Welcome to Week 6 IDP Start ‘Em & Sit ‘Em. Here. This column is written by Aaron St. Denis, FSAN’s IDP Expert and perennial Top 5 ranker in the Fantasy Pros Accuracy Competition. Aaron was ranked 2nd overall in 2023 and 3rd overall in 2024. Rostership numbers will be from Sleeper Fantasy IDP leagues.
This series will avoid the “obvious” answers. So, just because I don’t tell you to start the DL1 in the week doesn’t mean you should sit him. It means I just felt it was a no-brainer and didn’t need to be discussed. Also, consider these suggestions in the context of your lineup. When I say to sit a player, there are obviously going to be situations where you have no choice but to play them. Bye weeks and injuries can cause us to start players with whom we are uncomfortable. Examine your squad’s situation before blindly following this column. The number in brackets after the player’s name is the rating of how well that defense does against that particular position. A positive number means that they allow more points than average, while a negative number means they allow fewer points than average.
Week 6 Start ‘Em- Defensive Linemen
Start of the Week
Harold Landry (DL, New England Patriots)
Harold Landry stands out as the Week 6 Start of the Week at defensive lineman for the New England Patriots’ defensive line, facing a New Orleans Saints offense plagued by line instability. Landry’s explosive edge presence, honed through years of high-volume pass rushing, aligns perfectly with the Saints’ vulnerabilities, particularly at right tackle, where shifts and unproven starters create exploitable one-on-one matchups. New Orleans’ unit has struggled to anchor against speed rushers, often yielding quick pressures that lead to chaos in the backfield. In a scheme emphasizing edge dominance, Landry’s relentless motor and refined technique should generate multiple disruptions, including sacks and tackles for loss. At the same time, his run-stuffing ability ensures a solid tackle floor. This favorable script positions him for a game-changing outing, making him an elite DL streaming option with top-5 positional upside.
Start ‘Em
Laiatu Latu (DL, Indianapolis Colts)
Laiatu Latu is a must-start for the Indianapolis Colts in Week 6 against the Arizona Cardinals, whose offensive line struggles with cohesion, particularly at tackle. Latu’s quick first step and relentless edge-rushing ability exploit Arizona’s shuffled front, which has been exposed by speed rushers. The Cardinals’ tendency to rely on quick passes and a shaky run game sets up Latu for frequent one-on-one opportunities, ideal for generating pressures and run stops. His prominent role in Indy’s aggressive front ensures a high snap count, boosting his tackle floor and sack upside. Start Latu for another high-end fantasy performance.
Week 6 Sit ‘Em- Defensive Linemen
Sit of the Week
Jarran Reed (DL, Seattle Seahawks)
Jarran Reed is the Week 6 Sit of the Week at defensive lineman for the Seattle Seahawks against the Jacksonville Jaguars, whose offensive line excels at neutralizing interior pressure. Jacksonville’s robust guard tandem and quick-strike passing game limit Reed’s opportunities to penetrate the pocket, relegating him to containment duties with minimal disruption. The Jaguars’ balanced attack spreads defensive focus, reducing Reed’s tackle chances as Seattle’s scheme rotates linemen heavily, capping his snaps. His inconsistent production in similar matchups underscores a low floor here. Bench Reed for a defensive lineman with a clearer path to impact plays.
Sit ‘Em
Dalvin Tomlinson (DL, Arizona Cardinals)
Dalvin Tomlinson is a recommended sit for the Arizona Cardinals in Week 6 against the Indianapolis Colts, whose offensive line boasts strong interior blocking. Tomlinson’s run-stuffing prowess is neutralized by Indy’s quick-hitting ground game and mobile quarterback, who evade traditional pocket disruption. The Colts’ scheme emphasizes outside runs and short passes, limiting Tomlinson’s chances for tackles or pressures. Arizona’s rotational front further dilutes his snap count, reducing his impact in a matchup favoring edge rushers over interior linemen. Bench Tomlinson for a defensive lineman with a better opportunity for consistent production.
Week 6 Start ‘Em- Defensive Backs
Start of the Week
Taron Johnson (S, Buffalo Bills)
Taron Johnson is the Week 6 Start of the Week at defensive back for the Buffalo Bills, facing an Atlanta Falcons offense that leans heavily on short passes and tight end targets. Johnson’s elite slot coverage and tackling prowess make him a perfect fit to exploit Atlanta’s predictable play-calling, which funnels targets to underneath routes. His every-down role in Buffalo’s aggressive secondary ensures a high tackle floor, while his knack for reading routes positions him for potential pass breakups or interceptions. Against a Falcons line struggling to protect, Johnson’s blitz opportunities add splash-play upside, making him a top DB start.
Start ‘Em
Amani Hooker (CB, Tennessee Titans)
Amani Hooker is a strong start for the Tennessee Titans in Week 6 against the Las Vegas Raiders, whose offense leans on a run-heavy scheme and short passing game. Hooker’s versatile role as a box safety and slot defender positions him to capitalize on the Raiders’ predictable play-calling, which targets underneath routes and outside runs. His quick reads and sure tackling ensure a high tackle floor, while Las Vegas’ shaky offensive line invites blitz opportunities for splash plays. Tennessee’s aggressive secondary maximizes Hooker’s every-down snaps, making him a reliable DB start with big-play potential.
Week 6 Sit ‘Em- Defensive Backs
Sit of the Week
Greg Newsome (DB, Cleveland Browns)
Greg Newsome is the Week 6 Sit of the Week at defensive back for the Cleveland Browns against the Pittsburgh Steelers, whose run-heavy, clock-control offense limits opportunities for cornerbacks. Pittsburgh’s scheme emphasizes power runs and play-action, pulling defensive backs away from passing lanes and reducing Newsome’s chances for tackles or coverage plays. Cleveland’s secondary rotations further cap his snap count, with safeties dominating box duties. Newsome’s coverage skills are underutilized against a low-volume passing attack, making him a risky play with a low floor. Bench him for a defensive back with a more favorable matchup.
Sit ‘Em
Charvarius Ward (DB, Indianapolis Colts)
Chavarius Ward is a recommended sit for the Indianapolis Colts in Week 6 against the Arizona Cardinals, whose offense deploys a quick-rhythm passing attack that minimizes deep targets for boundary corners. Ward’s man-coverage expertise is underutilized here, as Arizona’s scheme floods the short and intermediate zones, funneling tackles to slot defenders and safeties. The Cardinals’ mobile quarterback and screen-heavy usage further limit Ward’s engagement, with Indy’s zone rotations potentially trimming his snaps. This matchup caps his IDP relevance, offering little upside for passes defended or stops. Bench Ward for a defensive back facing a more pass-dependent foe.
Week 6 Start ‘Em- Linebackers
Start of the Week
Edgerrin Cooper (LB, Green Bay Packers)
Edgerrin Cooper is the Week 6 Start of the Week at linebacker for the Green Bay Packers, facing a Cincinnati Bengals offense undermined by persistent offensive line vulnerabilities, especially at the tackles. As an athletic weakside linebacker, Cooper’s sideline-to-sideline speed and explosive blitzing ability exploit Cincinnati’s shaky pass protection, which has struggled against mobile defenders, creating lanes for backfield disruptions and hurried throws. The Bengals’ reliance on outside runs and play-action further amplifies Cooper’s pursuit opportunities, allowing him to clean up on check-downs and edges. Locked into a full-time role in Green Bay’s aggressive scheme, he boasts a high tackle floor with sack and turnover upside in this dream matchup.
Start ‘Em
Payton Wilson (LB, Pittsburgh Steelers)
Steelers’ linebacker Payton Wilson is a must-start in Week 6 against the Cleveland Browns, whose offense leans heavily on a ground-and-pound approach with rookie running back Quinshon Judkins leading the charge. Wilson’s athleticism and sideline-to-sideline range position him ideally to rack up stops against Cleveland’s predictable run schemes, which often force linebackers into pursuit and cleanup roles. The Browns’ shaky offensive line exacerbates this, creating extra tackle opportunities as Pittsburgh’s front funnels plays to the second level. With Wilson locked into a high snap share post-bye (around 86% in his early-season outings), he boasts a rock-solid floor for tackles, plus blitz upside against a mobile rookie quarterback. This divisional clash screams volume for Wilson, making him an LB1 lock with big-play potential.
Week 6 Sit ‘Em- Linebackers
Sit of the Week
Elandon Roberts (LB, Las Vegas Raiders)
Elandon Roberts is the Week 6 Sit of the Week at linebacker for the Las Vegas Raiders against the Tennessee Titans, whose offense has finally clicked with a gritty comeback victory, showcasing a balanced attack that shields the backfield. Roberts, a veteran run-stuffer, faces a Titans scheme emphasizing quick handoffs and perimeter runs that bypass interior linebackers, limiting his pursuit angles and tackle opportunities. Las Vegas’ crowded linebacker corps, bolstered by recent additions, rotates heavily in favorable game scripts, capping Roberts’ snaps to situational duties. With Tennessee’s mobile rookie quarterback extending plays and avoiding stacks, Roberts’ floor plummets—bench him for linebackers in more chaotic, volume-driven matchups.
Sit ‘Em
Kayvon Thibodeaux (LB, New York Giants)
Kayvon Thibodeaux is a recommended sit for the New York Giants in Week 6 against the Philadelphia Eagles, whose robust offensive line and mobile quarterback neutralize edge rushers. Philadelphia’s scheme, heavy on quick passes and designed rollouts, limits Thibodeaux’s pass-rush opportunities, forcing him into containment roles with minimal disruption potential. The Giants’ rotational front further caps his snap share, as their focus shifts to interior pressure against Philly’s stout tackles. With the Eagles’ run-heavy attack funneling tackles to inside linebackers, Thibodeaux’s floor for tackles and sacks shrinks, making him a risky IDP play. Bench him for a defender with a more favorable matchup.
For your final lineup decisions, check out the FSAN Rankings Page.
Check out Aaron St Denis and Matt Montgomery on the IDP Underground Week 6 video on the FSAN Grindhouse YouTube Channel for even more IDP options. IDP Underground is live every Monday at 7:00 PM EST.