IDP Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em for Week 6 - Streamers, Fades, Matchups for Defensive Players

In our IDP Rankings column this week, we considered one factor that can cloud the reading of fantasy rankings. Namely, we addressed how rankings can rob some fans of the nuisances they may need in specific leagues or situations. For example, if you're a team in need of a solid floor, sometimes going with a lower-ranked but safer DB over the higher-ranked big play DB is smart.

Upside versus floor is not the only fantasy nuance that a flat set of rankings fails to convey. The truth is that an inanimate column ranking one player after another with no explanation cannot possibly convey all the factors that go into a list of 150 players or more. You need a weekly write-up that is far too long to ever get published if you want to understand each and every rank.

While explaining each ranking each week is impossible, fans should know that there are a variety of factors that go into my weekly IDP rankings. For DLs, I consider things like pass rush win rate, pressure rate, and alignment. For corners, we look at shadow rate, opponent target rate, etc. For every position, we factor in the defender’s film, metrics, production, and individual matchup.

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Casual IDP Streamers and Fades

Stream: Jamien Sherwood, LB, New York Jets

Sherwood is a converted safety out of Auburn who made my preseason sleepers list way back when he was a rookie. Unfortunately, it took him several years to grow into the linebacker position and contribute. Since C.J. Mosley has been out, Sherwood has contributed.

The former Tiger has had a starter designation in four of five games this year, with a snap rate over 80% in every contest after New York’s opening loss to the 49ers. Since Mosley went down, Sherwood’s playing time has jumped to over 90%, and he averaged 8.25 Standard IDP points per game. That rate is good for LB26 on the year.

Only about halfway through his season

but

Jamien Sherwood was legitimately impressive in limited snaps, tosses another offensive lineman here and makes the tackle pic.twitter.com/ykCWeazvnK

— Joe Blewett (@Joerb31) April 13, 2024

This week, the Jets get a Bills offense that ranks 26^th in pass rate and runs the ball tenth most in victories. The matchup isn’t necessarily the best on paper, but it’s above average for opposing linebackers. If Mosley is out again this week, Sherwood is a borderline LB2. If Mosley plays, Sherwood will still be worth starting in deep IDP leagues.

Note: Our rankings and sleepers were put together before Robert Saleh was officially fired. His exit could impact the Jets' defensive performance. However, Jeff Ulbrich's promotion indicates they will continue using the same scheme and personnel packages.

Stream: Travon Walker, DL, Jacksonville Jaguars

Walker is coming off a massive three-sack performance, but that's not why we are elevating him this week. Rather, we like Walker because of his matchup and the fact he is just the 38^th most-started DL in fantasy.

The Bears’ offensive line ranks surprisingly high in many metrics, given that they don’t look great on film. Caleb Williams has a way of running into sacks, though. It’s why the offensive line is only credited with surrendering 13 sacks all year, yet Chicago allows the fifth most sacks per game.

Walker should have a particularly good matchup this week, given that he will play almost all of his snaps over Darnell Wright. No blocker on the Bears is credited with more sacks allowed than Wright, and he’s allowed the second most pressures. This is a fine fantasy matchup.

Fade: Nate Hobbs, DB, Las Vegas Raiders

Hobbs has historically been a solid source of tackles, which has earned him a DB3 and sometimes a DB2 label in previous seasons. The versatile slot corner is not earning that label this year, though. Despite being the 19^th most rostered and 15^th most started DB in fantasy, he is actually DB151 overall in fantasy points per game.

That’s awful.

Fans of Hobbs should not expect a rebound this week. The Steelers are a low-volume passing attack with a quarterback who does not attempt many risky throws, assuming Justin Fields starts. This matchup is why we told you to fade Trevon Diggs last week, and Diggs produced just two Standard IDP fantasy points in that game.

Fade: Harold Landry III, DL/LB, Tennessee Titans

Fair warning: Whether you fade Landry or not will depend a lot on who starts as the quarterback for the Colts.

With Anthony Richardson, the Colts average the second-fewest pass attempts in the NFL. Worse, Richardson is nearly impossible to take down. Plus, Indy’s offensive line ranks in the top five in terms of pressure rate allowed and pass rush win rate. In other words, with Richardson, the Colts are a low-volume offense with good pass blocking.

If Joe Flacco starts again this week, Landry isn't quite as easy to fade. While the Colts' blockers are still a problem, Flacco is attempting nearly twice as many passes as Richardson, and the old man is much easier to take down.

Premium/Deep League Streamers and Fades

Stream: Yaya Diaby, DL/LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Diaby remains a metrics darling who just isn't closing sacks enough to be a fantasy starter yet. However, the volume is there, as the sophomore has played the 23^rd most pass rush snaps of all edge defenders. He is also fourth amongst all edges in pass rush win rate and quarterback pressures.

Vita Vea gets the sack, but Yaya Diaby is in the kitchen immediately.

If Bowles can depend on Yaya to generate pressures, he can leave his side of the field a bit more vulnerable knowing the QB will have to roll out the opposite way.

He's a huge chess piece. pic.twitter.com/0GosY97qUu

— Evan Closky (@ECloskyWTSP) October 1, 2024

With all those reasons for hope, this week should be the one where Diaby's production sees a spike. The Saints started the season off well in pass blocking, but they are now the second lowest-rated pass-blocking unit in the NFL. They have allowed 22 pressures and nine quarterback hits off the edge, plus Spencer Rattler is making his NFL debut.

Stream: Jourdan Lewis, DB, Dallas Cowboys

Lewis is the Cowboys’ top nickel corner. He plays 87.9% of his snaps in the box, inline, or in the slot.

The Lions deploy Amon-Ra St. Brown in the slot 46% of the time. Sam LaPorta plays 76% of his snaps either inline or in the slot. Expect Lewis to play more than usual. Also, expect him to see a lot of the Lions' two best pass-catchers. That should make him worth a stream in deeper IDP formats.

Fade: Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, DB, New York Jets

Despite all our warnings that shutdown corners like Sauce don’t usually produce in fantasy, fantasy managers continue to deploy him based on his name value. Gardner is the 50^th most rostered DB in fantasy, and the 49^th most started this week. Both are high, given he ranks as DB147 in fantasy ppg and has a poor matchup this week.

The Bills offense attempts the third-fewest pass attempts per game this season. They also have no wide receiver who merits forcing the ball to, so Josh Allen can avoid Gardner all he wants. Buffalo has no reason to give Sauce more than two or three targets, meaning the All-Pro will have to rely on run support for his fantasy points.

Fade: Dennis Gardeck, DL/LB, Arizona Cardinals

Gardeck is currently the 47^th most rostered and 43^rd most-started DL in fantasy. This is despite the fact that he has yet to play 70% of his team's defensive snaps and has seen more than 50% of the snaps just once this year.

The Cardinals' pass rushers have a particularly tough matchup this week. While Green Bay is throwing the ball more now that Jordan Love is healthy, their offensive line remains the top-rated pass-blocking unit in the NFL this season. They have allowed just 17 pressures and two sacks off the edge all season.

Defenders Worth Stashing

Tuli Tuipulotu, DL/LB, Los Angeles Chargers

Drafted as a second-round project in 2023, the USC alum has nearly doubled his defensive snap rate since Week 1. The edge isn't producing elite fantasy stats right now, but his strength as a tackler and in run support could earn him steady snaps even if Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa are both healthy.

Rostered in just 0.3% of IDP leagues, this second-year edge is worth stashing in deeper IDP formats. Do not be surprised if his improvements earn him consistent playing time and possibly lead the Chargers to move on from Bosa or Mack in the long term.

Devin White, LB, Free Agent

White has worn out his welcome with two teams in less than a year. He also suffers mental lapses on the field and is inconsistent in his production. However, there is a reason why the Buccaneers drafted White so high in the NFL Draft and why the Eagles signed him in free agency.

Apparently one of Devin White's poor games came in SF
taking a look

this is a tough ask for ILB ... White has to match Deebo Samuel in the slot -- who runs a 10-yard in... Whte cannot match him ... but does pursue across field after all that is a 14-yard gain ... pic.twitter.com/ZlWMkO8yup

— Jim Youngblood 53 (@53_jim70721) October 9, 2024

There is a substantial chance that White will step into a starting role sometime this season and produce high-end LB3 stats, perhaps once a contender's lead linebacker goes down with an injury. That potential is worth stashing, and you shouldn't have to give up any FAAB to add White, even in deep IDP leagues.

DaRon Bland, DB, Dallas Cowboys

Bland led the NFL in interceptions last season while topping it in defensive touchdowns by 150%. He is currently rostered in just 3% of IDP leagues and is the 76^th most rostered DB in fantasy. This is due in part to the fact Bland has been injured all season, but the ballhawk was a full practice participant this week and is close to returning.

Mind you, and we stand by our preseason warning that Bland is being overrated by anyone who expects him to produce DB2 or higher fantasy points. His fantasy production last year was entirely dependent on big plays, which are incredibly hard to replicate or rely on. However, he is still rostered in far fewer leagues than you would expect.

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