The IDP Fantasy start and sits you need to set your lineups and succeed on Sunday!

This is my weekly start or sit article for your IDP players in fantasy football. Despite there being very little actual information presented, just a start, sit, and what tier of production I expect from the starting player, there is a lot of information that goes into these decisions each week.

I use snap percentages (playing time), past production, tendencies of the opposing offense and probable game flow to decide on these. I just want the reader to know that a lot of time and research goes into this each week so don’t be put off by the bare bones layout here.

I used to do this explaining exactly why each decision is made and the thought process behind it but it was getting so detailed I wasn’t able to finish a start or sit for every team playing each week and only ended up covering some of the games, this way you guys get a read on all of them.

If I don’t mention a specific player it means I don’t have enough of a read on them to make a recommendation one way or the other but odds are I wouldn’t play them. The known IDP producers or potential IDP producers for each team should all be covered here.

Tier one starts = These guys have the best matchups and a history of production along with playing time, they are most likely to have a big game this week.

Tier two starts = Play these guys in deeper leagues, they should get you some points but I wouldn’t expect a massive day out of them.

Sits = Don’t play them they don’t have an ideal matchup or won’t play enough snaps to be effective.

Full transparency I got correct 114 takes and 37 wrong last week for about a 68% success rate, my percent correct each week has been hovering around 70% all year and the lowest has been 67% and the highest 75%. I don’t own a crystal ball so I’ll never be perfect but for having a take on literally every single IDP relevant player on every single team every week all year I’d say we’re looking pretty good.

And I’m pretty easily accessible if you want to call me an idiot, (@Orangeman3142 on Twitter). We believe in transparency and owning our mistakes here at IDP Guys as well as never making you go through a paywall for information. It’s a labor of love here and I would put our team, who together have over 100 years of combined IDP experience, up against anyone or any site out there and bet on us to be more accurate and accessible 10 times out of 10. Let’s get into it.

Chicago @ Buffalo

Bears:

Tier one starts: Khalil Mack (DE, LB) *tier one as DE, tier two as LB*

Tier two stats: Akiem Hicks (DE) Roquan Smith (LB) Danny Trevethan (LB) Eddie Jackson (S) Adrian Amos (S)

Sits: Kyle Fuller (CB) *Buffalo passing offense extremely ineffective, not ideal for IDP corner matchup*

Bills:

Tier one starts: Tremaine Edmunds (LB) *if healthy* Matt Milano (LB) Jordan Poyer (S)

Tier two stats: Lorenzo Alexander (LB) Jerry Hughes (DE) Trent Murphy (DE) *if healthy*

Sits: Micah Hyde (S) Tra’Davious White (CB) *inconsistency*

Kansas City @ Cleveland

Chiefs:

Tier one starts: Anthony Hitchens (LB) *if healthy* Kendal Fuller (CB)

Tier two starts: Reggie Ragland (LB) Chris Jones (DE) Ron Parker (S)

Sits: Dee Ford (LB) Breeland Speaks (LB) *both are edge rush linebackers who are sack dependent, they could both easily have huge games I just don’t play sack dependent linebakers personally, it’s your call if you want to take the risk*

Browns:

Tier one starts: Myles Garret (DE) Jamie Collins (LB) Christian Kirksey (LB) Joe Schobert (LB) *if healthy* Denzel Ward (CB)

Tier two starts: Damarious Randal (S) Larry Ogunjobi (DT)

Sits: Jabril Peppers (S) *playing time, consistency issues*

New York Jets @ Miami

Jets: 

Tier one starts: Jamal Adams (S) Avery Williamson (LB)

Tier two starts: Marcus Maye (D) Darron Lee (LB) Leonard Williams (DE) *spot start at best*

Sits: NA

Dolphins:

Tier one starts: Kiko Alonso (LB) Reshad Jones (S)

Tier two starts: Raekwon McMillan (LB) TJ McDonald (S) Davon Godchaux (DT) Cameron Wake (DE)

Sits: Jerome Baker (LB) *decreasing snaps and production last three weeks*

Detroit @ Minnesota

Lions:

Tier one starts: Damon Harrison (DT) Jarrad Davis (LB) Darius Slay (CB)

Tier two starts: Quandre Diggs (S) Glover Quin (S) Devon Kennard (LB) A’Shawn Robinson (DT)

Sits: NA

Vikings:

Tier one starts: Danielle Hunter (DE) Linval Joseph (DT) Trae Waynes (CB)

Tier two starts: Sheldon Richardson (DT) Everson Griffen (DE) Eric Kendricks (LB) Harrison Smith (S) Andrew Sendejo (S) *if healthy*

Sits: NA

Atlanta @ Washington 

Falcons:

Tier one starts: Grady Jarrett (DE) Damontae Kazee (S)

Tier two starts: Foye Oluokon (LB) De’Vondrae Campbell (LB)

Sits: Falcons Cornerbacks, not ideal matchup against an ineffective Redskins passing offense

Skins:

Tier one starts: Mason Foster (LB) Josh Norman (CB)

Tier two starts: Zach Brown (LB) DJ Swearinger (S) Ha Ha Clinton Dix (S)

Sits: Montae Nicholson (S) *should see a lot less work with the acquisition of Dix*

Tampa Bay @ Carolina

Bucs:

Tier one starts: Justin Evans (S) LaVonte David (LB) Jason Pierre Paul (DE)

Tier two starts: Gerald McCoy (DT) *if healthy* Brent Grimes (CB) Jordan Whitehead (S) Adarius Taylor (LB)

Sits: Devante Bond (LB)

Panthers:

Tier one starts: Luke Kuechly (LB) Eric Reid (S) Kawan Short (DT) James Bradberry (CB)

Tier two starts: Thomas Davis (LB) Mike Adams (S) Mario Addison (DE) Shaq Thompson (LB, EDGE)

Sits: Dontari Poe (DT) Julius Peppers (DE)

Pittsburgh @ Baltimore

Steelers:

Tier one starts: NA

Tier two starts: Jon Bostic (LB) Vince Williams (LB) Cameron Heyward (DE, DT) Stephon Tuitt (DE) Terrel Edmunds (S) TJ Watt (LB, EDGE) Sean Davis (S)

Sits: NA

Ravens:

Tier one starts: CJ Mosley (LB) Tony Jefferson (S)

Tier two starts: Terrel Suggs (LB, EDGE) Eric Weddle (S)

Sits: Everyone else

Houston @ Denver

Texans:

Tier one starts: JJ Watt (DE) JaDaveon Clowney (DE, LB) *tier one as DE, tier two as LB* Tyrann Mathieu (S) Bernardrick McKinney (LB) *if Zach Cunningham doesn’t play, tier two if he does* Zach Cunningham (LB) *if healthy*

Tier two starts: Kareem Jackson (CB, S) Justin Reid (S) DJ Reader (DT)

Sits: Whitney Mercilus (LB)

Broncos:

Tier one starts: Justin Simmons (S)

Tier two starts: Todd Davis (LB) Bradley Chubb (DE, LB) Von Miller (LB, EDGE) Derek Wolfe (DE)

Sits: Brandon Marshall (LB)

LA Chargers @ Seattle

Chargers:

Tier one starts: Derwin James (S) Melvin Ingram (DE) Joey Bosa (DE) *if healthy*

Tier two starts: Denzel Perryman (LB) Jatavis Brown (LB) Desmond King (CB)

Sits: Kyzir White (S, LB) *went to IR*

Seahawks:

Tier one starts: Bobby Wagner (LB) Bradley McDougald (S) *if healthy* Frank Clark (DE)

Tier two starts: KJ Wright (LB) Tedric Thompson (S) Jarran Reed (DT) Shaq Griffin (CB)

Sits: NA

LA Rams @ New Orleans

Rams:

Tier one starts: Cory Littleton (LB) Aaron Donald (DE) N’Damakong Suh (DT) Marcus Peters (CB)

Tier two starts: Marc Barron (LB) John Johnson (S) Micheal Brockers (DE)

Sits: Ramik Wilson (LB)

Saints:

Tier one starts: Cameron Jordan (DE) DeMario Davis (LB) Marcus Williams (S)

Tier two starts: Sheldon Rankins (DT) Vonn Bell (S) Marshon Lattimore (CB)

Sits: Marcus Davenport (DE) *injured and out*

Green Bay @ New England

Packers:

Tier one starts: Blake Martinez (LB) Jaire Alexander (CB)

Tier two starts: Jermaine Whitehead (S) Kenny Clark (DT) Clay Matthews (LB, EDGE)

Sits: Oren Burks (LB) Kentrel Brice (S)

Patriots:

Tier one starts: Trey Flowers (DE) Jason McCourty (CB)

Tier two starts: Kyle Van Noy (LB) Stephon Gilmore (CB) Patrick Chung (S) Devin McCourty (S)

Sits: NA

Tennessee @ Dallas

Titans:

Tier one starts: Wesley Woodyard (LB) Jurell Casey (DT) Kevin Byard (S)

Tier two starts: Jayon Brown (LB)

Sits: All Titans cornerbacks, not ideal matchup against Dallas team that struggles passing the ball* Rashaan Evans (LB) *snaps have gone down since Woodyard returned from injury*

Cowboys:

Tier one starts: DeMarcus Lawrence (DE) Jaylon Smith (LB)

Tier two starts: Sean Lee (LB) Leighton Vander Esch Mein Shizor (LB) Byron Jones (CB, S) David Irving (DT)

Sits: Chidobe Awuzie (CB) *not ideal matchup against a Titans team that also struggles to pass the ball*

***Obviously if any of these players are inactive or injured before their game don’t play them, this article is usually written days ahead of each teams game and things change constantly in regards to injury and suspensions and the like. Make sure you check ESPN’s inactive list that drops at 11:30AM Eastern Time every Sunday morning for the latest and best information on injury status before the games kick off***

If you have any questions feel free to hit me up on Twitter (@Orangeman3142) or use the “contact us” box on the website idpguys.org Good luck in your matchups this week and keep an eye out for my instant reaction & defensive waivers segment coming out next week starting Tuesday and continuing throughout the week. I break down every single teams IDP situation with snap counts, production and analysis.

And make sure you catch the podcast dropping Tuesday where we discuss this week in all things IDP from week nine as well as some offensive and defensive waivers and the latest IDP news and notes to keep you up to speed with all things IDP. Our team of writers has been doing this for a long time, many of us since 2004 or earlier and altogether we have over 100 years of IDP experience combined. Between all of us we’ll find you the help or advice you need to get your team ready for the playoff push and win your IDP league.

All that and more, and never behind a paywall, at idpguys.org.