Welcome to our IDP Fantasy Football Starts for Week 14 of the 2022 fantasy football season!
Unlike our Fantasy Football Starts & Sits 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 the potential for high statistical output and positional 1, 2, or 3 relevance assuming you’re rolling three deep on your starting roster per positional designation. So sit back, relax and enjoy our IDP Fantasy Football Starts for Week 14!
Defensive Backs
START: Donovan Wilson versus The Houston Texans
Cowboys DC Dan Quinn has been high all season on S Donovan Wilson’s physicality. Plays fast, bigger than his size. DQ’s response to yesterday’s 8-tackle, sack performance?
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) December 5, 2022
“I gave him a big hug after and was like, ‘Man, that’s what it looks like.'”pic.twitter.com/ltD5itX9Vn
For the past month, no one has had a higher run-stopping percentage, among qualified candidates, than Donovan Wilson of the Dallas Cowboys. Both he and fellow safety Jayron Kearse have been helping this linebacking corps by patrolling the box and near the line of scrimmage, helping to contain the opposing team’s running game. While the time of possession should be in the Cowboys’ favor, thus limiting his upside, Wilson and this Cowboy’s defense should do enough damage to the Texans’ rushing efforts to warrant DB2-level play with DB1 upside.
START: Jonathan Owens versus The Dallas Cowboys
Against what should be a run-heavy affair for the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, strong safety Jonathan Owens should be in line to help against the run for the Texans. On the season, when facing opposing teams with a huge commitment to the running game, Owens averaged close to 13 fantasy points and total tackles in those games. This week should be no different, making him a great DB2 play for you this week!
Additional Starting Candidates: Ryan Neal vs. The Carolina Panthers and DeShon Elliott vs. The Minnesota Vikings
Defensive Linemen/EDGE Rushers
START: Uchenna Nwosu versus The Carolina Panthers
Love watching Uchenna Nwosu take advantage of matchup against Tyler Higbee and Ben Skowronek… He initially stepped inside toward Higbee, then rocketed back outside and beat Skowronek upfield, allowing him to strip sack Wolford and thwart a promising drive. pic.twitter.com/wNlEe1NWdm
— Corbin K. Smith (@CorbinSmithNFL) December 6, 2022
From the ashes, Uchenna returned last week versus a decrepit Rams team to post four solo tackles and two sacks on his way to a 20.5 fantasy points performance in Fantasy Pros IDP scoring. Nwosu has played both on the left and right sides at outside linebacker, and this week, he should be lining up mainly against Ikem Ekwonu of the Panthers, who, in true passing situations, has been allowing quite a bit of pressure to his QB from opposing pass rushers. Look for Uchenna to take advantage of this matchup and get to the QB this week, providing low-end DL2 and high-end DL3 upside.
START: Demarcus Lawrence versus The Houston Texans
As opposed to last week, I am all in one DLAW this week. Titus Howard of the Texans is allowing the second most pressures along that o-line the past month and combined with DLAW’s elite 16.1% win rate, he should have no problem getting back to form after last week’s disappointing performance. Fire him up as a DL1/DL2 this week.
Additional Starting Candidates: Jaelan Phillips vs. The Los Angeles Chargers and Markus Golden vs. The New England Patriots
Linebackers
START: Alex Anzalone versus The Minnesota Vikings
Last time versus the Vikings, Anzalone posted 22.5 pts on 11 solo tackles, a TFL, a sack, and a PD. Over the past month, his solo to assisted tackle splits have been phenomenal (20/9), and he has found himself as a Top 15 linebacker for fantasy. Look for this hot streak to continue this week and going forward.
START: Dre Greenlaw versus The Tampa Bay Buccanneers
Dre Greenlaw digging deep and finding that second gear to run with Tyreek Hill on this drag route is insanely impressive
— Jordan Elliott (@splash_cousin) December 6, 2022
LBs shouldn’t be able to accelerate like this pic.twitter.com/UlW0nFG7uq
One of my favorite starts of the week, Dre Greenlaw, should have a field day trying to slow down the Buccaneer’s running game. In the past four weeks, we’ve seen a big decrease in his missed tackle rate and passer rating allowed when targeted. His 16.2 PPG has him as the LB6 over the past month. He has low LB1/high LB2 upside this week.
Additional Starting Candidates: Frankie Luvu vs. The Seattle Seahawks and Cody Barton vs. The Carolina Panthers
