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 119 takes and 34 wrong last week for about a 72% success rate, my percent correct each week has been hovering around 70% all year and the lowest has been 66% 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.
Jacksonville @ Buffalo
Jags:
Tier one starts: Telvin Smith (LB) Calais Campbell (DE)
Tier two starts: Yannick Ngakoue (DE) Myles Jack (LB)
Sits: AJ Bouye (CB) & Jalen Ramsey (CB) *Buffalo passing attack won’t support solid opposing corner points*
Bills:
Tier one starts: Tremaine Edmunds (LB) Matt Milano (LB) Jordan Poyer (S)
Tier two starts: Shaq Lawson (DE) *if Trent Murphy doesn’t play* Jerry Hughes (DE)
Sits: Micah Hyde (S) Lorenzo Alexander (LB)
Cleveland @ Cincinnati
Browns:
Tier one starts: Joe Schobert (LB) Jamie Collins (LB) Denzel Ward (CB) Myles Garrett (DE)
Tier two starts: Damarious Randal (S) Larry Ogunjobi (DT) Emanuel Ogbah (DE)
Sits: Jabril Peppers (S)
Bengals:
Tier one starts: Jessie Bates (S) Shawn Williams (S) Nick Vigil (LB) *if healthy*
Tier two starts: Vontaze Burfict (LB) Geno Atkins (DT) Carlos Dunlap (DE) Darqueze Dennard (CB) Dre Kirkpatrick (CB)
Sits: Hardy Nickerson (LB) & Jordan Evans (LB) *not sure which one will play in Preston Browns place yet, it was Nickerson last week and Evans the week before, it’s a dangerous situation I’m avoiding it entirely*
New England @ New York
Patriots:
Tier one starts: Trey Flowers (DE) Kyle Van Noy (LB)
Tier two starts: Patrick Chung (S) Devin McCourty (S)
Sits: Everyone else, and besides Flowers I’m not super confident in anyone on the Pats really
Jets:
Tier one starts: Jamal Adams (S) Avery Williamson (LB)
Tier two starts: Darron Lee (LB) Marcus Maye (S) Leonard Williams (DE)
Sits: NA
New York @ Philadelphia
Giants:
Tier one starts: Landon Collins (S) Alec Ogletree (LB)
Tier two starts: Janoris Jenkins (CB) Curtis Riley (S)
Sits: Everyone else
Eagles:
Tier one starts: Nigel Bradham (LB) Jordan Hicks (LB) Fletcher Cox (DT)
Tier two starts: Micheal Bennett (DE) Chris Long (DE) Brandon Graham (DE) Jalen Mills (CB) *if healthy* Corey Graham (S)
Sits: NA
San Francisco @ Tampa Bay
49ers:
Tier one starts: DeForest Buckner (DT) Fred Warner (LB) Ruben Foster (LB) Jaquiski Tartt (S) *if healthy*
Tier two starts: Solomon Thomas (DE) Richard Sherman (CB)
Sits: NA
Bucs:
Tier one starts: Justin Evans (S) *if healthy* Jason Pierre Paul (DE) Gerald McCoy (DT) LaVonte David (LB) *if healthy*
Tier two starts: Adarius Taylor (LB) Jordan Whitehead (S) Brent Grimes (CB)
Sits: NA
Seattle @ Carolina
Seahawks:
Tier one starts: Bobby Wagner (LB) Bradley McDougald (S) Frank Clark (DE)
Tier two starts: KJ Wright (LB) *if healthy* Tedric Thompson (S) Jarran Reed (DT) Tre Flowers (CB)
Sits: NA
Panthers:
Tier one starts: Luke Kuechly (LB) Kawan Short (DT) Eric Reid (S)
Tier two starts: Thomas Davis (LB) Mike Adams (S) Mario Addison (DE)
Sits: Shaq Thompson (LB) *inconsistency*
Oakland @ Baltimore
Raiders:
Tier one starts: Tahir Whitehead (LB)
Tier two starts: Maurice Hurst (DT)
Sits: Everyone else
Ravens:
Tier one starts: CJ Mosley (LB) Tony Jefferson (S)
Tier two starts: Eric Weddle (S) Terrel Suggs (LB, EDGE)
Sits: NA
Arizona @ Los Angeles
Cardinals:
Tier one starts: Budda Baker (S) Chandler Jones (DE) Josh Bynes (LB) Antoine Bethea (S)
Tier two starts: Tre Boston (S) Robert Nkemdiche (DT) Markus Golden (DE) Patrick Peterson (CB)
Sits: Hasaan Redick (LB) Deone Buchanon (LB)
Chargers:
Tier one starts: Joey Bosa (DE) Melvin Ingram (DE) Derwin James (S)
Tier two starts: Jatavis Brown (LB) Adrian Phillips (S) Jahleel Addae (S)
Sits: NA
Pittsburgh @ Denver
Steelers:
Tier one starts: Cameron Heyward (DT, DE)
Tier two starts: Jon Bostic (LB) Vince Williams (LB) Stephon Tuitt (DE) Sean Davis (S) Terrell Edmunds (S) TJ Watt (LB, EDGE)
Sits: NA
Broncos:
Tier one starts: Justin Simmons (S) Bradley Chubb (DE, LB)
Tier two starts: Von Miller (LB, EDGE) Darian Stewart (S) Chris Harris Jr (CB) Todd Davis (LB) Derek Wolfe (DE)
Sits: NA
Miami @ Indianapolis
Dolphins:
Tier one starts: Kiko Alonso (LB) TJ McDonald (S)
Tier two starts: Raekwon McMillan (LB) Davon Godchaux (DT)
Sits: Jerome Baker (LB) Reshad Jones (S) *too many issues to list, let’s say inconsistency, I’m not playing him this week*
Colts:
Tier one starts: Darius Leonard (LB) Clayton Geathers (S)
Tier two starts: Anthony Walker (LB) Tyquan Lewis (DE) Jabaal Sheard (DE)
Sits: Denico Autry (DT) Margus Hunt (DT, DE)
Green Bay @ Minnesota
Packers:
Tier one starts: Blake Martinez (LB) Jaire Alexander (CB)
Tier two starts: Mike Daniels (DT) Kenny Clark (DT) Tramon Williams (S, CB)
Sits: Kentrell Brice (S) *he sucks*
Vikings:
Tier one starts: Danielle Hunter (DE) Harrison Smith (S) Everson Griffen (DE) Linval Joseph (DT) Trae Waynes (CB)
Tier two starts: Eric Kendricks (LB) Sheldon Richardson (DT)
Sits: NA
Tennessee @ Houston
Titans:
Tier one starts: Wesley Woodyard (LB) Kevin Byard (S) Jurell Casey (DT)
Tier two starts: Jayon Brown (LB) Kenny Vaccaro (S) Adoree Jackson (CB) Malcolm Butler (CB) Logan Ryan (CB)
Sits: Rashaan Evans (LB)
Texans:
Tier one starts: JJ Watt (DE) JaDaveon Clowney (DE, LB) *tier one as DE, tier two as LB* Tyrann Mathieu (S) Zach Cunningham (LB)
Tier two starts: Bernardrick McKinney (LB) Justin Reid (S)
Sits: DJ Reader (DT)
***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 twelve 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.