Week 4 IDP Fantasy Football Rankings

Chris Gregory gives his IDP rankings and the top streamers to start along with defensive players to sit for Week 4 of the 2021 fantasy football season.

It's another week and another series of breakouts and injuries for IDP managers to consider. We will first start with the biggest breakout of this season so far, Logan Wilson. Last week, the Bengals' linebacker was our IDP Streamer of the Week, and he came through with two interceptions and 14 total tackles. That production not only put him on the radar for a lot of people who weren't reading these articles, but it also exposed the Pittsburgh Steelers' offense as one to exploit in fantasy. Wilson will not be the only linebacker to put up big stats against this incredibly limited offense, so be mindful of what LB plays them each week.

On the injury front, there are several boo-boos worth noting. The biggest of those was Blake Martinez, who has been a perennial top-five fantasy linebacker for years but is now out for the season. Tae Crowder replaced Martinez's production for one week, but the former Mr. Irrelevant shouldn't yet be trusted to do so consistently on the Giants' defense. Beyond Martinez, fantasy fans should note that Jessie Bates III is unavailable this week, Justin Hollins is done for the year, and several IDP stars are questionable (T.J. Watt, Jordan Poyer, and Derwin James Jr.).

Considering this laundry list of losses and potential issues, even the worst fantasy manager in existence has to realize it may be time to start looking for a replacement or a streamer. And yes, I am thinking of someone specific when I mention the worst manager in existence. He is a person who shall remain nameless (Ryan) and whose social media profile I will not share (@RyanlovesSFaulkner2bits on Twitter). No matter how hard you ask, I won't share his Reddit handle (Ryeguyisacutiepie13), either. He is a decent man whose only crimes are not learning how to properly draft or manage a fantasy team and Burglary, okay?! So stop asking... Now, with that covered, let's get to our weekly ranks. Shall we?

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Top-30 Fantasy Defensive Linemen of the Week

DL Streamer of the Week: Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys

Parsons is our "Streamer of the Week," primarily to put you on notice that he's eligible as a fantasy DL on most platforms now. The Penn State product gained this DL eligibility when the Cowboys used him to Demarcus Lawrence as their primary edge rusher. However, once Lawrence is back, you can expect Parsons to return to his old hybrid-linebacker role. Once Parsons is back in a more dynamic spot, he will move into DL1 territory for us. There is T.J. Watt caliber upside here in dynasty leagues if this Nittany Lion keeps his DL status.

As for his Week 4 prospects, Parson's matchup with the Panthers isn't as bad as you may initially think. While Carolina's offensive line stands 14th in Adjusted Sack Ratio, Sam Darnold is still fumble-prone, and the game script in this contest should skew in Parson's favor. With the Panthers missing Christian McCaffrey and the Cowboys' offense able to score on anyone, expect Carolina to give Parsons plenty of shots at a strip-sack in an aerial contest.

DL Fade of the Week: Chandler Jones, Arizona Cardinals

Do not take our "fade" of Jones to mean you absolutely must bench him this week. The veteran has proven his doubters wrong before, and he is always a threat to get a sack or a turnover no matter the matchup. He should also see plenty of sack opportunities against a Rams offense that averages 31.3 pass attempts per game. The game should be a shootout, and that alone makes Jones a DL2 in most leagues.

With those good things said, there are reasons the Syracuse alum falls out of our DL1-tier this week. Primary amongst our concerns is the fact the Rams' offensive line has limited opponents' star pass rushers (Shaquil Barrett, Khalil Mack, and Deforest Buckner) to just 12 tackles, three QB hits, and zero sacks across three games so far. It also doesn't help that Matthew Stafford has averaged just 2.3 sacks per game in his career, despite playing behind some bad Detroit lines. Behind the Rams' sturdy unit, Stafford's sack rate has improved to just one sack per game.

Stafford's quick release and the Rams' solid blocking unit/scheme have already caused problems for elite pass rushers. Jones may not be any different than those stars that came before him. Start Jones as a DL2, knowing all he needs is one big play, but manage your expectations this week.

Top-30 Fantasy Linebackers of the Week

LB Streamer of the Week: C.J. Mosley, New York Jets

This week's Jets v. Titans matchup is oozing with fantasy potential for those in the trenches, specifically Derrick Henry and New York's run-stoppers. The Titans are currently the seventh-most run-oriented offense in the NFL, and they have ramped that up the past two weeks by giving Henry an incredible 31.5 rush attempts per game. That kind of rushing focus should offer terrific tackle opportunities for Mosley if he can manage to bring the big back down.

For those who think the Titans' inconsistent defense could make this game more competitive than we think, remember that the Jets sport the NFL's second-worst Adjusted Sack Rate, and Pro Football Focus ranks their passing attack as the third-worst in the league. Expect the Jets offense to struggle regardless of how Tennessee's defense plays, allowing the Titans to control the pace. That script should be great for Mosley's fantasy stock.

LB Fade of the Week: Jayon Brown, Tennessee Titans

While C.J. Mosley has a great matchup in this game, the same cannot be said of his contemporary on the Titans (Jayon Brown). The UCLA product is struggling with a hamstring injury that limited him to just 16% of the Titans' snaps last week, and now Mike Vrabel is calling Brown's backup (David Long Jr.) a "starter" who has earned more opportunities. The Titans are treating Long like a starter, too, playing him on 100% of the snaps last week while rotating Brown with Rashaan Evans.

As long as the Titans refer to Long as a starter and continue to limit Brown's snaps, you cannot trust this veteran in fantasy. Bench the former Bruin until you see him get starter caliber snaps multiple games in a row.

Top-30 Fantasy Defensive Backs of the Week

DB Streamer of the Week: Trevon Diggs, Dallas Cowboys

Our love for Diggs this week has little to do with his hot start to the season, during which he's secured an interception in each game. In all honesty, with how fluky interceptions are and how mercurial quarterbacks can be, Diggs' hot streak is actually a reason to worry about him in fantasy. As his star shines, quarterbacks will begin to avoid Diggs and give him fewer fantasy opportunities.  However, it will be hard for the Panthers to avoid Diggs if he shadows D.J. Moore as is expected.

Sam Darnold has had eyes only for Moore to start the year, targeting the Maryland product on 28.97% of his passes for a total of 31 total looks in three games. That total has come in three contests where the Panthers either controlled the entire pace of the game or remained competitive. We should expect Moore to match or exceed his average targets this week in what should be a shootout in Dallas, and we know Darnold has forced throws into blanket coverage in the past. While the odds seem against Diggs securing an interception for a fourth straight contest, this game is set up to feed the former Alabama standout with several prime fantasy opportunities.

DB Fade of the Week: John Johnson III, Cleveland Browns

This past spring, we tabbed Johnson III as a player whose change in scenery (moving from Los Angeles to Cleveland) could hurt his fantasy stock. Key amongst our concerns was the fact that Sean McVay's Rams defenses have routinely created fantasy stars out of no-name safeties and linebackers, and the worry that Johnson III may not thrive once outside of such a fantasy-friendly scheme.

Through three games, our concerns appear founded. Johnson III has zero sacks, zero turnovers, zero tackles for a loss, just one pass deflection, and only ten total tackles. To make matters even worse, Johnson now finds himself matched up against one of the more efficient offenses in the NFL. Kirk Cousins has zero turnovers through three games, and he's had only two "turnover worthy plays," according to Pro Football Focus. This Vikings offense offers a struggling Johnson III little hope of a big play, and he needs one badly.

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