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 Myles Garrett, Jordyn Brooks, and Jordan Battle. What needs to be shared is who we start and 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 are all done for 2025. It is time to win your semifinal playoff game and make an appearance in your league’s championship.
***Please note that all rankings are pulled from FantasyPros.com’s current weekly rankings for DL, LB, and DB.
More NFL Week 16 Fantasy Football Advice From IDP+
Week 16 – DL/Edge Starters
Donovan Ezeiruaku – Dallas Cowboys
Ezeiruaku is the #41-ranked DL this week and should definitely be higher. He has been the leading defensive snap DE/Edge player for the Cowboys each week since Week 4. The worst team in the NFL (Chargers), in regard to points given up to opposing DE/Edge players, visits Dallas next week.
Ezeiruaku has performed quite well in previous games against the second- and fourth-worst teams in terms of DE/Edge players. They provided two of his top three IDP scores for the season. In those 2 games combined, he posted 8 tackles (5 solo), 3 tackles for a loss, 1 QB hit, 1 sack, and 1 safety. The Chargers are also the second-most-sacked team in the NFL, with 51 sacks given up. Expect a big game from Ezeiruaku this week against the Chargers and place him in your starting lineup with confidence.
James Pearce – Atlanta Falcons
The rookie has produced at least one sack in six straight games. He has a minimum of 18 points in each of these six games. The fourth-worst team (Cardinals) against DE/Edge players is next up for Pearce. The Cardinals have allowed the fifth-most sacks this year, with 47 given up.
Pearce has added a combined 12 tackles (9 solo), 7 tackles for a loss, 10 QB hits, 1 forced fumble, and 3 passes defended. Pearce played more defensive snaps than any other DE/Edge on the Falcons roster last week. He should continue his sack streak and add another couple of tackles to his game this week. He should definitely beat his #27 ranking for Week 16.
George Karlaftis – Kansas City Chiefs
Karlaftis gets to play against the third-worst team (Titans) against DE/Edge players. The Titans have also allowed the fourth most sacks, with 49 sacks given up. With Patrick Mahomes out, and the Chiefs wanting to finish the season well, the defense will need to step up. He is the #17-ranked DL this week for a reason, and the reason has merit with the Titans as the opponent providing ample opportunity for IDP points to be scored. Also adding to his opportunity is the fact that Karlaftis plays about 80% of the defensive snaps. He belongs in your starting lineup.
Week 16 – DL/Edge Sits
Braden Fiske – Los Angeles Rams
Fiske has been a major disappointment this season, with only three double-digit IDP scoring weeks in 14 games. As a rookie last year, Fiske produced 44 tackles and 8.5 sacks on the season. During the 2024 season, he broke 70% or more of the defensive snaps just four times. He has not broken 70% of the defensive snaps at all this season.
Fiske has only produced 27 tackles and 2 sacks in his 14 games played, with 5 games of 2 IDP points or less scored. He is facing the #11-ranked team (Seahawks) in points allowed to opposing DTs. Do not expect much from him this week, and make sure he is on your bench.
Laiatu Latu – Indianapolis Colts
Latu has scored single-digit IDP points in 3 of his last 5 games played. He has had five games with at least 23 IDP points scored, but has had eight games of 11 IDP points or less scored. His inconsistency should have him on your bench this week against the #11-ranked offense in points allowed to opposing DE/Edge players. The tough matchup will make it hard for him to achieve his #27 ranking for the week.
Week 16 – LB Starts
Devin White – Las Vegas Raiders
White has had a career year in 2025 and still has three games left to play. He has posted a career best 149 tackles so far this season, and has a real chance to hit 180 tackles. White has posted double-digit IDP scoring in 13 of his 14 games played. He has posted 30+ IDP point scoring weeks in each of the last two games. This week will bring a much easier opponent in the fifth-worst team (Texans) in points given up to opposing LBs. White has produced 19 and 16 tackles in his last 2 games, and another 10+ tackle week is in store for the LB that has not missed a defensive snap all year long.
Carson Schwesinger – Cleveland Browns
The #12-ranked LB for Week 16 gets to go against the sixth most generous team (Bills) in points given up to opposing LBs. Schwesinger has scored 19 or more IDP points in six straight games now. He has produced 10 or more tackles in each of these six games. When you add in 6 tackles for a loss, 4 QB hits, .5 sack, 1 pass defended, and 1 interception, you have a top-five LB. His double-digit tackles and 20+ IDP scoring will continue this week. Start him with a great deal of confidence.
Blake Cashman – Minnesota Vikings
Since Cashman came back from his hamstring injury in week 7, he has been a tackling machine with 101 tackles in these 9 games. This week, he plays the bottom-tier Giants when it comes to points allowed to opposing LBs. Cashman has had at least 10 tackles against any team ranked in the bottom 10 in points allowed to opposing LBs. The Giants are the eighth-worst team against LBs, so expect a very nice stat line for Cashman this week.
Week 16 – LB Sits
Frankie Luvu – Washington Commanders
Luvu has had four single-digit IDP scoring games in his last five games played. Luvu plays 100% of the defensive snaps, so the opportunities are presented to him. The fact that he is not taking advantage of these opportunities raises some red flags, especially against the third stingiest team (Eagles) in points allowed to LBs. He has posted anywhere from 3-5 tackles per game during this stretch, and the production should not change against the Eagles. The #41-ranked LB for week 16 should not be anywhere near your starting lineup.
Dee Winters – San Francisco 49ers
Winters has played in every game this year and played 100% of the defensive snaps in 10 of those games. In his 843 defensive snaps, Winters has produced just 89 tackles (58 solo), 7 tackles for a loss, 3 QB hits, and 3 passes defended. These kinds of numbers do not give us confidence in placing Winters in our starting lineup, regardless of his defensive snap percentage. His place on your bench is solidified when we find out he is playing the second stingiest team (Colts) in the NFL in points allowed to opposing LBs. Leave the #42-ranked LB for this week on your bench.
Week 16 – 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.
Devon Witherspoon – Seattle Seahawks
Witherspoon has been playing some great football over the last four weeks against some highly ranked offenses. The stat line over the last 4 games combined includes 24 tackles (15 solo), 1 QB hit, 1 fumble recovery, 5 passes defended, and 1 interception. He gets to play the #22-ranked offense in points allowed to opposing CBs.
Witherspoon did not have a great game against the Rams five weeks ago, but has really been on a roll since that game. Expect 4-5 tackles, 2-3 passes defended, and maybe an interception. The #27-ranked DB this week will finish much higher in IDP scoring for your team. Plug him into your starting lineup with a great deal of confidence.
Antoine Winfield – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Winfield had a somewhat slow start to this season, but has really come on since week 6. He has five games of 20+ IDP points scored in his last nine games played. He posted his season high IDP points scored last week against the Falcons with 30 IDP points.
This week, Winfield gets to play the second-worst team in points allowed to opposing Safeties. He should post 7-8 tackles with a pass defended and be a top 3 DB against the Panthers this week. Start him with a great deal of confidence.
Malachi Moore – New York Jets
This fourth-round rookie out of Alabama is on a six-game stretch of double-digit IDP scoring. He took over for Tony Adams in week 6 and has not looked back. Even though he has played substantial defensive snaps in just 10 games, he already has 76 tackles (44 solo), 2 tackles for a loss, 1 fumble recovery, and 2 passes defended.
This week, Moore gets to face the 6th-worst team (Saints) in points allowed to opposing Safeties. He should keep his three-game streak of seven or more tackles per game and thoroughly beat his #51 ranking of DBs for week 16.
Week 16 – DB Sits
Calen Bullock – Houston Texans
Believe it or not, the Raiders are the second stingiest team in points allowed to opposing Safeties. The Raiders visit the Texans this week, and Bullock is ready for the challenge. Bullock plays nearly all the defensive snaps but tends not to fare very well against top 10 teams. He averages just 10 points per game in the five games against top 10 opponents. Bullock also averages just three tackles in each of those five games. His #59 ranking of DBs still might be a little high this week.
Craig Woodson – New England Patriots
Woodson has played nearly all of the defensive snaps this season as a rookie and still averages just over 12 points per game. He has six games of 10 points or less. Woodson has five games with just two solo tackles or fewer. The fourth-round rookie has not been consistent, and this week, against the 4th toughest opponent in points allowed to opposing Safeties is not the week to trust him in your starting lineup. He should be on your bench, and you should feel extremely comfortable with this decision.
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
