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.
New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers – Thursday, September 21, 2023
by Steve Hungarter (@TheBroNamaths)
wpDataTable with provided ID not found!Start Your Studs
The 49ers have a short week after they beat the Rams on Sunday. It won’t matter as they head to New York on Thursday, to play this game. Jet lag aside, that won’t stop a sleepy Giants team that can’t pass rush or pass protect. This game should be a mismatch on all sides of the ball.
Led by Nick Bosa, I expect the 49ers’ defensive line to wreak havoc upon the Giants’ offensive line. As indicated in the Dallas Cowboys game, the line has proven to be a major weakness so far this season. The story here should be Steve Wilks and his defense vs. Daniel Jones. This could get out of hand pretty quickly. A majority of this success is credited to its linebacker corps led by Dre Greenlaw (18 tackles this season) and Fred Warner (19 tackles, and 1 sack) both are must-starts in all formats.
Solid Starting Options
Unlike the below analysis, the interior of the Giants’ defensive line has been quality. Partially Dexter Lawrence who logs in 71.9% of snap counts. For the mere fact that the 49ers will pound the rock up the middle, Larence will be a must-start as well as Bobby Okereke who will soak up his occasional tackle points for his linebacker role.
In the secondary, I could see all solid-decent starts out Xavier McKinney and Jason Pinnock, both of whom are logging over 99% of snaps. For CB-required leagues, Darnay Holmes has been an above-average option.
For the 49ers I could see Javon Hargrave having a strong game, exploiting the offensive line for what it has become. The Giants cannot afford to risk putting a double team on him, so expecting some 1-on-1s.
Hail Mary
All of these names have been a huge disappointment. You wouldn’t know it but the Giants are actually third in the league on passing blitz downs at 47.6%. It’s an odd stat, and honestly a bit confusing since this team’s pass rush has been nonexistent this year.
So how’s the pass rush you ask? Why, it’s been bad. So bad, in fact, that the Giants have struggled to register a single sack in the opening two games of the season. The underwhelming pass-rushing performance from some of the starting edge players has contributed to this issue. IDP managers had elevated expectations for Kayvon Thibodeaux based on his early ADP. He is benched until I see some life out of him.
No Thanks
If you haven’t dumped Isaiah Simmons on to a trade partner do so in your leagues quickly. With just 20.3% of snaps and 3 tackles in 2 games, it’s time to move on and stop wasting your time.
Atlanta Falcons at Detroit Lions – Sunday, September 24, 2023
by Steve Hungarter (@TheBroNamaths)
wpDataTable with provided ID not found!Start Your Studs
Kaden Elliss has been nothing short of solid since coming to Atlanta both in fantasy and also real life too. During Sunday’s 25-24 victory over the Packers, Elliss made a notable contribution with 6 solo tackles, one of which resulted in a sack. Elliss not only led Atlanta in tackles for the game but also secured his first sack of the 2023 season. This team is going to need his help this week more than ever due to the loss of Troy Andersen. Known as both a pass rusher and a solid run defender, Elliss should be started in all formats. Regardless of how the Lions approach this game, Ellis will be involved no question.
Aidan Hutchinson is the motor of Detroit City. He played 94.4% of total snaps, including 90.9% on running downs and a whopping 95.9% on passing downs. Like the above example of Elliss, Aidan Hutchinson remains a stud in this one because regardless of how the Falcons approach this one he will be involved and be elite, irrespective of the game plan thrown at him.
Solid Starting Options
Expect Alex Anzalone to remain a decent play at least for the first half of the season,
Tracy Walker sneaks back into the starting lineups, with C.J. Gardner-Johnson‘s torn pectoral muscle injury, which may sideline him for the remainder of the season. As a result, Walker has a chance to make steady plays.
Expecting the Lions to attempt to pass on the Falcons, making for some solid options. Richie Grant is always elite and could be counted on. Jessie Bates, after having a huge Week 1, came back down to earth but still is a solid contributor. This unit will be interesting this week. Believe it or not, Bates, Cameron Sutton, and Grant all logged 100% of the snaps last week so all can be usable. Most notably, AJ Terrell or Grant will try to lock down Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Hail Mary
For the Lions, Jack Campbell is still on a limited snap count (38.5%) but it’s only a matter of time until he is fully unleashed. I am attempting to target managers in my leagues in the next few weeks when they become frustrated. In the meantime, Derrick Barnes is playing inside MLB which a lot of analysts missed this week, so he will have minimal stats appeal in some deeper leagues.
The Falcons have some questions here at linebacker too with Troy Andersen currently managing a concussion, which has provided Nathan Landman with the opportunity to assume a full-time role on the field. Although Landman’s performance this week wasn’t exceptionally high, there is potential for improvement in his production if Andersen remains sidelined in the future. They are both hail marys but if you pick the right one somebody can feast.
Lorenzo Carter and Bud Dupree are gross options and I am avoiding that regardless of the quality of this defensive coordinator. You could do better than these two.
No Thanks
I’m not looking to start any of these players.
Buffalo Bills at Washington Commanders – Sunday, September 24, 2023
by Steve Hungarter (@TheBroNamaths)
wpDataTable with provided ID not found!Start Your Studs
The teeth of this defense for the Commanders are definitely the defensive line and its strong safety Kamren Curl. Last week was a huge letdown for these players despite getting a win. The unit failed to defend the rush or pass and gave up nearly 400 passing yards to Russell Wilson, including a hail mary. They will look collectively to rebound in this one and let the world know that this must have been a fluke. I do expect them to be heavily involved as the Bills’ strength is passing the football.
For the Bills, this defense has been short of amazing in Week 2 against the Raiders and only gave up 240 yards of offense and held Josh Jacobs to -2 yards. This is a credit to the team’s overall scheme and use of its players.
Solid Starting Options
