2026 IDP Preseason Observations: Week 2

Week 2 of the preseason has answered a few of our IDP questions, but we still may not get the whole story until Week 1 of the regular season.

We saw some breakout performances, but some other players from Week 1 came down to earth. What do we need to focus on that matters for IDP? What can we ignore?

As we prepare for the NFL seasons, here are some of my observations and notes to hep you get ready for your drafts or your Week 1 prep.

• The starters didn’t play in this game, but we did get more Cian Slone, and Patrick Johnson put his stamp on this game. Johnson finished with 4 tackles, 2 TFLs, and a sack. 3 QBPs total. Johnson is entering his 6th season and hoping to make the final 53

• Slone has very active arms off the snap. He produced a QB hit and 2 solo tackles

• Overall, the IDP value of Maxx Crosby doesn’t change. The rest of the DL is a bit of mess

Patrick Johnson (#93) gets to the QB and hurries Stroud into a bad throw:

Johnson gets around the tackle to get the strip off the QB:

Foley Fatukasi gets a quick jump and forces the RB into Johnson for the TFL:

• One of my favorite DT prospects, Kayden McDonald, played 21 snaps and recorded a sack. McDonald is a stash in DT-required/dynasty

• Jadeveon Clowney made his Texans re-debut, playing 17 snaps and generating 2 QBPs. Clowney had a good burst, showed good hands. Trey Zuhn did a good job in pass blocking. Clowney is looking like the EDGE3 behind Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter

• We didn’t see any of the starters in this game

Kayden McDonald (#93) bursts and splits the guard and center to get to the QB:

Jadeveon Clowney (#90) shows a quick step inside, beating the guard, to get the QB hit:

The Raiders were in nickel/2-LB for the majority of their snaps in Week 2 against Houston. It looks like they’ll be fielding two off-ball LBs in their defense:

• We didn’t see Quay Walker or Nakobe Dean

• Tommy Eichenberg and Cody Lindenberg are looking like their backups

The Texans were in their base/3-LB defense for a good portion of the game, so we’ll see if that translates to the season:

• Wade Woodaz had a big pick-six, but still had some coverage issues, earning a 57.7 coverage grade, where he just missed on a few assignments. Woodaz could get looks on early downs while EJ Speed is out. His stock is on the rise for dynasty. He might not get enough snaps to be useful in redraft with how they use their LB3

• Aiden Fisher looked good with his run fits, but had tackling issues with 2 misses

Wade Woodaz (#30) does a good job in coverage, reads the QB, and jumps the route for the pick-six:

Aiden Fisher (#59) shows his sideline range to push the receiver out of bounds:

Fisher gets blocked off his path, but recovers and cleans up the missed tackle:

Fisher takes advantage of the gap opened up and gets to the RB, getting the stop for no gain:

• Treydan Stukes played 15 snaps in the slot, after playing just one last week. Stukes played 66% of his snaps near the LOS in Week 2

Treydan Stukes (#31) makes a great play from the safety position to get a TFL:

Stukes makes a play from the slot. The receiver gets a bit of separation, but he recovers and almost gets a defended pass:

• No starters in this one, but Jaylen Reed saw 45 snaps, but might need some injuries to have any sort of IDP relevance. He did grade as Houston’s best defender

• Romello Height looks to be a key part of the rotation if his usage in Week 2 is any sign. Height saw 18 snaps in Week 1, and just 13 in Week 2

• After a big Week 1, Ogbo Okoronkwo, was held to just one QBP in Week 2. The 49ers will need their edge rushers to step up if Mykel Williams and Nick Bosa miss any time

I thought this was a good rep from Romello Height (#94). I like the stab and that he powers through:

Height displays his quick burst, and hits the hole for the TFL:

This was a good pass rush rep from Ogbo (#59). He shows good bend around the edge:

Another good rep from Ogbo. A quick step and swim inside:

• Interesting that Akheem Mesidor and Kyle Kennard didn’t play. Mesidor is probably going to be a part of the rotation, but Kennard was a surprise

• Tuli Tuipulotu played 10 snaps, but was quiet. He saw some doubles/chips, and Purdy got the ball out quickly

• Bud Dupree could still be part of the rotation, too.

• Nadame Tucker produced a 14.3% pressure rate and had a quick pressure that resulted in a Colston pick-six. I liked Tucker’s pre-draft tape, but he might be a long shot to make the final 53

Nadame Tucker (#56) comes in unblocked to force the turnover:

Tucker stunts inside and almost gets the sack:

Not too much of a surprise, the 49ers were mostly in nickel/2-LB packages and didn’t show anything too exotic:

• Nick Martin and Jaden Dugger were the primary off-ball LBs in Week 2. Martin played 33 snaps while Dugger played 32.

• The 49ers started in 3-LB with Garrett Wallow, Jaden Dugger, and Nick Martin. It looked like Bethune wore the dot, and it was Martin who came off the field for their nickel

• Their second series was nickel with Wallow and Dugger, but there was a bit of a rotation with Dugger/Martin, but Dugger led the rotation

• Dugger might be ahead in the LB3 competition. He didn’t play any 4th quarter snaps, while Martin played into the 4th (9 snaps) with Tatum Bethune

• Dugger held up in the run. Solid in his run assignments and was solid in coverage

• Fred Warner/Dre Greenlaw are the starting off-ball LBs. Dugger’s stock is on the rise

Jaden Dugger (#53) scrapes the field, sheds the block and helps get the tackle (Okuayinonu got credit):

Dugger gets beat by Gadsden, but recovers and keeps up with the TE. He’s able to interrupt the catch:

Nick Martin (#45) probably should have picked up the TE sooner, but recovered well:

I thought this was a good rep from Martin. He shows off his sideline speed and gets the tackle; limiting any YAC:

• Daiyan Henley and Denzel Perryman got the start with the first-team defense. Henley wore the dot

• Junior Colson entered in the 2nd and played 20 snaps. Colson’s stock is way down

• The other Barton, Lander, played 36 snaps. From an IDP standpoint, recorded 4 solos (6 total tackles). He had some instances where lost his assignments in coverage

Here was one of Landon Barton’s (#57) coverage lapses. He allowed too much cushion on the TE:

Although Junior Colson (#25) didn’t register a tackle, he had a big pick-six. Nadame Tucker’s quick pressure forced the throw and Colson grabs the INT:

• No one really stood out from the SF DBs. The starters didn’t play

• Genesis Smith played 47% of his snaps near the LOS.

This was one of the plays from Genesis Smith (#22) that stood out. He’s in the box and slips the WR block to get the tackle:

Another good run rep from Smith. He’s on the edge and fights through the blocks to help get the tackle: