Welcome to the IDP Guys’ weekly game preview and start/sit articles! Our team has broken down each game and the IDP outlooks for the most relevant IDP players to help you make those tough lineup decisions. May the fantasy gods be forever in your favor!
*Please check back frequently for written updates as our writers and editors are all on different schedules. Updates will occur all day throughout the day on Thursday and Friday*
This year we are bringing you a new format to help you with those pesky start/sit decisions. In addition to listing players, we hope these categories are more useful to you than a traditional start or sit classification. Here are our definitions for our four categories.
- Start Your Studs: These players should always be in your lineup or have SMASH matchups this week. Even your most shallow IDP leagues should include these players in their starting lineups.
- Solid Starting Options: These players may vary from week to week and are very matchup-dependent. They are likely weekly starters in 12+ team leagues starting at least two players at each IDP position.
- Hail Mary: These players have big question marks surrounding their roles, usage, and murky playing time projections. Lean towards benching them unless you are in very deep leagues (16+32 teams and/or 11+ IDP starters). If they see the field consistently, they have the potential to move up a category as Solid Starting Options but until then, they will likely be big-play-dependent with low tackle floors. Your classic boom/bust options.
- No Thank You: Clear sits for the week due to matchups, playing time trends, injuries, etc.
*Most CB and DT recommendations are meant for CB and/or DT-required leagues. If in DB or DL-only leagues, generally move down one category level.
Of course, your league sizes and scoring settings are going to be different from person to person and league to league. If you need further clarification or suggestions on who to start over another player in a similar tier, we have two additional solutions for you!
Our expert weekly positional rankings can be found here for subscribers.
New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers
By Steve Tomasin (@DynastySanta)
Let’s be clear, this one is going to be GROSS. The lowest over/under of the season (and in decades) doesn’t bode well for our IDP options. Yes, of course, a handful of guys will pop but I am not expecting much IDP fantasy production from pretty much anyone in this game. Proceed with extreme caution.
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Just T.J. Watt. If anyone is going to pop with a fluky big splash play, betting on Watt is smart. The rest of the IDP fantasy matchups and points given up to the positions are all not encouraging. Mix in the fact that neither offense is in the top half of the league in taking offensive snaps, and you have a recipe for busts.
Solid Starting Options
Hopefully, we get lots of running the ball on offense with some sustained drives and not an Iowa-esque punt fest. If so, both LB1s from each team could provide decent IDP fantasy performances. Elandon Roberts, even if active, likely takes a back seat to newcomer Mykal Walker as the Steelers LB1.
Ja’Whaun Bentley has been playing through injury so he’s on the border here of a solid start vs. Hail Mary.
I am still betting on Cameron Heyward to dominate snaps at DT for the Steelers and turn in a solid performance.
Minkah Fitzpatrick said he would play in this game despite a broken hand. He could even don the green dot if Elandon Roberts doesn’t play according to reports.
Hail Mary
LBs Mark Robinson (Steelers) and Jahlani Tavai (Patriots) are DEEP league options only. Talking 53-man rosters or starting 11 IDPs.
Jabrill Peppers has been solid lately, it’s just the matchup placing him in this tier this week.
No Thanks
Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints
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