IDP Trust Buys For 2026

[ASFN Admin]

There are plenty of things I do not trust in life: Sushi from a local gas station, an email starting with “Congratulations, you’ve been selected …”, or anyone who says, “Trust me,” right before making a terrible decision. Fantasy football can create that same uneasy feeling, especially when deciding which IDPs deserve a place in your starting lineup. That trust fall is often hard to miss.

In "Meet the Parents," Jack Byrnes had his famous “circle of trust,” and once Greg stepped outside it, getting back in wasn’t easy. IDP managers operate much the same way.

The five trust buys below have established roles and statistical profiles that support another productive season. Whether they are returning from injury, replacing a proven producer or remaining undervalued in ADP, each offers a compelling reason to buy in 2026.

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LB Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers​

Warner recorded at least 76 solo tackles and 118 total tackles in each of his first seven seasons, making him one of the safest investments at linebacker. That consistency continued in 2025 before a fractured and dislocated ankle ended his season in Week 6. He entered that game with 50 tackles and two forced fumbles, putting him on pace for approximately 170 tackles.

His role remains equally dependable. Warner is still the centerpiece of San Francisco’s defense, serving as its green-dot communicator and every-down linebacker. The 49ers reinforced their commitment by signing him to a three-year, $63 million extension with $56.7 million guaranteed last offseason. His elite coverage ability provides additional job security; this is one of the better picks you could make in all IDP.

LB Cedric Gray, Tennessee Titans​

Gray finished 2025 on an impressive run after becoming a full-time player, finishing as LB6 in 1-2-3 scoring. Given that he didn't even start in the first season (Cody Barton did), there is an opportunity to grow here.

The biggest factor is the new coaching scheme. Robert Saleh has groomed several Pro Bowl linebackers before. From C.J. Mosley, Dre Greenlaw, Fred Warner and Azeez Al-Shaair, Saleh knows a thing or two about coaching this position's archetypes.

Gray should be available in the middle rounds of drafts but projects for a three-down role, giving him the snap volume required to produce at a high level. At his current price, Gray offers legitimate top-eight linebacker upside while being drafted closer to the LB15 range.

DL Nik Bonitto, Denver Broncos​

It’s time to start placing Bonitto in the elite DL1 tier, if you haven’t already. His 76 pressures last season ranked eighth among 115 qualified pass rushers, but his 20.25% pressure rate was even more impressive. Since 2018, only eight pass rushers have reached that mark while handling a similarly substantial workload.

The other names to accomplish it belong to the position’s elite: Myles Garrett, T.J. Watt, Micah Parsons, Maxx Crosby, Trey Hendrickson and Nick Bosa. Bonitto now has two consecutive high-level seasons under his belt, proving this production is more than a one-year breakout. It’s time to give him the recognition and elite DL1 valuation he deserves.

DL George Karlaftis, Kansas City Chiefs​

Karlaftis is routinely buried in ADP and viewed as little more than a DL2, but he possesses legitimate fringe-DL1 upside in the right scoring formats. His six sacks in 2025 may appear disappointing at first glance, but the underlying numbers tell a much stronger story. Karlaftis generated 66 pressures, including 16 quarterback hits and 43 hurries, while earning a 75.8 PFF pass-rush grade. That pressure shows he disrupted quarterbacks far more consistently than his sack total suggests.

Karlaftis also set a career high with 48 total tackles, providing a stronger weekly floor than many sack-dependent edge defenders. Through four seasons, he has accumulated 163 tackles and 30.5 sacks, including 10.5 sacks in 2023 and eight in 2024. He has also missed only three regular-season games during that span, adding durability to an already appealing IDP profile. Those are winnable/ playable stats, and I trust in him as a depth piece with a chance to start weekly.

DB AJ Haulcy, Indianapolis Colts​

I know it's hard to trust rookies, but this is an absolutely stellar landing spot. Indianapolis appears prepared to turn Nick Cross’ box-heavy safety role over to this third-round rookie. That role produced exceptional fantasy results for Cross, who accumulated 266 tackles over the past two seasons, including 146 in 2024 and 120 in 2025. He finished as DB2 and DB1, respectively, under IDP 1-2-3 scoring. In rookie drafts, he was a favorite DB3 (my personal DB2) because of what he showed at his time in college: 347 career tackles and first-team All-SEC honors. His future is bright and he could make an immediate impact.


This article originally appeared on The Huddle: IDP Trust Buys For 2026

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