Attention IDP Nerds! We are finally back to real football. It’s been a long wait, but we return with your Week 1 IDP Start Sit recommendations for the 2025 season. I’ll break down key start and sit decisions across the defensive line (DL), linebacker (LB), and defensive back (DB) positions to help you make those difficult lineup decisions. We will continue to provide our premium position leagues a streaming option at defensive tackle (DT) and cornerback (CB). We will close out with the Hidden IDP Gems, a collection of six crucial insights that can give you the edge ahead of your weekly matchups.
These start and sit recommendations will be based on Dynasty Nerds’ preferred scoring which can be found in my “How to play IDP” article from this off-season.
| Position | Tackles | Assists | Sacks | TFL | QB Hits | Pass Breakups |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DL | 3.5 | 1.75 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| LB | 2.25 | 1.13 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| DB | 2.5 | 1.25 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
WEEK 1 IDP START SIT
Players to Start | Week 1
Byron Young | DL | Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams have invested heavily in their defensive line over the past few drafts, and it paid off in a big way last season. Three players finished in the top 24 of the DL last season. Byron Young had a surprisingly good season, finishing as DL21 while posting a career high in tackles (62) and tackles for loss (12). The Rams pass rusher also finished with 7.5 sacks and a 66.0 pass rush grade, 67th out of 210 qualifying EDGE defenders.
With the Rams’ young, explosive pass rushers set to face a Houston Texans offensive line that ranked 30th in sacks allowed per game (3.4) last season, Byron Young has a promising opportunity for a big Week 1 to start the season at home against a Texans offense that will struggle to protect their young QB, C.J. Stroud. This is a start decision you can be optimistic about.
Quay Walker | LB | Green Bay Packers
Many IDP managers are leaving Quay Walker for dead after Edgerrin Cooper emerged as a Green Bay rookie last season. How quickly we forget the former University of Georgia product has three consecutive 100-tackle seasons while not playing a full 17-game season yet. Walker has struggled with injuries and even suspensions during his young career, but the facts are that when he’s on the field, he’s a top 12 fantasy football linebacker.
Quay Walker was very consistent last season. In just 13 games played, he finished as the LB27. The Green Bay LB finished with double-digit fantasy points in 84.61% of his games. Walker is a must-start this week against the division rival Detroit Lions. He has succeeded against them with 59 total tackles over six games, including a 19-tackle game in 2023. I love Edgerrin Cooper as much as anybody, but Quay Walker is guaranteed fantasy production when he’s healthy and looks ready to help lead this Packers defense to start the season.
Taron Johnson | DB | Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills have been one of the most consistent defenses over the past few seasons. They depend on their defensive backs to play disciplined football and make tackles. No player has done that better for the Buffalo defense than Taron Johnson. The former Weber State product has played over 84% of the defensive snaps since the 2020 season.
Despite Johnson playing his lowest defensive snap share (84%) and starting his lowest number of games (12) since the 202 season, he still averaged 14.67 fantasy points per game (FPPG). Johnson’s reliability is back healthy and facing a high-powered Baltimore Ravens offense, which was a top-10 matchup for opposing defensive backs last season. This is a start decision that should fill you with confidence.
Gervon Dexter | DT | Chicago Bears
This week, I have a solid streaming option for you in those IDP leagues that require a starting defensive tackle (DT). Gervon Dexter is entering his third season with the Chicago Bears. He has increased his tackles for loss, sacks, and QB hits over his first two seasons.
In his lone game against the Minnesota Vikings, he collected five tackles. The Vikings allowed three sacks per game on the road last season. Gervon Dexter has a nice opportunity to have a solid start and be a player to target in DT-premium leagues this season.
Jarvis Brownlee | CB | Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans’ defense doesn’t offer much for IDP managers. However, in Week 1, Jarvis Brownlee is a streaming option. The Titans CB collected 75 tackles and 7 tackles for loss in his first season with the Titans.
The defense will have its hands full with an opening road game against the Denver Broncos. Brownlee finished as DB70 last season while averaging 10 FPPG. He finished with double-digit fantasy points in 47% of his starts last season.
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Players to Sit | Week 1
Carl Granderson | DL | New Orleans Saints
As you know from years past, I don’t enjoy talking negatively about players, but someone has to be in the sit recommendations. Carl Granderson has never quite lived up to the hype he was getting after his breakout season in 2023. Over his career, he has been a low-end DL2 and high-end DL3. That is perfectly fine, but he sometimes becomes a matchup-dependent starter for IDP fantasy football.
The Arizona Cardinals are a tough matchup for opposing pass rushers. Last season, they allowed the fifth fewest sacks in the NFL. The matchup and a potential lopsided score in the Cardinals’ favor could make this a game with fewer pass-rushing opportunities than expected for the Saints’ defenders.
Tyrel Dodson | LB | Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins will open their season against the Indianapolis Colts and new starting quarterback Daniel Jones. This game has the potential to be an offensive shootout. One player to highlight is veteran LB Tyrel Dodson. He finished as LB32 last season, playing for both Seattle and Miami.
The Indianapolis Colts were one of the worst league matchups for opposing LBs in 2024, and as the Dolphins’ LB2, this isn’t an ideal matchup for Dodson. I wouldn’t completely fade him in this situation, but if there’s a better option on your roster, I would feel safer with that.
DeShon Elliott | DB | Team Name
It’s hard to start the season recommending sitting the DB13 overall from last season, but here we are. DeShon Elliott had a great season, averaging 17 FPPG, the sixth-most of any DB. Elliott posted three games of 20 points or more and single-handedly swung a few matchups in the favor of IDP managers who had him in their lineups.
The Jets were a bottom-6 matchup for opposing safeties last season. I love DeShon Elliott, but IDP managers would be wise to look for a better matchup this week.
Hidden IDP Gems
- The Denver Broncos led the NFL with 63 sacks and had three DL in the top 20 overall.
- Bobby Wagner looks to break the NFL record for consecutive 100-tackle seasons (14)
- Tyler Nubin posted five 20-point performances in 2024. The most of any rookie DB.
- Will McDonald was 1 of 17 players with 10+ sacks last season, the only player to do it with fewer than 30 tackles.
- Zaire Franklin led the NFL in tackles (173) and missed tackles (24) in 2024.
- Budda Baker finished as the DB1 last season despite allowing the 2nd most touchdowns and recording zero interceptions.
Final Thoughts | Week 1 IDP Start Sit
That will do it for our Week 1 IDP Nerds! I’m excited to be back and providing you with that IDP content to help you win your leagues this season. Look for the weekly IDP waiver wire and updates to season-long rankings. We crushed our leagues together last year, and I look forward to a repeat performance. You can always find me on Twitter (X) for IDP advice @Glosser13. Good luck this week as we start another chase for an IDP dynasty fantasy football championship.
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