We have nearly reached the halfway point of the regular season. Between bye weeks and mounting injuries, it’s becoming a challenge to fill lineups with players who will help you win. With dwindling options, it’s hard to know who to start and who to sit in your IDP fantasy football league.
Below we’ll discuss two top-ten picks, why this is the year of the linebacker, and why you want to fade an IDP star going up against a winless team.
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Players to Start in IDP in Week 8
Isaiah McGuire, Browns DL
McGuire is rostered in just 0.6% of fantasy leagues, but you could do a lot worse at DL this week if you’re looking for a streamer. The former 4th-round pick out of Missouri has proven to be an effective pass rusher for the Browns this season. He’s third on the team with three sacks.
Not only do the Browns play a Steelers team this week that has given up the second most sacks in the league, but McGuire recorded a sack when these two teams met in Week 4.
Start McGuire in IDP this week if you need a DL.
Sonny Styles, Commanders LB
Do you know how we remember certain quarterback classes? The three that immediately come to mind are the 1983 class with Dan Marino, John Elway, and Jim Kelly, the 2004 class with Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, and Ben Roethlisberger, and the 2024 class with Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, and others.
Well, I think we are going to remember the 2026 draft as the year of the linebacker. We currently have five rookie linebackers in the top 20 at the position. Arvell Reese of the Giants (6th), Josiah Trotter of the Bucs (7th), Anthony Hill, Jr. of the Titans (13th), Jacob Rodriguez of the Dolphins (17th), and Sonny Styles of the Commanders (19th).
Not only will Styles be well rested coming off a bye, but he’s found his form halfway through his rookie season. The seventh overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft has back-to-back games with 13 tackles patrolling the middle of the field for the Commanders.
Washington hosts a reeling Eagles team with a backup quarterback and a decimated offensive line. Styles should swallow up ball carriers and backs and tight ends in the short-area passing game.
Styles is a start in IDP in Week 8.
Budda Baker, Cardinals S
Baker is one of the most prolific defensive backs in the game. He is sixth among DBs in IDP scoring so far this season and a mainstay in the top five of weekly rankings. That said, he is also coming off his worst game of the year against the Broncos, in which he only registered 2.25 points. He was hampered by a groin injury and an illness, but he was also facing a Denver passing attack that is 26th in the NFL in yards per game.
That changes this week with the Cardinals taking on the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys are seventh in the league in passing.
Baker will have ample opportunities to tackle Cowboys receivers as well as to rush the passer. He already has a career-high 3.5 sacks this season.
Baker is usually a must-start in IDP, and he certainly is this week with a favorable matchup against the Cowboys.
Check out all of our Week 8 Rankings: Flex Rankings | QB Rankings | RB Rankings | WR Rankings | TE Rankings | MOP Rankings
Players to Sit in IDP in Week 8
Boya Mafe, Bengals DL
Mafe is on a heater right now in his first season with the Bengals. The former 2nd pick has at least one sack in each of his past three games. He is currently tied for 11th in the league with 4.5 sacks on the season.
Do you know how many players have at least a half-sack in four straight games this season? One. Elijah Ponder of the Patriots.
Mafe is a solid regression candidate this week, especially going up against the surprisingly stout offensive line of the Tennessee Titans. The Titans have allowed the 8th fewest sacks this season.
Sit Mafe in IDP in Week 8.
Nate Landman, Rams LB
Landman missed last week’s game against the Raiders with a concussion. He is normally a plug-and-play starter at LB in IDP, but you may want to rethink that this week.
The Rams offense runs the second most plays per game in the league. They control the ball better than almost anyone. The Chargers, who the Rams host this week, do not. The Chargers are in the bottom half of the league in plays per game.
Landman, like plenty of other linebackers, makes his hay in IDP on tackles. I don’t see enough upside this week against a winless Chargers team to feel confident about him.
Sit Landman if you have another linebacker on your roster who racks up tackles.
Mansoor Delane, Chiefs DB
The sixth overall pick is probably thrilled to not be going up against Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who hauled in two long passes, including a touchdown on Sunday night. The Broncos should be a much easier matchup for him, but not one that is conducive to success in IDP fantasy football.
The Broncos only throw for 175 yards per game. Only six teams throw for fewer.
Stay away from Delane in IDP this week if you can, because he likely won’t have enough chances to make tackles against Bronco receivers.
Make sure to check out all of our Week 8 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!
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