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!
*Please check back frequently for written updates as our writers and editors are all on different schedules. Updates will occur all day throughout the day on Thursday and Friday*
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.
Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders
By Steve Hungarter (@IDPHunter)
The 5-8 Los Angeles Chargers travel to Las Vegas to play the 5-8 Raiders. At first glance, there is nothing to see here. Read on. This is a rivalry game, and we all know anything could happen. Also, it's TNF so that's the ultimate whammy card right there.
The Raiders are coming off a short week, so expect that defense to be good and cranky. They get a dream matchup against backup quarterback Easton Stick. If the Raiders could generate a pass rush this is a dream matchup for them.
Start Your Studs
Maxx Crosby Fun Fact: needs three sacks to have the Raiders single season stat mark. He should be more motivated than usual. Fire him up.
Nate Hobbs should be a solid back-end (DB12-14) range for players this week. I mean why not, he gets whatever Chargers wide receiver runs a go route. Just be mindful of this one, as it won't be Justin Herbert in this matchup but that could be seen as even better.
Derwin James, whether it's an up year or a down, (he has given up a career-high 390+ receiving yards) is always tier-1 for me at the potential of what he may do. There are only a handful of guys that can do that. Plus, he gets a rookie quarterback that can be prone to a mistake.
Khalil Mack Does anyone remember the Week 4 game? I do. Mack has six sacks in that game alone. I am not sure how the Raiders will play this one, but if it's more of the same this man will eat again.
Solid Starting Options
Robert Spillane should be a factor here. With Easton Stick at Quarterback, expect the Chargers to run heavy with Ekeler. Spillane has been an upper-range run stuffer with an 85.0 PFF grade, which is top 10 amongst linebackers. Further Spillane is only the fourth player in Raiders history to have 3 sacks and 3 INTs on the season. He is also credited with 26 stops so that won't change this week either. The reason he is not in the "stud" column is that he is spotty in coverage and that too could be a matchup the Chargers may look to exploit.
Kenneth Murray and Eric Kendricks are some solid-to-good LB 25-30s range linebackers. We know by now what they could do and those are easy plugs as your flex.
Hail Mary
Tuli Tuipulotu is someone we do not want to forget about here. Playing for the injured Bosa, he could get red hot in a predicted low-scoring affair.
We have a ton of DB3 types in this range you might get away with starting if you have to here.
Tre'von Moehrig When I say solid I'm expecting a DB 25-30 guy and he generally checks that box for me. Not sure your league size but I generally could get away with this guy as my DB3 and get DB2 value. Good enough for me.
Alohi Gilman same as the above.
Marcus Epps I know but he generally receives 100% snaps. His recent six-tackle game has me thinking he could be playable in a pinch.
Divine Deablo Meh for 96% of snaps he should be getting more traction. Hasn't done much for impact plays, so if you got him you are generally hoping for 4-7 tackles.
No Thanks
Minnesota Vikings at Cincinnati Bengals
By Joseph Harlow (@joelow63)
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