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.

For transparencies sake I was correct on 123 and wrong on 38 last week for an average of about 70% correct, and I’ve been at 70% this entire year the only movement being a couple percentage points either way. For listing a start or sit for literally every IDP relevant player on every team for every matchup every single week I would say we aren’t looking too bad so far this season.

Tampa Bay @ Atlanta:

Bucs: 

Tier one starts: Gerald McCoy (DT) Jason Pierre Paul (DE) Kwon Alexander (LB) LaVonte David (LB)

Tier two starts: Brent Grimes (CB) Justin Evans (S) Vinny Curry (DE)

Sits: Jordan Whitehead (S) Adarius Taylor (LB)

Falcons:

Tier one starts: Grady Jarrett (DT) DaMontae Kazee (S)

Tier two starts: Vic Beasley (DE) Takkarist McKinley (DE) Duke Riley (LB) DaVondre Campbell (LB) Robert Alford (CB) Desmond Trufant (CB) Brian Poole (CB)

Sits: Foye Oluokon (LB) Jordan Richards (S)

Pittsburgh @ Cincinatti

Steelers:

Tier one starts: Terrel Edmunds (S) or Morgan Burnett (S) *whichever starts in that safety position* Jon Bostic (LB) Vince Williams (LB) *if healthy*

Tier two starts: Sean Davis (S) Stephon Tuitt (DE) Cameron Heyward (DE, DT)

Sits: TJ Watt (LB, EDGE) *inconsistent, you can start him if you have a specific Edge or OLB slot*

Bengals:

Tier one starts: Geno Atkins (DT) Carlos Dunlap (DE) Nick Vigil (LB) Vontaze Burfict (LB) Jessie Bates (S)

Tier two starts: Shawn Williams (S) Dre Kirkpatrick (CB) Darqueze Dennard (CB)

Sits: Preston Brown (LB) Micheal Johnson (DE) Carl Lawson (DE)

LA Chargers @ Cleveland

Chargers: 

Tier one starts: Derwin James (S) Melvin Ingram (DE)

Tier two starts: Denzel Perryman (LB) Desmond King (CB) Kyzir White (LB, S) *if healthy*

Sits: Jatavis Brown (LB)

Browns:

Tier one starts: Larry Ogunjobi (DT) Myles Garrett (DE) Joe Schobert (LB) Christian Kirksey (LB) Denzel Ward (CB)

Tier two starts: Damarious Randall (S) Jamie Collins (LB) Emanuel Ogbah (DE)

Sits: Jabrill Peppers (S)

Seattle @ Oakland:

Seahawks:

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

Tier two starts: Jarran Reed (DT) KJ Wright (LB) *if healthy* Tre Flowers (CB) Shaq Griffin (CB) Tedric Thompson (S)

Sits: Barkevious Mingo (LB) Maurice Alexander (S)

Raiders:

Tier one starts: Tahir Whitehead (LB)

Tier two starts: Maurice Hurst (DT) Rashaan Melvin (CB) Marcus Gilchrist (S)

Sits: Jonathan Hankins (DT) Bruce Irvin (DE) Derrick Johnson (LB) Reggie Nelson (S)

Chicago @ Miami:

Bears:

Tier one starts: Khalil Mack (DE, LB)

Tier two starts: Akiem Hicks (DE) Roquan Smith (LB) Danny Trevathan (LB) Kyle Fuller (CB)

Sits: Eddie Jackson (S) Adrian Amos (S) *both are inconsistent, unreliable and frankly boring. safeties are a dime a dozen you can find better ones than these two*

Dolphins:

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

Tier two starts: Davon Godchaux (DT) Jerome Baker (LB) Minkah Fitzpatrick (CB, S)

Sits: Raekwon McMillan (LB) Cameron Wake (DE)

Arizona @ Minnesota

Cardinals:

Tier one starts: Chandler Jones (DE) Josh Bynes (LB) Budda Baker (S) Tre Boston (S) Antoine Bethea (S)

Tier two starts: Robert Nkemdiche (DT) Markus Golden (DE) Patrick Peterson (CB)

Sits: Hasaan Reddick (LB) Deone Bucannon (LB)

Vikings:

Tier one starts: Danielle Hunter (DE) Linval Joseph (DT) Mike Hughes (CB)

Tier two starts: Sheldon Richardson (DT) Stephen Weatherly (DE) Eric Kendricks (LB) Andrew Sendejo (S) Harrison Smith (S)

Sits: Anthony Barr (CB) Xavier Rhodes (CB) Trae Waynes (CB)

Indianapolis @ NY Jets

Colts:

Tier one starts: Darius Leonard (LB) Anthony Walker (LB) Clayton Geathers (S) *if healthy for all three*

Tier two starts: Margus Hunt (DT, DE) Denico Autry (DT) Jabaal Sheard (DE) Malik Hooker (S) Matthias Farley (S) *if Clayton Geathers doesn’t play*

Sits: Skai Moore (LB) Najee Goode (LB)

Jets:

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

Tier two starts: Leonard Williams (DE) Darron Lee (LB) Marcus Maye (S)

Sits: Jets Cornerbacks *inconsistency, complete roll of the dice*

Carolina @ Washington

Panthers:

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

Tier two starts: Mario Addison (DE) Thomas Davis (LB) Mike Adams (S)

Sits: Dontari Poe (DT) Julius Peppers (DE) Shaq Thompson (LB) Eric Reid (S)

Redskins:

Tier one starts: Mason Foster (LB) Zach Brown (LB)

Tier two starts: Da’Ron Payne (DT) Josh Norman (CB) DJ Swearinger (S)

Sits: Ryan Kerrigan (LB, EDGE) Preston Smith (LB) Montae Nicholson (S)

Buffalo @ Houston

Bills:

Tier one starts: Jordan Poyer (S) Tremaine Edmunds (LB)

Tier two starts: Trent Murphy (DE) Jerry Hughes (DE) Matt Milano (LB) Kyle Williams (DT)

Sits: Micah Hyde (S) Lorenzo Alexander (LB)

Texans:

Tier one starts: JJ Watt (DE) JaDaveon Clowney (DE, LB) *tier one as DE, tier two as LB, EDGE* Zach Cunningham (LB) Tyrann Mathieu (S)

Tier two starts: DJ Reader (DT) Bernardrick McKinney (LB) Kareem Jackson (S, CB) Jonathan Joseph (CB)

Sits: Whitney Mercilus (LB)

LA Rams @ Denver

Rams: 

Tier one starts: N’Damakong Suh (DT) Aaron Donald (DE) Mark Barron (LB) John Johnson (S)

Tier two starts: Micheal Brockers (DE) Cory Littleton (LB) Marcus Peters (CB)

Sits: Ramik Wilson (LB)

Broncos:

Tier one starts: Justin Simmons (S) Chris Harris (CB)

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

Sits: Bradley Chubb (LB, DE) Brandon Marshall (LB)

Jacksonville @ Dallas

Jags:

Tier one starts: Telvin Smith (LB) Myles Jack (LB) Calais Campbell (DE)

Tier two starts: Malik Jackson (DT) Barry Church (S) Yannick Ngakoue (DE)

Sits: Tashaun Gipson (S) Jalen Ramsey (CB) AJ Buoye (CB) *Dallas can’t pass*

Cowboys: 

Tier one starts: DeMarcus Lawrence (DE) Jaylon Smith (LB) Leighton Vander Esch (LB) Chidobe Awuzie (CB) Byron Jones (CB, S)

Tier two starts: Taco Charlton (DE) Jeff Heath (S) Xavier Woods (S)

Sits: Sean Lee (LB) *injury*

Baltimore @ Tennessee 

Ravens:

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

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

Sits: Kenny Young (LB) Patrick Onwuasor (LB)

Titans:

Tier one starts: Jurrell Casey (DT) Jayon Brown (LB) or Wesley Woodyard (LB) *Brown if Woodyard is out with injury* Kevin Byard (S)

Tier two starts: Rashaan Evans (LB) Malcolm Butler (CB) Adoree Jackson (CB)

Sits: Kendrick Lewis (S)

Kansas City @ New England

Chiefs: 

Tier one starts: Anthony Hitchens (LB) Kendall Fuller (CB)

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

Sits: Justin Houston (LB, EDGE) *injury*

Patriots: 

Tier one starts: Trey Flowers (DE) Devin McCourty (S)

Tier two starts: Stephon Gilmore (CB) Kyle Van Noy (LB) Jason McCourty (CB)

Sits: Everyone else

San Francisco @ Green Bay

49ers: 

Tier one starts: DeForest Buckner (DT) Fred Warner (LB) Rueben Foster (LB)

Tier two starts: Jaquiski Tartt (S) Richard Sherman (CB) *if healthy*

Sits: Solomon Thomas (DE) Malcolm Smith (LB)

Packers:

Tier one starts: Blake Martinez (LB) Ha Ha Clinton Dix (S)

Tier two starts: Kenny Clarke (DT) Clay Matthews (LB, EDGE)

Sits: Kentrell Brice (S) Oren Burks (LB) Antonio Morrison (LB)

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 six 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.

All that and more at idpguys.org.

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