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.
Chicago Bears at Washington Commanders
By Shawn Teague (@shawn8386)
Start Your Studs
Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne have combined for just three sacks this season and now go up against one of the worst offensive lines in the league. It's hard to imagine these two not going off this week against the Bears. Washington boasts one of the best DT duos in the league and both should put up top-tier numbers this week. Start both without any hesitation.
Speaking of how awful Chicago’s offensive line is, Chase Young and Montez Sweat must be licking their chops at this matchup. The Bears made Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper look like Pro Bowlers in Week 4 and they aren’t on the same level as Young and Sweat. Washington’s edge rushers are the easiest smash picks this week and should have no problem devouring the Bears.
Should Chicago somehow get past the defensive line of the Commanders, Kamren Curl will be there to clean up. Through four weeks, Camryn Bynum (43) and Jevon Holland (39) are the only safeties with more tackles than Curl (37). Curl recorded his first sack of the season last week against the Eagles, and the sack upside only adds more value to his already high tackle floor this week. Curl is a stud and should be started as one.
T.J. Edwards had his first non-double-digit tackle game against a Broncos team that only ran 48 plays. Tremaine Edmunds however was right about where we would expect with his eight tackles. The Commanders are giving up plenty of points to linebackers this season and just allowed three sacks to Nicholas Morrow. Expect Edwards to get back into double-digit tackles this week and Edmunds to have one of his best games of the season.
Solid Starting Options
Cody Barton has been the only three-down linebacker for the Commanders this season, overthrowing Jamin Davis. The Bears haven’t been the best matchup for linebackers, but if this game remains close Barton should have a solid amount of tackles. He is currently averaging nine tackles per game and should be around that average again this week.
Jaquan Brisker has been quiet so far this season. He has a respectable 24 tackles on the season, but no big splash plays as of yet. Playing behind a better linebacker corps has definitely cut into his tackle opportunities. With four teams on a bye and a decent matchup against Washington, look for Brisker to have a solid game.
Yannick Ngakoue is one of the most sack or donut players in the league, offering little tackle production. The Commanders are giving up the most points to edge rushers, so now is the time for Yannick to go off for a couple. Yannick can be started in most league sizes for at least this week against Washington’s porous offensive line now that we are getting into bye weeks.
Hail Mary
Kendall Fuller, Emmanuel Forbes, and Benjamin St-Juste are all decent starting options in deep leagues. Their matchup against the Bears is okay, but the lack of offensive firepower limits their values a bit this week.
Tyrique Stevenson and Terrell Smith are in a similar scenario as Washington’s cornerbacks. The matchup isn’t terrible but the lack of offensive firepower is holding their opportunities back. They do hold more value in those deeper leagues as streaming options.
Jamin Davis has seen his value drop with the emergence of Cody Barton’s three-down role. He still holds decent value in deeper leagues with some blitzing and sack upside. His playing time has been increased to around 80% of the defensive snaps after starting out around 63% of the first two weeks.
Elijah Hicks will most likely be starting for Eddie Jackson (foot) again this week. He hasn’t produced much, but he has played 100% of the defensive snaps the last two weeks. He offers very little in most leagues but could be of use in deeper leagues with bye weeks causing holes at safety.
No Thanks
Eddie Jackson hasn’t practiced any this week and looks to be out for the third straight week with a foot injury.
Starting cornerback Jaylon Johnson is dealing with a hamstring injury and hasn't practiced on a short week. He will most likely be out this week as well.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Buffalo Bills (LONDON)
By Shawn Teague (@shawn8386)
Start Your Studs
Foyesade Oluokun was drafted as one of the top three linebackers in most leagues and he is living up to those expectations. He is fifth in tackles (46) through four weeks and is on pace for 195 tackles this season. He has a nice matchup against the Bills this week in London, and he should be running around eating up all those tackles again this week. Of course, you are starting this stud.
Chad Muma filled in for injured Devin Lloyd (thumb) and had a solid seven tackles and a pair of pass deflections last week. He gets the start again this week against the Bills who have been a good matchup this year for linebackers. Expect a top-tier game from Muma this week and if he plays well enough, we could be on the verge of a linebacking controversy again for the London Jaguars.
Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard have been on fire this year. Every week one or both are causing turnovers and racking up tackles. They have an excellent matchup against the Jaguars who are giving up the fifth most points to linebackers. It should be business as usual for these two again this week. Keep starting them until the hot streak ends, but that doesn’t look to be any time soon.
Ed Oliver has done really well grabbing at least a half-sack in three of the four games this season. He has three sacks on the year and gets a great matchup against the Jaguars. Expect another big day for Oliver in DT-required leagues. He should even be considered in leagues that are DL for this matchup.
Tyson Campbell gets a solid matchup against the Bills pass-happy offensive. He should get plenty of tackle opportunities chasing Buffalo’s receivers and Josh Allen has been known to throw an interception or two. He is one of the top starts at cornerback in all league sizes this week. Expect a big day from Campbell even if he doesn’t shadow Diggs all day.
Solid Starting Options
Who doesn’t like hearing about Josh Allen sacking Josh Allen? That’s exactly what happened the last time these two teams played each other in 2021. Josh Allen (Jaguars) recorded 1 sack, 8 tackles, and 1 interception that day. We know he can pile up sacks in a hurry, he has two games this season with three sacks. It won’t be easy to get three sacks against the Bills, but his potential makes him a solid start.
Like Tyson Campbell, Darious Williams should have a busy day chasing Buffalo receivers all over the field. Last week he took an interception all the way home for a touchdown. Josh Allen has been known to throw an interception or two, so the chance for a repeat is possible. If not, he should at least put up a decent tackle floor this week in a potential shootout.
Hail Mary
Andre Cisco and Rayshawn Jenkins have a tougher matchup this week against the Bills. Their interception and big play abilities could be what save their fantasy production this week, as they both have a few low-tackle performances.
The Buffalo safeties are in a similar situation with a tough matchup against the Jaguars. Micah Hyde has posted interceptions in consecutive weeks but has a low tackle ceiling. Jordan Poyer has been off to a slow start this season and was inactive last week with a knee injury. Both are decent plays this week in deep leagues with all the bye weeks.
Taylor Rapp had a decent game filling in for Jordan Poyer last week against Miami. With Jordan Poyer returning to practice, we may see Rapp demoted back to a small snap count this week. If for some reason Poyer can’t suit up this week, Rapp becomes a decent option at safety again this week.
Dane Jackson took over at cornerback after Tre'Davious White left with an Achilles injury. Right now he looks like the immediate replacement going forward, but it's worth monitoring the situation to make sure the Bills don’t decide to start Kaiir Elam. Jackson managed four tackles and helped set the tone for the defense with some solid hits against the Dolphins. Expect Jackson to be the starter and to have a decent game for deeper leagues.
No Thanks
Tre’Davious White unfortunately tore his Achilles last week and will be missing the rest of the season.
Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers
By Steve Tomasin (@DynastySanta)
Start Your Studs
The usual suspects of Roquan Smith and T.J. Watt are joined by breakout CB Brandon Stephens who has a case to start over some safeties even in non-CB-required leagues. Marlon Humphrey likely returns this week, but that may even help Humphrey more.
Yes, you're starting T.J. Watt after a down week. Always and forever.
Solid Starting Options
With Marlon Humphrey likely returning (monitor injury status), Ronald Darby gets bumped down to a Hail Mary but if Humphrey misses again, Darby could regain solid status. This is a plus matchup for the Ravens' CBs as the Steelers are 13th in giving up IDP fantasy points to CBs.
Kyle Hamilton slides a tier due to matchup and opportunity. A banged-up Kenny Pickett and the Steelers only ranking 26th in giving up IDP fantasy points to safeties gives cause for pessimism. His counterpart across the field, Minkah Fitzpatrick, is here for similar matchup reasons (Ravens 20th vs. S).
Last week, the Steelers' LB snaps went a bit wonky. We saw Elandon Roberts overtake Kwon Alexander as the LB2 from a snaps perspective and deliver a solid IDP fantasy game.
Kwon Alexander was boasting the green dot just two weeks ago against the Raiders. So, we believe last week was kind of a fluke and he'll be back to LB2 snaps. Both Alexander and Holcomb have a nice matchup as the Ravens are giving up the third most IDP fantasy points to LBs.
Holcomb was limited at practice on Wednesday but is expected to play. If for some reason he doesn't play, Roberts vaults up here to be a solid option along with Alexander.
It is a bit of a rougher fantasy matchup for LB Patrick Queen (Steelers 20th vs. LB) but he is still a more than solid option. We might just be in for a floor or slight down week.
The Ravens are decimated with injuries at the DE/edge rusher position. And with a plus matchup (PIT giving up 11th most IDP fantasy points to DE), the healthy squirrel gets the nut here in Jadeveon Clowney.
Hail Mary
Marcus Williams is finally healthy and expects to return this week, albeit to a bad matchup from a fantasy perspective (PIT 26th vs. S). Geno Stone would no longer be needed as long as Williams is in fact back in action. If not, Stone takes his place here.
As for the Jadeveon Clowney reasoning above, someone else on this defensive edge likely has a nice game, it is just impossible to call with all of the injuries and timeshare of the snaps. If you make me choose someone, give me the wily veteran in Kyle Van Noy to get a sack, maybe. Tavius Robinson is playing the most snaps alongside Clowney, however.
The Steelers CBs Patrick Peterson and Levi Wallace have really nice ceilings, but incredibly low fantasy floors. And this week they draw a bad matchup with the Ravens only giving up the 22nd most IDP fantasy points to CBs. Look elsewhere in CB-required leagues.
As noted, Elandon Roberts could have an argument to be in the solid tier. However, we think that last week's performance and snap share may have been an outlier. If for some reason Cole Holcomb doesn't play, he is just as solid an option as Kwon Alexander.
No Thanks
Odafe Oweh didn't practice on Wednesday and David Ojabo is out.
Joey Porter Jr. just isn't getting the snaps to be on the IDP fantasy radar, yet.
Geno Stone likely is headed back to the bench with Marcus Williams healthy, practicing, and likely playing this Sunday.
Carolina Panthers at Detroit Lions
By Joseph Harlow (@joelow63)
