It's been a long time coming, but the 2014 NFL season is finally here. In two short days, the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks will kick off the 2014 campaign in the Pacific Northwest. It's not only a rematch of the infamous "Fail Mary" game from two years ago, but it's also a classic offense vs. defense matchup. And for the record, that was an interception. Thursday's game also brings with it the beginning of another season of fantasy football, as fantasy owners finally get to see if the teams they drafted this summer will meet expectations, exceed them, or fall flat on their you-know-what. Of course, some IDP squads have already hit a bump in the road. Maybe you drafted early and grabbed Miami Dolphins safety Reshad Jones before his four-game suspension was announced. Maybe the draft just didn't go the way you'd hoped. In any event, some IDP leagues offer teams a chance to affect repairs before the season begins, either with first-come, first-served free agency or a round of waivers before the season begins. That's where the DoD comes in. Each week during the 2014 season, I'll be recommending players who IDP owners would be well advised to consider adding to their squads. Some will be players who could help IDP teams for the entire year. Others will be matchup plays whose value may come and go in the span of a single week. Others still will turn out to have all the value of an autographed Taylor Hicks CD, but it's the beginning of the year, so let's maintain a positive mental attitude. These recommendations will be made based on a fairly standard IDP lineup of two defensive linemen, two linebackers, two defensive backs, and a "flex" option. In fact, that's the format we'll be using for those recommendations, with the "flex" player getting the moniker "IDP Pickup of the Week." With that in mind, let's get this party started! IDP PICKUP OF THE WEEK Keenan Robinson -- ILB, Washington Redskins I've been banging the drum on Robinson with regularity all through the month of August, but as the calendar turns to September the 25-year-old remains available in enough IDP leagues to merit inclusion here. Robinson, who missed the tail end of the 2012 season and all of last year with a pair of pectoral muscle tears, has moved into the WILB spot vacated by the retirement of longtime stalwart London Fletcher . Chris Burke of Sports Illustrated likes the youngster's 2014 prospects enough to have recently included Robinson on his list of players set to break out this season. "By swapping out the 39-year-old Fletcher for the 25-year-old Robinson," Burke said, "Washington's defense has increased its speed. Robinson is capable of playing on all three downs. The 2012 fourth-rounder will make mistakes on occasion, especially given the anticipated uptick in snaps he'll see, but overall, he brings even more athleticism to a linebacking corps that already features Brian Orakpo , Ryan Kerrigan and Perry Riley." I recently predicted that Robinson would post more fantasy points in Fantasy Sharks Default IDP Scoring than Riley this season. A Week 1 matchup with a Houston Texans team that was the best IDP matchup in the NFL for linebackers last year should afford both Riley and Robinson a chance to get off to a hot start. WEEK 1 WAIVER WIRE TARGETS Michael Bennett -- DE, Seattle Seahawks Heading into the season opener against the Green Bay Packers, Bennett made it clear to Terry Blount of ESPN that he's no fan of quarterbacks, Aaron Rodgers included. "It's kind of like when you're a kid and your mom feeds you Brussels sprouts," Bennett said. "You eat ‘em, but they taste nasty. That's how feel about quarterbacks. You need ‘em, but they taste nasty." Bennett will get a chance to wash that taste from his mouth Thursday at home against a Green Bay team that allowed the third-most fantasy points to defensive linemen in 2013. When these teams met two years ago, Chris Clemons tallied four sacks of Rodgers -- in the first half. Chris Long -- DE, St. Louis Rams It may seem strange to see Chris Long 's name featured in a waiver wire article. Believe it or not though, the seventh-year veteran is available in more than a few IDP leagues after posting his fewest sacks since 2010 a year ago. Long may not have reached double-digit sacks in 2013, but he did manage a career-best 33 solos, and will be playing opposite Robert Quinn on a Rams' defensive front that's as loaded as any in the National Football League. This week the Rams face a Minnesota Vikings squad that allowed the ninth-most sacks in the NFL last year, giving Howie's kid a solid shot at starting the 2014 campaign on the right foot. Justin Durant -- OLB, Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are about to re-define the concept of a dumpster fire on defense, and their merry-go-round of mediocrity has apparently settled on Bruce Carter at SAM, Justin Durant at WILL and Rolando McClain at MIKE. Yes, that Rolando McClain . Stop laughing. Of that group, Durant is far and away the best bet to play in subpackages, probably because he's the only member of that trio who isn't hide-your-eyes horrible in coverage. Against a San Francisco 49ers team that was a top-10 fantasy matchup for linebackers in 2013, it makes Durant an interesting Week 1 spot start for IDP owners who are hurting at the linebacker position. Emmanuel Lamur -- OLB, Cincinnati Bengals Lamur was a trendy "sleeper" pick among many IDP pundits this year, a promising young player sliding into a three-down role for the Bengals in 2014. Lamur told The Manhattan Mercury that he's eager to put last year's injury-marred season in the rearview mirror. "Being hurt last season motivated me more than anything to come back stronger," said Lamur. "It's a great feeling coming back. This is a blessing. You have to take it one rep at a time and one game at a time." An AFC North showdown with a Baltimore Ravens squad that allowed the third-most fantasy points to linebackers in 2013 is a good place to start, and while Lamur may not post great numbers in Week 1 there's a better than average chance that he'll at least post solid LB3 stats. Give the third-year pro a look if you're in need of a "flex" starter this week. James Ihedigbo -- SS, Detroit Lions After missing the final preseason game for undisclosed reasons, Ihedigbo's Week 1 status was called into question, but the 30-year-old told Michael Rothstein of ESPN he'll be ready to rock against the New York Giants Monday night. "I'm just resting," Ihedigbo said. "Getting ready for Monday night. That's what really the mindset going in is." Assuming that Ihedigbo, who surprised just about everyone by topping 100 tackles last year, is indeed ready to go against Big Blue, he should be a solid fantasy start against a Giants team that's looked positively awful on offense in the preseason and surrendered the most fantasy points to defensive backs a season ago. Ryan Mundy -- SS, Chicago Bears The free safety spot in the Windy City remains more than a little unsettled, but free agent acquisition Ryan Mundy is locked in as the strong safety and set to carry on the long tradition of mediocre talents at the back end of the Bears defense. Seriously, name the last Bears safety that was better than average. Go ahead...I'll wait. Still waiting. C'mon folks -- we ain't got all day here. However, as Major Wright showed last year, you don't have to be Earl Thomas to put up decent stats for the Bears, especially behind a suspect group of linebackers. Add in a matchup with a Buffalo Bills team that was kind to opposing defensive backs in 2013, and you could do worse as a plug-and-play starter. "FRANKENCORNER": Chris Harris, Denver Broncos As I recently mentioned in an article here at Fantasy Sharks, I'm conducting an experiment in the art of streaming fantasy cornerbacks. The goal is simple: Using options found on the waiver wire in The WALL IDP-Only Showcase League, I will endeavor to assemble a "Frankencorner" who outpoints the cornerback with the highest Average Draft Position at My Fantasy League in 2014 (Patrick Peterson of the Arizona Cardinals). For the first week of the season, my last pick in the draft will serve as that cornerback, said pick being Chris Harris of the AFC champion Denver Broncos. It isn't hard to figure out why Harris was available so late, as the 25-year-old tore his ACL in last January's Divisional Round win over the San Diego Chargers. However, Harris told Troy Renck of The Denver Post he'll be all-systems go for the Sunday night opener against the Indianapolis Colts. "I am ready. I am full go. I am fully cleared," Harris said. "I can't wait." The last time these teams met (Week 7 last year) Harris notched seven total tackles in a game that featured 72 points scored and over 600 passing yards. Those numbers may actually be the conservative side of projections for this game, and a prime time shootout gives my boy "Frankie C" a solid shot at coming out of the gate strong. It's also a game chock full of matchup plays for IDP owners in leagues that require the cornerback position. And besides, having a player or two in the prime time game(s) just makes the week more fun (or maddening -- thin line between the two). Have questions about another potential waiver wire gem? Be sure to check out Fantasy Sharks' IDP Forum , or you can shoot me an e-mail at askgary@fantasysharks.com . As the 2014 fantasy football season gets underway, Fantasy Sharks has you covered. Whether it's weekly player rankings and projections, waiver wire targets, start/sit advice or strategy tips, IDP Staff Writer Walton Spurlin and IDP Senior Staff Writer Gary Davenport have all the information you need to dominate your IDP league in 2014. Also, for additional IDP information be sure to check out IDP Manor , and for the latest IDP news and player updates follow IDP Manor on Twitter .