Welcome to our eighth IDP Start & Sit article at Fantasy In Frames for the 2023 fantasy football season!
Hey everyone, it’s Nate Marcum!. Whether you’re newer to IDP or have been playing for years, my goal of these starts and sits is to provide you with stud picks I’m a huge fan of each week, from your top-tier players to play in your shallow leagues down to deeper league options. However, with the good picks come the ones I am less high on that you should consider alternatives for each week. You can check out my back-to-back Top 10 Fantasy Pros ECR Competition rankings here at Fantasy In Frames weekly to help give you the winning edge to your weekly matchups! Here are my IDP Fantasy Football Starts & Sits for Week 8 (2023).
Starts
Jermaine Johnson (NYJ) v NYG
- Has really excelled over his last two games with nine pressures (14% pressure rate).
- Tackle floor has been elevated with nine combined tackles and two tackles for loss over the past two games played.
- Matchup couldn’t be any more enticing. Giants’ LT, Justin Pugh, has allowed the 8th most sacks among OL, despite only playing two games (145 snaps)
- The Giants’ offensive line as a whole has allowed at least one sack to opponents from their blind side in each game since Week 3.
- Starting QB, Tyrod Taylor, has been sacked at an 8% rate.
or
Bryce Huff (NYJ) v NYG
- I don’t think I would recommend starting both Huff and Johnson, but I do believe that both are “starts”.
- Huff is 7th in the NFL w/34 pressures (29.8% pressure rate)
- Giants’ RT Evan Neal ranked 60th out of 61 in pass-blocking grade per PFF among Tackles
- Low tackle floor is the lone reason for being the secondary option of the Jets DLine.
Za’Darius Smith (CLE) v SEA
- Finally broke out of his sack-less slump in Week 7. Added in four solo tackles and a forced fumble.
- Seattle’s offensive line has allowed the 8th worst pressure rate in 2023 (34.7%)
- Stone Forsythe has been inserted as the RT due to injury. 63/77 in PFF pass-block grades.
Sit
Nik Bonitto (DEN) v KC
- Baron Browning return could create a snap competition
- Only had three tackles and no sacks in Week 6 vs KC
- Mahomes’ elusiveness (2.6 sack%)
Anfernee Jennings (NE) v MIA
- Nice tackle upside over past three games, but will need a sack to be startable.
- Tua has 2nd lowest sack% (3.8%)
- ROLB in Week 2 vs MIA was unproductive (Josh Uche)
Rashan Gary (GB) v MIN
- Love Rashan Gary, but if you play in a shallow league, you may be able to pivot away.
- Minnesota has really improved at protecting Kirk Cousins
- Brian O’Neil has faced 295 pass-rushes and has only allowed 1 sack and 14 pressures (4.7% pressure rate)
Start
Azeez Al-Shaair (TEN) v ATL
- Should be common knowledge by now, but start Al-Shaair.
- Prior to the Titans’ BYE in Week 7, Azeez had put together back-to-back 15 tackle games.
- Atlanta is allowing a ton of tackles to opposing LBs as well as fantasy points to the LB position.
- Will Levis as the starting QB could lead to an increase in Falcons’ offensive possessions.
Drue Tranquill (KC) v DEN
- Unfortunately Nick Bolton is heading towards the operating room for his dislocated wrist. Drue Tranquill should fill in for Bolton in an everydown role.
- Despite limited snaps (36.5%) in Week 6 vs Den, Tranquill was productive with three tackles and a sack.
- Back-to-back games with a sack, would love to see him extend it to three games. Has the ability to do so with a 33% pressure rate in ‘23
Nate Landman (ATL) v TEN
- Landman has proved efficient despite only 76% of snaps the past two weeks.
- Tennessee will be in a position to lean even heavier on Derrick Henry
- Landman has been the Falcons’ best run-play tackler (25% tackle rate on run plays)
Sit
Nakobe Dean (PHI) v WSH
- Still battling for snaps with Nicholas Morrow
- Washington allowing the 11th fewest tackles to opposing LBs
Ja’Whaun Bentley (NE) v MIA
- Dolphins only allowing 13 tackles to opposing LBs (31st)
- Double-digit tackles only once for Bentley
Jack Campbell (DET) v LVR
- Despite seeing his highest playing time, still not guaranteed.
- Raiders are surprisingly stingy to opposing LBs.
- Raiders only allowing 14 tackles to opposing LBs
Start
Grant Delpit (CLE) v SEA
- No matter the gameplan that the Seahawks have, Delpit is in line to produce.
- If the Seahawks try to establish the run game, despite a banged up backfield, Delpit ranks 2nd among safeties in solo tackles
- If the Seahawks try to attack through the air, Delpit will be looking to create turnovers. Geno Smith has the 7th most turnover-worthy passes when pressured. Browns are the league’s best in pressure rate (42.7%)
Budda Baker (ARI) v BAL
- Baker returned to the lineup and immediately saw 100% of the snaps. 44% box snaps.
- Baltimore Ravens allow the 2nd most tackles to opposing safeties
Dax Hill (CIN) v SF
- 8+ tackles in 4 of 6 games
- SF very generous to opposing safeties (27% tackle efficiency)
- 1 of 3 DBs with 40+ tackles, 1+ INT and 1+ sacks. (Kenny Moore, Jason Pinnock)
Sit
Jerry Jacobs (DET) v LVR
- Against pass-heavy teams, Jacobs has been very steady.
- Jacobs has only been targeted nine times over the past two games. Was targeted an average of eight times per games in prior four.
Talanoa Hufanga (SF) v CIN
- Saw a major increase in box snaps in Week 7.
- Five or fewer tackles in five of seven games
- Cincinatti 31st in turnovers
Kyle Hamilton (BLT) v ARI
- Marcus Williams (OUT) which means Hamilton will see more snaps deep than in the box.
- Not being asked to blitz as much as early on.
- Big games happen…but deep safeties haven’t scored double-digits against Cardinals.
