T.J. Watt lands at No. 11 in the NFL Top 100, the highest-rated linebacker on the list and the seventh straight year he’s appeared. His three-year, $123 million extension makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback, a statement of his impact both on the field and in fantasy leagues. Watt’s production—consistently elite pass rush and game-changing plays—anchors the Steelers and keeps his fantasy floor exceptionally high.

UW alums Zack Baun and Andrew Van Ginkel also crack the Top 100 (No. 26 and No. 88), underscoring Wisconsin’s pro pipeline. Watt sits among Steelers stars Patrick Queen and Cameron Heyward on the team’s list representation. Across the Top 100, Fred Warner, Roquan Smith, and Jonathan Greenard are noted among the top linebackers and edge rushers in the league, with Nick Bonitto also highlighted among top non-QB contracts and performers. Watt’s 2024 stat line and the 100-sack club milestone reinforce why fantasy managers should treat Watt as a premium, weekly difference-maker even in years when position value fluctuates.

Watt’s season opener vs. the Jets on Sept. 7 will be the first test of a year in which he aims to captain another Steelers winning season. Watt’s continued dominance should keep him among the most reliable DL/IDP assets, with sack upside and multisack games likely to be a steady source of big-scoring weeks for fantasy rosters.

San Francisco remains a heavy playoff favorite (-196) after a 6-11 season, with FanDuel putting playoff odds at 62.8%. The optimism hinges on a friendly schedule and a high-end core that includes McCaffrey, Kittle, Williams, Bosa, and Warner staying healthy. Worries loom over a depleted wide-receiver corps and trenches, plus a competitive NFC West, but a strong finish could push SF back to the postseason.

Fantasy angles lean on SF’s stars delivering when health cooperates and the WR depth stabilizes. If the Niners minimize one-score losses and leverage a soft early slate, they should rebound to playoff contention, while a few close games swing big in fantasy lines for McCaffrey, Kittle, and Warner.

Jennings contract drama with the 49ers lingers as calf injuries sideline him at practice. An IR-start for four weeks has circulated as a leverage move to speed a new deal, while Shanahan insists there was no trade request and publicizing the dispute is being avoided. Week 1 remains up in the air, with internal pressure mounting on both sides to reach terms quickly.

Meanwhile Brock Purdy, George Kittle and Fred Warner have pushed for early, drama-free deals to stabilize the offense. If Jennings misses time, Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel would shoulder a larger load, elevating the passing game’s volatility and testing San Francisco’s depth early in the season.

2025 IDP top 150 blends elite veterans with a fresh rookie class, spanning LB, DL and DB. Baun’s breakout in Philadelphia injects early LB2 value, while Verse and Franklin spotlight rookie upside across DL/LB roles. Parsons, Watt and Hutchinson anchor the top tiers, with Garrett, Bosa and Will Anderson delivering stud DL production. In the DB mix, Derwin James and Winfield Jr. shine alongside Bates and Hamilton, creating a balanced, dynamic landscape for IDP fantasy drafts.

Beyond the top-shelf anchors, the piece calls out upside at the edges: Verse and Carter headline rookie DL intrigue, while Franklin’s tackle floor remains a reliable foundation. The outlook threads through teams such as IND, LAC, PHI and BAL, outlining how usage, scheme and evolving rosters shape 2025 IDP targets across the top 150 players.