Welcome to the NFL and fantasy football Week 6 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 6!
Which IDP Players Should You Start in Fantasy Football?
1) Zack Baun, LB | PHI (vs. CLE)
2) Bobby Wagner, LB | WAS (at BAL)
3) Roquan Smith, LB | BAL (vs. WAS)
4) Fred Warner, LB | SF (at SEA)
5) Ernest Jones IV, LB | TEN (vs. IND)
6) Tyrel Dodson, LB | SEA (vs. SF)
7) Terrel Bernard, LB | BUF (at NYJ)
8) Logan Wilson, LB | CIN (at NYG)
9) T.J. Edwards, LB | CHI (vs. JAC)
10) Azeez Al-Shaair, LB | HOU (at NE)
11) Trevin Wallace, LB | CAR (vs. ATL)
12) Brian Branch, S | DET (at DAL)
13) Lavonte David, LB | TB (at NO)
14) E.J. Speed, LB | IND (at TEN)
15) Zaire Franklin, LB | IND (at TEN)
16) Quincy Williams, LB | NYJ (vs. BUF)
17) T.J. Watt, LB | PIT (at LV)
18) Kyzir White, LB | ARI (at GB)
19) Robert Spillane, LB | LV (vs. PIT)
20) Aidan Hutchinson, DE | DET (at DAL)
21) Maxx Crosby, DE | LV (vs. PIT)
22) Myles Garrett, DE | CLE (at PHI)
23) Frankie Luvu, LB | WAS (at BAL)
24) Tremaine Edmunds, LB | CHI (vs. JAC)
25) Derwin James Jr., S | LAC (at DEN)
26) Nick Cross, S | IND (at TEN)
27) C.J. Mosley, LB | NYJ (vs. BUF)
28) Demario Davis, LB | NO (vs. TB)
29) Alex Anzalone, LB | DET (at DAL)
30) Germaine Pratt, LB | CIN (at NYG)
31) Bobby Okereke, LB | NYG (vs. CIN)
32) Jalen Thompson, S | ARI (at GB)
33) Kyle Hamilton, S | BAL (vs. WAS)
34) Kyle Dugger, S | NE (vs. HOU)
35) Devin Lloyd, LB | JAC (at CHI)
36) Daiyan Henley, LB | LAC (at DEN)
37) Patrick Queen, LB | PIT (at LV)
38) Kaden Elliss, LB | ATL (at CAR)
39) Jalen Pitre, S | HOU (at NE)
40) Antoine Winfield Jr., S | TB (at NO)
41) Cody Barton, LB | DEN (vs. LAC)
42) Budda Baker, S | ARI (at GB)
43) Tyler Nubin, S | NYG (vs. CIN)
44) Devon Witherspoon, CB | SEA (vs. SF)
45) DeMarvion Overshown, LB | DAL (vs. DET)
46) Nakobe Dean, LB | PHI (vs. CLE)
47) Dorian Williams, LB | BUF (at NYJ)
48) Kenneth Murray Jr., LB | TEN (vs. IND)
49) Will Anderson Jr., DE | HOU (at NE)
50) Nick Bosa, DE | SF (at SEA)
51) Jessie Bates III, S | ATL (at CAR)
52) Xavier McKinney, S | GB (vs. ARI)
53) Julian Love, S | SEA (vs. SF)
54) Minkah Fitzpatrick, S | PIT (at LV)
55) Damar Hamlin, S | BUF (at NYJ)
56) Jordan Hicks, LB | CLE (at PHI)
57) Quinnen Williams, DT | NYJ (vs. BUF)
58) Quay Walker, LB | GB (vs. ARI)
59) Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB | CLE (at PHI)
60) Mack Wilson Sr., LB | ARI (at GB)
61) Micah McFadden, LB | NYG (vs. CIN)
62) C.J. Gardner-Johnson, S | PHI (vs. CLE)
63) Pete Werner, LB | NO (vs. TB)
64) Denzel Perryman, LB | LAC (at DEN)
65) Trey Hendrickson, DE | CIN (at NYG)
66) Boye Mafe, DE | SEA (vs. SF)
67) Javon Bullard, S | GB (vs. ARI)
68) Jahlani Tavai, LB | NE (vs. HOU)
69) Montez Sweat, DE | CHI (vs. JAC)
70) Rayshawn Jenkins, S | SEA (vs. SF)
71) Henry To’oTo’o, LB | HOU (at NE)
72) Malik Hooker, S | DAL (vs. DET)
73) Kyler Gordon, CB | CHI (vs. JAC)
74) Justin Strnad, LB | DEN (vs. LAC)
75) Ventrell Miller, LB | JAC (at CHI)
76) DeShon Elliott, S | PIT (at LV)
77) Dexter Lawrence II, DT | NYG (vs. CIN)
78) Jack Campbell, LB | DET (at DAL)
79) Nate Landman, LB | ATL (at CAR)
80) P.J. Locke, S | DEN (vs. LAC)
81) Chuck Clark, S | NYJ (vs. BUF)
82) Reed Blankenship, S | PHI (vs. CLE)
83) Carl Granderson, DE | NO (vs. TB)
84) Will McDonald IV, DE | NYJ (vs. BUF)
85) Danielle Hunter, DE | HOU (at NE)
86) Greg Rousseau, DE | BUF (at NYJ)
87) Josh Hines-Allen, DE | JAC (at CHI)
88) Isaiah McDuffie, LB | GB (vs. ARI)
89) Divine Deablo, LB | LV (vs. PIT)
90) Justin Simmons, S | ATL (at CAR)
Best IDP Players To Start in Week 6
Robert Spillane, LB, Las Vegas Raiders
Let’s start by naming all the players with at least 10 combined tackles in every game in 2024. Through five weeks that list has dwindled to … Robert Spillane. Spillane has been as consistent as they come at LB and is tied for first in the league in total tackles.
Top 15 finishes at LB/DL/DB thru 5 weeks
LB
Robert Spillane 4
Bobby Wagner 3
Azeez Al Shaair 3
Mack Wilson 3
Tyrel Dodson 3DL
TJ Watt 3
Nick Bosa 3
Kyle Van Noy 3
Andrew Van GinkelDB
Brian Branch 3
Paulson Adebo 3#FFIDP @theidpshow— theidpshow.com (@adamIDP) October 7, 2024
Spillane also is averaging a tackle for loss per game, as well as adding a sack and an interception. Here comes the Steelers’ run-heavy approach in Week 6, lending itself to more tackle opportunities and possibly the chance for turnovers. Fire up Spillane as a locked-and-loaded IDP stud again in Week 6.
Nick Cross, S, Indianapolis Colts
Nick Cross has been an IDP breakout in 2024, and the good times should continue with his newfound role in the defense. After playing just 13 box snaps in Week 1 while ceding the SS role to Julian Blackmon, that has completely flipped after Blackmon missed Week 2. Since then, Cross has played over 20 box snaps every week.
Blackmon, on the other hand, hasn’t exceeded 12 since Week 1. Why does that matter? The easiest way to score points as a safety is to play in the box, as they can make more tackles in run support. Despite the down Week 5 performance, don’t worry about Cross for IDP, and the Titans offense presents a strong opportunity for a bounce back in Week 6.
