Fantasy Football Week 5 IDP Streamers: Players from the Lions, Ravens, and More

Injuries start accumulating in Week 1, and a month into the season, every team has guys missing across the depth chart. That can affect IDP fantasy leagues more because guys will randomly be missing with much less fanfare than a running back or wide receiver would get, making it tough to keep up with who is in the lineup each week.

We are always here looking for IDP players who have good matchups because the best fantasy guys change every week. Defensive stats are much less consistent week to week than offensive numbers, so finding the top IDP players is a tough task.

Let's look at players at all three levels of the defense who have good matchups in Week 5. We'll focus on the guys who are widely available in fantasy leagues and can be picked up and inserted into your lineup.

Check out FantasySP's defensive rankings to find the players and teams with the best matchups each week.

Defensive Linemen

Arizona Cardinals vs. Tennessee Titans

Tennessee offers a good matchup for opposing defensive linemen. Cameron Ward has been sacked 17 times, more than any other quarterback, and the Titans' offensive line has graded out below average in both pass blocking and run blocking (according to ESPN).

The matchup is good, but picking the player might be a little tougher. Arizona has four guys at defensive end and four at defensive tackle who get on the field regularly; they are all available in most fantasy leagues.

On the edge, Josh Sweat is the big name. He signed a big contract to come over from Philadelphia in the offseason after 33 sacks the past four seasons, and Sweat already has three sacks this year. He might be owned in your league, but he still has plenty of availability.

Otherwise, Zaven Collins, Baron Browning, and Jordan Burch have gotten chances to rush the passer. None of the three has had much success in his career or in 2025, but Collins is the other guy to grab if Sweat isn't available; he had five sacks last season.

On the interior, Calais Campbell is the guy you want. He has three sacks this season, tied for the team lead, and still does his thing at 39 years old. Darius Robinson was a first-round pick last year but played only six games, picking up one sack. He has another sack this season.

Dalvin Tomlinson has averaged around three sacks per season for the last six years, and Dante Stills had eight total sacks in his first two years. I'm not looking to use either of them in fantasy. Campbell is the real treat with Robinson an OK backup if you just need a guy with a good matchup.

Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans

C.J. Stroud has dealt with offensive line problems since he entered the league. Last year, he was sacked the second most (52 times); Stroud has been taken down 10 times this season, the seventh most. Houston ranks 28th in pass block win rate, not looking any better than they have the past few years.

Baltimore is dealing with a lot of injuries on defense, including losing Nnamdi Madubuike for the rest of the season. That's part of the team's struggle to stop opponents, as they've given up 41 points to the Bills, 38 to the Lions, and 37 to the Chiefs.

They can still take advantage of a weak opponent, so there are a few guys who are worthy of fantasy consideration. Rushing from the edge, the top snaps have gone to Tavius Robinson, Mike Green, and Odafe Oweh. Kyle Van Noy would also be part of the group, but he has been out with injury since Week 2 (he could return for this one).

Robinson has played the most snaps and picked up two sacks. Oweh had 10 sacks last season but hasn't gotten one this year; he has played a little less than half of the defensive snaps. Green has been on the field more often than Oweh, though he hasn't picked up a sack yet.

Robinson is the guy to add from that group, with both Green and Oweh OK backup plans. If Van Noy plays, he would be a better pickup than Green or Oweh, as Van Noy led the group in snaps during Week 1. He is a bit of a risky player given his injury worries.

Defensive tackle has been hit hardest by injury, so the players left over aren't great fantasy options. Brent Urban, John Jenkins, and Travis Jones all rarely get to the quarterback; they're being forced into action by the absences of Madubuike and Broderick Washington Jr.

Linebackers

Minnesota Vikings @ Cleveland Browns

Cleveland continues as one of the best linebacker targets because they run among the most offensive plays in football, a multi-year trend that gives our linebackers more chances at tackles (and sacks and interceptions). The Browns are tied for the third-most plays run, averaging 66.3 per game.

The Vikings have two linebackers who play most of the time: Eric Wilson and Ivan Pace Jr. Both players are available in most fantasy leagues, with Pace slightly more owned. Pace leads the team with 33 tackles, and Wilson is second with 26.

There's not a lot else to say here: these are two productive linebackers playing against a team that is likely to supply them with a lot of chances to rack up stats. Pace is my first choice to add, but Wilson is also a positive player this week and a good Play B.

New York Jets vs. Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys are one of the few teams that has run more plays than the Browns, as Dallas is averaging 68.3 plays per game, the most in the league. They are another group with a years-long stretch of the same high ranking, so we can count on them to provide opposing linebackers with opportunities.

Jamien Sherwood has played every defensive snap for the Jets this season, and he is the guy to add if he's available; he is owned in about half of leagues. If you can't get him, the next guy would be Kiko Mauigoa. Mauigoa has been forced into action by several injuries, and he is a fantasy benefactor in this case against Dallas.

Sherwood might be a worthy keeper if you're able to grab him, a guy who can fill a linebacker spot each week. Mauigoa is a backup plan who will be on the field if nothing else.

Defensive Backs

Detroit Lions @ Cincinnati Bengals

I was torn between putting Detroit's defensive backs or their defensive line on our list; either works well. The Bengals rank last in pass block win rate, letting pass rushers get home, which leads to both sacks and errant throws.

We're focusing on the latter here. Jake Browning has thrown five interceptions, the third most in the league. That's despite not playing the first five quarters before Joe Burrow got hurt. Browning has been very giving to opposing defenses.

Terrion Arnold and Amik Robertson are the cornerbacks who have been on the field most and are likely to continue seeing the most snaps. D.J. Reed has led the way for corners, but he sustained an injury and is unlikely to play in Week 5 (he might go on IR). Arnold has 21 tackles and two defended passes, while Robert has seven tackles and one defended pass.

At safety, Brian Branch is probably owned in your league, but if he happens to be available, he is the guy to add. Kerby Joseph is available in most leagues, and he has also been a productive player, intercepting two passes.

Arnold and Branch are very appealing players this week, while Robertson and Joseph are decent backup plans if the first option isn't available.

Indianapolis Colts vs. Las Vegas Raiders

Geno Smith has thrown more interceptions than any other quarterback through four weeks (seven). Smith has never been interception-prone in the past, throwing 21 as a rookie in 2013 but then never topping 15, which he had last season. It might just be randomness in a small sample.

Since he is struggling with turnovers, though, we can take advantage with opposing fantasy players, and that benefits the Colts in Week 5. Indianapolis has been surprisingly good, and they figure to have a big advantage in this one.

At cornerback, the guys to grab are Charvarius Ward and Xavien Howard. The third spot is in question, as Kenny Moore II missed last week and is questionable for Week 5. Mekhi Blackmon and Mike Hilton have otherwise covered snaps.

Safety Nick Cross is probably owned in your league, but if not, he's a great pickup and maybe a keeper. Cam Bynum is the other player who is a good backup plan behind Cross, as Bynum has played pretty much every meaningful snap and will be on the field.

Ward and Cross are very good pickups if they are available, while Howard and Bynum are fine Plan Bs who can fill in for a week with a good matchup.