IDP Start/Sit Week 6
In week 5, we caught our stride with 70 percent of our start/sit predictions favoring us. The offensive schemes are becoming more visible as the season progresses. We are starting to see which offenses are truly weaker against opposing defenses. This allows our predictions to gain more steam. However, like always, anything can happen in football. So, until the clock hits zero we never know how things will shake up. Regardless, 70 percent is a huge win, and we will look to keep that momentum heading into week 6.
*SIDE NOTE*—We consider a start as a player who will earn 10 or more points for you, while a sit scores less than 10 points.
Before we look at our Week 6 IDP Starts and Sits, let us take a look at how we did in Week 5.
| 16pts | PASS | |
| 18pts | PASS | |
| 15pts | PASS | |
| 19pts | PASS | |
| 20pts | PASS |
|
|
28pts | FAIL |
| 0pts | PASS | |
| 22pts | FAIL | |
| 8pts | PASS | |
|
|
12pts | FAIL |
**Injuries happen when we least expect it! In case of an all-of-sudden injury or reason a player cannot play, be sure to check out our pivot options too!**
STARTS
Defensive Line – Indianapolis Colts – Laiatu Latu (@ TEN) – START
Latu has a favorable matchup this week against the Tennessee Titans. The Titans’ offensive line has been struggling against pass rushers. Tennessee has allowed significant pressure throughout the season, which creates an excellent opportunity for Latu to shine. Over his last three games, Latu has steadily increased his snap share. The Colts seem to be growing confidence in the abilities of their first-round pick. During this stretch, he has recorded 11 total pressures, including nine quarterback hurries. He is consistently making an impact on opposing offenses. Latu’s ability to pressure the quarterback will be needed against the Titans. With Tennessee’s offensive line vulnerabilities, Latu will likely find himself in favorable matchups. This will increase his chances to disrupt the passing game. His recent surge in production, combined with the Titans’ struggles in pass protection, makes him a strong candidate to rack up quarterback pressures and potentially sacks.
Edge Rusher – Houston Texans – Danielle Hunter (@ NE) – START
Hunter has not have generated much IDP buzz over the past three weeks. However, this week’s matchup against the New England Patriots presents a prime opportunity for him to rebound. The Patriots’ offensive line has been struggling. They allow their quarterbacks to be exposed to pressure often. With the team set to start rookie quarterback Drake Maye, Hunter finds himself in an even more favorable position. Rookie quarterbacks tend to make mistakes under pressure. Maye could be prone to holding onto the ball too long or making ill-advised throws. This gives Hunter a chance to capitalize on Maye’s mistakes.
Hunter’s experience and skill set make him a strong candidate to take advantage of this situation. He has not had standout performances recently. However, against a shaky offensive line and a rookie quarterback creates a perfect storm for him to rack up sacks or generate opportunities that lead to tackles for loss. Even if he does not land multiple sacks, his ability to disrupt plays and force Maye into poor decisions could still translate into a productive IDP performance.
Linebacker – Philadelphia Eagles – Nakobe Dean (vs. CLE) – START
Dean is an excellent start this week, especially coming off a bye. He comes into week six regenerated and ready to fight. Plus, the Eagles face a struggling Cleveland Browns offense. Quarterback, Deshaun Watson, has been hesitant to take shots downfield, instead opting for shorter throws to the middle of the field. This opens opportunity where Dean will be positioned to make plays. Additionally, the Browns may lean heavily on their run game. An offensive scheme they particularly do through the middle, which is their strength. This will give Dean plenty of opportunities to rack up tackles.
Dean’s recent performances only solidify his value in IDP formats. He has been a consistent force, recording at least six tackles per game. Of those six he is averaging four solo tackles per contest. His ability to bring down ball carriers without needing help is a big part of his IDP success. Dean has been a reliable option to generate high tackle totals. The Browns will likely stick to their short-game offense and run-heavy strategy. This will give opportunity for Dean to continue his strong tackling numbers.
Linebacker – Atlanta Falcons – Kaden Elliss (@ CAR) – START
Elliss has entered the must-start territory. This week as he faces a favorable matchup against the Carolina Panthers. Through the first five weeks of the season, Elliss has become a tackling machine. He has amassed 40 total tackles and consistently produces in IDP formats. This season, Elliss has yet to score fewer than double-digit fantasy points in any game. He consistently showcases his reliability and high floor. The Panthers, who rely heavily on their run game, offer the perfect opportunity for Elliss to continue his dominant performance. He will likely be heavily involved in stopping the run.
More than 50 percent of Elliss’ tackles have been solo. This alone boost his IDP value. His ability to make plays independently ensures he racks up points even without assists. Thus, making him a consistent performer. Against a Panthers offense that leans on the ground attack, Elliss is set up to post another double-digit performance. With his proven ability to deliver in favorable matchups, Elliss is an ideal start for this week.
Defensive Back – Detroit Lions – Kerby Joseph (@ DAL) – START
Joseph has favorable matchup this week against a Dallas Cowboys offense that has struggled to establish a consistent running game. This forces the Cowboys to rely heavily on their passing attack. The Cowboys offensive game plan plays directly into Joseph’s strengths. He should have multiple opportunities to gain tackles in the secondary or even get his hands on the ball in coverage. Joseph has been a playmaker this season. He currently ranks second in the league in interceptions with three over the first four weeks. He has been able to highlight his ability for being in the right place at the right time.
With Dallas frequently taking shots downfield, the chances for Joseph to snag another interception are high. His ability to read the quarterback and make game-changing plays has been a key component of Detroit’s defense. That will be critical against a Dallas offense looking to stretch the field. Given Joseph’s track record and the Cowboys’ pass-heavy approach, he is primed to deliver another strong performance.
Additional Players to consider starting:
Los Angeles Chargers – Edge – Khalil Mack
Detroit Lions – Edge – Aidan Hutchinson
Indianapolis Colts – LB – E.J. Speed
Philadelphia Eagles – LB – Zack Baun
Baltimore Ravens – DB – Kyle Hamilton
SIT
Edge Rusher – Tennessee Titans – Harold Landry (vs INDY) – SIT
It might be wise to bench Landry this week, as he faces a difficult matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts have one of the better pass-protecting offensive lines in the league. Earlier in the season, Landry faced a similarly strong offensive line in Green Bay during week three. That week Landry was held in check, managing just one pressure. This week’s game against the Colts could produce a similar result. Their offensive line has consistently been able to protect the quarterback effectively. While Landry has the benefit of playing at home, that advantage may not be enough to overcome the Colts’ protection.
Given the Colts’ strength in keeping their quarterback clean, Landry is likely to struggle in generating any meaningful pressure this week. With limited sack or tackle-for-loss opportunities, his potential for IDP production may be lower than usual. Fantasy managers relying on Landry for consistent points should consider benching him this week. The odds of Landry making a big impact are slim against such a strong offensive line.
Edge Rusher – Jacksonville Jaguars – Josh Hines-Allen (@ CHI – London Game) – SIT
The Chicago Bears offense is steadily improving. This adds concerns to starting Hines-Allen this week. Caleb Williams, the Bears’ quarterback, has been making fewer mistakes with each passing week. The offensive line has shown clear improvement in its pass protection. This creates a less favorable matchup for Hines-Allen, who may struggle to generate the kind of pressure needed to deliver high fantasy value. The Bears’ ability to limit quarterback pressures and sacks makes this a challenging game for him. Even though he is one of Jacksonville’s top defenders, it might be best to bench him.
Additionally, the game being played in London introduces another factor that could hinder Hines-Allen’s performance. Games played overseas often come with time zone adjustments and a different rhythm. Sometimes this leads to lower-scoring affairs and fewer breakout performances. These conditions, combined with the Bears’ recent improvements, make it likely that Hines-Allen could struggle to have an impactful game IDP managers typically expect.
Linebacker – Baltimore Ravens – Trenton Simpson (vs WAS) – SIT
Keeping Simpson on your bench this week is a smart move, given his struggles to gain momentum in the season so far. Despite playing the sixth-most snaps on the team, Simpson has not been able to generate much pressure in the backfield. This hurts his fantasy upside. Through five weeks, he has only recorded nine solo tackles, showing that he is not frequently getting to the ball by himself. His inability to make a consistent impact on defense has directly affected his fantasy production.
This week’s matchup against the Washington Commanders further reduces Simpson’s upside. The Commanders like to take shots downfield, which could limit his opportunities for tackles. Additionally, both Washington’s quarterback and running backs are elusive and capable of making defenders miss. This diminishes Simpson’s chances of racking up meaningful stats. With his low production so far and the tough matchup ahead, Simpson is best left on the bench. He should be on your bench until he can show more consistency.
Linebacker – New England Patriots – Jahlani Tavai (vs. HOU) – SIT
Tavai has seen the second-most snaps on the team. However, Tavai has struggled to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks and has a concerning tendency to miss tackles. This season, over a fifth of his tackling attempts have been unsuccessful. The lack of consistent tackling and pass-rushing ability limits his fantasy upside. This week, New England plays a Texans team with wide receivers who excel at gaining separation in the middle of the field. Houston’s strong passing game and quarterback with a high football IQ point towards sitting Tavai this week.
Tavai’s recent production also raises concerns about his IDP value. Over the past two weeks, he has managed only five solo tackles, reflecting a drop in his ability to make impactful plays. Facing a Texans team that can spread the ball efficiently and attack different parts of the field, Tavai is unlikely to see many favorable opportunities to have fantasy value. With his tackling inconsistency and a tough matchup ahead, it is wise to bench him this week.
Defensive Back – Pittsburgh Steelers – DeShon Elliott (@ LV) – SIT
Elliott might be better left on your bench this week as he faces a Las Vegas Raiders team stuck in a quarterback funk. Due to inconsistent quarterback play, the Raiders may opt to rely more heavily on their run game or stick to short and intermediate passes. This approach could limit Elliott’s opportunities to make plays downfield. While Elliott has been a solid fantasy producer so far, the Raiders’ conservative game plan could keep the action away from his coverage zones. In turn, reducing his chances to rack up tackles or make game-changing plays in the secondary.
Additionally, the Steelers’ front seven is expected to dominate this matchup, likely taking the spotlight in terms of defensive production. With a mediocre Raiders offensive line struggling to protect the quarterback and open up running lanes, Pittsburgh’s linebackers and defensive line could take the bulk of the fantasy points. This leaves fewer opportunities for Elliott to shine. This leads to a potentially low-upside week for him in IDP formats. Considering the potential game flow and the strength of the Steelers’ pass rush, it may be best to bench Elliott.
Additional Players to Consider Sitting:
San Francisco 49ers – DL – Nick Bosa
Chicago Bears – DL – Montez Sweat
Carolina Panthers – LB – Trevin Wallace
New York Giants – LB – Micah McFadden
Tennessee Titans – DB – L’Jarius Sneed
Be sure to follow us along all season long for weekly tips on who start and who to sit on the defensive side of the ball. Follow me on X @ThePPRShow for more fantasy football content and for offensive starts and sits be sure to check out @TFFGRobbie article too. Thank you for reading.
For a more detailed start/sit list, make sure you check out our Weekly IDP Rankings.