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 17.
Fantasy Football IDP Start or Sit Week 17 – Start
Linebackers
Khalil Mack– Los Angeles Chargers vs DEN
Mack was on fire at the mid-point of the season but has cooled off significantly in the last month. His tackle numbers were once in the 5-8 range are now in the 2-3 range, while his multi-sack appearance has dried up and he has gone three straight games without recording a sack. This week he faces the Denver Broncos who are the best matchup for linebackers. Denver is allowing a boost of 21.9% above the league average in production. Look for Mack to get back on track in this one.
Fred Warner– San Francisco 49ers vs WSH
Warner has been excellent this season and has been a must-start for fantasy managers. So the combination of a must-start player in a must-start matchup makes for a week winner. Warner faces the Washington Commanders this week who are the 2nd best matchup for linebackers. The Commanders are allowing 19.5% above the league-average to the position and should give Warner the upside to be the LB1 overall this week.
CJ Mosley– New York Jets vs CLE
Mosley has been consistent but not excellent this season but remains a solid fantasy asset. In Week 17 he faces the Cleveland Browns who ranks as the 3rd best matchup for opposing linebackers. The Browns are allowing a boost of 11.8% above the league average to the position and will give Mosley a chance to reach a whole new ceiling. Mosley should easily rack up another double-digit tackle performance in this matchup.
Defensive Linemen
Myles Garrett– Cleveland Browns vs NYJ
Garrett had some massive tackle and sack games early on in the season but has been far less productive over the past month. In Week 17 he gets a get-right spot against the New York Jets who rank as the best matchup for opposing linemen. The Jets are allowing a massive 34.4% above the league-average to the position and are sure to give Garrett the scenario he needs to be a monster producer in the fantasy finals.
Byron Young– Los Angeles Rams vs NYG
Young has produced solid results all season long while sprinkling in several huge upside games in the right matchups. This week is one of those matchups. He will face off against a New York Giants squad that ranks as the 2nd easiest matchup for linemen. The Giants are allowing 26.9% above the league-average to the position and should be exactly what Young needs for another high tackle, multi-sack outing.
Jonathan Greenard– Houston Texans vs TEN
Greenard battled an injury last week and was unable to produce for fantasy managers. In week 17 he faces a Tennessee Titans team that is the 3rd best matchup for opposing linemen. Tennessee is allowing 25.2% above the league average to the position and if Greenard is healthy he will once again be a high-ceiling player who can be among the elites at his position. Monitor his status leading up to the game this week, and if he is all systems go, fire him up in your IDP lineups with confidence.
Defensive Backs
Darious Williams– Jacksonville Jaguars vs CAR
Williams is a model of consistency with his tackle numbers. He is rarely great, but he is always a solid starter. In Week 17 he faces the Carolina Panthers who are the easiest matchup for opposing defensive backs. Carolina is allowing 15.2% above the league average to the position and will give Williams a chance at finishing closer to his ceiling than his floor. Look for him to record at least five tackles in this matchup and be a top-24 DB on the week.
Jalen Thompson– Arizona Cardinals vs PHI
Thompson has been a consistent producer of tackles this season for IDP managers and as of late, he has even chipped in some sacks and interceptions to increase his ceiling. In Week 17, his ceiling will be aided by a matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles who rank as the 2nd best matchup for opposing defensive backs. Philadelphia is allowing 14.6% above the league average to the position and this struggling Cardinals offence is sure to make him a must-start in Week 17.
Kyle Hamilton– Baltimore Ravens vs MIA
Hamilton has not only contributed solid tackle numbers this season, but his two-interception performance in Week 16 showed just how high his ceiling truly is. This week he faces the Miami Dolphins who are the 3rd best matchup for opposing defensive backs. The Dolphins are allowing 13.4% above the league average and are another spot that could allow Hamilton to expand his ceiling even further.
IDP Start or Sit Week 17 – Sit
Linebackers
Jordan Hicks– Minnesota Vikings vs GB
Hicks has battled injuries for a solid portion of the season but except his Week 1 performance, he has recorded at least six tackles in every game. He is not big on adding in peripheral numbers in ADP leagues, but his elite tackle totals give him a tough floor to match. This week he faces the Green Bay Packers who are the worst matchup for opposing linebackers. The Packers are limiting the position to 15.9% below the league average and that, combined with his recent injury history will make him a risky start that needs to be avoided at all costs.
Drue Tranquill– Kansas City Chiefs vs CIN
Tranquill was on fire during the middle of the season, but as of late, he has struggled with injuries, namely a concussion. This injury has limited his effectiveness and has caused his production to dip. In Week 17 he faces the Cincinnati Bengals who are the 2nd worst matchup for linebackers. The Bengals are holding the position to 15.9% below the league average and will prove a tough task to overcome for the injured Tranquill.
Bobby Okereke– New York Giants vs LAR
Okereke feasted on some weak opponents for a while, but as of late has seen his production fall against better teams. This week he faces the Los Angeles Rams who are the 3rd worst matchup for opposing linebackers. The Rams are limiting opponents to 14.8% below the league average. Okereke is still playable but you should expect his ceiling to be far lower in this tough matchup.
Defensive Linemen
Jadaveon Clowney– Baltimore Ravens vs MIA
Clowney has been a bit more productive as of late but when he has a dud game, he has a dud game. He is prone to performances in which he disappears. This week he faces the Miami Dolphins who are the worst matchup for opposing linemen. Miami is allowing 23.3% below the league average to the position and will be a likely dud spot once again for Clowney.
Christian Barmore– New England Patriots vs BUF
Barmore is another IDP player who is prone to large swings in his week-to-week production. In Week 17 he faces the Buffalo Bills who rank as the 2nd worst matchup for opposing linemen. The Bills are allowing 21.5% below the league average to the position and should make for a floor game instead of a ceiling game.
Dexter Lawrence– New York Giants vs LAR
Lawrence has been as inconsistent on a week-to-week basis as the Cowboy’s defence has been as a whole. This week he goes up against the Los Angeles Rams who rank as the 3rd worst matchup for linemen. The Rams are limiting the position to 19.9% below the league average and should shut down Lawrence with ease. He is a must-sit this week.
Defensive Backs
Paulson Adebo– New Orleans Saints vs TB
Adebo seems to be alternating blowup games with bust games and by that logic is due for the latter. This week he faces the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who are the worst matchup for opposing defensive backs. Tampa Bay is allowing 12.5% below the league average and is a likely spot to limit Adebo’s effectiveness. He isn’t a total avoid in Week 17, but if you can pivot to a better option, you should.
Kamren Curl– Washington Commanders vs SF
Curl hasn’t had a double-digit tackle outing in over a month and has been as inconsistent as the Commanders are as a whole. In Week 17, Curl goes up against the 49ers who are the 2nd worst matchup for defensive backs. San Francisco is limiting the position to 11.0% below the league average and is a weekly must-avoid team for all positions.
Jalen Pitre– Houston Texans vs Tennessee
Pitre was on a tear until recently but has struggled a bit over the past two weeks in tough matchups. This week he gets yet another difficult matchup against the Tennessee Titans who rank as the 3rd worst matchup for the position. Tennessee is holding the position at 10.8% below the league average and will make for a miserable day for Pitre.
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