Welcome back, IDP nerds, to your weekly IDP start and sit series. The injury bug ran rapidly on us last week, and hopefully, you were able to squeeze out a win despite a rough week from last week’s group of players. We settled on five hits and eight misses the previous week, with a few injuries knocking players out early in their games. Unfortunately, that isn’t something we can plan for, but as with anything in life, you take your losses, get right back in there, and get ready for next week. Despite a disappointing 38.5% hit rate in Week 7, we stand at 61.5% accuracy for the 2022 NFL season. Let’s not waste any more time and get ready to take a look at week eight games.
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.
Denver Broncos @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Start
Josey Jewell LB, Denver Broncos
Josey Jewell is set to return to the lineup this week for the Denver Broncos’ defense after missing the last two and a half games. Jewell has been a stud when healthy this season. In just ten quarters, he’s put up 30 tackles. IDP managers that understand the production from this position this year will be happy Jewell is back but sad to see Alex Singleton head to the bench again. Alex Singleton has posted 41 tackles in his last three games but will be relegated back to a rotational and special teams role, with Jewell set to return. The linebacker position for the Denver Broncos delivers high-volume tackling numbers that you can depend on in your IDP dynasty leagues.
Carolina Panthers @ Atlanta Falcons
Sit
Frankie Luvu LB, Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers linebacker was off to a hot start this season, scoring double-digit points in his first four games before a shoulder injury. He was able to return in a Week 7 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but only played a season-low 44 snaps. Over the first month of the season, he averaged 69.25 snaps per game, and his production was off the charts.
I wouldn’t rule out a big performance from Luvu in Week 8, but his still carrying a questionable tag and logging a limited practice is a cause for concern. There’s nothing worse than seeing a stud performer play in a limited role or worse spend the afternoon on the sidelines. I would shy away from starting the fifth-year linebacker this week until he proves he can play over 60 snaps a game again.
Chicago Bears @ Dallas Cowboys
Start
Dorance Armstrong DL, Dallas Cowboys
Dorance Armstrong is off to a great start this season and is on pace to record his first 200+ point fantasy season. The Dallas pass rusher is making the most of his snaps this season. Armstrong has recorded five sacks this season in his first seven games while recording four games with ten fantasy points or more.
It’s still concerning that Dorance Armstrong only averages 35 snaps per game. Armstrong has made a huge leap over his past two seasons and is becoming a great find on waivers this season. Over his past twenty games, he has registered 32 pressures and ten sacks. Armstrong and the Cowboys’ defense draw a great matchup this week against the Chicago Bears, who have allowed a league-worst 27 sacks this season.
Miami Dolphins @ Detroit Lions
Sit
Andrew Van Ginkel LB, Miami Dolphins
IDP managers beware of the Dolphins’ linebacker trap. It’s been one of the most frustrating positions to manage over the past few years. The lack of consistency, playing time, and production has been very frustrating. I’m afraid to buy stock in any linebacker playing in South Beach. I’ve been burned one too many times. Andrew Van Ginkel had a huge week in Week 7 with a 31-point performance. It’s alarming that he did this on just 24 snaps played while only averaging 16.2 snaps per game this season. I’m not buying he’s the player he was to finish last season with double-digit performances in seven of his final nine games. His role in this defense is situational, just as he should be for your dynasty teams.
Arizona Cardinals @ Minnesota Vikings
Start
Danielle Hunter DL, Minnesota Vikings
Danielle Hunter must have had this game circled on his calendar all year. The former LSU EDGE rusher has had great success against the Arizona Cardinals. Hunter averages 4.3 tackles per game and two sacks per game against the Cardinals in his career. In the last meeting in 2021, he racked up three sacks and scored 39 fantasy points. The Cardinals have allowed the 12th most sacks in the NFL through 7 games and are in for a long day against the Vikings pass rushers coming off a mid-season bye week.
Las Vegas Raiders @ New Orleans Saints
Sit
Tyrann Mathieu DB, New Orleans Saints
The Honey Badger will match up with a familiar foe in the Las Vegas Raiders this week. The New Orleans Saints defense has struggled this year with injuries and seems to be feeling the impact of their defensive coordinator, now turned head coach, not being able to spend as much time on that side of the ball.
This is strictly a gut call combined with Mathieu’s career averages against the Raiders at just 2.6 tackles per game in his last seven games against the Raiders. You can’t settle when trying to win championships, especially when you have more consistent players on the waiver wire in your leagues.
New England Patriots @ New York Jets
Sit
Sauce Gardner DB, New York Jets
Sauce Gardner is quickly becoming one of the game’s best young cornerbacks. He led the New York Jets in tackles last week and is coming off three straight double-digit performances. His reputation as a lockdown cornerback and difference maker instantly has already been proven true in less than eight games this season.
Very few coaches game plan for great defensive players better than New England’s Bill Belichick. I bet he finds a way to keep the rookie defensive back’s impact at a minimum in a huge game for the struggling Patriots offense. The former Cincinnatti Bearcat is a must-start in CB-required leagues, but I would fade him as a streaming option in Week 8.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Philadelphia Eagles
Sit
Robert Quinn DL, Philadelphia Eagles
Robert Quinn was dealt earlier this week from the Chicago Bears to the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles. While the move has a chance to be very rewarding for the Eagles this season, it’s very frustrating for IDP managers. Quinn has always been more of a sack-dependent IDP anyways, but now he joins a crowded rotation of defensive line for the Eagles. It is rumored Quinn will play this week, but I wouldn’t expect much. He has yet to eclipse two tackles in a game this season and has one sack after recording 18.5 last season.
Tennessee Titans @ Houston Texans
Start
Amani Hooker DB, Tennessee Titans
Mike Vrabel was stoked to get Amani Hooker back last week after missing multiple games due to a concussion. The fourth-year defensive back led the Titans in tackles last week and has made three impact plays in his four starts this season. Amani Hooker is at his best playing alongside Kevin Byard in the Titans’ secondary. In his four starts this season, Hooker is averaging 15 fantasy points per game and has collected 22 tackles. IDP managers can confidently start the former Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back in Week 8.
Washington Commanders @ Indianapolis Colts
Start
Montez Sweat DL, Washington Commanders
Montez Sweat is coming off 15 tackles and three sacks over his last three games. He’s quietly having a very nice bounce-back season without his stud running mate Chase Young this season. The former Mississippi State pass rusher will play a Colts’ offensive line that has allowed the third most sacks (24) in the NFL this season. I love the chance Sweat has a big week against a bad offensive line and a very inexperienced quarterback.
San Francisco 49ers @ Los Angeles Rams
Sit
Jalen Ramsey DB, Los Angeles Rams
There’s little debate that Jalen Ramsey is one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. He’s once again proven himself as an IDP asset with double-digit fantasy points in five of his six games played this season. The one game he did not? That was against the division rival San Francisco 49ers. Ramsey is coming off back-to-back monster performances with a sack in each of his last two games. The former Florida State defensive back averaged 17.5 fantasy points per game against the 49ers last season. I’m not expecting another sack for the Rams leader in the secondary, so that will leave him as a tackle-dependent cornerback. That’s a dangerous game to play when you need consistent production from the defensive back position.
New York Giants @ Seattle Seahawks
Start
Ryan Neal DB, Seattle Seahawks
The injuries to star safety Jamal Adams have been devastating over the past few years. However, you can always count on Ryan Neal playing 70+ snaps and scoring double-digit fantasy points in his absence. The Seattle Seahawks defensive back has had seven tackles in three straight starts and has scored 72 fantasy points over that stretch. Ryan Neal should be a plug-and-play starter at defensive back until his production dips. I don’t see that happening anytime soon. Get him in those lineups for Week 8.
Green Bay Packers @ Buffalo Bills
Start
Damar Hamlin DB, Buffalo Bills
The loss of Micah Hyde was a huge blow to the Buffalo Bills’ secondary, but IDP managers have not noticed because of the play of Damar Hamlin. The second-year defensive back from Pittsburgh has been very consistent, averaging 14.25 fantasy points per game over his last four games. Hamlin is a high-volume tackler and brings an enforcer-type mentality to the Buffalo secondary. I’m a bit concerned the Green Bay defense might be on the field all night, but when the Bills are on defense, there should be enough plays to make Hamlin a solid start again this week. The Bills’ defender is still available across many leagues and has been a consistent producer since the Hyde injury.
Cincinnati Bengals @ Cleveland Browns
Start
Deion Jones LB, Cleveland Browns
IDP managers are having flashbacks to a few years back when getting the chance to start a top 5 IDP linebacker on primetime was a blessing. Many things have changed for linebacker Deion Jones including his departure from the Atlanta Falcons. He will now step in as the third different player to start at middle linebacker for the Cleveland Browns. The former Pro Bowl linebacker has collected 100+ tackles in five of his first six seasons. Jones registered 11 points on just 33 snaps in his Cleveland Browns debut. He is ready for a bigger role now, with Jacob Phillips heading to IR for the remainder of the season.
The Wrap-up
IDP managers, there you have it. Week 8 content has been signed, sealed, and delivered. I hope you all have enjoyed this IDP goodness being delivered to you every week. This has been a fun ride this season, and the adventure is just starting. Do your best to keep your nose to the grind and keep improving those IDP rosters so you can find yourself in the winners’ circle at the end of the season. Good luck, IDP Nerds, and we will see you again next week.