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.
Jacksonville Jaguars at New Orleans Saints
By Steve Hungarter (@IDPHunter)
wpDataTable with provided ID not found!The 3-3 New Orleans Saints are set to make their first-ever home appearance in its new stadium on TNF. They will be showcasing the fifth-ranked DST with just 278.3 ypg. The ninth-best run defense (96.3) and the fifth-best pass defense (182.0) this defense overall is better than some would think. If there is one area of weakness the Saints will have to watch out for it is the offensive line.
A little side note. Last week, James Hurst (ankle) was injured. He is currently questionable. That brought in Trevor Penning who has been horrible playing all season long. That should be good news for the Jaguars who have been really good up front led by Josh Allen and company. This will be the matchup the Jaguars will hope to exploit.
The Jaguars currently hold a 4-2 record, enough to currently lead the AFC South coming off of a convincing 37-20 victory against the Indianapolis Colts. Notably, both the Jaguars and the Saints’ defenses have been performing exceptionally well, as they are tied for the second spot in the NFL with eight interceptions. The Jaguars are more IDP player savvy than actual real-life defense good. Although they do hold the third-best rushing defense with 75.3, that is misleading as the team tends to pass the ball as the 31st-ranked passing defense. Expect that secondary to be busy with Chris Olave and company as well.
Start Your Studs
Josh Allen starts this week as my DL5 because of this matchup, which gave up the 12th most points to defensive ends, even before the injuries.
Foyesade Oluokun is a rare breed of talent. With 66 tackles, 49 of them being solos on the season that would put him second amongst linebackers. He is in the top three conversations of ranking every single week.
Solid Starting Options
Both Pete Werner and Demario Davis are top solid/ borderline stud matchups this week as they go up against the number one ranked easiest matchup to linebackers. My only concern with Werner is, although it was nice seeing an interception two weeks back, that is not a high game and he doesn’t do much in regards to big plays. So expect a steady-solid tackle rate in this one. Davis has picked up a questionable tag so if he misses, Zack Baun could be a nice streaming option.
Devin Lloyd got the nod and the start over Chad Muma, that has been a storyline this season, but I think it’s his and he delivered as the team’s LB2 with 9 tackles on a 97% snap count. He is only owned in 18% of leagues, so if he happens to be on waiver he is totally playable at his point because he proved the snaps and can produce. Start him.
In the same vein, this duo of Cameron Jordan and Carl Granderson are solid starts any given week now. They should be able to expose a young quarterback who is in a passing offense. It won’t hurt that the Jaguars are the 11th easiest matchup to the defensive end.
Andre Cisco, Rayshawn Jenkins, and Marshon Lattimore are always solid options with good IDP fantasy matchups this week. But I want to showcase two others at the cornerback position below, we know that the above list is solid but some do not know below and are going unnoticed.
Darious Williams is a player that some do not know yet. Not only is he an every-down player but he is being targeted every week. A waiver wire pickup only owned in 4% of leagues, on the year he has 23 tackles, two forced fumbles, three interceptions, and one returned for a TD. You will be very happy if you pick up this player.
Unlike the above player, Alontae Taylor has been getting notice. Playing in the slot spot the Saints historically generate some points. Be careful with this one as his snap count has decreased and there are concerns about playing time. So it’s hard to sustain volume when you are only getting 60-75% of the snap share in the last two games.
Dawuane Smoot is back and a rock-solid DT option in DT-required leagues. He has at least 5 sacks each year over the last four years which is a really nice ceiling for a DT playing in a rotation with limited snap counts.
Hail Mary
Travon Walker gets a decent matchup in this one. Coming off a half-sack, four-tackle performance, he gets a matchup with offensive line problems as I described above.
Marcus Maye came back from suspension and went unnoticed. He put up a meh game his first week back, so if someone was foolish enough to drop the talent grab him immediately. Owned in just 4% of leagues, it’s not every day that you could find a starting safety with a 100% snap count just sitting on waivers during bye weeks.
Not only is this a tough IDP fantasy matchup for safeties against the Jaguars, but now Tyrann Mathieu has picked up a questionable tag for the game. If he is out, Jordan Howden becomes the replacement and an even more Haily Mary-ier play than Mathieu originally was.
Zack Baun is the other forgotten-about LB3 that will be on the field. He is coming off a strong game with 5 tackles and 1 int. His issue is a lower snap count so his number should be hit or miss. With Demario Davis now questionable, Baun could be a solid 1:1 replacement.
No Thanks
Tyson Campbell is officially out this week, which is why we like Darious Williams even more!
Chad Muma can return to waivers with a healthy Devin Lloyd.
Detroit Lions at Baltimore Ravens
By Billy Colton
wpDataTable with provided ID not found!Start Your Studs
Since Aidan Hutchinson came into the league as a rookie, he has been terrorizing opposing offenses! He had 9.5 sacks as a rookie, and he has already collected 4. Sacks in 6 games this season. He is on pace for a total of 12.5 sacks for the season. I see a future DPOY in Hutchinson! In a game against a Baltimore offense that has only scored 14 TDs all season, and averages 22.2 PPG, I predict Hutchinson gets 2 sacks and 3 tackles this week.
Alex Anzalone is the NFL’s version of Thor! He leads the Lions in tackles with 44, and he also has 4 PDs on the season. He is on pace for 125 total tackles which would tie his best season set in 2022. I would expect that Anzalone will be used a ton as a spy against QB Lamar Jackson, who likes to run out of the pocket often. Expect the long-flowing hair of Thor to be all over the field on Sunday, where I think he has 7-8 tackles.
Roquan Smith since coming into the NFL has been nothing short of a tackling machine! He has a career total of 757 tackles in 84 carer games. Any fantasy owner knows you can lock Smith in every season for at least 100+ tackles when he’s healthy. Against a Lions offense that is going to need to throw the ball a lot versus the Ravens’ defense with Montgomery likely out, expect Smith to fill the stat sheet. I predict Smith has 10-12 tackles on the day.
Patrick Queen is dangerous! Queen is on pace for 150 tackles on the season and 9.9 sacks! These would shatter his previous career highs in both categories. He also has been on the field for 98% of the defensive snaps this season coming into Week 7. Look for Queen to make his presence felt all over the field on Sunday when they take on a Lions offense that averages 28 PPG, third-best in the league this year. Queen should have 8-10 tackles this Sunday.
Solid Starting Options
Kyle Hamilton in my opinion is one of the top DBs in the NFL right now! Yes, he had a dirty hit last week and was ejected from the game, but when he is on the field he balls out. Expect Hamilton to come out hungry on Sunday against a Lions offense that averages 269 YPG passing. With the speed on the field the Lions have on offense, expect them to take a few deep shots. I think Hamilton ends up with a game line of 1 INT, 2 PD, and 2 tackles.
Kerby Joseph has filled in nicely for Chauncey Gardner-Johnson since his injuries. He has put up solid numbers, totaling 17 tackles over his past 3 games. If Gardner-Johnson were playing (there is optimism he could return from IR this year!), I would have not included him in my solid category of guys, but now that he is the primary starter then I would agree a solid designation is right.
Despite missing 2 games, Joseph has 21 tackles and 3 PD on the season. I would think against a Ravens offense that averages 7.2 yards per pass that the Lions’ secondary won’t see too much action. I think Joseph will get used more this week as a blitzing DB and ends up with 3-4 tackles.
Hail Mary
Marlon Humphrey to me has never been impressive. Coming out of a big college like Alabama, I think he was hyped up and was drafted based on that. I totally agree he is a Hail Mary play if you need to score points in your fantasy league due to injury or bye week. I know he missed the first four games of the season, but since being back he has only logged 82 snaps. Maybe he sees more time on the field this week, but I don’t expect much on the stat line. Look for Humphrey to have 2 to 3 tackles for the entire game on Sunday.
Brian Branch and Will Harris find themselves here due to uncertainty. Branch has missed the past two games and Harris has filled in admirably for him. If Branch is able to go, move him up a tier to a solid start and Will Harris would be back down to a No Thanks. If Branch is unable to play, Harris would stay here as this is a tougher matchup for IDP fantasy and Harris is nowhere near as talented of a real football player as Branch. He has lucked into a few big splash plays lately.
No Thanks
Edge rusher James Houston is eligible to return to the field in Week 7 versus the Ravens. However, don’t expect much from a guy who has only seen 32 snaps in 2 games this season. If he does play, I would expect they aren’t just going to unleash him, he will be rotated in and out often. I think expectations will be 1-2 tackles if he does play this week. However, keep your eye on him for future weeks in deeper leagues. Stay away from Houston this week though!
Las Vegas Raiders at Chicago Bears
By Randy Johnson (@OldMan_FF)
wpDataTable with provided ID not found!Start Your Studs
Maxx Crosby continues his domination of every offensive lineman put in his way. He has scored double-digit points in every game and has at least a half-sack in 5 of his 6 games. Crosby has a motor that will not slow down, even at 100% of the snaps. His snap count is unheard of for DE/Edge players, but how do you pull him off the field? It is the same answer to your lineup. The truest start-him-and-forget-it player there is.
Nate Hobbs has missed the last three Raider games. He is questionable for this week with that ankle injury. If he plays, you start him as he has 25 tackles in three games. Especially those of you in CB-required leagues.
T.J. Edwards has quietly become the LB to have in Chicago, even with the much lesser contract. He plays nearly every snap and is running away as the tackle leader among all Bear defenders. Edwards already has 70 tackles (36 solo), 2 tackles for a loss, 2 sacks, and a forced fumble in his first 6 games combined. He is the #5 ranked LB season to date in IDPGuys Invitational scoring. Another auto start for your roster.
Solid Starting Options
Trevon Moehrig has scored double-digit scoring in 5 of his 6 games to date on 100% of the snaps. His last 3 games have been his best with 14 tackles (12 solo), 1 sack, 3 passes defended, and 2 interceptions. Ride his hot run right now with the good matchup against the Bears, as Safeties score very well against the Bears.
Yannick Ngakoue has had a minimum of 3 tackles, with 1 tackle for a loss in his last 2 games. He is showing a comfort level now in his first year on the Bears’ defense. Ngakoue plays up to 85% of the snaps and can wreck an opposing offense. He has added 4 tackles for a loss and 2 sacks on the year.
Tremaine Edmunds is the high-dollar signing at LB for the Bears. He is not at Edwards’s level, but his 54 tackles on the year put him in your starting lineup. Edmunds has double-digit scoring in all of his games this year. He plays nearly every snap, so the opportunity is present for him.
Jaquan Brisker has been a disappointment in 2023 overall. Week 6 however was his best-scoring game to date. Fire him up and hopefully he produces the stat line of last week with 6 tackles (3 solo), .5 sacks, and 1 forced fumble.
Hail Mary
Adam Butler is playing about half the snaps and had his first sack last week. It was also his first double-digit scoring game. With the six byes this week, he may find his way into your lineup as the Bears are a great matchup against DE.
Bilal Nichols has had 2 straight games of 4 tackles. The Bears are also a great matchup for DTs. With the byes this week, Nichols will find his way into many DT-required leagues.
The 34-year-old John Jenkins has found the fountain of youth and scored double digits in 3 of his last 4 games. In his last 4 games, he has posted 18 tackles (9 solo), 2 tackles for a loss, 1 sack, and 1 pass defended on about half the snaps.
Divine Diablo has the capability of producing 10 tackles in a game. He has done it twice this season. The Bears are one of the tougher matchups against LBs, but that is with Justin Fields on the field. The byes and injuries will have you starting him, and you could be very happy with his results.
Robert Spillane is playing 100% of the snaps and delivering tackles. He has 49 tackles on the year. Spillane also had that two-interception game against the Packers and has added 2 tackles for a loss and 1 sack. He will not give you a goose egg and will more than likely give you double-digit scoring.
Marcus Peters will be a possibility for your lineup in CB-required leagues. He has a 3-game stretch of 4-6 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, and 2 passes defended.
Amik Robertson is another possibility for you based on his last two games played. He posted a combined 6 tackles (5 solo), 1 tackle for a loss, 1 sack, 1 pass defended, and 1 interception while playing 65-100% of the snaps.
DeMarcus Walker has had his playtime increased to 70-80% of the snaps in the last three weeks. In the last 2 games alone, he has 7 tackles (3 solo), 2 tackles for a loss, and 1.5 sacks.
DT Justin Jones just had his best game of the season. He posted 7 tackles (5 solo) and 2 tackles for a loss. Look at him if you have the DT-required lineup.
Jack Sanborn has only played 37 snaps over these past two games. However, he has been highly efficient in those limited snaps. He has 13 tackles (8 solo) and 1 tackle for a loss combined in those two games.
Tyrique Stevenson is a CB that you should consider in those CB-required leagues. He is playing nearly every snap and has produced four double-digit scoring weeks. Stevenson has 31 tackles on the season already.
No Thanks
Due to a lack of playing time, you should not have Jerry Tillery, Malcolm Koonce, Tyree Wilson, Noah Sewell, and Eddie Jackson in your lineup.
Due to injury, make sure Terell Smith is nowhere near your starting lineup.
Cleveland Browns at Indianapolis Colts
The Browns shocked the football world last weekend by knocking off the 49ers and handing them their first loss of the season. Sure, kicker Jake Moody missed multiple field goals to help Cleveland out, but their defense did a nice job and kept the San Francisco offense in check. This week, the Browns travel to Indianapolis as favorites and play the Colts in a game where I expect their defensive players to shine.
wpDataTable with provided ID not found!Start Your Studs
Defensive end Myles Garrett is an absolute no-brainer in lineups every week. Not only is he one of the most talented edge rushers in the NFL, but he has years of success to back it up at this point. He’s hit double-digit sacks in all of his past five seasons with a career-high of 16 sacks in each of the last two. In 2023, he’s up to 5.5 sacks along with a forced fumble. There is not a high floor with Garrett because he doesn’t produce a ton of tackles, but the payoff in starting this stud is the possibility that he can win you your week with a ton of splash plays.
Despite the dysfunction and bad vibes surrounding the Colts as an organization, they still offer a ton of value with their IDP assets. The fact that quarterback Gardner Minshew is leading the offense after Anthony Richardson underwent season-ending surgery is only a boon to those prospects. A terrible offense can mean that the defense will be on the field for a long time and those are exactly the situations where you can expect a haul of fantasy points.
Rookie cornerback “JuJu” Julius Brents suffered from injuries during the summer and was a healthy scratch to start the campaign, but he’s come on now as a promising secondary piece for the Colts. He’s risen to a snap share of over 94% in the last three weeks and because of Gus Bradley’s scheme and sees a decent amount of the opposing team’s top receiver. That has allowed him to earn plenty of action and put together a stat line of 24 tackles (20 solo), a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, an interception, and 3 pass deflections. With a matchup of Amari Cooper on tap this week, don’t expect things for Brents to slow down.
Like Garrett, veteran defensive tackle DeForest Buckner isn’t exactly a model of consistency on a game-to-game basis, but you slot him into your lineup each and every week because the man is a playmaker and a game-wrecker. He displayed that when he sacked Trevor Lawrence, forced a fumble, and then ran it back for a touchdown in Week 1. For DT-required leagues, he’s a top-10 option and pretty much the standard for the position.
Linebacker Zaire Franklin broke the Colts’ season tackle record in 2022 with a whopping total of 166. That’s pretty much all that needs to be said about why he’s a must-start for fantasy purposes. He’s followed that up by leading the NFL in tackles through the first six weeks of the season. Franklin has collected 77 tackles (49 solo), 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and 2 pass deflections. That’s an average of over 12 tackles per game! The bottom line is that he’s a machine and there’s no excuse to bench him in any league.
Solid Starting Options
We have Colts defensive end Kwity Paye listed as a stud this week, but I also really like the matchup for his counterpart, Samson Ebukam. The Browns are giving up the fifth-most fantasy points to pass rushers in the league and Ebukam already has 4 sacks so far. Quarterback Deshaun Watson missed last week’s game because of a shoulder injury and there’s no indication he’ll return in Week 7. That alone is a reason to start Ebukam in 16+ team leagues. Whether it’s P.J. Walker or Dorian Thompson-Robinson (or Deshaun Watson even) under center, you’re rolling the dice with the odds in your favor.
Safety Grant Depit stays on the field all game for the Browns defense. He’s eclipsed 96% of snaps in every game in 2023. It’s also a decent matchup as the Colts are in the top third of the NFL in fantasy points allowed to the position. Combine that with the boost in the passing game from the change in quarterback and I expect a solid return for Delpit. He’s had a couple of disappointing games, but in the games that have remained close and not turned into blowouts, he’s posted solid stats. I’m confident in rolling him out in medium to large-sized leagues.
Hail Mary
Gardner Minshew threw 3 interceptions in the Colts’ loss to Jacksonville last week. He’s never been afraid to take risks and push the ball downfield. I’ll take a chance on one of the Cleveland cornerbacks to come down with a pick and bolster their fantasy score. Start second-year CB Martin Emerson if you need a play at the position. He intercepted Brock Purdy in Week 6 and has played 70%+ snaps in almost every game. It’s a little risky, but that’s why he’s in this section.
Linebacker Anthony Walker suffered a concussion in Week 6. That usually means missing at least the next game. Sione Takitaki filled in and should get the role if the Browns need him. I wouldn’t force him into the lineup, but he’s a viable start if you are short on linebackers.
No Thanks
If you didn’t catch the news earlier this week, Colts defensive tackle Grover Stewart received a six-game suspension for a failed PED test. He won’t be back anytime soon, so for those teams in deeper formats, you may need to seek some help on the waiver wire or trade market.
Cornerback Darrell Baker played over 100 snaps in the first two games, but he’s fallen down the depth chart and is basically non-startable. Juju Brents, Kenny Moore, and Jaylon Jones (in place of the injured Dallis Flowers) should take up all of the snaps. Look elsewhere for a desperate deep-league CB play.
The Browns rotate their interior defensive line a ton, so don’t fall for the high snap numbers of defensive tackle Maurice Hurst. He’s averaged over 40% for the last four games, but that’s only netted a half-sack. Even if he makes a couple of tackles, there’s barely a floor and no ceiling. I’ll take my chances on other fliers.
Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
By Randy Johnson (@OldMan_FF)
