IDP Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Defensive Players

IDP fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em picks for Week 5 of 2025. Chris looks at IDP streamers, fades, matchups, and starts/sits for NFL defensive players.

As we mentioned in our IDP Rankings article this week, fantasy football has felt particularly punishing this year. For example, Joe Burrow's injury didn't just hurt his managers. It also tanked Tee Higgins' value and caused real problems for Ja'Marr Chase. The Jaguars aren't helping either, considering their refusal to feature Travis Hunter in any fantasy-friendly way.

With the litany of disappointments, injuries, and questionable coaching/personnel decisions littered throughout this young NFL season, a new pain is beginning this week. That pain is the start of bye weeks. So far, we have had a full sleight of games and players to replace our struggling or injured superstars. That is no longer the case, as four teams will take a rest.

For IDP purposes, the impact of this bye will be more in quality than quantity. The Steelers steal our top overall DL, while the Packers sit multiple top-10 options at LB and DL. Meanwhile, the Falcons and Bears rob us of several key depth and rotation pieces, not to mention the issues that injuries to studs like Andrew Van Ginkel and Nick Bosa have already caused.

• 2025 fantasy football rankings
• Running back (RB) fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver (WR) fantasy football rankings
• Tight end (TE) fantasy football rankings
• Quarterback (QB) fantasy football rankings
• FLEX fantasy football rankings
• Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
• Kicker (K) fantasy football rankings
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings

Patience Preach of the Week

Travis Hunter, Jacksonville Jaguars

Telling you to be patient with Hunter is becoming a weekly chore, one that is more difficult and tedious with each passing week. However, the sheer talent and unique position of this player mandate that we repeat ourselves, especially with "Should I drop Hunter?" becoming a frequent question in our DMs.

In non-IDP leagues, you cannot start Hunter right now. His snap share on offense is consistently below 60%, despite most beat writers reporting it would be over 75% this offseason. Worse, Hunter joins Brian Thomas Jr. on a growing list of supremely talented receivers that Trevor Lawrence has zero chemistry with.

However, in IDP leagues, Hunter’s meager offensive usage still keeps him amongst the DB elite. Currently, just four DBs average double-digit Standard IDP fantasy points, and each of them has benefitted from a small sample size and big plays. Conversely, Hunter’s production (9.0 ppg) is repeatable, and his floor, meaning he should still end up as DB1.

Casual IDP Streamers and Fades

Stream: Abdul Carter, New York Giants

We will keep pounding this drum until it resonates. Abdul Carter is simply too talented to fail in the NFL. Sure, the rookie's production is disappointing, with just one half-sack and no forced turnovers. However, his advanced metrics show that his fantasy ascension is inevitable.

Abdul Carter highlights through four games.

Carter has 19 pressures and a half-sack on the season; the latter figure will likely increase with this level of play. pic.twitter.com/0hq3cj7TBP

— Nick Falato (@nickfalato) October 1, 2025

Let's start with the positive matchup. The Saints have allowed 29 quarterback pressures off the edge in four games, and their pass blocking grades 20^th in the NFL. While their defense has kept things closer as of late, allowing them to commit more to the run, the Saints still rank fifth in pass attempts per game.

As for Carter, the film shows he regularly comes within an inch of a big play. Bad luck is a major factor in his lack of production so far. His usage remains strong, with a snap share over 70% and time on the inside on rushing downs. He also sits 11^th amongst edge rushers in total pressures, and third in quarterback hits.

Carter is also the 40^th most rostered and 45^th most started DL in fantasy, meaning that many are scared to take the risk on him so far. That’s understandable. However, his metrics and film suggest you will miss out on a big game sometime soon. The Saints could be that game.

Stream: Jourdan Lewis, DB, Jacksonville Jaguars

It is always risky to start a cover corner in a shallow IDP league. Even corners who play primarily in the slot, like Lewis, often struggle to find consistent opportunities in fantasy. This is particularly true if that corner does not play much in the box and does not shadow an opponent's top receiver.

Fortunately, Lewis does play some in the box, and he has shown the ability to cover tight ends and running backs this season. He also sits as DB5 overall in fantasy, with a strong 9.9 fantasy ppg. While much of Lewis' production comes from interceptions and deflections that are hard to predict, this week’s matchup makes him a viable DB2.

The Chiefs rank sixth in the NFL in pass attempts per game and have struggled to establish a consistent running game. Better yet, 60.2% of Patrick Mahomes’ throws this season have come across the middle or to the slot, while Lewis has spent 78.6% of his time in that area.

Fade: Trey Hendrickson, DL, Cincinnati Bengals

Most IDP managers will not have the luxury of sitting Hendrickson this week, and there’s good reason to count on him. The former All-Pro’s pass rush win rate and pressure rate are both top-15 amongst edges. However, Hendrickson’s fantasy output does not reflect that, as he ranks as DL49 overall in fantasy ppg.

Worse for Hendrickson, he gets a Detroit offense this week that has allowed just one sack off the edge all season. Throw in the fact that Detroit is 20^th in pass attempts per game and should hold an early lead over a struggling Bengals offense, and Hendrickson could see minimal fantasy opportunities this week.

Fade: Jack Campbell, LB, Detroit Lions

Campbell and his teammates all have an elevated opportunity for interceptions this week, as the Lions are projected to outscore the Bengals by double digits while maintaining an early lead. Unfortunately, that projected outcome also means the opportunities for tackles should be low.

Cincinnati currently averages the fewest rush attempts in the NFL, largely because it falls behind early and struggles to catch up without Burrow. Worse, this offense is averaging the fewest offensive plays per game in the league, and their passing game concentrates 63.9% of their throws to outside receivers.

Premium/Deep League Streamers and Fades

Stream: Will McDonald IV, New York Jets

While McDonald sits inside our top 25 fantasy DLs this week, he remains the 70^th most rostered DL in IDP leagues after waivers. He is available in 97.9% of leagues and is starting in only 1.1% of formats as of this writing.

This is all relevant because the Jets play the Cowboys this week. Dallas leads the NFL in pass attempts per game and allows the second-most quarterback pressures per game. These are obviously favorable statistics for the Jets.

Now, the counterargument to these stats is that Dallas is surrendering just 1.5 sacks per game. This is because of Dak Prescott’s quick processing and release. With that said, the Jets matchup well with Dallas' personnel now that CeeDee Lamb is out, giving McDonald a heightened opportunity for sacks in a high-volume game.

Stream: Nick Emmanwori, DB, Seattle Seahawks

Coming out of South Carolina, Emmanwori’s build and range were perfect fits for fantasy football. He has the size of a small linebacker but the speed and range of a free safety, making him a terrifying fit in a secondary run by the same guy who helped develop Kyle Hamilton.

#FFIDP Really good run stop here by Nick Emmanwori. Mostly played the slot. I'll be providing my thoughts on Week 1 of the preseason on my Substack. pic.twitter.com/CPPyxa1L6K

— Mike Woellert (@Mike_Woellert) August 8, 2025

Emmanwori's start to his career has been limited by injury, but reports indicate he is back to full practice and should start this weekend. If that proves true, the 105^th most rostered DB in fantasy could prove a tremendous bargain against a Tampa Bay offense that ranks eighth in offensive plays and ninth in pass attempts per game.

Fade: Patrick Surtain II, DB, Denver Broncos

Surtain II is still the 38^th most rostered DB in fantasy, yet he ranks as DB110 in fantasy ppg. This is not an outlier season for him, either. As we have warned you for years, the best shutdown corners in the NFL are regularly avoided by opposing quarterbacks. That always makes them tough fantasy plays, except in ideal circumstances.

This week is not an ideal circumstance. The Broncos are facing the Eagles, who are the lowest-volume passing attack in the NFL. While Philly does have a true #1 receiver for Surtain to shadow, the Birds have not hesitated to avoid A.J. Brown when there are better options on the field. Expect Surtain's volume to be low this week.

Fade: Chris Jones, DL, Kansas City Chiefs

Jones is the 35^th most rostered DL in fantasy, but he's tied for DL93 overall in fantasy ppg. Worse, this week he faces a Jaguars offense that surrenders the fewest sacks and the third fewest pressures in the NFL.

This is not the game for the once-great pass rusher to turn things around, and he should not be rostered in more leagues than Abdul Carter.

Defenders Worth Stashing

Nick Emmanwori, DB, Seattle Seahawks

Emmanwori pops up twice in this article.

While we list him as a deep league streamer above, he is also a worthwhile stash in dynasty leagues and in moderately deep redraft formats. The former Gamecock’s physical potential in Seattle’s defense is immense, and he’s available in 99% of IDP leagues.

Payton Wilson, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers' usage of Wilson is going to give us whiplash. Pitt started and used him in over 80% of their plays the first two weeks of the season. Then, the team didn't start him and limited him to 47% in Week 3. This pattern forced us to swap Wilson from a Riser to a Faller within a week.

Former NC State LB Payton Wilson was a star for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Dublin game this morning:

- 13 total tackles (career high)
- 8 solos (tied career high)
- 2 TFLs

Oh, and this chase down tackle that he hit 22.48 MPH on: pic.twitter.com/1RXgBbJMKk

— Noah Fleischman (@fleischman_noah) September 28, 2025

Of course, after all of us thought Pittsburgh had placed Wilson in the doghouse, they again started him and gave him 86% of the snaps in Week 4. The sophomore seemingly responded to this hot/cold treatment, too, collecting 13 total tackles and two TFLs in that game.

As we’ve said before, Wilson’s talent in the middle of Pittsburgh’s scheme is ideal for fantasy. The only thing that is not ideal is how inconsistently Mike Tomlin uses him. Let’s hope Week 3 was a small blip due to injury or a disagreement, because Wilson is the 49^th most rostered LB and deserves to be rostered in many more leagues.

Josh Sweat, DL, Arizona Cardinals

Sweat was a regular face in our DL rankings when he was with the Eagles, but there was concern that his effectiveness was largely due to a favorable role in a strong Philly scheme. Fortunately, Sweat is proving viable in Arizona. He currently averages 5.6 fantasy ppg, and he has an elite matchup against a floundering Titans offense this week.

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