IDP Nerds! It’s time for your Week 12 IDP start/sit advice. The Blindside has been delivering quality fantasy football data for defensive enthusiasts all season. As the fantasy playoffs approach, each win and loss to your record becomes more critical. The Week 12 slate offers huge matchups while a few top teams are on a bye. Let’s break down this week’s key players and identify who deserves a spot in your starting lineup.
Our writers answer all Week 12 IDP start/sit questions on Discord before the games exclusively for the #Nerdherd. The advanced metrics used in this article are courtesy of Fantasy Points Data Suite, so use code NERDS for 25% off your own data suite subscription or all-in bundle.
WEEK 12 IDP START/SIT
DL | START | Week 12 IDP Start/Sit
Kwity Paye | DL | Indianapolis Colts
Kwity Paye and the Indianapolis Colts defense host the NFL’s top-scoring offense—the Detroit Lions—in Week 12. The Colts are coming off a huge win last week, primarily due to their defense, which recorded 3 sacks. Kwity Paye posted his second career multi-sack game.
The former University of Michigan EDGE rusher is coming off 3 consecutive double-digit fantasy performances. He collected 7 tackles, 2 sacks, and 1 forced fumble last week and finished as DL2 overall. Paye should have more opportunity this week with the Lions offense, which allows the 2nd-most tackles per game to the defensive line position. The Colts EDGE rusher could be in line for another high-volume tackling game in Week 12.
LB | START | Week 12 IDP Start/Sit
Bobby Wagner | LB | Washington Commanders
As the fantasy playoffs rapidly approach, I found it fitting to pay tribute to Bobby Wagner, one of the IDP legends. Bobby Wagner is 9 tackles shy of recording 100 tackles or more in 13-straight seasons, and not a single IDP manager is complaining about that. Even at age 34, he plays 98% of the defensive snaps for the Commanders defense (Fantasy Pros).
Bobby Wagner is averaging 9.8 tackles per game this season and ranks 14th in the NFL in total tackles. The ageless wonder should continue his stellar play with a matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, who allow the 4th-most tackles per game to the linebacker position. The Cowboys have allowed a top-24 performance to LBs in 3-consecutive games. IDP fantasy managers can always count on Bobby Wagner with his safe tackle floor, and he has registered 10 fantasy points or more in 10 of 11 games this season.
DB | START | Week 12 IDP Start/Sit
Amani Hooker | DB | Tennessee Titans
The Houston Texans have been a favorable matchup for opposing defensive backs all season. Senior Data Nerd Brad Custer (@MonCalFF) has the Texans as the second-most favorable matchup this week in his Positional CheatChart. It’s one of the best tools we use every week for start/sit advice, DFS roster construction, and player prop betting.
Amani Hooker is the prime beneficiary of the defensive matchup this week. Hooker recorded 16 fantasy points on 8 tackles in his only start of his career against the Texans. The former Iowa Hawkeye has had an average season, as he’s the DB44 through the first 11 games. Hooker has collected 26 tackles over the past 4 games and has finished with double-digit fantasy points in all of those contests. IDP fantasy managers should start the Titans’ DB with confidence this week.
DT | START | Week 12 IDP Start/Sit
Calijah Kancey | DT | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Calijah Kancey has been spectacular since returning to the Tampa Bay defense in Week 6. The former 1st Round pick has 11 pressures and 4 sacks in just 5 games this season. Since Week 6, he has been the DL12 and DT4 in fantasy points per game (Sleeper). Kancey has 3 sacks and 1 forced fumble in his last 2 games, and the New York Giants allow 3 sacks per game this season. I love the matchup for the Tampa Bay defensive front in Week 12.
CB | START | Week 12 IDP Start/Sit
Cooper DeJean | CB | Philadelphia Eagles
Cooper DeJean was a player on whom IDP fantasy managers spent draft capital during their rookie drafts. The Iowa product finally saw a defensive snap share above 10% in Week 6. DeJean was a featured player in the Week 9 waiver wire article, and since that time, he has ranked as DB61 in FPPG.
The Philadelphia Eagles rookie DB has been featured as a slot cornerback. He’s seeing plenty of volume in that role; DeJean has been targeted 28 times over the last 4 games. He has a 72% defensive snap share in his past 6 games, including a 90% snap share in 3 of 6 games. Cooper DeJean should continue to be a reliable CB for fantasy managers going forward.
Streaming Options | Week 12 IDP START/sit
The Week 12 streaming options at the defensive tackle position include Los Angeles Rams rookie Braden Fiske, who has recorded 7 tackles, 4 sacks, and 1 forced fumble over his last 3 games.
We also recommend veteran DT Poona Ford of the Los Angeles Chargers. He is coming off sacks in back-to-back games and faces a favorable matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, who allow 17.5 tackles per game to defensive linemen this season.
The Week 12 IDP start/sit streaming option at cornerback is Jarvis Brownlee, who has recorded at least 5 tackles in 4 of his last 5 games while playing 96% of the defensive snaps. One of this week’s players to add at the DB position comes in as a streaming option. Mike Sainristil has been very good lately and will have a matchup against the Dallas Cowboys—a top-10 matchup for tackles allowed per game to cornerbacks.
Do yourself a favor and check out the Positional Matchups with IDP matchups to focus on by staff writer Brad Custer (@MonCalFF):
Week 12 IDP start/SIT
DL | SIT | Week 12 IDP Start/Sit
Montez Sweat | DL | Chicago Bears
It hurts to bench your studs, especially when they have missed games this season with injuries. However, the situation is challenging with the Chicago Bears’ best pass rusher. Montez Sweat has not seemed like himself since his ankle injury. Sweat has just 2 tackles over the last 2 games.
The Minnesota Vikings’ offensive line has been inconsistent this season. However, according to teamrankings.com, the Vikings allow fewer sacks on the road (2.2) than at home (4.0). Montez Sweat has seen his defensive snap share dip since the injury; he is still not practicing in full for the Chicago defense. The Bears EDGE rusher can put together a good game here, but I wouldn’t go that route if you can find a safer matchup this week.
LB | SIT | Week 12 IDP Start/Sit
Kyzir White | LB | Arizona Cardinals
Kyzir White has been a serviceable linebacker for IDP fantasy managers this season. His consistency has been solid, with double-digit fantasy points in 70% of his games this season. The Arizona LB is on pace to record his career’s 3rd season of 100 tackles or more.
This week’s data points to this being a bad matchup for the Arizona Cardinals linebackers. The Seattle Seahawks allow the fewest tackles per game to the position. White should offer his usual tackle floor, but with an unfavorable matchup, there has to be a better option on your bench to help you secure the win.
DB | SIT | Week 12 IDP Start/Sit
Kamren Kinchens | DB | Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams safeties have delivered outstanding production this season. Quentin Lake has come out of nowhere and remained a top-12 safety all season. Rookie DB Jaylen McCollough has been electric with 4 interceptions and 1 defensive touchdown. The latest producer is Kamren Kinchens, who has played a 50% defensive snap share in just 4 games this season.
The former Miami Hurricane has stepped up over the past 3 games, recording 12 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 3 interceptions, and 1 defensive touchdown. He has seen more snaps over those games but still needs to be featured as an every-down player. I prefer to avoid betting on a player to be efficient with a low volume of snaps consistently.
Six Pack of Facts | Week 12 IDP Start/Sit
- Week 11 featured 12 players with at least 2 sacks; Odafe Oweh led all players with 3 sacks.
- Andrew Van Ginkel leads all active IDPs in total points overall.
- In Week 11, 21 players recorded 10 tackles or more, and Zack Baun led all players with 14.
- The Cincinnati Bengals (Logan Wilson and Germaine Pratt) and Indianapolis Colts (Zaire Franklin and E.J. Speed) are the only teams with 2 LBs in the top-12 overall.
- Trey Hendrickson leads the NFL in sacks (12). He’s registered 2 sacks or more in 37% of his games this season.
- Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack have combined for 7.5 sacks this season. Chargers’ EDGE rusher Tuli Tuipulotu has 7 sacks in his last 4 games.
Tip of the Week | Week 12 IDP Start/Sit
This week’s tip will focus on making matchup-based decisions. In my years of experience as an IDP fantasy manager, I’ve always found it challenging to make those gut-check lineup decisions during the fantasy playoffs. So often, you would go down with the players who got you there rather than play a relative unknown, even if the data points you in that direction.
There’s validity to not sitting your stud IDPs even in unfavorable matchups; however, much like real NFL football, you are judged on wins and losses. Sometimes, you must make the tough decision to benefit the team and put yourself in the best position to win the game. The amount of data and knowledgeable fantasy analysts at your disposal can help you so much if you take the time to absorb the data. Like everything in life, don’t ever stop learning and be a sponge when researching to make these lineup decisions.
Final Thoughts | Week 12 IDP Start/Sit
As you finalize your lineup this week, all IDP Nerds, remember that fantasy football success often hinges on making informed decisions with the information at hand. Our goal is to be the one-stop shop for all your IDP needs to help you make those decisions easier. Don’t hesitate to contact me on Twitter (X) @Glosser13. I look forward to being available for any IDP advice you may need. Good luck this week. I hope that your team is marching toward that coveted playoff spot!
In case you missed it, check out our first IDP Only Rookie Mock Draft that was released this week:
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