Welcome to our IDP Fantasy Football Starts for Week 1 of the 2022 fantasy football season!
Unlike our Fantasy Football Starts for Week 1 players on offense, given the broad range of IDP scoring settings available to people that can throw a player’s perceived value through a loop, for our IDP section, we’ll just be recommending to you players you should consider starting this week based on IDP scoring format as well as output potential. So sit back, relax and enjoy our IDP Fantasy Football Starts for Week 1
Defensive Backs
START: Kyle Dugger versus The Miami Dolphins
Dugger is in my Top 3 DB draft rankings, which can be found here for a reason. Last season as the full-time starter at SS, Dugger had the highest tackle rate amongst defensive backs playing a minimum of 500 snaps on the season in 2021. He played most of his snaps in the box, close to the line of scrimmage, and was successful playing there, evidenced by his league-leading run-stopping percentage, according to PFF.
While he DID have a high missed tackle rate in 2021, going against what should be a run-heavy Miami Dolphins team this Sunday should only help to pad his stats this week, making him an excellent start candidate.
Additional Starting Candidates: Jalen Thompson versus The Kansas City Chiefs (Tackle Heavy IDP formats), Kevin Byard versus The New York Giants (Big Play IDP formats), and Brandon Jones versus The New England Patriots (Big Play IDP formats and those that reward points for QB Hits like our own Fantasy In Frames IDP Scoring which can be found here).
Defensive Lineman/EDGE
START: Trey Hendrickson vs. The Pittsburgh Steelers
Can’t hide from Trey Hendrickson.
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) January 15, 2022
Watch on NBC pic.twitter.com/RJuLgOzNpu
Among defensive linemen who played a minimum of 500 snaps on the season, Hendrickson posted a 16.5% pressure rate against opposing offensive linemen, which was good enough for DL3 overall honors in 2021. What did this pressure rate help him to accomplish? He tallied 14 sacks (DL3) and 27 QB Hits (DL5). Using Fantasy Pros scoring, which can be found here, he averaged 8.3 PPG (DL15); in Fantasy In Frames Scoring, he averaged 11.9 (DL11).
This week he goes up against the decimated offensive line of the Pittsburgh Steelers, which ranked 15th in pass-blocking in 2021. Heading into this year, they look even worse making Hendrickson a MUST START this week!
Additional Starting Candidates: Za’Darius Smith versus The Green Bay Packers (Big Play IDP Scoring/Fantasy In Frames Scoring), Shaquil Barrett versus The Dallas Cowboys (Big Play IDP Scoring/Fantasy In Frames Scoring), and Maxx Crosby versus The Los Angeles Chargers (Big Play IDP Scoring/Fantasy In Frames Scoring).
Linebackers
START: Logan Wilson versus The Pittsburgh Steelers
With a tackle rate of 13.7% in 2021, Logan Wilson should feast against a Steelers offense that will rely on the running game and short to intermediate throws to keep them in the game versus the Bengals, which is right up Wilson’s alley. He has solid LB2 value for you this week!
Additional Starting Candidates: David Long versus The New York Giants (Tackle Heavy IDP Scoring/Fantasy In Frames IDP Scoring), Christian Kirksey versus The Indianapolis Colts (Tackle Heavy IDP Scoring/Fantasy In Frames IDP Scoring), and Cole Holcomb versus The Jacksonville Jaguars (Tackle Heavy IDP Scoring/Fantasy In Frames IDP Scoring).
Thanks for reading our IDP Fantasy Football Starts for Week 1.
Good luck this week!
