Welcome to the IDP Guys’ weekly game preview and start/sit articles! Our team has broken down each game and the IDP outlooks for the most relevant IDP players to help you make those tough lineup decisions. May the fantasy gods be forever in your favor!
This year we are bringing you a new format to help you with those pesky start/sit decisions. In addition to listing players, we hope these categories are more useful to you than a traditional start or sit classification. Here are our definitions for our four categories.
- Start Your Studs: These players should always be in your lineup or have SMASH matchups this week. Even your most shallow IDP leagues should include these players in their starting lineups.
- Solid Starting Options: These players may vary from week to week and are very matchup-dependent. They are likely weekly starters in 12+ team leagues starting at least two players at each IDP position.
- Hail Mary: These players have big question marks surrounding their roles, usage, and murky playing time projections. Lean towards benching them unless you are in very deep leagues (16+32 teams and/or 11+ IDP starters). If they see the field consistently, they have the potential to move up a category as Solid Starting Options but until then, they will likely be big-play-dependent with low tackle floors. Your classic boom/bust options.
- No Thank You: Clear sits for the week due to matchups, playing time trends, injuries, etc.
*Most CB and DT recommendations are meant for CB and/or DT-required leagues. If in DB or DL-only leagues, generally move down one category level.
Of course, your league sizes and scoring settings are going to be different from person to person and league to league. If you need further clarification or suggestions on who to start over another player in a similar tier, we have two additional solutions for you!
Our expert weekly positional rankings can be found here for subscribers.
Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles - Thursday, September 14, 2023
by Steve Hungarter (@TheBroNamaths)
The main IDP story around this game is going to be the poor showing that the new Eagles defensive coordinator had in Week 1. More specifically, the LB carousel that the Eagles have, but can they rebound? Also, the Vikings coming off a short week would also like redemption and not go 0-2, as that would trigger an even more massive rebuild.
Start Your Studs
For shallower leagues, it’s Danielle Hunter who consistently delivers year after year. He had a strong start in Week 1, recording 1 sack, 2 tackles for loss, and 7 total tackles. Given his likely high ownership in many leagues, Hunter presents a reliable and high-ceiling option, making him a must-have player across the board.
A bit deeper down the list, but still a strong studly play is Zach Cunningham. Honestly, any linebackers for the Philadelphia Eagles will have an important role to play following Nakobe Dean's injury, which has sidelined him with a foot injury.
This week, we can expect Zach Cunningham to step into the primary linebacker position, with Christian Elliss likely to join him as his fellow linebacker partner. You could apply this thinking to Elliss and eventually Rashaan Evans when he comes off the practice squad too. Thinking even deeper, Nicholas Morrow (who got cut only to re-sign back to the practice squad) was activated back to the Eagles last night. Fortune favors the bold so hopefully, you took this knowledge and established future waiver claims.
Solid Starting Options
Josh Sweat always seems to find a way and be startable and relevant.
Jordan Hicks had a really bad Week 1 but still got 97.1% of the snap count. That will have to change so ride with him for now.
Harison Smith is generally a stud option but coming off of a bad week, he should be active enough to be a decent option in this one.
Consider using Harrison Phillips in the later tier for defensive tackle leagues.
Hail Mary
The other Eagles safety Justin Evans played every down and was second in tackles.
Darius Slay might be considered in CB-rostered leagues, as last season when these teams played, he was assigned to lockdown Justin Jefferson.
Check Marcus Devenport's injury status before TNF.
Ivan Pace is quickly showing he is something and could play himself out of this tier after a few good weeks of football.
No Thank You
Reed Blankenship will unfortunately miss this game. Justin Evans played close to 100% of the snaps alongside Blankenship last week. It's possible the S they paid in free agency, Terrell Edmunds, gets the nod this week. But keep Sydney Brown on that watch list as well! Evans is not very good and it would be surprising if he scores decently for IDP.
Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals - Sunday, September 17, 2023
by Steve Hungarter (@TheBroNamaths)
The Bengals were fourth in the league in Week 1 on anticipating a blitz rate (42.9%). With Lamar Jackson's scrambling ability, I am expecting the Bengals IDP players to get after it in Week 2. As for the Ravens, their defense looked completely rehauled so expect them to make big plays or get burned using man coverage. Yes, they stayed in man coverage 27.3 % of the time, which was ranked 11th.
Start Your Studs
Don’t be tricked by this. While the real football world may be turned off by Patrick Queen, he remains a very awesome IDP option. Furthermore, both Queen and Roquan Smith collectively made 20 blitz attempts, resulting in each of them recording a sack and logging 100% of the snap counts.
Solid Starting Options
While Logan Wilson remains in the lineup, Germaine Pratt may not secure an every-down role this season. Nonetheless, he has consistently delivered strong performances whenever given the chance. If he continues to maintain a 90% snap share, he should be a viable starting option for most weeks.
Kyle Hamilton is going to have to show me something. Sure, I will still give himDB12-14 range this week, he has a tendency to start out slow on the season so he stays here until the breakout happens.
Daxton Hill and Nick Scott were widely expected to be the starters at the beginning of this season, based on their preseason usage. However, it was uncertain who would take on the primary box role. In the latest game, Scott emerged as the choice for that role, resulting in him registering 11 total tackles, tying for the team lead.
Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo have been largely under the radar but had edge options. Oweh generated seven total pressures.
Hail Mary
Geno Stone is an option for deep leagues as he stepped in for an injured Marcus Williams, he is going to miss a few games.
Chidobe Awuzie - check to see his injury but generally will have tackles.
B.J. Hill remains underrated but always scores some good usage for DT-required leagues.
Ar'Darius Washington appears to be starting in the slot and that could have up and down usage.
No Thank You
Since these guys aren’t factors, positional scarcity, or offer limited snap counts. I would not consider them as legitimate options.
Chicago Bears at Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Sunday, September 17, 2023
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