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IDP fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em picks for Week 1 of 2025. Chris looks at IDP streamers, fades, matchups, and starts/sits for NFL defensive players.
Welcome back to our fantasy football IDP Start 'Em, Sit 'Em picks for Week 1 of the 2025 season! As was made clear in our Week 1 IDP fantasy football rankings column earlier this week, putting too much weight into early season matchups can lead to disaster in fantasy football. Certainly, there are many trends, skill sets, and overall schemes that you can factor into your early season analysis. However, Week 1 is not the time to sit a regular starter because of his matchup.
Of course, there are always exceptions to this rule. Many of you might play in extremely deep IDP leagues that start eight defenders and require matchup tinkering. Others may play in 16 or even 32-man leagues where an edge at a half-point edge makes a difference. Or, you may simply be scraping the barrel so deeply that you’ll take any minor splinter of hope you can, even now.
If you are playing in leagues where the DL60 can help you, then matchups matter even when there are too many variables to project with confidence. If that is your situation, then the best matchups to target this week are Dallas vs. Philadelphia and Cleveland vs. Cincinnati, as the Bengals and Cowboys offenses should be predictably high volume and pass-oriented.
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Top Casual Streamer of the Week
Jared Verse, DL, Los Angeles Rams
Verse is well known in the IDP community and is hardly a “sleeper” or even a streamer in deep leagues. However, he is currently the 19th-most-started DL in IDP leagues, which means he is being undervalued as a top-10 play in our rankings.
As a rookie, Verse finished 10th amongst all defensive linemen in pass rush win rate, fourth in total pressures, and sixth in pressure rate amongst those with 400 or more pass-rush snaps. Now, he faces a Texans offensive line that gave up 12.5 quarterback pressures per game last year … and then traded their most talented pass-blocker.
Casual IDP Streamers and Fades
Stream: Jalon Walker, DL/LB, Atlanta Falcons
As you’ll note, these are “casual” streamers for shallow IDP leagues. Thus, a player with Walker’s name value does qualify as a streamer in this part. It also helps that the rookie is rostered in just 2% of IDP leagues and starts in only 0.6% of them. Heck, Sleeper is currently projecting him to score “0.0” total points, which may explain his low usage.
It is entirely understandable why so few IDP managers are currently utilizing the rookie. He has missed significant time in the offseason with a nagging injury, adding to the already typical concerns one would have about a rookie learning to play multiple roles in a complex NFL defense.
With that said, Walker is reportedly on track to play in Week 1. He also offers more tackle potential than your average defensive lineman, given his history as a true standup linebacker at Georgia. Better yet, the Buccaneers will be without their top pass-blocker (Tristan Wirfs) this week, making the rookie a worthwhile gamble if he plays.
Stream: Jordan Battle, DB, Cincinnati Bengals
Battle is currently the 31st-most-started DB in fantasy, behind the likes of Reed Blankenship and Patrick Surtain II. However, Battle has an underrated fantasy matchup that should push him higher on that list.
Joe Flacco started five games for this same Browns coaching staff in 2023. During that span, he averaged a whopping 40.8 pass attempts per game, which was the most in the NFL. Things for Cleveland's offensive line and running game haven't gotten much better since, and the Bengals should threaten to hang 30+ points on the other side.
The quarterback and matchup both favor serious volume for the Bengals secondary.
Fade: Amani Hooker, DB, Tennessee Titans
Hooker is currently the 20th-most-started and rostered DB in fantasy, a testament to his career-high five interceptions last season. In fact, 37.5% of Hooker's total Standard IDP fantasy points came from his five INTs last year. Unfortunately, interception production is wildly inconsistent year to year, unless your name is Deion Sanders.
For those thinking Hooker can match or exceed last year’s turnover rate, consider that his 2024 interception total was more than his previous three seasons combined. Also consider that the total nearly eclipsed his previous career total of seven INTs in five seasons (37 starts).
Now, consider Hooker is facing a Denver offense that was 21st in the NFL in offensive plays and 15th in pass attempts per game last year. Worse, Bo Nix had the third-lowest turnover-worthy throw rate amongst all starting quarterbacks last year. In other words, this matchup is below average for opposing DBs who rely on turnovers.
Fade: Micah Parsons, DL/LB, Green Bay Packers
No one is telling you to bench Parsons, but you should manage expectations to start the season.
Micah Parsons is at practice in full pads and already looking to fit in with the defensive front group just fine.
Sunday can’t come soon enough. #GoPackGo
(🎥: @ByRyanWood)
pic.twitter.com/tjIz8jqtbG— SleeperPackers (@SleeperPackers) September 3, 2025
Remember, Parsons is coming off a prolonged holdout. The same kind of holdout that hindered CeeDee Lamb and Brandon Aiyuk's seasons last year, while contributing to a slow start for Ja'Marr Chase … before he went on to set records. Throw in slow starts for past holdouts like Vincent Jackson and Le'Veon Bell, and there's ample precedent.
Worse, Parsons reportedly has a back issue that requires "management." That concern, combined with a lack of familiarity with Green Bay’s scheme, could spell a slow start.
Finally, the Lions’ starting offensive tackles surrendered 1.87 pressures per game last year ... none of those things spells a hot start with heavy usage in Week 1.
Premium/Deep League Streamers and Fades
Stream: Shemar Stewart, DL, Cincinnati Bengals
Starting Stewart is a risky play, considering he is a raw pass-rush prospect who skipped most of training camp in a contract dispute. With that said, Stewart immediately flashed his upside in the preseason once he got on the field, and he has a tremendous matchup on paper.
While Stewart is exclusively a deep league play, he is the 95th-most-started fantasy DL and is available in 98.9% of leagues. Plus, he faces a Browns offense that throws 40 times per game when Flacco is the starter, and Cincy should play with a lead. Plus, Stewart should see a lot of Dawand Jones, whose 2024 pass-rush metrics were subpar.
Stream: Charvarius Ward, DB, Indianapolis Colts
Ward is the 76th-most-started and 74th-most-rostered DB in IDP. Some of this is due to his playing a non-premium position (outside cornerback), some to his recent injury history, and some to the fact that he experienced a down 2024 and then changed schemes.
Matthew Golden vs. Charvarius Ward pic.twitter.com/tLfdaZw2Ra
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) August 14, 2025
However, it is worth remembering that Ward led the NFL in pass deflections in 2023, and camp reports indicate he has been fully healthy this summer. Also, consider that the player himself dealt with tragedy last year and has admitted it impacted his play. Those factors indicate Ward’s 2024 struggles weren’t a loss of skill, but simply bad luck.
Now, consider that the Miami Dolphins attempted the eighth-most pass attempts in the NFL last year, despite Tua Tagovailoa missing six games and the offense going conservative after that. Still, the Dolphins averaged 37.4 pass attempts per game with a healthy Tua, which would have been the fourth most in 2024.
Fade: Patrick Surtain II, DB, Denver Broncos
As of this writing, Surtain is the 26th-most-started DB in fantasy. In other words, fantasy managers are confusing his on-field play with fantasy value.
As we have stated in years past, elite shutdown corners are bad fantasy football assets. Opponents avoid these star players unless they have no choice, and the Titans should have a choice. While Cam Ward's top target, Calvin Ridley, may get shadow treatment from Surtain, Ridley is not so prolific that the team must force the issue.
While there is always a chance that a rookie quarterback making his first start will be brash and target Surtain to prove a point, odds are better that Ward's coaches have preached patience and avoiding the All-Pro corner. Thus, Surtain is a turnover-reliant fantasy play who has no business being amongst the top 30 most started DBs this week.
Fade: Leonard Williams, DL, Seattle Seahawks
Playing in a new scheme under Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald, Leonard Williams set a personal best in tackles for a loss, tied his career high in solo tackles, and fell just one half-sack shy of matching his career high in sacks last year. So, it is understandable why the USC alum is the 20th-most-started DL in fantasy this week.
Unfortunately, Williams’ usage from last season suggests he should face Trent Williams on approximately 32% of his snaps this week. He should also face Dominick Puni, San Francisco’s second-best pass-blocker, 31% of the time. That means Williams will have a difficult matchup approximately 63% of the time, making him a fade at his current cost.
Williams is currently being started in more leagues than Nik Bonitto, Travon Walker, Abdul Carter, and Derrick Brown. Each of those players is a better streaming option this week, but also a better season-long investment.
Defenders Worth Stashing
Mike Green, DL, Baltimore Ravens
Green was one of the 15 most talented prospects in this year’s NFL Draft, and he led college football in sacks last year. However, he fell into the second round due to off-field concerns. Unfortunately, that fall seems to be following him into the season, as only 0.8% of IDP managers currently roster the Marshall product.
It is worth remembering that Baltimore's recent edge-rushing tandems have been cobbled together with pressure artists who don’t close on sacks enough (Odafe Oweh) and crafty veterans who scrape and claw for everything they have (Kyle Van Noy). Green is a better and younger edge option than Baltimore has had in some time.
Now, Green may not hit the ground running due to the depth in Baltimore’s front seven. Worse, Baltimore has a history of bringing along rookies slowly. That means he may not hold major value today … but he is worth stashing in dynasty and deep redraft formats, given his immense potential on a defense that has everything but elite pass-rushers.
Marques Sigle, DB, San Francisco 49ers
As we have stated in other preseason articles, Sigle is a deep IDP add only. He is a mid-round pick who had little buzz coming into the NFL Draft, plus he could be relegated to the bench as soon as Week 1 … or he could win a long-term role on a rebuilding but promising defense, becoming a solid DB2 by pushing Ji’Ayir Brown to the bench.
Camp reports suggest Sigle has been the best safety for the 49ers all summer, and he is currently projected to start Week 1 with Malik Mustapha injured. That means Sigle, who is available in 99.9% of IDP leagues, could quickly secure a long-term role at a shallow fantasy position (DB) on a historically fantasy-friendly defense.
Payton Wilson, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
One of our favorite sleepers from last season, Wilson remains a strong athlete who will always find the field on passing downs as a coverage maven. The questions for him have always been his health and his size, both of which contributed to his limited snaps last season.
Payton Wilson playing this fast is huge. Tough life for Holcomb when your 3-tech is in your lap immediately pic.twitter.com/9bxCPkyF84
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) August 16, 2025
While Pittsburgh’s unique usage of its linebackers could continue to limit the talented sophomore’s snaps, Mike Tomlin has publicly indicated he wants Wilson to see the field more. If that happens, he could seize a significant role as a fast and agile player who is ideal for today’s NFL. With just a 1.9% roster rate, Wilson is worth a stash.
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