, just start them.
Mikah Fitzpatrick actually has a great matchup against the Falcons. The Falcons only 6 total tackles to the Browns last week, but over the previous three weeks, they had allowed 43 total tackles. Minkah is a decent DB streamer with 6 teams on bye.
Jalon Walker was inactive last week, but there was still a three-man edge rotation with Leonard Floyd, James Pearce, and Arnold Ebiketie. The 49ers held the trio in check, allowing just 1 total QB pressure. I kinda like Pearce, though. Larry Borom has had a nice stretch of games over the last 3 weeks, but still has a 57.6 pass block grade, including a game with a 15.1 grade. Pearce has a 13.6% pressure rate with a 16% win rate. The Dolphins are in a bad place right now.
Divine Deablo is going to miss multiple weeks with a fractured forearm. JD Bertrand looks to be the replacement, as he saw 100% of the snaps when Deablo exited. He was much more productive than Deablo, finishing with 10 tackles. He’s your waiver target if you need an LB3/4.
Xavier Watts had his highest usage as a deep safety in Week 7. He played 43 snaps deep and just 14 box snaps. He still finished with 9 tackles and seems to be around the ball.