IDP Fantasy Football Starts For Week 4: Nakobe Dean & More

We're three weeks in, and I'm starting to trust the numbers a little more. Although some of the results have been mixed, I’m still happy with my process thus far.

It’s the same process as always: find the offenses that keep feeding a certain position, then find the guy on the other side who's getting the snaps to take advantage. If you only have time to dig into one game this week, make it Chiefs-Raiders. It's all over this list.

Here are my favorite IDP fantasy football starts for Week 4.

Linebacker Starts In Week 4 IDP Fantasy Football

Nakobe Dean, LB, Las Vegas Raiders vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City can run the ball, and for Dean, that's a good thing. Through three weeks, the Chiefs are running it 43.8% of the time at 5.00 YPC (sixth) with a 47.8% rush success rate (fifth) and +0.03 EPA/rush. It's a pretty even mix of inside zone (23.5%) and outside zone (28.2%) with some power (15.3%) mixed in, and just over half their runs (50.6%) go inside. Backs are getting to the second level, and 358 of their 460 rushing yards have come after contact.

The passing game helps, too. KC leads the league with a 20.2% screen rate, throws short on 75.8% of dropbacks, and has a 5.77 ADoT. The Raiders are in zone for 81.3% of their snaps. That's a lot of catches in front of the linebackers. The Chiefs are allowing 19.0 off-ball LB tackles per game, third-most in the NFL.

Dean's gone 6, 10, then 12 tackles (11 solo last week). He's got a 15.5% tackle rate, 28 tackles, and 5 run stops, and he played every snap in Week 3. He’s the green dot, so he’s not leaving the field.

He's my LB3 this week.

Nick Bolton, LB, Kansas City Chiefs at Las Vegas Raiders

Yes, I went to Vegas with Elliss last week. I'm doing it again. The Raiders run it 47.4% of the time (fifth-highest) and still can't get anything going: 3.23 YPC (31st), a 29.0% rush success rate (32nd), and -0.25 EPA/rush (30th). They've been stuffed 27 times, and their 30.0% stuff rate is the worst in the league.

Those runs are dying at or near the line, which is where Bolton does his work. I just hope he cleans up the misses, as he has an 80.8% first-contact tackle rate and has 5 misses on the year. Las Vegas uses 21 personnel on 23.7% of snaps, sees heavy boxes 36.3% of the time (third-most), and runs inside on 51.1% of carries. They're giving up 18.3 off-ball LB tackles per game, fifth-most.

After a 4-tackle Week 1, Bolton's put up 13 and 11. He's at a 15.8% tackle rate with 28 tackles and 7 run stops. Once again, he’s a green-dot LB and isn’t leaving the field. Not even for a Klondike bar.

He's my LB9 this week.

Kaden Elliss, LB, New Orleans Saints vs. Atlanta Falcons (MNF)

Elliss is back for a second straight week, and I think this is the best LB matchup on the slate. Atlanta runs the ball more than anyone (52.6%), and unlike Vegas, they're actually efficient: 4.99 YPC (seventh), a 50.0% rush success rate (third), and 33.3 carries a game.

Outside zone is their bread and butter at 54.0% of runs (second-most). That stretches the play toward the sideline, and a linebacker who can run gets plenty of chances in pursuit. When they throw, it's mostly short stuff. The Falcons have the second-highest screen rate (20.0%), throw short 76.7% of the time, and have a 5.26 ADoT. In addition to that, New Orleans has been in zone for 86.6% of their snaps. Atlanta is giving up 19.7 off-ball LB tackles per game, most in the league. That’s a lot of potential trigger-and-rally tackles for Elliss.

Elliss has gone 9, 6, and 9 (8.0 per game) and hasn't missed a tackle yet. His 12.4% tackle rate is the lowest of this group, but he plays every snap.

He's my LB13 this week, as he has LB1 value.

Akeem Davis-Gaither, LB, Indianapolis Colts vs. Washington Commanders (London)

Washington runs a lot of plays (66.3 a game, sixth-most) and keeps the run game between the tackles. 65.5% of their carries go inside, the highest rate in the league, mostly outside zone (46.4%) and man/gap (20.2%). They don't run it well (4.13 YPC, 39.6% success rate), but they keep running it right at the linebackers, and they're allowing 19.0 off-ball LB tackles per game (tied for third-most).

Davis-Gaither leads this group with 29 tackles (9.7 per game) and a 15.6% tackle rate, and he's only missed one. The 7 tackles in Week 3 came in a game where the Colts played just 51 defensive snaps. He was out there for all of them, lined up in the box 89% of the time. Indy plays base 38.9% of the time and has allowed 4.87 YPC, so there's been plenty for its linebackers to do.

This one kicks off at 9:30 AM ET from London, so set your lineup Saturday night.

He's my LB17 and is a strong LB2.

Defensive Line Starts In Week 4 IDP Fantasy Football

Dallas Turner, EDGE, Minnesota Vikings vs. Miami Dolphins

Miami's giving up a 44.4% pressure rate (10th-highest) and an 8.3% sack rate (fifth-highest), so the pressure is actually getting home. Their right tackle spot has allowed 10 pressures and a 9.3% pressure rate, the most on that line. They also hold the ball. The Dolphins throw on 62.4% of plays with a 10.08 ADoT (fourth-deepest), and their QBs scramble on 12.0% of dropbacks, most in the league.

On the other side, Minnesota blitzes more than anybody (64.2% of snaps) and rushes four just 23.1% of the time. They lead the league with a 10.4% sack rate. With pressure coming from everywhere, Turner should get his share of one-on-ones.

Turner has 25 pressures (9, 12, 4), a 25.3% pressure rate, 3.5 sacks (3.5% sack rate), 2 TFLs, and a forced fumble, and he played 92.2% of snaps in Week 3. Last week was his worst game, and I expect a bounce-back here. Tackles won't carry him (10 so far), but Miami allows 11.0 edge tackles a game (seventh-most), and the Vikings' defense is on the field for 67.0 plays a game (third-most). Turner has turned into a set-it-and-forget-it DL.

Tuli Tuipulotu, EDGE, Los Angeles Chargers at Seattle Seahawks

Seattle's right tackle spot again. It's allowed 10 pressures and a 9.9% pressure rate through three weeks, more than twice any other spot on that line, and the Seahawks are giving up a 45.5% pressure rate as a team (fifth-highest).

Seattle only has a 3.0% sack rate allowed (29th), so the pressures haven't been turning into sacks. I'm going with the pressure numbers anyway. Teams have blitzed Seattle 41.6% of the time (second-most), but the Chargers rush four on 73.5% of snaps, so Tuipulotu is going to have to beat his man. So far, he has.

His pressures have gone up every week (4, 5, 6), and he's at 15 total with a 22.1% pressure rate. His sacks came last week, but he's got 12 tackles and 7 run stops, played 81% of snaps in on the year, and lines up on both sides, so he should see plenty of time on Abraham Lucas (RT). Seattle gives up 11.0 edge tackles a game (seventh-most), and the Chargers have been on the field for 65 plays a game, so the floor is decent.

He’s a borderline DL1 this week.

Deone Walker, DT, Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots

Everybody's starting Gregory Rousseau this week. Walker might be a guy nobody's talking about. New England is giving up a 48.1% pressure rate, second-highest in the NFL, with 51 pressures and an 8.5% sack rate (fourth-highest). The right tackle has had a rough start (11 pressures, 10.5%), but the interior hasn't been much better, allowing 18 pressures. The right guard has given up 8 of them (7.6%).

The Patriots also give up 13.3 DT tackles per game, second-most in the league, which is a nice floor for an interior guy. They run man/gap on 44.6% of carries (second-most), so a lot of their runs come right at him.

Walker has 13 pressures (2, 7, 4), a 16.9% pressure rate, a sack, and 2 TFL. These are solid numbers for an IDL. He played 70.3% of snaps in Week 3, 88% of them on the interior, and has 10 tackles with 3 run stops. Buffalo rushes four 75% of the time, so these pressures aren't coming off blitzes, and he’s beating guys one-on-one.

Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Dallas Cowboys at Houston Texans

Houston's 39.0% pressure rate allowed is right in the middle of the league. What sells me is the volume. The Texans drop back 45.3 times a game, second-most in the NFL, and throw on 67.3% of plays (fourth-highest). They've given up 53 pressures (fourth-most) and 10 sacks (tied for second-most). Defenses have blitzed them just 17.6% of the time, the lowest rate in the league, so most of that pressure is coming from four-man rushes. The right tackle has allowed 11 pressures (8.1%), and both guards have allowed 12 each.

With Ezeiruaku, I'm starting with the tackles. He has 17 (5.7 per game) and a 12.9% tackle rate, well ahead of the other D-linemen in this article (6.5% to 8.2%), plus 5 run stops. Dallas has allowed 5.04 YPC and been on the field for 64.3 plays a game, so he'll have his chances. He played 77.6% of snaps in Week 3, and almost all of them (98.5%) came on the edge.

The pass rush is what worries me. His pressures have dropped from 5 to 4 to 2, and he has half a sack on a 19.3% pressure rate. Houston also allows just 8.3 edge tackles a game (21st), so his floor is coming from his own workload more than the matchup. I'm starting him for the tackles and hoping the pressures come back against a team that throws this much.

Defensive Back Starts In Week 4 IDP Fantasy Football

Dillon Thieneman, S, Chicago Bears vs. New York Jets

No team gives up more safety tackles than the Jets. They're allowing 19.7 per game. That's where their offense sends the ball. 55.8% of their runs go outside (second-most), and they throw short on 73.7% of their passes (seventh). They aren't doing it well: 3.26 YPC (30th), -0.24 EPA/rush (28th), and a 27.3% stuff rate (second-highest). But plenty of those plays end with a defensive back making the tackle, and 213 of their 277 rushing yards have come after contact, and they also run 65.3 plays a game (eighth-most).

Thieneman hasn't come off the field. He's played 100% of Chicago's snaps in all three games, with 23 tackles (10, 7, 6), 15 of them solo, and a 14.4% tackle rate. That's a strong number for a safety who plays deep 58.1% of the time. He's added a PBU every week and picked off his first pass last week.

The trend is the concern. His tackles have dipped each week, and his role got deeper in Week 3: 76.6% deep safety, an 8.5% box rate (26.9% on the season), and 23.4% at the line of scrimmage. Chicago plays single-high 62.2% of the time (seventh-most), and he's the one in the post. The Bears defense is also on the field for just 53.3 plays a game, fewest in the league. On the other hand, they've allowed 5.1 YPC (second-most), so runs are getting to the last line of defense, and that's him.

He doesn't need box snaps to produce in this spot. With every snap and the best safety-tackle matchup on the board, I'm fine starting him even from a deep alignment.

Jeremy Chinn, S, Las Vegas Raiders vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City helps safeties in two ways. Their backs get into the second level, and their passing game stays short. The Chiefs are at 5.0 YPC (sixth) with a 47.8% rush success rate, and 358 of their 460 rushing yards have come after contact. They also have the league's highest screen rate (20.2%) and a 5.77 ADoT. Screens and dump-offs leave the ball carrier out in space, and that's usually where the safety makes the tackle. KC is allowing 17 safety tackles per game, third-most.

Chinn had his best game last week with 8 tackles (7 solo) and a sack, after 5 and 4 the first two weeks. He's at a 9.2% tackle rate and has two forced fumbles. He's played every snap, lined up at the line of scrimmage on 54.2% of his Week 3 snaps, and has a 34.2% box rate on the season. Vegas is in nickel 83.7% of the time, and Chinn's the safety they bring down.

Derwin James, S, Los Angeles Chargers at Seattle Seahawks

No team runs outside more than Seattle. 60.3% of their carries go wide, mostly outside zone (46.2%). They're in 12 personnel 31.3% of the time (seventh-most) and 21 personnel 24.6%, and defenses have loaded the box against them 34.1% of the time (fourth-most). Wide runs out of those looks bring safeties up toward the line. Seattle allows 15.0 safety tackles a game.

James lined up at the line of scrimmage on 82.5% of his Week 3 snaps, the highest of any safety in this article. He's at a 34.4% slot rate and a 36.4% box rate on the season (44.4% last week) and plays deep only 14.9% of the time. He has 21 tackles (7/gm) and an 11.4% tackle rate. The Chargers are in dime 19% of the time (fifth-most), and he moves all over the formation in those packages.

I will say, I’m worried about the trend: 10, 7, then 4 tackles.

But his role hasn't changed, and in this matchup I'm sticking with him.

Amani Hooker, S, Tennessee Titans at Baltimore Ravens

Remember Hufanga last week? Same idea here. Baltimore uses 12 personnel on 36.5% of snaps (second-most) and 13 personnel on 18.0% (third-most). More tight ends usually means safeties playing closer to the box.

The Ravens run it 49.4% of the time (second) and do it well: 5.18 YPC (second), a 51.5% rush success rate (second), +0.05 EPA/rush (third), and 7 rushing TDs. They use a lot of outside zone (46.6%) and counter (11.4%, second-most), which gets backs moving sideways and into the second level. The knock is that Baltimore allows only 12.3 safety tackles per game (19th), so I'm betting on Hooker's alignment and how often the Ravens run.

Hooker has 22 tackles (10, 6, 6), an 11.6% tackle rate, an interception, and 2 PBUs. He played every snap in Week 3, was in the box 55.2% of the time (49.7% on the season), and lined up at the line of scrimmage on 65.5% of snaps. Tennessee plays two-high 62.8% of the time, but Hooker is usually the one who comes down.

Published Sep 30, 2026, 10:50 AM ETUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 3:10 PM ET