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Welcome back, IDP Nerds! We’re officially through 4 weeks of the season, and we’re starting to get a much better idea of what we can trust. Injuries are starting to pile up, and some of the star players we relied on last season haven’t exactly lived up to expectations. The Week 5 IDP Start/Sit is back to help sort through it all and find the players and matchups we can take advantage of this week.
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We’ve officially completed the first quarter of the fantasy football season, and what we’re seeing on the field is becoming harder to ignore. Snap counts, tackle opportunities, matchups, and production are giving us a much clearer picture of which players we can trust in our lineups. There will always be surprises, but we have more information to work with now than we did a month ago. Before we get into the Week 5 calls, let’s check the receipts from last week.
IDP Start/Sit Accuracy Report
Week 4 was our best all-around week of the season. We hit on 7 of 11 graded calls for a 63.6% hit rate, with Andrew Wingard and Davon Godchaux both excluded after leaving their games early due to injury. The starts stayed strong at 4-for-5, while we finally made some progress with our sits, hitting on 2 of 3.
Even the misses were much closer this week. Donovan Ezeiruaku finished with 7 fantasy points, Will Lee scored 8.8, and Deone Walker came in at 9, just 1 point short of our 10-point threshold. A miss is still a miss, but after four weeks of tracking every call, this was a step in the right direction.
| Category | Week 4 | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Starts | 4/5 (80.0%) | 16/23 (69.6%) |
| Sits | 2/3 (66.7%) | 4/12 (33.3%) |
| Streamers | 1/3 (33.3%) | 5/14 (35.7%) |
| Overall | 7/11 (63.6%) | 25/49 (51.0%) |
Top Performer: C.J. Henderson — 30.8 fantasy points
Injury Exclusions: 2 — Andrew Wingard, Davon Godchaux
C.J. Henderson deserves a little extra attention after finishing with 30.8 fantasy points, the 8th-most of any IDP in Week 4. That’s not bad for a streaming option. This is exactly why we spend time looking at weekly matchups, especially at positions like CB and DT. We’re trying to find those players you can plug into your lineup for a week who have a chance to give you enough production to swing a matchup in your favor.
Players to Start | Week 5 IDP Fantasy Football
Defensive Line | Week 5 IDP Start/Sit
Jared Verse | DL | Cleveland Browns
I didn’t expect to be writing about Jared Verse in this article this season, but here we are. The former DL10 and DL18 has struggled to find his footing with his new team, sitting at DL80 through the first 4 weeks. Nobody expected him to replace Myles Garrett, but just 1 double-digit fantasy performance isn’t what dynasty managers signed up for when investing in Verse.
The good news is that Week 5 gives us a matchup worth attacking. The New York Jets are tied for the fourth-most sacks allowed (12) this season and have surrendered 4 sacks per game over their last 3 contests. This is the same offensive line that allowed Lukas Van Ness to explode for 47 fantasy points in Week 2. I’m not expecting that type of performance from Verse, but this is as good a matchup as we could ask for to get him going. If you’ve been frustrated with his production through the first month, I’m giving him another chance to reward dynasty managers in Week 5.
K’Lavon Chaisson | DL | Washington Commanders
There hasn’t been much to get excited about with the Washington Commanders this season, but K’Lavon Chaisson has quietly been a bright spot for IDP managers. After a slow start, Chaisson has been the DL32 over his last 3 games, a big improvement from his DL61 ranking on the season. He’s leading all Washington EDGE rushers with a 69% defensive snap share and has recorded 10 tackles and 1.5 sacks over that stretch. With at least 3 tackles in every game, he’s giving us a decent floor without needing a sack to deliver fantasy points.
The matchup against the New York Giants gives us another reason to like Chaisson in Week 5. New York has allowed 47 tackles to EDGE defenders this season and surrendered 4 sacks last week, tied for the most in the NFL. This NFC East matchup has the potential to be a low-scoring game, but that shouldn’t scare us away from Chaisson. The playing time has been there, the production is improving, and the matchup gives him a chance to add an impact play or two. I’m comfortable starting Chaisson this week, especially for IDP managers looking for help along the defensive line.
Linebacker | Week 5 IDP Start/Sit
Zaire Franklin | LB | Green Bay Packers
Zaire Franklin finds himself back in a familiar position as his team’s LB1, this time with the Green Bay Packers. The veteran linebacker has some big shoes to fill with Edgerrin Cooper, the current LB4, out for the season. Franklin is no stranger to being a reliable IDP option, recording at least 125 tackles and 1.5 sacks in each of the past 4 seasons. He’s currently sitting at LB55 through 4 weeks, but his role is about to change in a big way. We could be looking at another opportunity for Franklin to become a high-volume tackler.
Franklin gets his first taste of the Bears-Packers rivalry in Week 5, and the matchup couldn’t be much better. Chicago is giving up 19.3 tackles per game to opposing linebackers this season, and Franklin should see plenty of opportunities to add to that number with Cooper out of the lineup. I’m starting Franklin with confidence this week, and a double-digit tackle performance wouldn’t surprise me one bit.
Jack Gibbens | LB | Arizona Cardinals
Jack Gibbens continues to impress me this season. The Arizona linebacker has scored double-digit fantasy points in every game and recorded at least 7 tackles in each of his first 4 contests. He’s playing 95% of the defensive snaps and continues to be one of the more underrated assets in dynasty IDP leagues. Despite his consistency, Gibbens is sitting at LB36 through 4 weeks, but that’s not keeping me from going back to him in Week 5.
The matchup against Detroit is about as good as it gets for opposing linebackers. The Lions are allowing a league-high 21.8 tackles per game to the position, which should give Gibbens plenty of opportunities to keep his strong start going. He’s already giving us a reliable tackle floor, and that’s exactly what I look for when making weekly lineup decisions. If Gibbens can add an impact play to his usual tackle production, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him finish as a top-12 linebacker this week.
| Player | Pos | Team | Opponent | Call |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jared Verse | DL | CLE | NYJ | START |
| K’Lavon Chaisson | DL | WAS | NYG | START |
| Zaire Franklin | LB | GB | CHI | START |
| Jack Gibbens | LB | ARI | DET | START |
| Cole Bishop | DB | BUF | LAR | START |
| Michael Taaffe | DB | MIA | CIN | START |
| Uchenna Nwosu | DL | SEA | SF | SIT |
| Daiyan Henley | LB | LAC | DEN | SIT |
| Jalen Pitre | DB | HOU | TEN | SIT |
Defensive Backs | Week 5 IDP Start/Sit
Cole Bishop | DB | Buffalo Bills
Cole Bishop was one of my favorite breakout candidates this offseason, and despite sitting at DB50 through the first quarter of the season, I’m not giving up on him. The second-year safety has scored at least 11 fantasy points in every game and continues to be Buffalo’s most consistent defensive back. He’s playing 100% of the defensive snaps with a 46.1% box rate, giving him plenty of opportunities to make plays. Bishop was one of my 15 IDP breakout candidates heading into the season, and I still believe that breakout performance is coming.
The matchup against the Los Angeles Rams could be exactly what Bishop needs to get going. The Rams are tied for the fifth-most tackles allowed to safeties this season, giving him a chance to build on an already reliable tackle floor. The consistency has been there, but we’re still waiting for that one statement game that makes IDP managers feel comfortable starting him every week. I think Bishop has a chance to deliver that performance under the lights on Monday Night Football.
Michael Taaffe | DB | Miami Dolphins
We’re going back to our Week 3 IDP Waiver Wire for this one. Michael Taaffe was a player we talked up just 2 weeks ago, and the rookie safety hasn’t disappointed. He’s played 100% of the defensive snaps in each of his last 2 games and currently sits at DB38 on the season. Not bad for a player who was sitting on waiver wires just a week ago. This is exactly why I continue to preach patience at the defensive back position in dynasty leagues. You don’t always have to invest heavily to find a player who can give you quality production.
The young Miami secondary will have its hands full with Cincinnati’s passing attack this week, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing for Taaffe’s fantasy value. The Bengals have allowed nearly 18 tackles per game to opposing safeties over their last 3 games. That’s the type of matchup I want to attack, especially with a rookie who’s already locked into an every-down role. Taaffe has the opportunity and a favorable matchup, and sometimes that’s all we need at defensive back. I’m starting him with confidence in Week 5.
Players to Sit | Week 5 IDP Fantasy Football
| Player | Pos | Team | Opponent | Why We’re Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uchenna Nwosu | DL | SEA | SF | 49ers have allowed 0 sacks this season |
| Daiyan Henley | LB | LAC | DEN | Broncos allow the fewest LB tackles |
| Jalen Pitre | DB | HOU | TEN | Titans offer limited safety tackle opportunities |
- Uchenna Nwosu | DL | Seattle Seahawks: Nwosu is coming off a strong Week 4 performance, finishing as DL11 with 22.8 fantasy points. He’s reached double digits in just 50% of his games this season, making him a true boom-or-bust option. I’m fading the veteran pass rusher against a San Francisco 49ers offensive line that has yet to allow a sack this season.
- Daiyan Henley | LB | Los Angeles Chargers: It’s never ideal to sit a team’s LB1 in dynasty fantasy football, but that’s where we are with Henley this week. His 88% defensive snap share leads all Chargers linebackers, yet he’s sitting at LB44 through 4 weeks. Denver is allowing the fewest tackles per game to opposing linebackers, and Henley managed just 6.8 fantasy points in his lone matchup against the Broncos last season. I’m looking elsewhere at linebacker in Week 5.
- Jalen Pitre | DB | Houston Texans: The Tennessee Titans offense has been all sorts of bad this season, and opposing defensive backs aren’t exactly benefiting from it. Tennessee has allowed just 46 tackles to safeties through 4 weeks, with only 3 teams allowing fewer. Pitre is currently the third-highest-scoring defensive back on his own team. He’s capable of giving us double-digit fantasy points, but there are better matchups to attack in Week 5.
DT-Premium & CB-Premium Streamers
Our DT streamers have been a disappointment through the first 4 weeks. We’ve had a few players come close to double-digit fantasy points, but the results haven’t been good enough. We’re sticking with the matchup approach in Week 5, starting with Jerry Tillery. He’s playing just 44% of the defensive snaps but has recorded at least 3 tackles in 3 of his first 4 games. He draws a Pittsburgh Steelers offense that has allowed the second-most sacks this season. Adam Butler is another option worth considering. His snap share has climbed from 30% to 46.7% over the last 3 weeks, and he’s recorded 7 tackles and 0.5 sacks over his last 2 games. New England has allowed the third-most tackles per game (14.3) to defensive tackles since Week 2. Neither player is someone I’m rushing to start every week, but the matchups give us a reason to take a chance on them.
At cornerback, D.J. Reed is a player who deserves more attention from IDP managers. The veteran ranks as CB4 through the first 4 weeks and faces an Arizona Cardinals offense that allows the second-most tackles per game to cornerbacks. I actually picked Reed up in a league that doesn’t even require starting a CB this week, so he’s worth checking your waiver wire for. Marcus Jones is another name I wouldn’t give up on just yet. After back-to-back games with fewer than 10 fantasy points to open the season, Jones has bounced back to average 15 fantasy points per game since Week 3. He gets a favorable matchup against Las Vegas, which is allowing a 20.7% tackle efficiency to opposing cornerbacks. We’ve seen what Jones can do over the past few seasons, and if your league awards return-yardage points, he’s even more valuable. Both players are worth considering for your Week 5 lineups.
IDP Hidden Gems | Week 5 IDP Fantasy Football
Before we wrap up, here are a few dynasty takeaways from Week 4 and the first quarter of the season.
- Don’t Fade Defensive Tackles: Through the first 4 weeks, 6 defensive tackles rank inside the top 24 defensive linemen in fantasy scoring. That’s 25% of the current DL1 and DL2 group, which is pretty impressive for a position we tend to overlook in IDP leagues. That’s a good reminder that there’s value at the position even in leagues that don’t require starting a DT.
- High-Volume Tacklers: We all know linebacker is king in IDP fantasy football, and dynasty managers who invested in rookies Jacob Rodriguez and Anthony Hill Jr. are already seeing the rewards. The two linebackers rank second and third in the NFL in tackles through the first quarter of the season. Not bad for a pair of rookies who are already making their presence felt.
- The Lions Secondary Is IDP Gold: Detroit has 3 defensive backs averaging at least 15 fantasy points per game, the most of any team. Chuck Clark (DB5), Christian Izien (DB12), and D.J. Reed (DB18) have been excellent options for IDP managers this season. The Lions have the NFL’s worst pass defense, but that’s been great news for fantasy production. As long as opposing offenses continue attacking this secondary, there’s plenty of opportunity for these players to keep producing.
- Linebacker Handcuffs Show Out: If you’re an IDP manager who likes handcuffing your elite linebackers, Week 4 was a good reminder of why. Jake Hansen (LB3) and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (LB5) combined for 59 fantasy points while filling in for injured starters. Having the next man up already on your roster can make a big difference when injuries start piling up.
- The Rookie Impact: Josiah Trotter, Jacob Rodriguez, and Arvell Reese continue to lead an impressive rookie IDP class. They’re the only 3 rookies among the 17 defensive players averaging at least 20 fantasy points per game through the first quarter of the season. All 3 have multiple 20-point performances, including at least one 30-point game each. The future of IDP fantasy football is looking pretty good with this group.
Final Thoughts
One of the toughest parts of IDP fantasy football is knowing when to trust a player and when to look elsewhere. We’ve seen plenty of big performances through the first month, but that doesn’t mean those same players will deliver every week. That’s why I put so much value into looking at matchups and how players are being used. Sometimes taking a chance on a less popular name can be exactly what your lineup needs to pull out a win.
As always, every league and scoring format is different, so use these recommendations to help with those tough lineup calls. If you’re stuck on a decision, reach out on X @Glosser13 or find me on Reddit u/IDPGlosser. I’ll do my best to help with any IDP questions you have. Let’s get another win this week. Good luck, IDP Nerds!
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