Are there too many IDP starting lineup decisions for you this week? Can not 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, Fred Warner, and Derwin James. What needs to be shared is who we start and sit out of the not-so-obvious players. You will not see the Top 10-ranked players in these articles because we all already know to start these players. These players could be ranked #11 or #37.
The byes continue this week with the Houston Texans and Minnesota Vikings sitting.
***Please note that all rankings are pulled from FantasyPros.com’s current weekly rankings for DL, LB, and DB.
More NFL Week 6 Fantasy Football Advice From IDP+
Week 5 – DL/Edge Starters
Jeffery Simmons – Tennessee Titans
Simmons has been on a tear these last two weeks against the Texans and Cardinals. He produced 13 tackles (10 solo), 5 tackles for a loss, 3 QB hits, and 2.5 sacks in the last 2 games combined. That ranks as the #2 scoring DL during that period. Next up is the Raiders and their 22nd-ranked team in points given up to opposing DTs. The Raiders are also ranked #27 in points given up to opposing DEs and are tied for 5th in most sacks given up with 16 in five games. The ranking of the #14 DL for Week 6 seems a bit low. Start him with the utmost confidence.
James Houston – Dallas Cowboys
Remember when Houston was a rookie with the Lions back in 2022? He played in the final seven games of that season while starting the two final games. He posted 12 tackles (11 solo), 7 tackles for a loss, 11 QB hits, 8 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery. This was achieved in just 140 snaps, which was over 31% of the defensive snaps on the year. He then fractured his ankle at the beginning of the 2023 season and missed almost the entire year. Last year, Houston couldn’t get anything going as he played on two teams, but had only one game with over 19 defensive snaps. 2025 is giving Houston a new start with the Cowboys.
The defensive snaps have increased in each game for Houston, and the last two games combined have him at 5 tackles (3 solo), 2 tackles for a loss, 2 QB hits, 2.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery. Those stats have him as the #10-ranked scorer among all DL over the past two weeks. Now he gets the Panthers and Bryce Young, who has already been sacked nine times this season. The unranked player deserves a spot in your lineup this week.
Bradley Chubb – Miami Dolphins
The #21-ranked DL for Week 6 has a sack in 4 out of the 5 games he has played this season. Add on his 14 tackles (9 solo), 4 tackles for a loss, 4 QB hits, 1 forced fumble, and a fumble recovery, and you have a solid starter for your squad. Especially since he has the Chargers and their #30 ranking in points given up to opposing DE/Edge players coming to Miami. The #3 most sacked QB in the NFL (Justin Herbert) is in for some harassment from Chubb this week.
Week 5 – DL/Edge Sits
Quinnen Williams – New York Jets
Williams has had a very quiet start to the 2025 season with just one sack back in Week 1. On top of that, Williams has just 20 tackles in 5 games, with just 13 being solo, 6 tackles for a loss, 3 QB hits, and 2 forced fumbles. This is nowhere near being enough to warrant a #30 DL ranking for Week 6. He is the #43-ranked scoring DL over the past two weeks and has the Broncos up next in London. Bo Nix is second in the league with the fewest sacks given up, with just five on the season.
Josh Sweat – Arizona Cardinals
After being on the start list last week, Sweat finds himself on the sit list for Week 6 against the Colts. The Colts give up the 9th fewest points to opposing DE/Edge players and are first in sacks allowed, with Daniel Jones being sacked just four times on the season. The numbers will be hard to find for Sweat this week.
Week 5 – LB Starts
Devin Lloyd – Jacksonville Jaguars
Lloyd is having a season to remember in 2025 through five games. He has played over 90% of the defensive snaps in the past two games and leads the league in interceptions for 2025 with four. In these 2 games, Lloyd posted 10 tackles (8 solo), 1 tackle for a loss, 1 QB hit, 3 interceptions, 3 passes defended, and 1 TD. This was good enough for the #6 scoring LB over the past two weeks. Now he gets the #25-ranked team in points allowed to opposing LBs. Lloyd is set up for another nice scoring day for you. He will definitely outdo his #28 ranking for Week 6.
Payton Wilson – Pittsburgh Steelers
Through the first four games of 2025, Wilson was the #7-ranked scoring LB on the season. He has also played over 86% of the defensive snaps in 3 of his 4 games and produced 35 tackles (24 solo), 4 tackles for a loss, 3 QB hits, 1 sack, and 1 fumble recovery. Wilson now gets the Browns, who have the distinction of being the worst team in the NFL in points allowed to opposing LBs. The #45-ranked LB for Week 6 will blow this ranking out of the water and should be a Top 15 LB for your team this week.
Nathan Landman – Los Angeles Rams
Landman just had the #1-ranked scoring week for LBs last week against the 49ers. That was against the #24-ranked team in points given up to opposing LBs, and he now gets a worse team in the Ravens, who are ranked #30. Look for another double-digit tackle day for Landman as he posts himself as a Top 12 LB again this week. The #36 ranking for Week 6 is just too low. You will be very happy with his results this week.
Week 5 – LB Sits
Devin White – Las Vegas Raiders
White is the #16-ranked scoring LB this season, but has not had a double-digit tackle week since Week 1. In fact, he has only had 28 tackles in the last 4 weeks, with just 20 being of the solo type. Up next on the Raiders’ schedule are the Titans. The Titans are the stingiest team in the NFL in points given up to opposing LBs. White and his recent performances, combined with the Titan ranking, are not a good combination. You can leave White and his #32 Week 6 ranking on your bench.
Bobby Okereke – New York Giants
Okereke has been a disappointment to start the 2025 season with just 23 solo tackles in his first five games. He has just 1 QB hit and 1 pass defended to add to those solo tackles. His soft stats will continue against the Eagles this week, and their #2 ranking in points allowed to opposing LBs. His #13 ranking for Week 6 will not be obtained this week. It will be closer to his #46 ranking in scoring that he has obtained in the last three games combined.
Week 5 – 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.
Jalen Thompson – Arizona Cardinals
Thompson has not had a triple-digit tackle season since he did it in back-to-back seasons in 21 and 22. That looks like it might be changing this season as he already has 38 tackles in five games. That is a pace of 129 tackles, which would be a personal best for him. In fact, Thompson is ranked #13 in scoring for 2025, while Budda Baker is #26. Baker is ranked #3 for Week 6, and Thompson is ranked #17. Start Thompson with confidence this week as he faces the Colts, who are the most generous team in the NFL in allowed points to opposing Safeties.
Talanoa Hufanga – Denver Broncos
The #21-ranked DB for Week 6 is Hufanga. This low ranking is despite him posting 35 tackles (21 solo), 1 QB hit, 1 forced fumble, and 3 passes defended in 5 games. He is the 13th-ranked DB in scoring for the season and now gets the 24th-ranked team in points allowed to opposing Safeties. Hufanga is also on pace to set a career high in tackles with his first triple-digit production. Last week, Donovan Wilson posted 8 tackles, and Juanyeh Thomas posted 10 tackles for the Cowboys against the Jets. Double-digit tackles are in the cards this week against the Jets, and their 24th-ranked team allowed points to opposing Safeties.
Marcus Jones – New England Patriots
Jones is the #10 scoring DB on the season and is the #1 DB over the past two weeks. Not only is he a CB that plays over 77% of the defensive snaps, but he also returns punts, for which he has returned one for a TD in Week 4. He has 23 tackles (17 solo), 3 tackles for a loss, 3 passes defended, and 1 interception. Jones now gets the 2nd-worst team in allowed points to opposing CBs in the Saints. There will be a lot of opportunities for Jones to continue his #10 scoring pace and maybe get his unranked classification changed for next week.
Week 5 – DB Sits
Xavier McKinney – Green Bay Packers
McKinney lived by the interception last year with eight in 2024. His 2024 ranking in scoring was #25 because of those interceptions. This year, he has but 1 interception to go along with 22 tackles (11 solo) and 1 pass defended. He is the #95 scoring DB and now has the Bengals on deck, who surprisingly are the second toughest in points allowed to opposing DBs this year. He is safe to leave on your bench this week.
Quentin Lake – Los Angeles Rams
Lake has had a nice year with his #24 rank in scoring for DBs. It looks to be a little fool’s gold, though, as he has only played one team that is better than the #25-ranked team in scoring allowed to opposing DBs. He has had the fortune of playing the #25, #27, #28, and #32-ranked teams in this area. His one opponent above that #25 ranking was the #19-ranked Texans. He posted a terrible 2 tackles (1 solo) in that game. Lake goes against the #5-ranked Ravens this week, and his chances of reaching his #15 Week 6 ranking for DBs are slim to none.
Thank you for checking out my Week 6 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
