“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 Maxx Crosby, Carson Schwesinger, and Budda Baker. What needs to be shared is who we start and who we 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 don’t start until Week 5. It is time to get back on track after my poor advice in Week 3.
***Please note that all rankings are pulled from FantasyPros.com’s current weekly rankings for DL, LB, and DB.
Week 3 – DL/Edge Starters
DL – Gregory Rousseau – Buffalo Bills
Let’s go with the hot hands from Weeks 1 and 2 combined for our recommended starts. Rousseau definitely has one of the hottest starts for 2026. In his first two games combined this year, he has produced 7 solo tackles, 4 tackles for a loss, 9 QB hits, 4 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 1 pass defensed. He has played roughly 74% of the defensive snaps to date. Accordingly, those statistics are good enough for the #1 spot in scoring for all defensive linemen. He obtained these numbers from two of the worst offenses in scoring allowed to opposing defensive ends. As a matter of fact, the Texans are the worst in the league, and the Lions are ranked 26th.
Rousseau and the Bills will be welcoming the Los Angeles Chargers to Buffalo this week. The Chargers have the 14th-best offense in terms of points allowed to opposing defensive ends over the first two games. However, they have allowed one defensive end in each of their games to have a nice scoring day. In Week 1, Jordan Burch posted 3 solo tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 QB hit, and 1 sack. In Week 2, Malcolm Koonce posted 3 tackles (2 solo), 2 QB hits, 1.5 sacks, and 1 forced fumble. Expect Rousseau to continue with his nice start.
Rousseau is the #21-ranked DL for Week 3. He can be started with zero hesitation.
Edge – Lukas Van Ness – Green Bay Packers
Van Ness is another gentleman with a very nice start to the 2026 season. His first two games combined have him producing 14 tackles (11 solo), 4 tackles for a loss, 5 QB hits, and 2.5 sacks. Van Ness has done this while playing around 70% of the defensive snaps this year. He was the #1 scoring defensive lineman for Week 2. Accordingly, through the first two weeks, he was the #3 scoring defensive lineman. He posted those numbers against the #18-ranked Minnesota Vikings and the #25-ranked New York Jets in points allowed to opposing defensive ends.
His streak of bad defenses against opposing defensive ends continues this week with the #30-ranked Atlanta Falcons. The third-worst-ranked team has allowed opposing defensive linemen Alex Highsmith 2 sacks, T.J. Watt 2 sacks, and an interception for a touchdown, and Jaelen Phillips 1 sack. Expect a nice week from Van Ness.
Van Ness is the #38-ranked DL for Week 3, and he will once again be a top pick this week.
Week 3 – DL/Edge Sits
Edge – Danielle Hunter – Houston Texans
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Hunter has had a very slow start to his season. Hunter is ranked #56 in scoring for the defensive linemen this year. He has posted a grand total of 1 solo tackle, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 QB hit, 1 sack, and 2 passes defensed. Hunter has been on the field for just over 80% of the defensive snaps, so playing time is not the issue. The opponents were the #9-ranked Buffalo Bills and #20-ranked Cincinnati Bengals.
His competition gets stronger this week with the #4-ranked Indianapolis Colts on deck. The Colts have allowed just one sack to opposing defensive ends this year. Expect another slow game for Hunter this week, who is surprisingly the #8-ranked DL.
Week 3 – LB Starts
LB – Derrick Barnes – Detroit Lions
Barnes has started 2026 off very nicely as the #9-ranked linebacker over the first two games. Barnes is on the field for over 92% of the defensive snaps. With the snap domination, he is producing at a high level. He has already posted 13 tackles (8 solo), 2 tackles for a loss, 2 QB hits, 2 sacks, 2 passes defensed, and 1 interception. This was done against the #21-ranked New Orleans Saints and #14-ranked Bills.
This week, the #19-ranked New York Jets come to Detroit. The Jets have allowed Anthony Hill Jr. and Edgerrin Cooper 25+ points each in the first two games. Barnes should continue his nice start to the season.
He should be ranked higher than the #47-ranked LB for Week 3, as you should see a top-20 score again this week.
LB – Demetrius Knight – Cincinnati Bengals
The #5-ranked linebacker in scoring this season has been a tackling machine thus far. He has played 90% of the defensive snaps in the first two games combined. Knight has racked up 19 tackles (9 solo), 1 QB hit, 1 sack, and 1 fumble recovery. This was done against the #25-ranked Houston Texans and #27-ranked Tampa Bay Buccaneers in points allowed to opposing linebackers.
He welcomes the #31-ranked team this week. The Steelers are the second-worst in number of IDP points allowed to opposing linebackers. They have given up an average of 52 points per game to opposing linebackers. This is a nice game for Knight to continue his nice little start to the 2026 season.
Knight is the #44-ranked linebacker for Week 3.
Week 3 – LB Sits
LB – Sonny Styles – Washington Commanders
Styles has had a bit of a rough start to the 2026 rookie season. Playing almost 94% of the defensive snaps, the rookie has produced just 7 tackles (3 solo), 2 tackles for a loss, 1 QB hit, and 1 sack. That is good enough for #55 in scoring out of all linebackers. Styles has had a rough start of better ranked offenses against opposing linebackers also. He’s faced the #5-ranked Dallas Cowboys and the #16-ranked Philadelphia Eagles.
Next up is the #10-ranked Seattle Seahawks coming to town. It looks like another down week for Styles.
Styles is surprisingly ranked as the #30-ranked LB for Week 3. He needs to stay on your bench if you have other options.
Week 3 – DB Starts
CB – Daxton Hill – Cincinnati Bengals
Hill has started off the 2026 season extremely hot. Playing 100% of the defensive snaps, he has already logged 17 tackles (11 solo) and 4 passes defensed. This was done against two of the worst offenses in points allowed to opposing cornerbacks. The Buccaneers and the Texans rank at the bottom in points allowed to opposing cornerbacks. Hill is the #2-ranked defensive back in scoring after the first two games.
The good news is he gets another poor offense to score high IDP points against. He travels to Pittsburgh to face the #28-ranked offense in points allowed to opposing cornerbacks. Even if the league is not a cornerback-required league, Hill is still worth the start in this matchup.
Just not sure how he is the #49-ranked DB for Week 3.
S – Evan Williams – Green Bay Packers
Williams has had a very nice start to the 2026 season. He has played 100% of the defensive snaps. During those snaps, he has produced 17 tackles (13 solo), 1 tackle for a loss, 1 QB hit, and 2 passes defended. This was done against one of the best teams and the worst team in points allowed to opposing safeties. The Vikings are one of the best teams in points allowed to opposing safeties; the Jets are the worst.
This week he gets the #12 Atlanta Falcons with Michael Penix in his first start. The #30-ranked defensive back should stay in the top 12 again this week.
Week 3 – DB Sits
S – Nick Cross – Washington Commanders
Nick Cross has been ruled OUT for the Commanders vs Seahawks game. Do not play him.
He is still ranked #15 for defensive backs this week as of this posting.
Thank you for checking out my Weekly 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
