“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 next week. It is time to stay on track this week, after my advice in Week 3.
***Please note that all rankings are pulled from FantasyPros.com’s current weekly rankings for DL, LB, and DB.
Week 4 – DL/Edge Starters
DL – Mason Graham – Cleveland Browns
Graham is a defensive tackle who scores like an edge player. He plays 66% of the defensive snaps. Graham has posted a very nice 15 tackles (8 solo), 6 tackles for a loss, 5 QB hits, and 4 sacks in 3 games. That is good enough to be a Top 10 scorer for defensive linemen in IDP fantasy football. If you are in a defensive tackle required league, he is the #1 scoring player.
This week, Graham welcomes the Steelers, who are the 20th-ranked team in points allowed to opposing defensive tackles. Dexter Lawrence just posted 4 tackles (3 solo), 3 tackles for a loss, 2 QB hits, and 2 sacks last week. Graham is going to feast on the Steelers’ offensive line and Aaron Rodgers.
Graham is the #39-ranked DL for Week 4. He is the #7-ranked defensive tackle. He can be started with zero hesitation, as he will be a Top 10 defensive lineman and a Top 3 defensive tackle.
Edge – David Bailey – New York Jets
The rookie edge player has had a very nice start to his career based on the first three weeks. He is a Top 12 scorer for defensive linemen and has been super consistent in all three games. Bailey has posted 5, 3, and 4 tackles, with 10 being solo tackles on 70% of the defensive snaps. He has produced 1 tackle for a loss and 1 QB hit in each of his three games. He has a sack in two of his games. A forced fumble is also in his statistics.
His fourth week brings a very nice matchup with the Bears. They have allowed the 23rd most points to opposing edge players. The Bears have given up 3 sacks in Week 1 and 3 sacks in Week 2 to opposing edge players. Opposing edge players have scored a whopping 145 points against the Bears in just three weeks. Bailey should have no problem keeping his Top 12 ranking after this game.
Bailey is the #23-ranked DL for Week 4, and he will once again be a top 12 scorer this week.
Week 4 – DL/Edge Sits
Edge – Jared Verse – Cleveland Browns
Verse has had an incredibly slow start with his new place of employment. With 66% of the defensive snaps, he has produced an underwhelming 8 tackles (6 solo), 2 tackles for a loss, 2 QB hits, and zero sacks. This includes a game against the Buccaneers in which Verse recorded 1 tackle for a loss. That was the end of his stat line. The Buccaneers are ranked #20 in points allowed to opposing edge players. Verse is ranked #101 in scoring for all defensive linemen.
His competition gets stronger this week with the #3-ranked Steelers on deck. The Steelers have allowed just two sacks to Za’Darius Smith out of the defensive ends they have played this year. That was in Week 1. Expect another slow game for Verse this week, who is surprisingly the #26-ranked DL. Keep him out of your lineup.
Week 4 – LB Starts
LB – Drake Thomas – Seattle Seahawks
Thomas has been as good as Ernest Jones to start the year, outscoring Jones by three points. He has already produced 25 tackles (14 solo), 3 tackles for a loss, 1 QB hit, and 1 sack. Jones has a slight lead in tackles with 29, and 15 of them are solo. Beyond the tackles, Jones just has one pass defended. These stats were produced against a little weaker competition, which included the #25-ranked Cardinals and the #29-ranked Commanders in points allowed to opposing linebackers.
This week, the Seahawks welcome the Chargers to Seattle. The Chargers are ranked #15 this season in points allowed to opposing linebackers. They have given up nice scoring games to the likes of Jack Gibbens, Quay Walker, Nakobe Dean, and Dorian Williams.
He should be ranked higher than the #33-ranked LB for Week 4, which makes zero sense, as they have Jones ranked #8. Expect both linebackers to have very nice games.
LB – Kaden Elliss – New Orleans Saints
Elliss is back home with the Saints after a three-year hiatus in Atlanta with the Falcons. He has played every defensive snap this season. Accordingly, Elliss is a Top 20 scorer in IDP for 2026. He has posted 24 tackles (11 solo), 2 tackles for a loss, 5 QB hits, and 1 pass defended. Elliss has faced one bottom-ranked team and two top-half-ranked teams.
Week 4 brings the worst team in the NFL to town. The Falcons claim that honor, and Elliss looks to take advantage of their weakness. Those Falcons have given up huge scoring games to Payton Wilson, Bobby Okereke, and Devin Lloyd thus far in the young season. Elliss should continue his nice start to the 2026 season.
Elliss is the #20-ranked linebacker for Week 4, which makes no sense considering his weak opponent. Start him with a great deal of confidence.
Week 4 – LB Sits
LB – Zaire Franklin – Green Bay Packers
Franklin has been disappointing for a while now. While he has played 100% of the defensive snaps, his statistics have been just average. In his first three games combined as a Packer, Franklin has produced 21 tackles (7 solo), 1 tackle for a loss, and 1 QB hit. That is it for his 210 defensive snaps he has played in 2026. Also, two of his games included the #22-ranked Jets and the #32-ranked Falcons.
The Packers visit the Buccaneers this weekend with a backup QB. Maybe he can get back on track against the #31-ranked offense in points allowed to opposing linebackers, but his past 20 games do not support him getting there.
Franklin is surprisingly ranked as the #36-ranked LB for Week 4. He needs to stay on your bench if you have other options.
Week 4 – DB Starts
CB – Chuck Clark – Detroit Lions
Clark is not a shiny name to want to put in your lineup. He is on his fourth team in his last four seasons played. He played 46% of the defensive snaps in Week 1, 86% in Week 2, and 100% in Week 3. In those snaps, including the decreased snaps in Week 1, Clark has produced 21 tackles (9 solo), 1 tackle for a loss, 2 QB hits, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass defended, and 1 interception. He is ranked as the #16 scoring defensive back so far this season. The Lions’ defensive backs have played three of the worst offenses in points allowed to opposing safeties thus far.
He gets another lower-ranked offense this week when traveling to Carolina to face the #23-ranked Panthers. The Panthers have given up huge games to Dillon Thieneman, Xavier Watts, and Ronnie Hickman. All three scored 19+ points in their games against the Panthers.
Just not sure how he is the #34-ranked DB for Week 4. He will most definitely surpass that ranking.
S – Andrew Wingard – Arizona Cardinals
Another player on a new team this season that is having a very nice start is Wingard. After playing seven years in Jacksonville, Wingard signed with the Cardinals and earned a starting spot. He is playing 100% of the defensive snaps and has already posted 22 tackles (9 solo), 3 tackles for a loss, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass defended, and 1 interception. His opponents have all been in the lower half of teams in the ranking of points allowed to opposing safeties.
This week, he travels to New York to face the #22-ranked Giants. They have allowed opposing safeties Caleb Downs, Jalen Thompson, Quentin Lake, and Amani Hooker to score 18+ points against them. Wingard should still be a Top 20 defensive back this week.
Wingard is the #32-ranked defensive back for Week 4.
Week 4 DB Sits
DB – Cole Bishop – Buffalo Bills
The third-year safety has started off very slow with only 18 tackles of which 11 are solo. That is it. He is the #91-ranked scoring defensive back season to date. This included games against the 17th-ranked Chargers and 27th-ranked Lions.
This week, he welcomes the #8-ranked Patriots to Buffalo. The Patriots did not allow a Jaguars safety to hit double digits in scoring last week. It will be a tough road for Bishop this week. You should not have him in your lineup for Week 4.
He is still ranked #27 for defensive backs this week. He will be nowhere near that ranking.
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
