The League Winners are getting defensive. In addition to our weekly fantasy football Start or Sit column found here, we are now offering a weekly IDP Sit or Start column for all you IDP fans out there. So without further delay, let’s take a look at Fantasy Football: IDP Sit or Start – Week 16.
Fantasy Football IDP Start or Sit Week 16 – Start
Linebackers
Ja’Whaun Bentley– New England Patriots vs DEN
Bentley has been a remarkably consistent IDP asset this season and as his playing time has increased so has his fantasy production. He has been a solid contributor of tackles every week while also chipping in sacks at a moderate pace. In Week 16 he is facing a Denver Broncos squad that is allowing a boost of 20.1% above the league average to linebackers this season, the easiest matchup for the position. The Patriots are a prime spot for Bentley to put up some big numbers and will make Bentley a must-start this week.
CJ Mosley– New York Jets vs WSH
Mosley has seen his production tail off a bit over the last month as the Jets have struggled but he has remained a constant contributor of tackles all season long. This week he goes up against the Washington Commanders who are the 2nd best matchup for the position and are allowing a fantasy production boost of 19.7% above the league average. The Commanders have traded away a good portion of their team and find themselves vulnerable to monster performances against them. Look for a double-digit tackle performance from Mosley in this matchup.
Denzel Perryman– Houston Texans vs CLE
Perryman has been a part-time player for much of the year, but recent injuries on the Texan’s defence have given him increased opportunities to produce. In Week 16 he faces the Cleveland Browns who are the 3rd best matchup for opposing linebackers. The Browns are allowing 12.1% above the league average to the position and are an easy matchup for round two of the fantasy playoffs. He may not get the opportunity to sack again Flacco, but the Browns will provide him with ample opportunity for his best game of the season.
Defensive Linemen
Daron Payne– Washington Commanders vs NYJ
Payne has been a model of consistency this season, totalling a high number of both tackles and sacks all season long. As he continues on a hot streak he will go up against the New York Jets who rank as the easiest matchup for opposing linemen. The Jets are allowing a boost of 39.1% over the league average to linebackers and give up more fantasy production than any other team in the league. Look for Payne to continue to pile up monster tackle numbers in this matchup.
Haason Reddick– Philadelphia Eagles vs NYG
Reddick has been solid but not great for the duration of the season. He never has huge blow-up games, but he rarely disappoints either. In Week 16 he will go up against the New York Giants who are the 2nd easiest matchup for opposing linemen. The Giants are allowing a boost of 31.2% above the league average to the position. This is a prime matchup for Reddick to continue his consistent production.
Quinnen Williams– New York Jets vs WSH
Williams has been on fire over the past month and has quickly climbed the ranks to DL11 on the season. He is a must-start every week as he produces even in poor matchups. This week, however, he faces the 3rd best matchup for opposing linemen, the Commanders. Washington is allowing a boost of 28.5% to the position and will once again allow Williams to be one of the top producers at the position in Week 16.
Defensive Backs
Jonathan Owens– Green Bay Packers vs CAR
Owens has been solid when thrust into a larger role over the last month. He is capable of high tackle numbers in any given game. He will be a great start in Week 16 against the Carolina Panthers who are the best matchup for opposing defensive backs. The Panthers are allowing a boost of 16.5% above the league average to the position. This matchup is a great spot for Owens to get right and once again be a useful IDP asset.
DaRon Bland– Dallas Cowboys vs MIA
Bland’s playing style has made him far better for fantasy than for the Dallas Cowboys. Bland plays high-risk defence and will often intercept a pass and take it to the house. Unfortunately, he is just as likely to get beat for a long touchdown. While he isn’t destined to be a longtime asset for the Cowboys, you can fire him up this week in fantasy. He gets a matchup with the Miami Dolphins who are the 2nd easiest matchup for opposing defensive backs. The Dolphins are allowing 12.2% above the league average and will make for another prime “pick-six” spot for Bland.
Jason Pinnock– New York Giants vs PHI
Pinnock has stepped up his game as of late and is bordering on elite territory for IDP managers. This week he faces the Philadelphia Eagles who are the 3rd best matchup for opposing defensive backs. The Eagles are allowing a boost of 12.2% above league average to the position and are a prime matchup for the position. Pinnock will have no issue putting up double-digit tackles this week in a dream matchup.
IDP Start or Sit Week 16 – Sit
Linebackers
Elandon Roberts– Pittsburgh Steelers vs CIN
Roberts has seen his tackle numbers skyrocket over the past six weeks as his fantasy production has begun to kick into a whole new level. He has double-digit tackle potential in good matchups but is still very much matchup-dependent. This week, he faces a bad matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals. Cincinnati is the worst matchup for opposing linebackers and holds the ition to 19.2% below the league average. This matchup makes the suddenly solid Roberts a risky start in Week 16.
Deion Jones– Carolina Panthers vs GB
Jones was once seen as a high-upside linebacker but has suddenly seen himself relegated to on and off the active roster. In week 15 he was a healthy inactive but he should be in the lineup for Week 16. Even if he finds his way back into the lineup, don’t buy back into him for fantasy. He faces the Green Bay Packers this week who are the 2nd toughest matchup for opposing linebackers. The Packers are limiting the position to 17.4% below the league average, making Jones a must-avoid for Week 16.
Pete Werner– New Orleans Saints vs LAR
Werner has battled injuries this season but has been solid when healthy. In Week 16 he appears to be fully healthy but will go up against the Los Angeles Rams who rank as the 3rd toughest matchup to opposing linebackers. The Rams are holding linebackers to 12.6% below the league average and Werner should be avoided against a tough opponent.
Defensive Linemen
Morgan Fox– Los Angeles Chargers vs BUF
Fox may be a veteran lineman, but he isn’t a producing one currently for the Chargers. Add in a matchup this week with the Buffalo Bills who are the worst matchup for opposing linemen and I’m fully out on him. The Bills are holding linemen to 23.9% below the league average and are a death sentence to the position, so why fire up an already struggling veteran in a matchup this bad?
Demarcus Lawrence– Dallas Cowboys vs MIA
Lawrence has been a consistent producer this season and always contributes an acceptable number of tackles, so this one is based solely on the matchup. The matchup this week is terrible, as they face the Miami Dolphins who are the second-worst matchup to opposing linemen. Miami is limiting the position to 22.5% below the league average. Lawrence may be an elite defender, but in a matchup this bad he has to be avoided wherever possible.
Bryan Bresee– New Orleans Saints vs LAR
Bresee is a rookie defender with massive upside and potential for the Saints, but even as he has come on lately, he is still not at the level where he can be on an everyday basis. This week he faces the Los Angeles Rams who are the 3rd worst matchup for opposing linemen. The Rams are holding linemen to 20.0% below the league average and will force you to stash Bresee for better days.
Defensive Backs
Brandon Stephens– Baltimore Ravens vs SF
Stephens has been inconsistent this season as he has alternated double-digit tackle appearances with low tackle total games regularly. In Week 16 he faces the San Francisco 49ers who are the worst matchup for opposing defensive linemen and are a must-avoid. The 49ers are limiting defensive backs to 15.5% below the league average and are not a situation in which you will want to start Stephens.
Andre Cisco– Jacksonville Jaguars vs TB
Cisco has been mediocre, yet consistent this season but has battled injury lately. This week his situation will be made worse by a matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who are the 2nd worst matchup for opposing defensive backs. The Buccaneers are holding their opponents to 11.3% below the league average. In a critical fantasy playoff week, it’s best to avoid the injured defender in a bad matchup.
Myles Bryant– New England Patriots vs DEN
Bryant has seemed to produce five tackle games like clockwork but has not shown a ceiling much higher than that. He is an acceptable IDP asset but is completely matchup-dependent. In Week 16 he faces the Denver Broncos who are the 3rd worst matchup for opposing defensive backs. The Broncos are limiting opponents to 11.0% below the league average and are a no-go this week for Bryant.
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