We're into the meat of the schedule, and this is the time of the year when owners really have to weigh their options when it comes to cutting players that are on byes.
Personally, I'm from the camp where I'd rather use my bench exclusively to stash running backs or high-upside QBs or WRs. This presents a problem when IDP guys are on byes, because I would either have to invest a bench spot or cut my usual starter.
There's a particular thought process that should occur at this juncture. If your player on a bye is clearly better than the options on the wire, then you should probably cut a bench back and hope the guy he's handcuffed to doesn't go down to an injury. On the other hand, if there really isn't much of a drop-off from the guy you own and the players on the wire, you probably should just swap them out. I would suggest making the move on Saturday, because when you cut him on that day, he'll go on waivers for the week. That means if someone really wants the guy you cut, there will have to be a claim made.
There are loads of IDP formats, so feel free to ask me on Twitter (@MikeSGallagher) for some help with your lineup. Here are the Week 5 IDP Rankings:
Linebackers | Defensive Backs | Defensive Linemen | |
1 | James Laurinaitis | Kam Chancellor | Jason Pierre-Paul |
2 | Derrick Johnson | Eric Berry | J.J. Watt |
3 | D'Qwell Jackson | Roman Harper | Calais Campbell |
4 | Daryl Washington | Bernard Pollard | Chris Long |
5 | Donald Butler | Antoine Bethea | Cameron Wake |
6 | NaVorro Bowman | LaRon Landry | Jared Allen |
7 | Patrick Willis | Eric Weddle | Jason Babin |
8 | Paul Posluszny | George Wilson | Robert Quinn |
9 | Ray Lewis | Morgan Burnett | Mario Williams |
10 | Curtis Lofton | William Moore | Julius Peppers |
11 | Sean Weatherspoon | Charles Woodson | Kamerion Wimbley |
12 | Akeem Ayers | T.J. Ward | Jeremy Mincey |
13 | David Harris | Antrel Rolle | Justin Tuck |
14 | Karlos Dansby | Yeremiah Bell | Chris Clemons |
15 | Brian Cushing | Jordan Babineaux | Trent Cole |
16 | Pat Angerer | Pat Chung | Justin Smith |
17 | Jerod Mayo | Charles Tillman | Chandler Jones |
18 | D.J. Smith | Alterraun Verner | John Abraham |
19 | Nick Barnett | Dawan Landry | Elvis Dumervil |
20 | K.J. Wright | Earl Thomas | Cameron Jordan |
21 | Chad Greenway | Adrian Wilson | Haloti Ngata |
22 | London Fletcher | Cortland Finnegan | Carlos Dunlap |
23 | Stephen Nicolas | Malcolm Jenkins | Mark Anderson |
24 | Colin McCarthy | Atari Bigby | Derrick Morgan |
25 | DeMeco Ryans | DeAngelo Hall | Charles Johnson |
26 | Wesley Woodyard | Patrick Peterson | Osi Umenyiora |
27 | Von Miller | Quintin Mikell | Greg Hardy |
28 | Jonathan Beason | Reggie Nelson | Will Smith |
29 | Nick Barnett | Antoine Winfield | Brian Robison |
30 | Luke Kuechly | Michael Griffin | Darnell Dockett |