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IDP fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em picks for Week 8 of 2025. Chris looks at IDP streamers, fades, matchups, and starts/sits for NFL defensive players.
In an era of online warriors, where everyone with a keyboard thinks they know more than veteran executives and Super Bowl-winning coaches, it is natural to question, or even ignore, public outcries. Particularly in the world of sports, fans and analysts frequently slam or pan decisions of GMs, coaches, and owners without any rings or accolades of our own.
With that said, sometimes we have to question those making the decisions and whether they can back up their moves. Consider Woody Johnson, the venerable owner of the New York Jets, who has presided over nine winning seasons and a 38%-win percentage in 26 years. Johnson publicly says he leaves QB or roster decisions to his coaches, yet his past actions suggest otherwise.
We mention Johnson because he is comfortable inserting himself into decisions and conversations about his players, clearly influencing lineup decisions while claiming he doesn’t. People like Johnson and Jerry Jones often wield their power and ignore the advice of more seasoned football people, leading to situations where fans and analysts may actually know best.
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Patience Preach of the Week
Terrel Bernard, LB, Buffalo Bills
Bernard's roster rate has dropped considerably since the beginning of the season, with the Buffalo leader falling from LB14 in roster rate on Week 1 to LB38 this week. His decline is understandable, as the former stalwart is actually LB49 in fantasy points per game. Factoring in his current Questionable status, you could even argue he's over rostered.
With that said, Bernard is still playing nearly every snap for Buffalo's defense. While he's averaging 20% fewer fantasy points per game this year, his advanced metrics and usage are almost identical to his last two seasons as a starter. Those metrics offer hope that Bernard can return to his former LB2 status once he is healthy.
Casual IDP Streamers and Fades
Stream: Alontae Taylor, DB, New Orleans Saints
After finishing last season as DB13 in total fantasy points, Taylor has tumbled to DB61 overall this season. That fall has pushed the former Vol’s roster rate to 34th at the position, which is understandable. However, Taylor's recent performance and his matchup this week nudge him towards must-start territory in a thin Week 8.
Over the past three weeks, Taylor has averaged 5.5 Standard IDP points and 4.6 solo tackles per game. That's a sign of a rising floor. Factor in that the Bucs offense attempts the ninth-most passes in the NFL and Taylor projects to cover Emeka Egbuka 48% of the time, and this Tennessee alum is a solid streamer in a rough week.
Stream: Will Anderson Jr., Houston Texans
While Anderson may not seem like a streamer, even in shallow leagues, he remains just the 19th most rostered DL in fantasy and the 15th most started as of Thursday afternoon. That means that he qualifies as a streamer in shallow leagues that start just one DL.
WILL ANDERSON JR. GETS THE SACK, FUMBLE AND THE TD 😳
(via @HoustonTexans)pic.twitter.com/Fo5sviGVte
— ESPN (@espn) October 21, 2025
The Alabama alum is already outpacing his fantasy roster and start rate, sitting as DL9 overall in Standard IDP points per game this year. He is also second amongst all edge rushers in pass rush win rate and fifth in quarterback pressures. Those metrics give us confidence in Anderson against the 49ers, even if they have the 11th-best pressure rate.
While the matchup is not ideal, Anderson is a top-tier DL in a shallow week. In fact, he is our DL4 overall this week.
Fade: Alex Highsmith, DL, Pittsburgh Steelers
Highsmith is the 22nd-most rostered DL in fantasy, and he's a serviceable player during the Week 8 bye massacre. However, his snap rate has declined by 20% since he returned from injury. Worse, he has totaled just 5.5 fantasy points in his two games since that return.
Now, Highsmith gets a Packers offense averaging the 23rd-most pass attempts per game and surrendering just 1.7 sacks per game. Worse, they have surrendered just 27 quarterback pressures and three sacks off the edge this season.
All metrics indicate this is a tough matchup for an ice-cold edge rusher.
Fade: Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Green Bay Packers
Many of us are starting Cooper in shallow leagues this week, given the lack of depth available in Week 8 and his immense upside. However, Cooper has been slow to start this season, notching nearly 75% of his fantasy points in the second half of games. He is also currently reliant on tackle volume since he's being used less as a pass rusher.
The Steelers are not a high-volume offense, nor are they the ones likely to end Cooper's sack cold streak. Pittsburgh surrenders the fifth fewest sacks, runs the third fewest offensive plays, and gives up the sixth fewest quarterback pressures per game. All of this translates into riskier-than-normal volume for Cooper and his teammates.
Premium/Deep League Streamers and Fades
Stream: Milton Williams, DT, New England Patriots
The 55th most rostered DL in fantasy, Williams has yet to set the fantasy world on fire. However, he has proven to be a strong run defender with the ability to get pressure in the right situations this season. He now has the right situation.
The Browns have exactly one offensive player who grades positively as a pass blocker this year: Joel Bitonio. Thankfully, Williams projects to face Bitonio on just 26% of his snaps. The rest of the time, the former Eagle will face blockers who have combined to allow 109 quarterback pressures and 15 sacks.
While the script of this game is hard to predict, it is hard to imagine things getting too far away from Williams. If Cleveland can stick to their run-heavy script, their scheme suggests the Patriots' interior defenders will see plenty of tackle opportunities. If New England runs away with it, then Williams should see several chances at a sack.
Stream: Zach Harrison, DL, Atlanta Falcons
Harrison is a part-time player, but he is getting a majority of Atlanta's high-value pass-rush snaps this season. He has translated that usage into a sack in half of his games so far. Now he earns a matchup with the Dolphins, whose offense ranks second-worst in pass block win rate and whose defense rarely keeps the offense out of passing situations.
Zach Harrison played 24% of the DEF snaps under Ex-Falcons DC Jimmy Lake. He had 1 sack under Lake
Harrison now leads NFL iDL in sack % & is on pace for 10+ sacks
3rd Round pick in Year 3, it just gets funnier and funnier. Bag coming next year #DirtyBirds
H/T @Falcons_All_22 https://t.co/m6ZaWGy5kt pic.twitter.com/fT10LFQfv5
— Clint Goss (@NFLDraftDome) October 22, 2025
Fade: Logan Wilson, LB, Cincinnati Bengals
This is one of the most obvious fades we could call, as Wilson has been effectively benched for two weeks. While the Wyoming alum did see a 45% snap rate in Week 7, which could pass for usable in very deep IDP leagues, his fantasy start and roster rates are still ridiculously high and deserve addressing.
As of Thursday afternoon, Wilson is the 32nd-most-started LB in fantasy and the 31st-most-rostered. While the heavy byes in Week 8 could explain some of this, Wilson is rostered in almost exactly as many leagues as the ascending Shemar James. He's also rostered in more leagues than actual starters like Jihaad Campbell and Dee Winters.
It is worth noting, Wilson has requested a trade. If he were to end up on a team like the 49ers, who just lost the leader of their defense, then his season-long value could go up. However, his current value does not match his roster or start rates.
Fade: Grover Stewart, DL, Indianapolis Colts
Stewart is currently the 40th-most-started DL in fantasy, but he is DL65 in fantasy points per game. While Stewart is a strong run defender and a quality asset on the field, he is an average fantasy asset who relies heavily on tackles in run support for his fantasy value.
While the Titans are allowing the second-most sacks in the NFL this season, Stewart is not a sack artist. In fact, he is averaging just 1.38 sacks per season in his nine-year career. Instead, Stewart earns his stripes in run support… but the Titans average the second fewest rush attempts per game this season.
Defenders Worth Stashing
Nick Emmanwori, DB, Seattle Seahawks
Emmanwori will remain in this space until he is rostered as a top-50 fantasy DB. As we have said before, the rookie is immensely talented and a perfect fit for Seattle's defensive scheme. He is also playing over 90% of the Seahawks' defensive snaps and has totaled at least five fantasy points in every game since his return from injury.
The fact that Nick Emmanwori looks THIS good already is scary
God help the NFL when him and Witherspoon are paired up pic.twitter.com/zywHAmQJ57
— ᴅᴏxx ⚡️ (@new_era72) October 21, 2025
The former Gamecock is currently the 110th-most rostered DB in fantasy and is available in 98.9% of IDP leagues. While he is on bye this week, his roster rates should still be higher.
Tatum Bethune, LB, San Francisco 49ers
Bethune appears to be the 49ers' chosen replacement for Fred Warner, barring a trade for a starter before the deadline. Since Warner went down, Bethune has had two straight games with double-digit tackles and a greater than 80% snap share. This guy is worth stashing, given the role and the volume.
K’Lavon Chaisson, DL, New England Patriots
Chaisson is another fine streaming option this week, given his matchup with a Browns offensive line filled with poor pressure rates and pass block win rates. He is also the 73rd-most rostered DL but ranks DL31 in fantasy points per game.
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