When taking a look at Week 5’s notable defensive players who delivered standout performances, let’s go over what made Troy Dye, Nik Bonitto, and more shine on Sunday for your IDP fantasy football team.
From my experience managing fantasy rosters, some players consistently get overlooked in league formats, but these defensive stars proved why checking back on their coverage matters even when the focus shifts to offensive takeaways.
Keep in mind that a real expert breakdown is not just about generic advice you’d spit out without context it’s about understanding the exact matchups and personalized strategies tailored to your roster needs.
Could you wish for a Team Breakdown that actually helps you navigate these performances? Now, with the right analytical approach, you break down each player’s impact rather than settling for surface-level observations, which is what separates winning fantasy managers from those who miss critical waiver wire opportunities in their league.
Top Scorers
Among the IDP leaders from Week 5’s Sunday games, Troy Dye of the Los Angeles Chargers, Zack Baun from Philadelphia, and Denver’s Nik Bonitto emerged as must-watch performers who should be rostered and utilized across a lot of leagues based on their explosive production.
Dye had 11 tackles during his team’s loss to the Commanders, with three going for losses (TFLs), bringing his season total to 36 tackles through five weeks alongside one sack, which has been a steady option so far for managers seeking consistent linebacker production.
Baun recorded 12 tackles and one sack with two QB hits overall against the Broncos, marking back-to-back games with sacks and pushing him to 42 tackles on the year numbers that at least make him a good fantasy play even if his name does not stand out in casual discussions.
Meanwhile, Bonitto only posted four tackles but finished with three QB hits and an impressive 2.5 sacks, extending his streak to all but one game this season with seven sacks in total, and while his 17 tackles don’t jump off the page, the sack upside alone justifies his roster spot for those chasing pass rusher dominance have you considered how these explosive one-game performances can swing your week, especially when leaders like Bonitto deliver exactly what your lineup needs?
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Top Tacklers
After Sunday’s Week 5 outing, emerging rookie talents like Dallas’ Shemar James and Baltimore’s Teddye Buchanan each had 15 total tackles, while veterans Bobby Wagner from Washington posted 14 tackles and Miami’s Jordyn Brooks finished with 13 tackles plus a half sack, showing why these defenders should be on every IDP radar now before their value continues to rise in a hurry.
James, playing in just his second game of his young career after recording only five tackles in his first performance, delivered a great showing that could make managers act quickly if they want to add this explosive talent at this point in the season.
Buchanan, another rookie whose upside will definitely get attention, now has 40 tackles on the season and has posted at least six tackles in four straight games, proving he’s another IDP on the rise worth starting in most formats.
From my experience managing league rosters, would you overlook Wagner’s consistency when he has double-digit tackles in every game this season with 56 tackles overall, making him a must-start IDP every week even without any other splash plays.
Those tackle numbers alone would justify his roster spot? Meanwhile, Brooks continues showing high IDP upside with 57 tackles this season, and he is just about a lock for starting lineups across every competitive league at this point, especially when career trajectories for these young defenders suggest their performance numbers will only climb as the games progress.
Multiple Sacks
After Bonitto’s dominant showing, several other defensive players delivered multiple sacks on Sunday, creating intriguing IDP rostering decisions for fantasy managers navigating deeper leagues.
Arizona’s Josh Sweat recorded two sacks among his four tackles, extending his consistency to at least one sack in four straight games now, bringing his season total to five overall though with only 12 tackles, he’s clearly sack dependent, but absolutely worth consideration in a good amount of setups because of that reliability. From my experience managing IDP rosters, Washington’s Dorance Armstrong presents a bit better option than Sweat, as he posted two sacks among three tackles and has delivered at least one sack in all but one game this season (five overall) plus 22 tackles, making him more well-rounded.
What about guys with some upside but the lowest floor? Cleveland’s Maliek Collins had two sacks for his lone tackles, adding to his 1.5 sacks from back in week 3 (3.5 overall), but with just 12 tackles, he’s got the lowest value of the players we’ve discussed here. Baltimore’s Trey Hendrickson showcased his upside with two sacks and a forced fumble among his two tackles, now sitting at four sacks, 13 tackles, and that fumble shows there’s explosive potential that makes him worth monitoring.
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Tennessee’s Jeffery Simmons offers a more balanced profile with 1.5 sacks among eight tackles on Sunday (3.5 sacks and 22 tackles overall), positioning him as a solid option, while Washington’s Von Miller (1.5 sacks, three tackles, seven tackles overall) remains just an option in deeper leagues. Dallas’ James Houston rounds out this group with 1.5 sacks among three tackles (3.5 sacks, 11 tackles overall), providing some value not a ton either, so fantasy managers must weigh his boom or bust nature carefully.
Other IDP Standouts
Detroit’s Jack Campbell delivered 11 total tackles with a forced fumble, pushing his season count to 48 tackles—enough value to start him in most IDP leagues without hesitation.
New Orleans’ Demario Davis posted 10 tackles and a forced fumble plus a pass defensed (48 overall this season), making him another solid weekly option you can trust. Baltimore’s Trenton Simpson had a sack among his 10 tackles (21 for the year), and while this is probably a bit of an outlier performance, he’s still worth adding in a lot of IDP leagues now.
Houston’s Jalen Pitre showcased boom or bust potential with four tackles and two interceptions to help the Texans secure a lopsided win (22 tackles and three picks overall), offering some IDP ownership appeal despite the inconsistency. New Orleans’ Kool Aid McKinstry exploded with two interceptions, three passes defensed, and four tackles on Sunday (20 tackles overall, though most other stats are from this week), and he’s going to gain traction after this outing.
Tampa Bay’s Lavonte David tallied nine tackles and picked off a pass (34 tackles, 1.5 sacks, the pick, and two passes defensed overall), demonstrating his well-rounded IDP value.
Miami’s Minkah Fitzpatrick contributed an interception and nine tackles (33 tackles and the pick plus three passes defensed for the year), while Washington’s Mike Sainristil had a pick, nine tackles, and two passes defensed (29 tackles, two picks, three passes defensed overall) he’s rising as an IDP option. New Orleans’ Jordan Howden went for four tackles but scooped up a fumble and returned it for a touchdown (86 yards), though with just eight tackles over four games, he’s only a deep league option for now.