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, Jordyn Brooks, 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 Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills sitting.
***Please note that all rankings are pulled from FantasyPros.com’s current weekly rankings for DL, LB, and DB.
More NFL Week 7 Fantasy Football Advice From IDP+
Week 5 – DL/Edge Starters
Harold Landry – New England Patriots
Landry is your #14-ranked DL for Week 7 and deserves an absolute top 10 ranking this week. He is the #14-ranked DL in scoring for the year, but is going up against the Titans, who are the worst team in the NFL in points allowed to opposing DE/Edge players. He has double-digit scores in 5 of his 6 games played, with 4.5 sacks and 1 fumble recovery on the season.
This week, the Patriots travel to Tennessee to face the Titans, who are tied for the most sacks given up this season thus far. Their head coach has just been fired, and the offensive woes are expected to continue. Landry is on the field for the majority of the defensive snaps, so his opportunities will be plentiful.
Charles Omenihu – Kansas City Chiefs
The #8 scoring DL over the past two weeks combined is Omenihu. He has played in 53% or more of the defensive snaps in all six games thus far. His last 2 games have been productive as he has posted 6 tackles (5 solo), 3 tackles for a loss, 3 QB hits, and 2 sacks.
In Week 7, Omenihu gets to square off against the #24-ranked team in points allowed to opposing DE/Edge players in the Raiders. The Raiders are tied for 5th in sacks given up and have been sacked six times over the past two games. Omenihu will outperform his current unranked status by landing in the top 24.
Rashan Gary – Green Bay Packers
Gary’s defensive snaps have remained steady, accounting for 62% to 70% of the defensive snaps. His scoring totals have dropped over the past two weeks, but he gets the Cardinals this week, who are the 28th-worst team in allowed points to opposing DE/Edge players. Gary should beat his #16 ranking for Week 7 by a bit against the Cardinals and their #5 ranking in sacks allowed this season. Jacoby Brissett will more than likely be the QB again for Week 7, and the sack totals against him should increase from the two in Week 6.
Week 5 – DL/Edge Sits
Brian Burns – New York Giants
Burns is the #2-ranked DL for Week 7. He will not be the #2-ranked DL in scoring for Week 7. Burns is traveling to Denver to face the #1-ranked team in points allowed to DE/Edge players. The stingy Broncos are also second in allowed sacks on the season. If you have other options, consider them for this week.
Dorance Armstrong – Washington Commanders
Armstrong is the #17-ranked DL for Week 7, and the ranking is well deserved. He is the #8-ranked DL in scoring for 2025. However, he gets the #14-ranked Cowboys in points allowed to opposing DE/Edge players. Armstrong does not produce a lot of tackles, as he has produced more than 3 tackles in just half his games. His points come from the sack department, in which he has produced 5.5 in six games. The Cowboys are third in the league in sacks allowed.
Week 5 – LB Starts
Cedric Gray – Tennessee Titans
Gray is playing over 81% of the defensive snaps in all but one game this season. He is 92% or higher in half of his games. Gray is the #8 scoring LB on the season and is actually #2 in combined score over the past three games. In these 3 games combined, he has posted 41 tackles (19 solo), 2 tackles for a loss, 1 QB hit, and 2 passes defended. His opponent in Week 7 is the Patriots, who are the #29-ranked team in points allowed to opposing LBs. The #30-ranked LB for Week 7 will be top 10 again, for the fourth week in a row.
Germaine Pratt – Indianapolis Colts
Pratt was released by the Raiders and signed with the Colts in Week 6. The Colts have been struggling to find the second piece of their starting LB rotation with Zaire Franklin. Enter Pratt in his first game with the Colts as that guy. He posted the #13-ranked scoring week with 11 tackles, of which 8 were solo on 79% of the defensive snaps. For the Week 7 game, the Colts travel to Los Angeles to face the #17-ranked Chargers in points allowed to opposing LBs. His snap count should increase and far exceed his unranked status in Week 7 rank.
Drake Thomas – Seattle Seahawks
It looks as though Thomas has taken the LB2 spot from Tyrice Knight as of the past week. The change began in Week 4 and culminated in Week 6 with Thomas getting 92% of the defensive snaps. In comparison, Knight received 31%, 49%, and 3% of the defensive snaps over these past three games. Thomas delivered a #7 scoring performance in Week 6 with 9 tackles (2 solo), 1 tackle for a loss, 1 QB hit, 1 sack, and 1 pass defended. For his Week 7 game, the Seahawks welcome the Texans and their #15-ranked team in points allowed to opposing LBs. Thomas is another unranked player for Week 7 who will provide game-winning statistics.
Week 5 – LB Sits
Robert Spillane – New England Patriots
Spillane has produced 29 tackles (14 solo) over the past 3 games, but in addition to his tackles, Spillane has just one forced fumble. His points have been just tackle produced. The Patriots travel to Tennessee, which has the #3-ranked team in points allowed to opposing LBs. Being tackle-dependent against a tough opponent will knock Spillane way down from his #9 ranking for Week 7.
Demetrius Knight – Cincinnati Bengals
Knight just posted his highest defensive snaps percentage of 92% in Week 6 against a tough Packers offensive unit. The higher snap count did not provide a higher stat sheet as he posted just 7 tackles (4 solo) in Week 6, which was his lowest output in the last 3 games. He has another tough matchup against the Steelers this week, who are the #13-ranked team in allowed points to opposing LBs. He should not even obtain his #41 ranking for Week 7.
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.
***Watch the Brian Branch news as he was suspended for one game. If he appeals, he still could play this weekend.
Tyson Campbell – Cleveland Browns
Campbell was traded from the Jaguars to the Browns last week and stepped right in for 90% of the defensive snaps. His Week 6 stat line read 5 tackles (3 solo), 1 forced fumble, and 2 passes defended. He had scored better than 22 points in each of his five games with the Jaguars, and his first game with the Browns was no exception. Next up for Campbell are the dysfunctional Dolphins and their #3 ranking in interceptions thrown this year.
Paulson Adebo – New York Giants
The second CB on the DB start list is Adebo. He is the #1 scoring player out of all DBs for 2025. The #12-ranked Week 7 DB should be at the top of the scoring sheet again this week. 5 of his 6 games have produced a minimum of 6 tackles and 5 solo tackles. He also has 1 tackle for a loss and 4 passes defended. Adebo has also scored over 20 points in every game this year. He now comes to Denver to face the Broncos and their short passing game, which produces the 21st-worst team in scoring allowed to opposing CBs.
Chamarri Conner – Kansas City Chiefs
Conner is your #11-ranked scoring DB this season, but is ranked #20 for Week 7. Conner just had 14 tackles (10 solo) and 1 forced fumble last week against the Lions. This was obviously the top score out of all DBs for Week 6. This week, he welcomes the Raiders to Kansas City and their #24-ranked team in points allowed to opposing Safeties. Another advantage would be that Geno Smith leads the league in interceptions thrown. Get him in your lineup.
Week 5 – DB Sits
Marques Sigle – San Francisco 49ers
Sigle had his fortunes change a big way in Week 6. He had played 100% of the defensive snaps in all five games before Week 6. Malik Mustapha was activated off injured reserve for Week 6. Jason Pinnock was benched in favor of Ji’Ayir Brown. Sigle played just 60% of the defensive snaps. Stay away from the 49ers DBs for now, until they get some stabilization and clarity.
Jourdan Lewis – Jacksonville Jaguars
Lewis has been nearly invisible over these past three games. He has posted just 6 tackles (3 solo), 1 tackle for a loss, and 1 pass defended in his last 3 games. 25+ points in his first 3 games while producing just 5-9 points in each of his last 3. He gets Matthew Stafford and the Rams this week, who have thrown just two interceptions on the season. His #34 Week 7 ranking is still too high for this week.
Thank you for checking out my Week 7 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
