The League Winners are getting defensive. In addition to our Weekly 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 IDP Sit or Start Week 4.
IDP Start or Sit Week 4 – Start
Defensive Linemen
Denico Autry – Tennessee Titans vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Autry has ten tackles, 3.5 sacks and one forced fumble in three games this season for the Titans. All this production despite nursing a lingering foot injury. Autry is a crucial part of the Titan’s defence that may be the best run defence in the NFL. If he can stay healthy he should continue to rack up totals across multiple IDP stat categories. The Raiders are inept on offence and should provide many mistakes for Autry to capitalize on.
Harrison Phillips – Minnesota Vikings vs. Carolina Panthers
Phillips has recorded 23 tackles over the first three games of the season for Minnesota. Last season he recorded career high in sacks, tackles and defensive snaps and looks to build on those totals this season. The Panthers rookie quarterback Bryce Young should provide him with more than enough opportunities for a sack.
Aidan Hutchinson – Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers
Hutchinson has ten tackles, two sacks and a fumble recovery in his first three games this season. He is the motor that powers this improved Lion’s defence and is only going to get better. Hutchinson was on fire in the second half against the Falcons as he had numerous hurries of Desmond Ridder which ultimately led to him causing and recovering a fumble. This week, look for him to be all over Jordan Love and the Packer’s offence. Hutchinson has defensive player-of-the-year potential this season.
Defensive Backs
Jordan Whitehead – New York Jets vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Whitehead has recorded nine or more tackles in his last two games for the New York Jets. The Jets have been on the field for long periods of time since losing Aaron Rodgers and are struggling to get off the field. This has provided Whitehead with ample opportunities to rack up tackles. Whitehead should see plenty of action this week against the high-flying Chiefs offence. expect Whitehead and the Jet’s defence to once again spend most of the game on the field, giving him a chance to rack up double-digits in tackles.
Julian Love – Seattle Seahawks vs. New York Giants
Julian Love has 27 tackles in the first three games of the season for Seattle and has been a force to reckon with. Week 3 was his least productive of the season, but he managed to record five tackles even while nursing a hamstring injury. The Seahawks employ a bend but don’t break defense which has led to Love seeing many opportunities for tackles. Expect him to be healthy this week and push towards double digits in tackles. He also has one fumble recovery this season, showing his versatility and ability to get to the ball.
Brian Branch – Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers
Branch has 11 tackles in three games for the Lions this season. All 11 came in his first NFL start in Week 3 after the injury to CJ Gardner-Johnson. Branch has league-winning upside in IDP leagues and has already added a pick-six to go with his elite tackle production. If he is available on your waiver wire, he is a must-add and a must-start. He has a top-ten defensive back upside. Start him this week against Green Bay and see just how high his ceiling goes as he gets more and more comfortable.
Linebackers
Kenneth Murray – Los Angeles Chargers vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Murray has 22 tackles in three games this season. In addition to a solid tackle total, he has chipped in further with a sack and an interception. Murray was on the field for every one of the Charger’s defensive snaps in Week 3 and is a must-start. That’s the second week in a row he hasn’t come off the field on defence. Murray is a potential top-12 linebacker for the rest of the season.
Micah McFadden – New York Giants vs. Seattle Seahawks
McFadden has 24 tackles in three games for the Giants this season. He has been all over the field and shows potential to be dominant. He has two games with double-digit tackles already this season and should continue to pile up games with ten or more tackles for as long as he remains healthy. If the Giants continue to struggle on offence, McFadden will continue to be on the field early and often and figures to be a top-12 linebacker in this potential shootout.
Alex Anzalone – Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers
Anzalone has been a monster for Lion’s defence this season. He has totalled 18 tackles in three games and has been all over the field. He has also gotten to the quarterback once for a sack. Anzalone looks to be a huge part of an up-and-coming Lion’s offence and could easily be destined for double-digit tackles this week against Green Bay.
IDP Start or Sit Week 3 – Sit
Defensive Linemen
Javon Hargrave – San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals
Hargrave played on only 68% of defensive snaps for San Francisco in Week 3 against the Giants. He totaled one sack, two assists and one sack. Hargrave has appeared to be a part-time player and has not been explosive to start the season. This week he faces off against a Cardinals offense that figures to be in a negative game script and it could make for an unproductive day for Hargrave.
Deforest Buckner – Indianapolis Colts vs. Los Angeles Rams
Buckner recorded only one tackle and one assist in Week 3 against Baltimore. He was also off the field for more than 20% of Indianapolis’ defensive snaps. He is a high-end IDP asset but has struggled over the past few weeks as Colt’s offence has been on the field more than most expected. Sit Buckner until he figures things out. The good games will return, but for now, he is a risky start as he continues to underproduce.
Jadaveon Clowney – Baltimore Ravens vs. Cleveland Browns
Clowney only played on 58% of defensive snaps in Week 3. He managed two tackles in the game but his usage is concerning. He looked a step slower than his prime and is clearly not the player he used to be. Between his slowed play and his concerning snap rate, he is unlikely to maintain this level of efficiency in producing for fantasy. Sit Clowney unless he shows something to indicate he is a big-time defender again.
Defensive Backs
Kevin Byard – Tennessee Titans vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Kevin Byard recorded only one tackle and one assist in Week 3 against the Browns. Byard played on 93% of defensive snaps last week so that’s a positive sign, he just hasn’t been able to translate that into fantasy production. The Tennessee run defense has been elite which has led to the pass defense being exposed. This has provided Byard with plenty of opportunities to produce, they just haven’t made good on them.
Grant Delpit – Cleveland Browns vs. Baltimore Ravens
Delpit had a high snap percentage as well in Week 3 but failed to translate that into fantasy points. In his 96% snap share, he recorded only two tackles. He will continue to remain on the field for the majority of Tennessee’s snaps which gives him many opportunities to produce, but for now, he is not a high-level start.
Tyrann Mathieu– New Orleans Saints vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mathieu doesn’t look to be the dominant player he once was since joining the Saints. He hasn’t topped five tackles so far this season and is more of a deterrent on the field than an actual producer. At this point, it seems as if his reputation is enough to have him on the field as a decoy to avoid on the field. That’s great for the Saint’s defence, it’s not so great for your fantasy team.
Linebackers
Elandon Roberts – Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Houston Texans
Roberts has recorded three or fewer tackles in each of his last two games. He has been struggling with a neck injury to start the season and it has sapped his explosiveness and playmaking ability. He needs to be left on your bench until he is fully healthy again.
Khalil Mack – Los Angeles Chargers vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Khalil Mack has always been an elite defender, the problem is that the rest of the Charger’s defence is not. It appears that teams have just decided to go away from Mack on the field and are funnelling the ball away from his side of the field. Mack has had two or fewer tackles in two of their first three games. Mack is still an elite defender but until the rest of the team gets up to speed he is simply being avoided on the field making him a risky start in IDP leagues.
Jaelan Phillips – Miami Dolphins vs. Buffalo Bills
Phillips had an electrifying 11-tackle performance in Week 1 but has since been limited by an oblique injury that forced him to miss Week 2. In Week 3 he was noticeably limited and recorded only one tackle in the contest. He has the potential to be a high-end IDP asset, so don’t drop him. For now, he needs to remain on your bench while he heals up.
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