IDP Fantasy Football Rankings for Week 9

This has been one amazing NFL trade deadline, with multiple IDP-relevant players on the move. In my IDP Start and Sit article, I will dive deeper into those moves later this week. There I can go more in-depth on the issues of whether Roquan Smith's fantasy stock is up (it isn't) or if Bradley Chubb's is down. With that rich topic saved for another day, two other IDP-relevant issues are worth discussing very briefly here.

First, let us address the return of Josey Jewell to Denver’s lineup. As predicted, Jewell’s return dropped Alex Singleton off the fantasy radar, limiting him to a 25% snap share. While it’s encouraging to see Singleton maintain a defensive role, the versatile LB saw just 18 snaps on a thin LB unit last week. While there is a chance Singleton sees some uptick in outside usage with Chubb gone, the odds of that uptick being significant are low. Nik Bonitto is much better suited to step into Chubb’s old role.

Last but not least, we have to mention the situation in Indianapolis. Last week, saw Shaquille Leonard return to a limited role, which we anticipated would hurt Zaire Franklin’s fantasy stock. Instead, Franklin played 100% of the Colts' snaps again while Leonard ate into Bobby Okereke’s playing time. This is a major occurrence, as it suggests Leonard and Franklin will both be top-20 options once Leonard is healthy. Okereke loses nearly all value in that situation... With that, let’s get to our IDP rankings!

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Top Fantasy Defensive Linemen of the Week

DL Gamble(s) of the Week: Uchenna Nwosu, Seattle Seahawks

With nearly half our DL rankings stolen by the bye this week, people in even the shallowest of IDP leagues will have to take some gambles in Week 9. So Nwosu isn’t necessarily a big “gamble” this week. That said, the former project out of USC gets a big boost this week, thanks to his matchup and the byes.

Nwosu ranks 13^th amongst all edge rushers in quarterback pressures this year. He’s also topped five tackles in half of his games. The Cardinals have given up 5.25 pressures per game on the edge and allowed Nwosu to take down Kyler Murray in their last matchup. We also project the Cardinals to play three backups as starters on their offensive line. Put all that together, and the Seahawk is a viable DL2 in Week 9.

DL Fold(s) of the Week: Carl Lawson, New York Jets

In a week where four of our top-10 fantasy DLs are on bye, selecting a DL to fold is tough. For many, it's an all-hands-on-deck situation. However, we must select a fold for this week, so we are going with Lawson.

The former Bengal has been sneakily effective this year, collecting more pressures than Aidan Hutchinson, Shaquil Barrett, and Khalil Mack, amongst others. The only form of fantasy production Lawson offers is sacks, though, and the Bills give up the second-fewest QB takedowns in the NFL. In eight games, Lawson has just six solo tackles and one forced turnover, so this matchup is concerning for his managers.

Top Fantasy Linebackers of the Week

LB Gamble(s) of the Week: Willie Gay Jr., Kansas City Chiefs

You don't love the volume for Gay, as the Chiefs are quick to pull him in blowouts. In Week 1, he sat for 35% of his team's snaps in a blowout win over Arizona, and in Week 7, he missed 43% in what was likely a big win over San Francisco. He’s also still easing back from a long break, which may have impacted his playing time in San Fran as well. Despite those concerns, you have to love the production and matchup for Gay.

Gay is averaging a tackle once every 6.5 snaps in limited action this season after showing upside in 2021. He’s an active tackler who gets behind the line regularly, and he also blitzes enough to offer the chance of a sack. Against a Titans team that has run the ball more than any other team in the NFL the past three weeks, Gay and Nick Bolton both offer double-digit tackle upside. The risk of the Chiefs resting him again in a blowout is worth the upside in this one.

LB Fold(s) of the Week: Patrick Queen, Baltimore Ravens

You hate any move that causes you to question a player’s value or role in their defense. The acquisition of Roquan Smith forces us to do just that with Patrick Queen. The Ravens have now invested draft picks and a potential new contract in Smith, less than three years after they used a first-round pick on Queen to lead this defense. While these 'backers should play together plenty, we now have significant questions about what Queen's role will be.

Queen was already a big play-dependent fantasy option most weeks. He has just two games with more than seven tackles this season, and he’s relied largely on sacks or turnovers to supplement that income. He's been able to do that thanks to elite playing time, but what happens when Smith inevitably takes the lion’s share of the tackles on the interior? Worse, what if the Ravens rotate their ‘backers more and keep Josh Bynes involved?

Queen has played less than 80% of Baltimore’s defensive snaps in 16 games. He collected four big plays in those games and averaged just 5.5 tackles per contest. That low tackle volume was without Smith playing the lead role on the interior too. If Smith plays the role we expect and Bynes rotates in for Queen on just 20% of the snaps, Queen’s fantasy stock will tumble. That is why he’s an LB4 for us this week.

Top Fantasy Defensive Backs of the Week

DB Gamble(s) of the Week: Kerby Joseph, Detroit Lions

After failing to earn a defensive snap in his first three games, Joseph has seen 100% of Detroit's defensive plays in three of his past four. In his past two games, Joseph has proven fantasy-relevant, forcing two fumbles and topping five tackles in each contest. While Aaron Rodgers isn’t likely to offer Joseph an interception, the rookie from Illinois should see plenty of PD opportunities against Robert Tonyan and Aaron Jones. He's a worthwhile flyer in deep formats.

Honorable Mention: Mike Jackson, CB, Seattle Seahawks

DB Fold(s) of the Week: Johnathan Abram, Las Vegas Raiders

We recently warned in our Start and Sit column that Abram's name was on the trade block, and his playing time was declining. Well, he wasn't traded, but he also didn't get the start in Week 8. Las Vegas offered Abram just 34% of their snaps last week in a game they were down early, and they didn't see him as the guy to stop Alvin Kamara's huge week.

After declining to pick up his fifth-year option this offseason and unsuccessfully trying to trade him, there's real fear he could be treated as a rotational piece moving forward. While it's possible Abram wasn't playing for trade reasons only, meaning his snaps could bounce back now, it seems unlikely the Raiders will immediately return him to his old role after benching him. Roster Abram cautiously, knowing the Raiders apparently question his fit in their scheme.

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