Are there too many IDP starting lineup decisions for you this week? Can not decide which linebacker or edge rusher to start? Which safety gets the nod this week?”
This will not be the typical ‘obvious starters’ type of article. Always start your studs like Maxx Crosby, Fred Warner, and Derwin James. What needs to be shared is who we start and sit out of the not-so-obvious players. You will not see the Top 10-ranked players in these articles because we all already know to start these players. These players could be ranked #11 or #37.
The byes begin this week with the Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, and Pittsburgh Steelers all sitting.
***Please note that all rankings are pulled from FantasyPros.com’s current weekly rankings for DL, LB, and DB.
More NFL Week 5 Fantasy Football Advice From IDP+
- Top Fantasy Football Week 5 Streaming Defenses: Targets and Fades – IDP+
- IDP Week 5 Waiver Wire: Linebackers, Defensive Linemen, and Defensive Backs to Target – IDP+
Week 5 – DL/Edge Starters
Dorance Armstrong – Washington Commanders
Armstrong has been Mr. consistent this year through the first four games. He has already posted 18 tackles with a minimum of three in a game. Along with that, Armstrong has 5 tackles for a loss (at least 1 per game), 1 QB hit in each game, and 3 sacks. Now, he gets the Chargers, who give up the 25th most points to opposing DEs. Justin Herbert has already been sacked 12 times this year, which is tied for 7th-worst in the NFL. The #32-ranked DL for Week 5 will produce much higher than #32. He is the #11 scoring DL on the season and should stay there with his weak opponent this weekend.
Byron Young – Los Angeles Rams
Young has at least one sack in each of the season’s four games. He has added 23 tackles (15 solo), 7 tackles for a loss (at least 1 in each game), and 1 forced fumble to his 5 sacks. He is ranked as the #17 DL for Week 5. Young is the #2 scoring DL on the season. Against the 9th-ranked Colts in points allowed to opposing DL, he posted 3 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, and 1 sack. Now, he gets the 49ers on a short week with a questionable QB situation and the #14-ranked team in points allowed to opposing DL. He will continue his incredible streak of sacks.
Josh Sweat – Arizona Cardinals
Sweat has been the #19 scoring DL over the last three games combined. Playing over 52% of the defensive snaps since coming to the Cardinals this year, after 7 years with the Eagles, he has a sack in 3 straight games. Next up for Sweat and the Cardinals are the visiting Titans. The Titans have given up 17 sacks this season, which is just one behind the league leader, the Vikings. He will easily surpass the #27 ranking for this week.
Week 5 – DL/Edge Sits
Trey Hendrickson – Cincinnati Bengals
Hendrickson and the Bengals are both in a tailspin, and up next is a visit to Detroit to face the high-powered Lions offense. The #5-ranked DL for Week 5 will be nowhere near that ranking this week. Jared Goff has been sacked just 4 times this year, and the Lions are 10th in points given up to opposing DL. Since Jow Burrow went down, the entire Bengal team looks like they are not really interested in this season now. Hendrickson has just 5 tackles with 3 being solo in the last 2 games combined. He will be a non-factor in Week 5 and post numbers of just another guy.
Jonathan Greenard – Minnesota Vikings
Greenard has not been producing like in years past. While he is getting the defensive snaps with over 87% of the snaps, the production has not been there thus far in 2025. In those 211 defensive snaps, Greenard has 11 tackles (6 solo) and 1 sack. In Week 5, he gets the Browns, who are the 18th-ranked team in points allowed to opposing DL this year. He is ranked #8 this week for DL, and he will be lucky to be in the top 24.
Week 5 – LB Starts
Tyrel Dodson – Miami Dolphins
What does a guy have to do to get some respect in the ranking sheets? Dodson is the #1 scoring LB on the season, yet he is ranked #24 for Week 5? Do not even think about sitting Dodson this week. He already has 42 tackles (28 solo), 4 tackles for a loss, 2 QB hits, 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 pass defended. This week, Dodson travels to Carolina to face the Panthers, who are ranked 19th in points allowed to opposing linebackers. Another top 10 scoring week is on tap for Dodson.
Bobby Wagner – Washington Commanders
The 35-year-old Wagner is like the Energizer Bunny; he keeps on going and going and going. 4 games with double-digit tackles in each of those games while playing 100% of the defensive snaps. Wagner also has 4 tackles for a loss, 3 QB hits, and 2 sacks. Next up on the schedule are the Chargers in Los Angeles. The Chargers rank #14 in points allowed to opposing LBs, so the table is set for another double-digit tackle day. The #15-ranked LB will be a top 5 LB in Week 5.
Dee Winters – San Francisco 49ers
Winters has stepped into the Dre Greenlaw role and delivered quite nicely. The #28-ranked LB for Week 5 is listed as questionable because of a knee injury. Watch his status and if he plays, get him in your lineup. He is the #12-ranked LB over the past two weeks combined. In these past 2 weeks, Winters has delivered 18 tackles (13 solo), 1 tackle for a loss, 1 QB hit, and 2 passes defended. He is playing the Rams this week, who are the 3rd-ranked team in points scored by opposing LBs. However, don’t let that scare you as he just had his best game as a pro against the 7th-ranked Jaguars.
Week 5 – LB Sits
Roquan Smith – Baltimore Ravens
Smith is ranked #1 for LBs this week. Do not start him under any circumstances, as he has a hamstring strain and will be missing multiple weeks, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Zaire Franklin – Indianapolis
Franklin has had the quietest start to a season in 2025. He is playing 96% of the defensive snaps but has just 23 tackles (10 solo), 1 QB hit, and 3 passes defended. His name alone has him ranked as the #12 LB for Week 5. The Colts welcome the Raiders to town this week. The #52-ranked scoring LB on the season has not had a tackle for a loss or any passes defended.
Week 5 – DB Starts
Quick Tip – When having a hard time deciding on a DB to start, and a rookie CB is one of those players, always choose the rookie CB if they are going against a pass-heavy team.
Daxton Hill – Cincinnati Bengals
Hill is one of the Bengal players who is still showing up for the fans. After a quiet Week 3 game against the Vikings, he produced nine tackles in Week 4 against the Broncos. He is the #7-ranked scoring DB on the season with 29 tackles (21 solo), 1 tackle for a loss, 2 passes defended, and 1 interception. Hill plays over 90% of the snaps, and he will get plenty of opportunities to increase his numbers this week against the Lions. The ranking of #31 this week is just too low. He needs to be in your lineup this week.
Cooper DeJean – Philadelphia Eagles
Cornerbacks do not get the deserved respect when ranking DBs. DeJean is the #24-ranked DB even though he is the #5 scoring DB on the year. He plays 100% of the defensive snaps and has posted 31 tackles (21 solo), 1 tackle for a loss, and 3 passes defended. The Broncos come visiting this week with their 19th-ranked team in allowed points to opposing DBs. This good matchup will keep DeJean in the Top 10 for another week.
Josh Jobe – Seattle Seahawks
Jobe has had a very nice last couple of games. He is the 4th-ranked scoring DB over these last two games. The 64th-ranked DB for week 5 has produced 16 tackles (13 solo), 1 QB hit, .5 sack, and 2 passes defended during these last two weeks. Now he gets the Buccaneers and the 28th-ranked team in points allowed to DBs. Start him and his over 91% defensive snap rate season to date with confidence.
Week 5 – DB Sits
Budda Baker – Arizona Cardinals
Baker has had a very slow start to the 2025 season. After a nice Week 1 performance of 10 tackles, he has regressed in tackle count in every game. Last week, against the Seahawks, he had zero solo tackles. He is now the 42nd-ranked DB in scoring for the season. Next up are the Titans, who ran just 50 offensive plays last week. The opportunity will not be there for Baker to rebound this week, so he can justify the #4 ranking for DBs this week.
Minkah Fitzpatrick – Miami Dolphins
Fitzpatrick had a fumble recovery last week, which saved his score for Week 4. Two tackles don’t score very many points. He only had 5 tackles, with 4 being solo, the week before. Fitzpatrick is the #44-ranked scoring DB over the past two weeks. How he is the #22-ranked DB for Week 5 does not make sense. Playing the Panthers does not make up that kind of difference. He has scored fewer points in every game this season, and Week 5 could bring a continuation of that trend.
Thank you for checking out my Week 5 IDP Start/Sit Advice article! You can read all of my articles on my IDP+ author page. Be sure to follow me on X at @OldMan_FF and @IDP_Plus (we have offense, too), and please consider becoming a subscriber. Week 4 IDP Start Sit
