Fantasy Football IDP Start/Sit Lineup Advice: Week 2 (2025)

Week 1 of the NFL season was a blast. The prime time games did not disappoint, and we had fantasy goodness on both sides of the ball. Last night’s game was not what anyone expected, but it cemented the Green Bay Packers as a threat to make some noise this postseason. Looking ahead to this weekend, we will take a look at five players fantasy managers should do their best to plug into their lineups and five others who are better left on benches despite promising upside. Let’s dig in.

Fantasy Football IDP Start/Sit Week 2

Start em

Daiyan Henley (LB – LAC)
Daiyan showed out in front of a national audience in Week 1, tallying three solos, five assists, one sack, and one tackle for loss. Henley was all over the field and notching a sack in his first game suggests that he may get more pass rushing opportunities going forward. Daiyan is already one of the better LB2 options, but becoming an increased sack threat can help catapult him into LB1 territory. For now, tap him as an elite LB2 option for a plus Week 2 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday night.

Carson Schwesinger (LB – CLE)
As expected, the rookie linebacker played every snap for the Browns in Week 1, racking up three solos, five assists, and one tackle for loss. It was a strong debut for the Browns’ new man in the middle, and it helped that he got to play beside Devin Bush instead of Mohamoud Diabate. Schwesinger has a plus matchup against Baltimore in Week 2, keeping him on the LB2 radar but giving him LB1 upside. Start Carson everywhere, with confidence.

Brandon Jones (S – DEN)
Jones had a solid showing in Week 1, tallying two solos, five assists, and one fumble recovery. IDP managers expected more from the bourgoening DB1, but outings like this remind us of why he is considered more of an elite DB2 given plus matchups, than someone to count in the DB1 conversation on non-bye weeks. With that said, Jones should be even better than he was last season with the Broncos when he finished as the DB7 overall and the DB5 in fantasy points per game. He has another saliva-inducing matchup on tap for Week 2 against Daniel Jones and the Indianapolis Colts, making him a top-15 play once again. Start him with confidence wherever possible.

Byron Young (DE/LB – LAR)
Byron Young was excellent in Week 1, racking up five solos, four assists, one sack, and one tackle for loss against the Houston Texans. Young ‘disappointed’ with 7.5 sacks last season, which serves to show you the explosive edge rushers’ floor. He had eight sacks in his rookie campaign and will be looking to add one or two more sacks to his ledger this weekend against Cam Ward and the Tennessee Titans. The Titans allowed a league-high six sacks in Week 1, and the sledding will not get any better against an underrated Rams defensive front. Tap Young as a top-15 option for a tasty Week 2 matchup against the Tennessee Titans.

Abdul Carter (DE – NYG)
Abdul Carter played 54 percent of the snaps in his rookie debut, notching a non-descript one solo, two assists, and 0.5 sacks. He did get the half sack and played with both Kayvon Thibodeaux, Dexter Lawrence, and Brian Burns on the field at the same time as expected. However, they played just eight snaps as a quartet, a number that should surely rise in the coming weeks. Carter had three pressures in his 38 snaps and should create even more havoc against Dallas in Week 2. Fire Carter up as a DL3 play where needed for the plus matchup.

Sit em

Nick Emmanwori (S – SEA)
Emmanwori is stuck behind both Julian Love and Coby Bryant and may not see the field much at all this year. He played four defensive snaps in Week 1 and, making matters worse, is listed as Julian Love’s direct backup, not Coby Bryant’s. Nick will start for the Seahawks eventually, but it now looks like that eventually may not come until 2026 (barring an injury-related ascension). Julian Love is locked in at his position, and Coby Bryant looked good enough in camp and in Week 1 that he is likely locked into the lineup unless he starts to become a liability. Emmanwori will likely be tapped if/when the Seahawks move on from Love this offseason. Dynasty managers should hold, but it’s questionable if he should even be on redraft rosters in deep 20+ team leagues. Look elsewhere for DB help for Week 2.

Ji’Ayir Brown (S – SF)
We dealt with a lot of depth chart shenanigans in Week 1, but thankfully, we did not get one from Kyle Shanahan by way of Robert Saleh. Ji’Ayir played a total of two defensive snaps in Week 1, being relegated to a special teams role behind Marques Sigle and Jason Pinnock. Brown flashed at times last season but was inconsistent both on the field and in fantasy/IDP. There is absolutely no reason to keep Brown rostered in dynasty leagues, so redraft managers are advised to cut bait immediately if you haven’t already. The 49ers’ safeties that are starting are both strong options who should still be available to add, plug, and play for Week 2 and beyond.

E.J. Speed (LB – HOU)
It is still shocking to the IDP world that E.J. Speed, the LB6 in ffpg just a year ago, is now a fourth stringer. Yes, the fact that the Colts let him go and are now starting John Bachie should have told us something. Yes, the fact that he signed a one year deal worth a maximum of $5 million after back-to-back 100 tackle seasons should have been an indication that he’d be behind Azeez Al-Shaair and one of the Texans’ young linebackers. But to suggest that he would play just seven defensive snaps in Week 1 due to being a liability in pass coverage would have been laughable to some. Hence how often he was still drafted as an LB1 or LB2 in IDP leagues this offseason. Speed’s situation may improve if there is an injury ahead of him, but Christian Harris, who is younger and better in coverage, will likely get the tap first, regardless of who is hurt or out. Gamescript could lead to better snap rates, namely when the Texans are nursing a lead, but don’t chase it. Cut ties if you need to or leave him glued to benches for Week 2 and beyond.

Willie Gay Jr. (LB – MIA)
Despite being listed as the starter leading up to Week 1, Willie Gay played a grand total of zero defensive snaps in Week 1. His ‘ascension’ to the starting lineup came as a surprise to some after he flamed out in both Kansas City and New Orleans, but we had no reason not to take the ‘unofficial’ depth chart at face value when preparing for our fantasy drafts. Fast forward to Week 1, and it’s Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson dominating the snaps. Yes, this is what one would project if any of us were asked to predict the depth chart for this season, but this is yet another example of an offseason depth chart, especially in IDP, leading fantasy managers astray. Whatever the case, Gay can safely be dropped in leagues of all sizes. Look elsewhere for your Week 2 LB3.

Kyle Dugger (S – NE)
Kyle Dugger played just 11 percent of the New England Patriots’ defensive snaps in Week 1. He is stuck behind Jaylinn Hawkins and rookie Craig Woodson on the depth chart, and if the early returns suggest anything, this may be a season long quagmire. The coaching staff has praised the versatility, speed, and coverage ability of their two starters, the latter two of which Dugger has seen decline since a misdiagnosed high ankle sprain last season that eventually required surgery. Dugger is still just a season removed from being a top-15 option in IDP, but as we saw with Speed above, nothing is promised with a new regime or new team. Keep Dugger stashed in 16+ team leagues, but everyone else should cut ties and look for DB2/3 help elsewhere.

Raju Byfield is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Raju, check out his profile and follow him @FantasyContext.