“Are there too many IDP starting lineup decisions for you this week? Can’t 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, Carson Schwesinger, and Derwin James. What needs to be shared is who we start and who we sit out of the not-so-obvious players. You will not see many of the top-10 players listed in these articles because we are all already familiar with starting these players.
The byes don’t start until Week 5. It is time to continue or start a winning streak in Week 2.
***Please note that all rankings are pulled from FantasyPros.com’s current weekly rankings for DL, LB, and DB.
Week 2 – DL/Edge Starters
DL – Zach Allen – Denver Broncos
Allen has been a mainstay on the Broncos’ defensive line and is entering his fourth season with them. He has been very productive and has missed just one game in his three years with the Broncos. On Monday night, in the season opener at Kansas City, he played 61% of the defensive snaps. On just 61% of snaps, he produced the sixth-best performance by any defensive lineman in Week 1. Allen produced 5 tackles (3 solo), 2 tackles for a loss, 3 QB hits, and 2 sacks.
In Week 2, the Broncos get the Jacksonville Jaguars, who faced the Cleveland Browns in Week 1. Mason Graham just posted 5 tackles (3 solo), 2 tackles for a loss, 1 QB hit, and 1 sack. Graham and Allen play the same position. After getting embarrassed on Monday Night Football in front of a national audience, Sean Payton and Vance Joseph will be looking to make a statement against the Jaguars. Allen will be a top 12 performer again.
Allen is the #40-ranked DL for Week 2. He can be started with zero hesitation.
Edge – Donovan Ezeiruaku – Dallas Cowboys
Ezeiruaku was one of the bright spots in the Cowboys’ Sunday night loss against the New York Giants. He played the most snaps of any Cowboys defensive end at 61%. As he gets more into game shape, the snaps will increase even more. Ezeiruaku was highly efficient and stayed close to the ball on every play. He produced a very nice 10 tackles (4 solo), 1 tackle for a loss, 2 QB hits, .5 sack, and 1 forced fumble. This was good enough to rank Ezeiruaku as the #9 scoring DL for Week 1.
Ezeiruaku should have a very nice game against the Washington Commanders, who struggled against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1. Both teams will be playing for their first win, and with the Cowboys, they will have a loud crowd to help while on defense. Look for Ezeiruaku to have another dominant performance. The second-year defensive end out of Boston College has claimed the #1 spot on that defense.
Ezeiruaku is the #51-ranked DL for Week 2. He will once again be a top 12 this week.
Week 2 – DL/Edge Sits
Edge – Montez Sweat – Chicago Bears
Sweat was tied for the #41 scoring DL in Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers. He played 43 defensive snaps and managed just 2 tackles (1 solo), 1 tackle for a loss, and 1 sack. This week he gets the Minnesota Vikings and Carson Wentz with a full week of practice with the starting offense. The Vikings offense gave up just 11 tackles and 1 sack to the Green Bay Packers defensive line.
Expect another quiet week for Sweat, who is the #21-ranked DL for Week 2.
Week 2 – LB Starts
LB – Drake Thomas – Seattle Seahawks
Thomas is the other linebacker in Seattle and is competing for the top-scoring IDP on the Seahawks defense. He trailed Ernest Jones by just two points in Week 1. Thomas secured the #19-ranked LB in scoring for Week 1 with 9 tackles (3 solo), 1 tackle for a loss, 1 QB hit, and 1 sack. Another crucial stat is that Thomas played 100% of the defensive snaps in Week 1 against the New England Patriots.
Up next for the Seahawks will be divisional rival, the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals gave up 16 tackles and 1 sack to the Los Angeles Chargers linebackers in Week 1. Considering the Seahawks’ linebackers are much better than the Cardinals’ linebackers, expect a big game from Thomas. He is the #38-ranked LB for Week 2, and you should see a top-20 score again this week.
LB – Anthony Hill – Tennessee Titans
The second-round rookie out of Texas did not disappoint in Week 1 against the New York Jets. Hill was the #4 scoring LB for Week 1. He posted an incredible 16 tackles (2 solo) and 2 passes defensed. Next up for Hill will be another strong running team in the Philadelphia Eagles. In Week 1 against the Washington Commanders, the Eagles gave up 14 tackles, 3 tackles for a loss, and 2 sacks to their LBs.
Look for the Eagles to grab a nice lead and continue to run the ball, which will give Hill plenty of tackle opportunities. Especially if Hill plays 100% of the defensive snaps again as he did in Week 1. Hill is the #57-ranked linebacker for Week 2, and that just does not make sense. Start him this week to reap the tackle rewards as he posts another top-12 performance.
Week 2 – LB Sits
LB – Jamien Sherwood – New York Jets
Sherwood played 90% of the defensive snaps in Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans. His performance left a lot to desire and trust for Week 2. Sherwood produced just 4 tackles, with 2 of them being solo. That is the end of his stat line. That was good enough for the #66-ranked scoring LB in Week 1. Next up is the Packers, who gave up a total of 14 tackles to the Vikings’ LBs combined. Expect another lackluster performance for Sherwood, who is surprisingly ranked as the #14 ranked LB for Week 2. Leave him on your bench if you have other options.
Week 2 – DB Starts
CB – Zyon McCollum – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
McCollum took the honors of being the #1 scoring defensive back for Week 1. If you are in a CB-required starting lineup league, then this start is a no-brainer. He posted a very nice 9 tackles (8 solo), 1 tackle for a loss, and 2 passes defensed. He was the only cornerback who played more than 73% of the defensive snaps. McCollum was out there for 98% of those snaps. The Cincinnati Bengals were the opponent in Week 1 who attempted 35 passes and 27 rushing plays.
Week 2 has the opponent as the uninspiring Cleveland Browns. They attempted 22 passes and 22 rushes, which will give McCollum an opportunity to deliver another top-12 performance in the defensive back position. Just not sure how he is the #59-ranked DB for Week 2. Even if you don’t have a CB required starter, he should make a lot of starting lineups for your roster.
S – Jonas Sanker – New Orleans Saints
Sanker delivered a huge performance in Week 1 against the Detroit Lions. He posted 10 tackles (7 solo) and 1 tackle for a loss. That was a good enough performance to put him in the top-12 in scoring for all defensive backs in Week 1.
Next up for Sanker are the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens played the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1, and the Colts’ safeties fared pretty well in that game for IDP scoring. The Colts’ Safeties produced 15 tackles on the 68 total plays the defense was on the field. Those numbers fare very well in Sanker continuing his top 12 scoring for another week. He definitely deserves better than the #39 ranking for Week 2. Start him with a huge amount of confidence.
Week 2 – DB Sits
S – Caleb Downs – Dallas Cowboys
Downs had a nice Week 1 against the New York Giants. He played 88% of the defensive snaps and posted 8 tackles (4 solo), 1 QB hit, 1 sack, and 1 forced fumble. That was good enough to get him the #22-ranked scoring DB for Week 1. Downs will be a start for most weeks as the rookie gets more experience. This week, Downs plays the Commanders, who gave up the least amount of points to opposing safeties of all teams in Week 1. Jayden Daniels and company gave up 8 tackles and nothing else to the Philadelphia Eagles’ safeties.
Downs is ranked the #20 DB in Week 2, and you should think about sitting him this week if you have other options.
Thank you for checking out my Week 16 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
