Cardinals D/ST or Colts D/ST: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 1 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Start the Colts — the lineup-share and opponent scoring edges are too wide to ignore.

Colts D/ST is started in more leagues (started rank 27 to 32) and faces the lower-scoring offense (26.5 implied points to 28.5). the Cardinals's edge is opponent giveaways, 3.8 sacks allowed to 2.6. The gap is narrow.

Cardinals D/ST

D/STARIvs LAC

Projected Points

Toss-Up

Colts D/ST

D/STINDvs BAL

Projected Points

Sit

Why Cardinals D/ST

Toss-Up

Toss-up — a middling defensive matchup (No. 28 this week): LAC gives up 3.8 sacks and 1.2 turnovers a game, and Vegas has them at 28.5 points.

  • LAC's offense gives up 3.8 sacks and 1.2 turnovers a game (2025), well above league average.
  • Vegas has LAC at 28.5 points as 11.5-point favorites.
  • Under-started: only 0% of leagues have them in, 32nd among defenses, against a No. 28 matchup.

Why Colts D/ST

Sit

Sit — a bottom-tier defensive matchup this week (No. 30): Vegas has BAL at 26.5 points, and 3.0 pts projected vs BAL.

  • BAL's offense gives up 2.6 sacks and 1.4 turnovers a game (2025), near league average.
  • Vegas has BAL at 26.5 points as 3.5-point favorites.
  • Over-started: 1% of leagues have them in, 27th among defenses, against a No. 30 matchup.

Head-to-head stats

MetricCardinals D/STColts D/ST
Projected points
Projection rankProj.DST28Proj.DST30
Started in0% of leagues1% of leagues
Opponent sacks allowed / game3.8(2025)2.6(2025)
Opponent turnovers / game1.2(2025)1.4(2025)
Opponent implied total28.526.5
Home / awayAwayHome

Signal breakdown

  • 3.4 vs 3.0 projected PPR pointsCardinals D/ST +
  • Started rank 32 vs 27 (0% vs 1% of leagues)Colts D/ST +
  • 3.8 sacks / 1.2 TO vs 2.6 sacks / 1.4 TO per game allowedCardinals D/ST +
  • Opponent implied 28.5 vs 26.5 pointsColts D/ST +
  • Away vs HomeColts D/ST +

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