Fantasy Football IDP Start/Sit Lineup Advice: Week 13 (2025)

Week 12 of the NFL season had its ups and downs. We saw some big plays on both sides of the ball, but the injury monster continues to ravage NFL locker rooms. Week 13 is here, and Turkey Day football gave us some exciting afternoon games, while Thursday night was disappointing with whatever the Baltimore Ravens were doing on offense. All in all, it was a great day of football that the schedule makers should be proud of. 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 13

Start em

Maliek Collins (DT – CLE)
Maliek Collins showed up in Week 12, racking up two solos, one assist, 2.5 sacks, two tackles for loss, and one fumble recovery. Collins is up to an elite 6.5 sacks, and should be treated as a DT1/DL3 option where needed for a plus Week 13 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.

Brandon Dorlus (DE – ATL)
Brandon Dorlus showed up in Week 12, notching two solos, two assists, 1.5 sacks, and one tackle for loss. Dorlus has caught fire for the Falcons, stacking an incredible 4.5 sacks in three of his last four games despite playing end in an odd front. Tap Dorlus as a DL3 option as long as he is rolling, including for this week’s tasty matchup against the New York Jets.

Minkah Fitzpatrick (S – MIA)
Minkah showed up in Week 11, racking up six solos, three assists, and two tackles for loss. Fitzpatrick has tallied six solos in consecutive weeks, pushing him back into the top-12 conversation for a busy Week 13. Start Minkah as a DB1 option for a plus Week 13 matchup against the New Orleans Saints.

Marcus Jones (CB – NE)
Jones was at it again in Week 12, reeling off three solos, two assists, one interception, one pass defended, and one touchdown. Jones has been elite for IDP managers this season, checking in as the DB21 in fppg. He is a boom or bust proposition as a bulk of his production has come from splash plays (one sack, three interceptions, 11 passes defended, six tackles for loss, and one touchdown), but still makes for a solid top-25 option. Start him with confidence for a plus Week 13 matchup against the New York Giants.

Ji’Ayir Brown (S – SF)
Ji’Ayir Brown was excellent on Monday night, stacking four solos, one assist, two interceptions, and two passes defended. The picks were the first of the season for Brown, who has been more of a low-end DB3 since taking back his starting job, but games like this serve to highlight his DB2 upside. Tap Ji’Ayir as a top-25 option for Week 13, thanks to a plus matchup against Shedeur Sanders and the Cleveland Browns.

Sit em

Patrick O’Connell (LB – SEA)
Patrick O’Connell got the start in Week 12 and responded with four solos, five assists, one sack, and one tackle for loss. O’Connell has been a special teamer this season but was thrust into action due to injuries to both Ernest Jones and Tyrice Knight, both of whom were inactive for Week 12. O’Connell will go back to reserve duties this week, with Ernest Jones cleared early this week to be back in action against Minnesota. Look elsewhere for your Week 13 LB3.

Isaiah Stalbird (LB – NO)
Isaiah Stalbird was excellent in Week 12, racking up two solos, three assists, one sack, and one tackle for loss. Stalbird played just 11 percent of the snaps, making him someone who is safe to ignore for Week 13 despite the excellent showing against the Atlanta Falcons. Dynasty managers can file his name away for later after the impressive leaping sack, but those in redraft leagues are advised to look elsewhere for your Week 13 LB3/4.

Derick Hall (DE – SEA)
Derrick Hall showed up in Week 12, tallying two solos, one assist, one sack, one tackle for loss, and one pass defended. The sack was the first of the season for Hall, who has been in a reserve role behind DeMarcus Lawrence and Uchenna Nwosu. Hall has talent in his own right, but has simply not been productive enough in his rotational role to be a fantasy option in any league size. Look elsewhere for your Week 13 DL3/flex.

Darius Alexander (DT/DE – NYG)
Darius showed up in Week 12, racking up two solos, two assists, two sacks, and two tackles for loss. The sacks were Alexander’s first of the season and coincided with him playing a season-high 54 percent of the snaps. Stash the rookie where possible in dynasty leagues, but those in redraft leagues should keep him glued to benches despite the strong Week 12 production.

Jaycee Horn (CB – CAR)
Jaycee Horn showed up in Week 12, racking up one solo, two interceptions, and two passes defended. Jaycee doesn’t do much for fantasy managers when he’s not hauling in interceptions, so he is not much of an IDP option, regardless of league size or settings. Currently, in the league’s concussion protocol, feel free to look elsewhere for Week 13, regardless of whether he is cleared for Week 13 or not.

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