Welcome to the NFL and fantasy football Week 5 kickoff.
With growing data available, we will try to make the best start/sit decisions based on the early-season results. Pay attention to the injury reports, and keep your lineup flexible when setting to cover your risk and maximize results.
Every league is different — especially in the individual defensive player (IDP) world. These rankings are based on our fantasy scoring to help you adjust to your league while acknowledging that there will be some variations across different platforms. It doesn’t account for position requirements and is best thought of as IDP Flex rankings for Week 5!
Which IDP Players Should You Start in Fantasy Football?
1) T.J. Edwards, LB | CHI (vs. CAR)
2) Bobby Wagner, LB | WAS (vs. CLE)
3) Fred Warner, LB | SF (vs. ARI)
4) Logan Wilson, LB | CIN (vs. BAL)
5) Roquan Smith, LB | BAL (at CIN)
6) E.J. Speed, LB | IND (at JAC)
7) Tyrel Dodson, LB | SEA (vs. NYG)
8) Blake Cashman, LB | MIN (vs. NYJ)
9) Nick Bolton, LB | KC (vs. NO)
10) Azeez Al-Shaair, LB | HOU (vs. BUF)
11) Lavonte David, LB | TB (at ATL)
12) Terrel Bernard, LB | BUF (at HOU)
13) Zaire Franklin, LB | IND (at JAC)
14) Kyle Hamilton, S | BAL (at CIN)
15) Quincy Williams, LB | NYJ (at MIN)
16) Robert Spillane, LB | LV (at DEN)
17) Kyzir White, LB | ARI (at SF)
18) Eric Kendricks, LB | DAL (at PIT)
19) Myles Garrett, DE | CLE (at WAS)
20) T.J. Watt, LB | PIT (vs. DAL)
21) Bobby Okereke, LB | NYG (at SEA)
22) Trevin Wallace, LB | CAR (at CHI)
23) Nick Bosa, DE | SF (vs. ARI)
24) Will Anderson Jr., DE | HOU (vs. BUF)
25) Tremaine Edmunds, LB | CHI (vs. CAR)
26) Micah McFadden, LB | NYG (at SEA)
27) Germaine Pratt, LB | CIN (vs. BAL)
28) Jaquan Brisker, S | CHI (vs. CAR)
29) Grant Delpit, S | CLE (at WAS)
30) Quentin Lake, S | LAR (vs. GB)
31) Patrick Queen, LB | PIT (vs. DAL)
32) Nick Cross, S | IND (at JAC)
33) Cody Barton, LB | DEN (vs. LV)
34) Joshua Metellus, S | MIN (vs. NYJ)
35) Dorian Williams, LB | BUF (at HOU)
36) Kaden Elliss, LB | ATL (vs. TB)
37) Quay Walker, LB | GB (at LAR)
38) Jalen Thompson, S | ARI (at SF)
39) Kyle Dugger, S | NE (vs. MIA)
40) Jalen Pitre, S | HOU (vs. BUF)
41) Budda Baker, S | ARI (at SF)
42) Jordyn Brooks, LB | MIA (at NE)
43) Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB | CLE (at WAS)
44) Jamien Sherwood, LB | NYJ (at MIN)
45) Devin Lloyd, LB | JAC (vs. IND)
46) Pete Werner, LB | NO (at KC)
47) Devon Witherspoon, CB | SEA (vs. NYG)
48) Tyler Nubin, S | NYG (at SEA)
49) Jessie Bates III, S | ATL (vs. TB)
50) Jahlani Tavai, LB | NE (vs. MIA)
51) Justin Strnad, LB | DEN (vs. LV)
52) Kamren Curl, S | LAR (vs. GB)
53) Julian Love, S | SEA (vs. NYG)
54) Jevon Holland, S | MIA (at NE)
55) Xavier McKinney, S | GB (at LAR)
56) Camryn Bynum, S | MIN (vs. NYJ)
57) Henry To’oTo’o, LB | HOU (vs. BUF)
58) DeMarvion Overshown, LB | DAL (at PIT)
59) Boye Mafe, DE | SEA (vs. NYG)
60) Troy Reeder, LB | LAR (vs. GB)
61) Jonathan Greenard, DE | MIN (vs. NYJ)
62) Drue Tranquill, LB | KC (vs. NO)
63) Quinnen Williams, DT | NYJ (at MIN)
64) Minkah Fitzpatrick, S | PIT (vs. DAL)
65) Trey Hendrickson, DE | CIN (vs. BAL)
66) Nate Hobbs, CB | LV (at DEN)
67) P.J. Locke, S | DEN (vs. LV)
68) Javon Bullard, S | GB (at LAR)
69) Danielle Hunter, DE | HOU (vs. BUF)
70) Justin Reid, S | KC (vs. NO)
71) Josh Hines-Allen, DE | JAC (vs. IND)
72) Damar Hamlin, S | BUF (at HOU)
73) Montez Sweat, DE | CHI (vs. CAR)
74) Isaiah McDuffie, LB | GB (at LAR)
75) Jordan Hicks, LB | CLE (at WAS)
76) Chris Jones, DT | KC (vs. NO)
77) George Karlaftis III, DE | KC (vs. NO)
78) Dexter Lawrence II, DT | NYG (at SEA)
79) Mack Wilson Sr., LB | ARI (at SF)
80) Carl Granderson, DE | NO (at KC)
81) Ventrell Miller, LB | JAC (vs. IND)
82) Vonn Bell, S | CIN (vs. BAL)
83) Frankie Luvu, LB | WAS (vs. CLE)
84) Keion White, DE | NE (vs. MIA)
85) Jerome Baker, LB | SEA (vs. NYG)
86) Greg Rousseau, DE | BUF (at HOU)
87) Nick Herbig, LB | PIT (vs. DAL)
88) Rayshawn Jenkins, S | SEA (vs. NYG)
89) Brian Burns, DE | NYG (at SEA)
90) Rashan Gary, LB | GB (at LAR)
91) Jonathon Cooper, DE | DEN (vs. LV)
92) Malik Hooker, S | DAL (at PIT)
93) JD Bertrand, LB | ATL (vs. TB)
94) Will McDonald IV, DE | NYJ (at MIN)
95) Odafe Oweh, DE | BAL (at CIN)
96) Brandon Jones, S | DEN (vs. LV)
97) Kyler Gordon, CB | CHI (vs. CAR)
98) Claudin Cherelus, LB | CAR (at CHI)
99) K.J. Britt, LB | TB (at ATL)
100) Christian Izien, S | TB (at ATL)
Best IDP Players To Start in Week 5
Trevin Wallace, LB, Carolina Panthers
Going for a few second Flex options who weren’t drafted as such. This will start with the new top LB in Carolina, who was also a top waiver add this week. Josey Jewell is out at least this week, and Shaq Thompson is done for the year. The spot next to Jewell for the remainder of 2024 should belong to rookie Trevin Wallace.
When Luke Kuechly talks about linebackers, I listen
On #Panthers rookie LB Trevin Wallace:
"He's athletic, he can run, he's explosive, I'm curious to see how they play him. Can he rush? Can he come off the edge? Can you put him on a RB? I'm excited about him." pic.twitter.com/GtjPC6xqHJ
— Edgar Salmingo, Jr. ✌🏽 (@PanthersAnalyst) May 3, 2024
The Panthers have no choice but to let the rookie play, and in college, he flashed an elite athletic profile and strong instincts. Rookies tend to be up and down at LB, but with multiple vets mentoring Wallace, he’s got a great opportunity. Thompson posted 30 combined tackles on 100% of snaps Weeks 1-3. That’s the role Wallace has this week.
Micah McFadden, LB, New York Giants
Look, this one is a bit of a risk, but Micah McFadden has been fantastic through his first three games (missed Week 1). He’s playing about 75% of snaps in each game to date. In those games, McFadden has totaled 27 combined tackles, including a 13-tackle game in Week 2.
Now the Giants, without their top WR or RB, get the Seahawks in Week 5. This should lead to a run-heavy game for Seattle, who will control the game flow. With all the run opportunities, the LBs should be expected to be strong plays, and despite the less-than-full-time role, McFadden has a shot to post double-digit tackles in the game.