As the injuries pile up and the bye weeks are in full effect, knowing all the IDP information you can is more valuable than ever. Lucky for you, this is the place to get all the information you need to help you start the most productive lineup every week. We bounced back with a 64.3% hit rate after a nightmare in week five. This brings our season average to 65.4% as we inch closer to the halfway point of the dynasty fantasy football season. Let’s take a look at the matchups in store for Week 7.
Check out the teams putting together the start/sit columns this season. Follow us, friend us, and tweet us. We look forward to hearing from you!
- Changing the Call (QB): Jayson Snyder (@Spydes78)
- The Cutback (RB): Jake Oliver (@DarthDbacks)
- Slant Pattern (WR): Tristan Cook (@THEtristancook)
- 12 Formation (TE): Ethan Wyatt (@ethanAwyatt)
- Flex on ‘Em (FLEX): Evan Brown (@FFEvanlution)
- IDP Start/Sit (IDP): Jon Glosser (@Glosser13)
NOTE: Rankings are based on a 12-team PPR league. So, saying WR2 means top 24, or TE1 means top 12, etc., and are pulled from Fantasy Pros consensus expert rankings.
Cleveland Browns @ Baltimore Ravens
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Patrick Queen LB, Baltimore Ravens
The jury may still be out on Patrick Queen from an above-average football player, but he is an effective IDP. Frankly, that’s all IDP managers should care about. The former LSU linebacker has bounced back so far this season with four 20+ point fantasy scoring games in his first six games. The Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns rivalry resumes this week, and Patrick Queen has done very well in these matchups over his first two seasons. He’s averaged 15.4 fantasy points per game over his first four starts against the division rivals. The Baltimore Ravens are looking to bounce back at home, where Queen averages just shy of 24 IDP fantasy points per game in two career matchups against the Browns. Patrick Queen should be in your lineups heading into Week 7.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Carolina Panthers
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Shaq Barrett LB/DL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Shaq Barrett and the Tampa Bay defense have been disappointing through the first quarter of the 2022 NFL season. The former Pro Bowl EDGE rusher has one double-digit performance this season and has been more of a letdown than a consistent producer. He draws his best matchup of the season against the Carolina Panthers, who allow the eighth-most sacks in the league. He has had outstanding success against the Panthers, with two sacks over his last three starts against them. The Buccaneers are coming off a brutal loss and will look to take it out on one of the league’s worst offenses.
Atlanta Falcons @ Cincinnati Bengals
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A.J. Terrell DB, Atlanta Falcons
This one is for the CB-required leagues out there in the IDP community. The Atlanta Falcons have been one of the NFL’s most surprising teams and are coming off a huge upset win over the San Francisco 49ers. What intrigues me about this game is the 2019 CFP National Championship game, where A.J. Terrell was tasked with trying to stop Ja’Marr Chase. It did not go well for the former Clemson defensive back, as he gave up nine receptions, 221 yards, and two touchdowns.
The Atlanta Falcons’ top cornerback has had this game circled on his calendar since it was announced, his chance at redemption against the QB-WR duo that burned him in his last college game. Ja’Marr Chase is coming off 22 targets over his last two games, and the Falcons’ top corner is likely to see a ton of chances to make plays on Sunday.
Detroit Lions @ Dallas Cowboys
Sit
Aidan Hutchinson DL, Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions’ pass rusher is as good as advertised and will likely be a top IDP asset over the next couple of years. So far this year, he looks every bit of the rookie defensive lineman he is. Hutchinson has failed to score more than nine points in a single game this season outside of his monster three-sack performance in week two. The Lions are coming off the bye to play a Dallas Cowboys offense that has allowed the second-fewest sacks in the NFL. IDP managers can be patient with the young pass rusher but finding a potential waiver wire stream player this week isn’t the worst strategy.
New York Giants @ Jacksonville Jaguars
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Kayvon Thibodeaux DL, New York Giants
If you’ve followed my content this off-season, you know I was more of a Kayvon Thibodeaux guy over Aidan Hutchinson in this past year’s draft. So it’s only fitting I can put them both in this week’s ‘Man Coverage’ article. I’m not taking anything away from Hutchinson because I like the player a lot, but Kayvon Thibodeaux is just a different breed. The former Oregon EDGE rusher is coming off three straight double-digit fantasy points while averaging 48.6 snaps per game. This week’s matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars is not a plus matchup, but the fact that Thibodeaux is coming off such consistent performances, he’s worthy of being started this week.
Indianapolis Colts @ Tennessee Titans
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Kevin Byard DB, Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans rely heavily on their former two-time All-Pro defensive back to set the tone in their secondary. Byard has been a plug-and-play starter in IDP leagues coming off five straight seasons of 200 fantasy points or more. He’s on pace through just five starts this season to make it six straight seasons as one of the most consistent IDPs in dynasty fantasy football leagues. The Titan’s safety will see a familiar foe in the Indianapolis Colts, who he just registered six tackles and scored nine fantasy points in week four. Over his career, Byard averages 5.2 tackles per game against the Colts. I would expect a big performance after the bye week from the Titan’s defense, with Byard leading the charge.
Green Bay Packers @ Washington Commanders
Sit
Darnell Savage DB, Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an absolute mess right now, and while everyone wants to blame Aaron Rodgers and the offense, the defense deserves some blame too. The Packers are the seventh-worst defense at defending the run, and a big part of that could be attributed to their lack of help from DBs in run support. I was a fan of Darnell Savage coming out of Maryland and his fit in the Packer’s defense, but he has been underwhelming from an IDP perspective. Darnell Savage has just one game over four tackles this season and one game over double-digit fantasy points. I’m not sure the Packer’s safety ever returns to his 2020 season production, where he had seven straight double-digit performances.
New York Jets @ Denver Broncos
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Quincy Williams LB, New York Jets
Quincy Williams wasted no time in rewarding IDP managers who started him coming off a brief injury. Williams returned with a 22-point fourteen tackle performance in week 6 to help lead the Jets to an upset win over the Green Bay Packers. C.J. Mosley gets most of the attention from the IDP community, and for a good reason, but Quincy Williams is a highly productive IDP. Williams notched 244 fantasy points for the Jets last season and has eclipsed ten fantasy points or more in three of his four games played this season. He should be geared up for another big game this week against the Denver Broncos’ lackluster offense.
Houston Texans @ Las Vegas Raiders
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Christian Kirksey LB, Houston Texans
This week the Houston Texans travel to Las Vegas to take on the Raiders. Both teams are coming off a much-needed early season bye and gearing up for a really long stretch of the season. Houston Texans linebacker Christian Kirksey has been one of the unsung heroes of the early season. Kirksey has recorded double-digit performances in all five games this season and has not recorded less than five tackles.
The former Iowa Hawkeyes linebacker continues to prove he can compete and produce at a high level. Kirksey was a forgotten linebacker in most IDP leagues before last season but continues to prove he has value. The Texans linebacker has averaged 5.3 tackles per game in his last three games against the Raiders. IDP managers should continue their strong start to the 2022 season.
Seattle Seahawks @ Los Angeles Chargers
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Uchenna Nwosu LB/DL, Seattle Seahawks
Revenge game alert! Uchenna Nwosu travels back to Los Angeles to play against his old team. Nwosu has three sacks this season and is averaging four tackles per game. He’s been, far and away, the best pass rusher for the Seahawks this season. He’s eclipsed double-digit fantasy points in four of his six games this season. His tackle upside, combined with his ability to bring down opposing quarterbacks, makes him a solid start this week.
Kansas City Chiefs @ San Francisco 49ers
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Juan Thornhill DB, Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City defensive back Juan Thornhill is very similar to my take on Darnell Savage. The expectations that never became a reality. Thornhill was expected to take a much larger role with veteran defensive back Tyrann Mathieu moving on in the free agency. Thornhill has been wildly disappointing to IDP managers after failing to score ten points in any game yet this season. I’m not advocating dropping the Chiefs defensive back at this point, but there are surely better, more consistent options on waivers in most leagues.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Miami Dolphins
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Minkah Fitzpatrick DB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Minkah Fitzpatrick returns just in time from injury to face the team that drafted him for the second time since being traded. In his last game, Fitzpatrick posted two interceptions and scored 22 fantasy points. The Steelers’ safety is averaging 6.6 tackles per game and is in for a busy afternoon in the deep secondary trying to contain Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. The former Alabama safety should be back to his normal production and is a no-brainer to be in your starting lineups this weekend.
Chicago Bears @ New England Patriots
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Kyle Dugger DB, New England Patriots
Kyle Dugger has been an absolute beast since returning from injury. His impact on the New England defense has been outstanding over the past two weeks. The Patriots’ defensive back has collected 12 tackles, two impact plays, and one defensive touchdown over his past two games. His 23 fantasy points per game may not be sustainable, but he’s delivering for IDP managers on this hot streak. The Chicago Bears offense is very simplistic, and Kyle Dugger should be able to make an impact on this game in primetime. IDP managers should be in a great situation to have one of the hottest players in IDP leagues playing on Monday Night Football.
The Wrap-up
As always, I appreciate you IDP nerds stopping by to check out this week’s content. The IDP landscape is forever changing, and getting the piece of mind of knowing who to start every week is crucial. I hope you all are killing it in your leagues up to this point, and I look forward to checking in next week as we get closer to the halfway point of the season.