Week 5 of football is officially in the books, and it’s time to look ahead for our fantasy football leagues.
The IDP report will provide an early look at several waiver wire priorities of varying league sizes, along with preliminary Week 6 IDP rankings. Since all leagues are different sizes and have differing IDP requirements, the weekly rankings might be more beneficial than the waiver list.
As usual, the rankings are a reflection of IDP Flex rankings for tackle-heavy formats.
Derick Hall, DE, Seattle Seahawks
Let’s start with some less-than-great news. On a short week, Derick Hall is listed on the injury report and may not be able to play Thursday night against the San Francisco 49ers. If he’s able to, though, the situation that held Hall back from being an add earlier is clearing up.
The Seahawks plan to put teammate Uchenna Nwosu on injured reserve, freeing up a starting role.
Not that Hall hasn’t been starting and playing a ton already. After playing a part-time Week 1 role, he’s been up over 60% in four straight games now and over 80% in one.
Hall has also been producing weekly, totaling five sacks in as many games and 19 combined tackles. He’s well worth the add, even if he doesn’t play this week.
Trevin Wallace, LB, Carolina Panthers
Hear that? That’s your last call on Carolina Panthers rookie LB Trevin Wallace if you didn’t listen to me last week. Wallace was not only mentioned in the Week 5 adds section but also the Week 5 players to start.
All he did with his first starting opportunity was post a 15-tackle performance, tied with some guy named Roquan Smith for best performance of the week.
Big 4th down stop by the rookie, Trevin Wallace
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/lAwUAqosiV
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) October 6, 2024
Not saying every performance will be so fruitful. Wallace may have a better running mate, as Josey Jewell looks to return in Week 6.
Nevertheless, Wallace is worthy of addition in any league. He has special traits as a 6’1″, 244-pound player who can run a 4.51 40-yard dash. Now Wallace has the opportunity to run with the job he got, which I bet he does.
Jerome Baker, LB, Seattle Seahawks
Jerome Baker was a big question mark last week, as the Seahawks’ linebacker had missed time, and rookie Tyrice Knight had played well in the interim. However, Baker was inserted back in the lineup in Week 5 and played a 100% snap share, while Knight didn’t play a defensive snap.
Not only did Baker play a full snap share, but he also posted a strong stat line. Baker posted a whopping 14 combined tackles and a sack against the New York Giants. Now, the Seahawks play on a short week and get the San Francisco 49ers, so if Baker was dropped by managers, make sure to grab him.
Tyler Nubin, S, New York Giants
Giants rookie safety Tyler Nubin is beginning to show what made him my pre-draft S1 for IDP gamers. The last two weeks, he’s totaled 17 combined tackles while playing the primary box role in New York. This means that his production is likely somewhat stable — as much as any defensive back’s is — and he’s playable in many IDP formats.
Nubin’s alignment still is not truly ideal. He plays nearly two-thirds of his snaps from the deep position on the field. Nubin does come into the box more often than teammate Jason Pinnock, though. He also has strong ball skills to pair with his tackling, so he can help those in big-play leagues as well.
Early Week 6 Fantasy Football IDP Rankings
1) Zack Baun, LB | PHI (vs. CLE)
2) T.J. Edwards, LB | CHI (vs. JAX)
3) Bobby Wagner, LB | WAS (at BAL)
4) Fred Warner, LB | SF (at SEA)
5) Roquan Smith, LB | BAL (vs. WAS)
6) Tyrel Dodson, LB | SEA (vs. SF)
7) Terrel Bernard, LB | BUF (at NYJ)
8) Ernest Jones IV, LB | TEN (vs. IND)
9) Logan Wilson, LB | CIN (at NYG)
10) Azeez Al-Shaair, LB | HOU (at NE)
11) Lavonte David, LB | TB (at NO)
12) Brian Branch, S | DET (at DAL)
13) E.J. Speed, LB | IND (at TEN)
14) Zaire Franklin, LB | IND (at TEN)
15) Trevin Wallace, LB | CAR (vs. ATL)
16) Quincy Williams, LB | NYJ (vs. BUF)
17) Myles Garrett, DE | CLE (at PHI)
18) Kyzir White, LB | ARI (at GB)
19) Robert Spillane, LB | LV (vs. PIT)
20) T.J. Watt, LB | PIT (at LV)
21) Aidan Hutchinson, DE | DET (at DAL)
22) Maxx Crosby, DE | LV (vs. PIT)
23) Eric Kendricks, LB | DAL (vs. DET)
24) Tremaine Edmunds, LB | CHI (vs. JAX)
25) C.J. Mosley, LB | NYJ (vs. BUF)
26) Derwin James Jr., S | LAC (at DEN)
27) Kyle Hamilton, S | BAL (vs. WAS)
28) Demario Davis, LB | NO (vs. TB)
29) Grant Delpit, S | CLE (at PHI)
30) Frankie Luvu, LB | WAS (at BAL)
31) Alex Anzalone, LB | DET (at DAL)
32) Bobby Okereke, LB | NYG (vs. CIN)
33) Germaine Pratt, LB | CIN (at NYG)
34) Nick Cross, S | IND (at TEN)
35) Jaquan Brisker, S | CHI (vs. JAX)
36) Jalen Thompson, S | ARI (at GB)
37) Kyle Dugger, S | NE (vs. HOU)
38) Devin Lloyd, LB | JAX (at CHI)
39) Daiyan Henley, LB | LAC (at DEN)
40) Patrick Queen, LB | PIT (at LV)
41) Kaden Elliss, LB | ATL (at CAR)
42) Jalen Pitre, S | HOU (at NE)
43) Budda Baker, S | ARI (at GB)
44) Devon Witherspoon, CB | SEA (vs. SF)
45) Nakobe Dean, LB | PHI (vs. CLE)
46) Tyler Nubin, S | NYG (vs. CIN)
47) Jessie Bates III, S | ATL (at CAR)
48) Dorian Williams, LB | BUF (at NYJ)
49) Cody Barton, LB | DEN (vs. LAC)
50) Jordan Hicks, LB | CLE (at PHI)
51) Kenneth Murray Jr., LB | TEN (vs. IND)
52) Nick Bosa, DE | SF (at SEA)
53) Julian Love, S | SEA (vs. SF)
54) Will Anderson Jr., DE | HOU (at NE)
55) Xavier McKinney, S | GB (vs. ARI)
56) P.J. Locke, S | DEN (vs. LAC)
57) Minkah Fitzpatrick, S | PIT (at LV)
58) Nate Hobbs, CB | LV (vs. PIT)
59) Quay Walker, LB | GB (vs. ARI)
60) Quinnen Williams, DT | NYJ (vs. BUF)
Top IDP Players To Start in Week 6
Terrel Bernard, LB, Buffalo Bills
Terrel Bernard was a bit of a hedge last week in my rankings, as Buffalo’s young star LB was returning from a multi-week absence, and playing time was unknown. Well, Bernard went right back to 100% of snaps and rewarded managers bold enough to throw him right back out there with a strong performance.
Bernard only got five tackles in the game but posted his first interception of 2024 to help IDP managers out. The tackles weren’t there, but don’t worry about it.
The Bills struggled all around, and the Texans have struggled to run the ball. This week, the Jets are in the same boat but will likely show more urgency after firing their coach.
Brian Branch, S, Detroit Lions
Losing the top two IDP safeties to bye weeks last week hurt, but they’re back now and deserve to go right into lineups, starting with the top DB in Branch. Unlike the alignment for Nubin, Branch’s is insanely strong, playing in the box or slot on nearly 70% of his snaps this season.
Now here come the Cowboys, who like to use the middle of the field and put their top wide receiver in the slot. Both of these would be good spots to put the Lions’ star safety.
Branch is always around the ball, posting two or more passes defensed in every game he’s played, with at least six tackles in each. Branch is a star and a weekly must start.
