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 Brian Burns, Jordyn Brooks, and Tykee Smith. What needs to be shared is who we start and sit out, as well as 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.
Week 13 brings the Zero Byes! Enjoy the starting lineup flexibility—two weeks left in our regular seasons and time to nail down that playoff spot.
***Please note that all rankings are pulled from FantasyPros.com’s current weekly rankings for DL, LB, and DB.
More NFL Week 13 Fantasy Football Advice From IDP+
Week 13 – DL/Edge Starters
James Pearce – Atlanta Falcons
Pearce has found a lot of success in the past three games with a sack in each one. This was done against the 12th, 13th, and 15th-ranked teams in points allowed to opposing DE/Edge players. Week 13 brings the 23rd-ranked Jets on the schedule. The Jets have allowed the fourth most sacks this year, with 39 allowed in 11 games. The rookie will continue his sack streak to four games and might add a forced fumble as he did against the Colts two weeks ago. Start him with confidence and reap the rewards of another win.
Josh Hines-Allen – Jacksonville Jaguars
Hines-Allen has hit paydirt with a sack in three out of the last four games on his schedule. He scored 20+ points in all three weeks and now faces the most sacked team in the NFL. 45 sacks in 11 games is what the Titans have given up this season. Hines-Allen deserves to be in your lineup this week as he stays hot with at least one more sack to his season total. Start him and enjoy watching his points add up for the Week 13 Top 10 DE/Edge player.
Arden Key – Tennessee Titans
On the other side of the ball in the Jaguars vs Titans game will be the return Key for his 3rd game back after hurting his quad in Week 5. He jumped right back into nearly 70% of the defensive snaps these past two games. Key has produced 4 sacks in his last 4 games played in addition to his 9 tackles (5 solo), 5 tackles for a loss, and 8 QB hits. The Jaguars have allowed 29 sacks in 11 games, which is 9th-worst out of the teams that have played 11 games. Key will produce points for your IDP squad this week and deserves to be started.
Week 13 – DL/Edge Sits
Will McDonald – New York Jets
Since his huge game in Week 10 against the Browns with four sacks, McDonald has been invisible in his last two games. Facing the #22 and #26-ranked teams in points allowed to opposing DE/Edge players, he produced 1 assisted tackle and 1 QB hit on 85 defensive snaps. Week 13 has McDonald facing the #3-ranked Falcons, who have allowed just 17 sacks in 11 games, which is tied for fourth best in the NFL. He should stay on your bench for this tough matchup.
Jordan Davis – Philadelphia Eagles
The Bears are the third stingiest team in points allowed to opposing DTs. In his last three games against Top 10-ranked teams, Davis has scored just 2, 6, and 6 points in those matchups. This week, the Eagles face the #3 Bears, and it looks like Davis should stay on your bench this week. His production in those three games against Top 10 opponents consists of 6 tackles, with just 1 being a solo tackle.
Week 13 – LB Starts
Germaine Pratt – Indianapolis Colts
Pratt has been with the Colts for six games now. His defensive snap percentage has increased to 86% or more over the past three games. He has 35 tackles (22 solo) in his last 3 games, including 20 last week against the Chiefs. The Chiefs are the 26th-ranked team in points allowed to opposing LBs, and the 23rd-ranked Texans are the Colts’ opponent this week. Pratt has also produced 4 tackles for a loss, 1 fumble recovery, and 3 passes defended since becoming a Colt. He belongs in your starting lineup this week.
Cody Simon – Arizona Cardinals
Simon has been playing 100% of the defensive snaps over the last three games. In those 3 games, he has posted 25 tackles (10 solo), 1 tackle for a loss, and 1 pass defended. These numbers were produced against the #9, #13, and #18-ranked teams in points allowed to opposing LBs. After three tougher matchups and producing solid numbers, Simon finally gets an easier matchup with the #27 Buccaneers. Put him in your lineup with confidence.
Zaire Franklin – Indianapolis Colts
The other half of the starting Mike LBs for the Colts is also on the Start list for Week 13. Franklin is coming off back-to-back 25+ point weeks. In those 2 games combined, he posted 24 tackles (13 solo), 3 tackles for a loss, 2 QB hits, 1 sack, and 1 forced fumble. Next up on the Colts’ schedule will be the 23rd-ranked Texans. Both of the Colts’ LBs deserve to be starters, even if you have both on your roster. They can co-exist as they combined for 34 tackles last week against the Chiefs.
Week 13 – LB Sits
Eric Wilson – Minnesota Vikings
Wilson has kept his 90% plus defensive snap count over the past three games, but has produced just 17 tackles (12 solo), 3 tackles for a loss, 2 QB hits, and 1 forced fumble during these games. These numbers were produced against the 11th, 17th, and 28th-ranked teams in points allowed to opposing LBs. The Seahawks are his opponent this week, and they are a tough and stingy team that is ranked #9. He should stay on your bench for Week 13.
Alex Anzalone – Detroit Lions
Jack Campbell is the new leader of the Lions’ defense, but Anzalone still plays a critical part. Anzalone plays nearly all of the defensive snaps, but his production is far below that of Campbell. In his 11 games, Anzalone has posted a mere 63 tackles (35 solo), 2 tackles for a loss, 5 QB hits, 1.5 sacks, and 4 passes defended. That puts him at an average of under 12 points scored per game. He has an average of just over 10 points per game over the past 5 games, with 13 points scored being his high output during this period. He needs to be on your bench.
Week 13 – 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.
Evan Williams – Green Bay Packers
As a Safety, Williams has 71 tackles on the season. 40 of those tackles have been in the last six games, with a high of nine tackles just a week ago against the Giants. He has 20+ fantasy points scored in each of the last three games played. The second-year player also has 4 tackles for a loss, 1 fumble recovery, and 3 interceptions on the season. He plays the #19 Lions team in points allowed to opposing Safeties. Williams picked off Goff in Week 1 to go with his three tackles. That matchup was in Week 1, and Williams has grown more comfortable in his role since then. Start him with a great deal of confidence.
Kamren Kinchens – Los Angeles Rams
Kinchens is another second-year player who has had very nice growth as this season has carried on. In his last 2 games, he has produced a very nice 11 tackles (8 solo), 1 QB hit, 3 passes defended, and 2 interceptions. The second most charitable team in points allowed to opposing Safeties is the Panthers, who are next up for the Rams. Kinchens should continue his streak and post his third straight 20+ point game for your IDP roster. He belongs in your starting lineup.
Sauce Gardner – Indianapolis Colts
Gardner has played two games for the Colts and produced his only two 20+ point games for the year in those two games. He has played 100% of the defensive snaps and posted 13 tackles (11 solo) and 2 passes defended. He gets to play the 24th-ranked Texans this week and should post another 20+ point game for your squad. C.J. Stroud should return this week, and he has averaged over 33 pass attempts per game in his seven complete games. If Davis Mills plays, he actually has a higher pass attempts average with almost 39 per game. There will be plenty of tackle opportunities and a possible interception thrown in.
Week 13 – DB Sits
Jordan Poyer – Buffalo Bills
Poyer has played roughly 80% of the defensive snaps over the past three games. He has played the #26, #28, and #30-ranked teams in points allowed to opposing Safeties. With these very nice matchups in three straight weeks, Poyer has only produced a combined 12 solo tackles and 2 passes defended. He did have 12 assisted tackles in these games, also. After the very weak three-game stretch, he now gets to face the #1 stingiest team in the NFL when it comes to points allowed to opposing Safeties. A lackluster stretch against weak opponents will have us benching him against the toughest opponent.
Cole Bishop – Buffalo Bills
Bishop is the other Bills’ Safety that we will be benching. He has fared a little bit better than Poyer in the weak stretch, with 13 solo tackles, but added 2 interceptions to his stats. The Steelers have only thrown eight interceptions in their 11 games played. The #1 team against Safeties, and they don’t throw many interceptions, is not a good combo for Bishop to have a nice game. You should place him on your bench if you have other options.
Thank you for checking out my Week 13 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
