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NerdHerd 
Welcome back, IDP Nerds! The Week 9 IDP Start/Sit is here, and we’ve officially reached the second half of the NFL season. With fantasy playoffs getting closer every week, the pressure to make the right lineup decisions is only going to increase. By now, we’ve got a pretty good idea of which players we can count on and which ones continue to leave us frustrated.
Before we get into this week’s Starts, Sits, and Streamers, let’s take a look at how our Week 8 recommendations performed.
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IDP Start/Sit Accuracy Report
We bounced back a bit in Week 8, finishing with 8 hits on 13 recommendations for a 61.5% hit rate. Our Starts went 4/6, with Daiyan Henley and Kwity Paye being our only misses. Henley finished with just 9 fantasy points, while Paye couldn’t take advantage of what looked like one of the better matchups of the week. Both were frustrating misses, especially with how favorable the matchups looked heading into Sunday.
Our Sits continue to give us trouble, finishing 1/3 in Week 8. Patrick Queen apparently decided to take out all his frustration from the first seven weeks on us with a huge performance. Laiatu Latu also made us pay, recording his first double-digit fantasy performance since Week 4. This is a good reminder that while the numbers can help us make better lineup decisions, they can’t predict everything. That’s fantasy football. We can spend all week looking at matchups, snap counts, and recent performances, but sometimes one big play is all it takes to make a good recommendation look bad.
Updated through Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season
| Category | Week 8 | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Starts | 4/6 (66.7%) | 33/47 (70.2%) |
| Sits | 1/3 (33.3%) | 9/23 (39.1%) |
| Streamers | 3/4 (75.0%) | 14/30 (46.7%) |
| Overall | 8/13 (61.5%) | 56/100 (56.0%) |
Notable Performances: Our streamers had a 75% hit rate, their best week of the season.
Injury Exclusions: 0
The good news came from our streamers, where we finished 3/4 for our best week of the season. Braden Fiske was our only miss at defensive tackle, a position we’ve discussed struggling to find consistent production from all season. After back-to-back 2/4 weeks, it was good to finally see some improvement. We’re still chasing that first perfect week from our streamers, but I’ll gladly take 3/4 as we head into Week 9.
Players to Start | Week 9 IDP Fantasy Football
Defensive Line | Week 9 IDP Start/Sit
Nik Bonitto | DL | Denver Broncos
It’s been a frustrating first half of the season for IDP managers who invested in Nik Bonitto. After collecting 27.5 sacks over the previous two seasons, Bonitto has managed just 3.5 through eight games and sits at DL44 overall. His playing time hasn’t changed much, averaging around 60% of Denver’s defensive snaps. Despite the drop in fantasy production, Bonitto is still getting after the quarterback. He ranks 11th among EDGE defenders with 26 pressures and carries the third-highest pass-rush grade at 89.6, according to PFF. Those numbers tell me he’s playing better than his fantasy finishes suggest.
The matchup against Carolina is what makes Bonitto one of my favorite DL Starts in Week 9. The Panthers have allowed the second-most sacks and third-most pressures in the NFL this season, including six sacks in Week 8 alone. That’s exactly the type of matchup we’re looking for when targeting a player who has struggled to turn pressures into sacks. Bonitto has already shown us what he’s capable of over the past two seasons, and Carolina’s offensive line gives him a great opportunity to put together one of his better performances of 2026. I’m confident rolling with him in my IDP lineups this week.
Chase Young | DL | New Orleans Saints
Chase Young has quietly put together a productive first half of the season for IDP managers, scoring double-digit fantasy points in five of his last six games. He’s currently DL31 overall, but his production comes with some risk. Young has recorded just 14 tackles this season, with seven of those coming on sacks. That’s not exactly the tackle volume we’re looking for from a weekly starter, and it leaves very little room for error when he doesn’t get to the quarterback. Still, Young has collected 3.5 sacks over his last three games and has been finding ways to deliver for IDP managers despite the limited tackle production.
If there’s a matchup where I’m willing to take a chance on a sack-dependent player, it’s against the Cleveland Browns. They’ve allowed 22 sacks over their last four games, including eight against Pittsburgh in Week 8. Cleveland also allows the 12th-most tackles to opposing EDGE defenders this season, giving Young an opportunity to contribute even if he doesn’t get home for a sack. The Browns have struggled to protect their quarterback all season, and Young has already shown he doesn’t need a high tackle total to put together a strong fantasy performance. There’s always risk when you’re relying this heavily on impact plays, but I like his chances of keeping that production going in Week 9.
Linebacker | Week 9 IDP Start/Sit
Drake Thomas | LB | Seattle Seahawks
Ernest Jones deservedly gets most of the attention in Seattle’s linebacker room, but Drake Thomas has quietly been a reliable option for IDP managers this season. Thomas has scored double-digit fantasy points in 83% of his games played and returned from a two-game absence in Week 8 to record seven tackles while playing 84% of the defensive snaps. That was his highest snap share since Week 2 against Arizona. He’s averaging 86% of Seattle’s defensive snaps in the six games he’s played this season, which is encouraging for a linebacker who often gets overlooked playing alongside Jones.
Thomas gets another opportunity against Arizona in Week 9, a matchup that’s been good to him. He scored 16 fantasy points against the Cardinals earlier this season and has averaged 17 points per game against them dating back to last year. Arizona is also allowing a league-high 21 tackles per game to opposing linebackers, giving Thomas plenty of opportunities to add to his tackle totals. I’m confident starting Thomas this week and like his chances of delivering another double-digit performance.
Henry To’oTo’o | LB | Houston Texans
Don’t let Henry To’oTo’o’s LB80 ranking fool you. The Texans linebacker missed four games on injured reserve, but he’s been making up for lost time since returning. To’oTo’o has collected 16 tackles and half a sack over his last two games, including a 10-tackle performance against the Giants. He’s played 92% of Houston’s defensive snaps in the games he’s appeared in this season. He’s not a flashy player who’s going to rack up sacks or interceptions, but when you’re playing that many snaps and finding the football consistently, there’s plenty to like from an IDP standpoint.
The Chargers have allowed the 11th-most tackles to opposing linebackers this season, making this another matchup I want to target. Just last week, both starting linebackers facing Los Angeles scored double-digit fantasy points, including one who finished as the LB20 overall. To’oTo’o has nearly 40 fantasy points in just over two games this season, and I don’t see much reason to shy away from him because of his season-long ranking. He’s healthy, playing nearly every snap, and getting plenty of opportunities to make tackles. That’s more than enough for me to trust him in my Week 9 IDP lineups.
| Player | Pos | Team | Opponent | Call |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nik Bonitto | DL | DEN | CAR | START |
| Chase Young | DL | NO | CLE | START |
| Drake Thomas | LB | SEA | ARI | START |
| Henry To’oTo’o | LB | HOU | LAC | START |
| Josh Metellus | DB | MIN | BUF | START |
| Antoine Winfield Jr. | DB | TB | CHI | START |
| K’Lavon Chaisson | DL | WAS | LAR | SIT |
| Robert Spillane | LB | NE | GB | SIT |
| Javon Bullard | DB | GB | NE | SIT |
Defensive Backs | Week 9 IDP Start/Sit
Josh Metellus | DB | Minnesota Vikings
Josh Metellus continues to be one of those defensive backs who doesn’t get enough attention from IDP managers. He’s scored at least 11 fantasy points in six straight games and has collected 20 tackles over his last two. Metellus has played every defensive snap this season, and his ability to line up all over the field keeps him involved in Minnesota’s defense. He’s currently DB33 overall, but with the way he’s been producing lately, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him work his way into DB2 territory before the fantasy playoffs.
The Buffalo Bills are one of my favorite matchups to target at safety this week. They’re allowing the fifth-most tackles per game to the position. Buffalo has surrendered an average of 21.7 tackles per game to defensive backs over their last three contests, tied with Seattle for the most during that stretch. Buffalo also allowed DB14, DB26, and DB44 finishes in Week 8 alone. With Metellus spending plenty of time near the line of scrimmage and the Bills giving opposing safeties opportunities to make tackles, there’s a lot to like here. I’m keeping Metellus in my starting lineup for Week 9 and expecting another productive outing.
Antoine Winfield Jr. | DB | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Antoine Winfield Jr. didn’t waste much time reminding IDP managers what he’s capable of in his return to the lineup. The veteran safety collected seven tackles in Week 8, giving him his third game with at least 15 fantasy points in just five appearances this season. Injuries have been the biggest frustration with Winfield, but he’s been productive when healthy. One concern I have is that he’s spending most of his snaps playing deep safety, which isn’t always where we want our defensive backs lining up for fantasy purposes. I’m not letting that scare me away from this week’s matchup.
The Chicago Bears have been a gold mine for opposing safeties this season, allowing the second-most tackles to the position at 17.5 per game and a league-high 140 total tackles. Chicago also likes to take its shots downfield, which could work in Winfield’s favor even with him playing deeper in the secondary. I wouldn’t be surprised if this game turns into a shootout, giving both defenses plenty of chances to make plays. Winfield has already delivered three strong fantasy performances in limited action this season, and I’m betting he adds another double-digit outing in Week 9.
Players to Sit | Week 9 IDP Fantasy Football
| Player | Pos | Team | Opponent | Why We’re Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| K’Lavon Chaisson | DL | WAS | LAR | Rams allow 7 or fewer EDGE tackles per game; 6th-fewest sacks and 9th-fewest pressures |
| Robert Spillane | LB | NE | GB | LB51; under 9 fantasy points in 4 straight games; Packers allow fewest LB tackles |
| Javon Bullard | DB | GB | NE | 73% snap share; Patriots allow 4th-fewest DB tackles; limited tackle opportunities |
- K’Lavon Chaisson | DL | Washington Commanders: Chaisson is coming off a strong Week 8 performance, finishing as the DL15 overall. I’m staying away from him this week based on the matchup against the Rams. Los Angeles is one of just four teams allowing seven or fewer tackles per game to opposing EDGE defenders. They’ve also allowed the sixth-fewest sacks and ninth-fewest pressures per game this season. After Washington’s defensive front had its way with Philadelphia last week, I’m expecting a much tougher outing against the Rams.
- Robert Spillane | LB | New England Patriots: It’s been a rough first half for Spillane, who’s currently LB51 and has failed to reach nine fantasy points in four straight games. Meanwhile, Christian Elliss has been the better IDP option in New England, sitting at LB15 despite playing a similar number of snaps. Spillane averaged 134 tackles per season over the previous three years, but we’re not seeing that same production in 2026. With Green Bay allowing the fewest tackles to opposing linebackers this season, I’m keeping Spillane on the bench in Week 9.
- Javon Bullard | DB | Green Bay Packers: This one stings after I talked up Green Bay’s defensive backs last week. Bullard is playing just 73% of the defensive snaps, while Xavier McKinney and DB1 overall Evan Williams are rarely leaving the field. The matchup doesn’t help either. New England has allowed the fourth-fewest tackles to opposing defensive backs this season. Only one DB scored double-digit fantasy points against the Patriots in Week 8, and he finished as the DB47. I’m not expecting Bullard to give IDP managers much this week.
DT-Premium & CB-Premium Streamers | Week 9 IDP Start/Sit
DT Streamers: The Chicago Bears have been one of the best matchups for opposing defensive tackles this season, allowing the most tackles to the position. They even allowed two DTs to finish inside the top 10 in Week 8 alone. That’s why I’m going back to Calijah Kancey (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), who’s coming off back-to-back games with 12 fantasy points. Justin Eboigbe (Los Angeles Chargers) is another name worth considering after finishing as the DT20 in Week 8. He’s now scored at least 12 fantasy points in three games since Week 3 and gets a Houston Texans offense that ranks inside the top 10 in tackles allowed to defensive tackles.
CB Streamers: Chris Johnson (Miami Dolphins) has quietly put together a nice stretch, recording at least four tackles in five straight games. He gets a Detroit Lions offense allowing the 15th-most tackles to cornerbacks this season. Detroit also allowed a CB5 finish in Week 8, with two cornerbacks finishing inside the top 27. My other streamer is Nohl Williams (Kansas City Chiefs), who’s been one of the hottest cornerbacks in fantasy over the past two weeks. Williams has collected 14 tackles and an interception during that stretch, scoring the second-most fantasy points among CBs. The Jets are allowing the sixth-most tackles to opposing cornerbacks, and I expect New York to be throwing plenty as they try to keep up with Kansas City’s offense. I like Williams to keep that momentum going in Week 9.
IDP Hidden Gems | Week 9 IDP Fantasy Football
Before we wrap up, here are five takeaways from Week 8 and what we’ve learned through the first eight weeks of the 2026 NFL season.
- Washington Commanders DL Breakout Party: Washington’s defensive front has been an afterthought for IDP managers this season, with K’Lavon Chaisson leading the way at just DL34 entering Week 8. That all changed against Philadelphia. The Commanders became the only team this season to have four defensive linemen finish inside the top 18 in the same week. Dorance Armstrong (DL3), Shy Tuttle (DL7), Chaisson (DL15), and Charles Omenihu (DL18) all delivered big performances. For good measure, Odafe Oweh added 13 fantasy points, giving Washington five defensive linemen with double-digit performances. I wouldn’t expect this every week, but it’s worth recognizing just how impressive that performance was.
- Alex Singleton Returns as IDP King: For those who don’t know, Alex Singleton didn’t make his first NFL start until he was 27 years old. Since then, he’s recorded at least 120 tackles in five of the last six seasons, with his injury-shortened 2024 campaign being the only exception. Singleton currently leads the NFL with 101 tackles, while the next closest player has just 82. He’s also the seventh-highest-scoring fantasy player across all positions this season. Think about that for a second. A linebacker who was sitting on waiver wires back in 2020 has become one of the most reliable IDP players of the past six years. Sometimes we get so caught up looking for the next breakout player that we forget to appreciate the guys who have been getting it done for years.
- Appreciate the Consistency: We talk all the time about waiting on defensive backs and streaming the position, but that doesn’t mean we should overlook the players giving us steady production every week. Cole Bishop (DB32) and Jeremy Reaves (DB42) aren’t going to jump off the page when you look at the season-long rankings. What they have done is score double-digit fantasy points in every game this season. That’s worth something. We’re always looking for that defensive back who can put up 20-plus points and win us a matchup, but there’s plenty of value in knowing you’re getting a solid performance every time you put someone in your lineup.
- Impact Play King: T.J. Watt continues to be one of the most frustrating and rewarding players to roster in IDP fantasy football. Watt leads the NFL with 10.5 impact plays through eight weeks, including 7.5 sacks, an interception, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. He’s also added a defensive touchdown and currently sits at DL5 overall. Here’s what makes his season so interesting. Watt has four games with at least 22 fantasy points and four games with 3.5 points or fewer. There really hasn’t been much in between. He’s one of the best examples of how much impact plays can swing fantasy production, especially at defensive line.
- Rookie LB Check-In: We’ve spent plenty of time talking about this rookie linebacker class, and eight weeks into the season, it’s looking even better than expected. Anthony Hill, Josiah Trotter, Arvell Reese, and Jacob Rodriguez have all scored at least 125 fantasy points and rank inside the top 15 at linebacker. Now we can add Kendal Daniels to the conversation. The Falcons rookie has climbed to LB16 overall and has been on an incredible run since Week 5. Only Alex Singleton, the LB1 overall, has scored more fantasy points at linebacker during that stretch. Five rookies already producing at this level is something IDP managers should be paying attention to, especially those building dynasty rosters.
Final Thoughts | Week 9 IDP Start/Sit
We’ve reached the point in the fantasy season where every win matters, especially for those of us fighting for a playoff spot. One thing we’ve learned through eight weeks is that a big name doesn’t always mean big fantasy production. Sometimes the best move is trusting a player who’s getting consistent opportunities or taking advantage of a matchup that favors his position. That’s what we’re trying to accomplish every week with these recommendations. Hopefully, we can help you steal a few extra points and put another win in the books.
As always, if you have any IDP lineup questions, trade offers, or just want to talk fantasy football, feel free to reach out to me on Twitter/X @Glosser13 or find me on Reddit at u/Glosser13. I’m always happy to help fellow IDP managers work through those tough decisions. Good luck this week, IDP Nerds!
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