Week 13 IDP Rankings for Fantasy Football (2024) - Defense Positional Rankings for LB, DL, DB

Every NFL season has what you might call a "turning point." By that, we mean there comes a time in the season when you don’t just see which teams are contenders, but which ones check out. Some teams are so lost that their players lose interest, infighting stirs, and the occasional front office will openly fold its hands and begin making moves for the upcoming offseason.

No matter the reason, NFL teams quitting on the season can present problems for fantasy. An example might be the injured Nick Bosa. If the 49ers continue to lose, is there a point that they decide to preserve Brock Purdy or Bosa by putting them on IR? Could the Browns eventually exercise caution with a banged-up Myles Garrett with their playoff dreams dead?

However, saving injured players on sinking ships isn't the worst-case scenario. Look at the Giants and Daniel Jones. What happens if more teams start sitting or cutting healthy fantasy contributors out of fear they will get injured and trigger a massive bonus? That risk is real and another reason why it pays to roster players on contenders or teams with something to play for.

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IDP Scoring System for Rankings

6-points per Defensive Touchdown

4-points per Forced Turnover (FF/INT)

3-points per Sack

2- points per PD, FR, Safety

1-point Solo Tackle

0.5-points Assisted Tackle

Note: These rankings are also based on leagues that start one player at each defensive position (DL, LB, DB) and two DFLEX.

Top Fantasy Defensive Linemen of the Week

DL Riser of the Week

Nik Bonitto, Denver Broncos

We have to mention Bonitto AGAIN because he remains incredibly under-rostered. As of this writing, he is just the 57th-most-rostered DL in fantasy. That's despite the fact he has a sack in nine of his past 10 games. Heck, he has a sack in 90% of the games he has started this season.

Nik Bonitto.

10 sacks.

Put him in the Pro Bowl.
pic.twitter.com/Ou7K5jFRCR

— DNVR Broncos (@DNVR_Broncos) November 25, 2024

We've been warning you that this kid has the talent, and now he’s delivering.

Bonitto could continue this hot streak in Week 13 with another good matchup. The Browns offensive line is in shambles. Neither of their opening-day offensive tackles is healthy, and the unit allows the most sacks per game (4.3) in the NFL. They are also attempting the third-most pass attempts per game.

With Jameis Winston as its starter, Cleveland is attempting 40 pass attempts per game. If you factor out the blizzard from last Thursday, it is averaging 44 attempts. That pace would comfortably sit first in the NFL if projected over a full season. That volume and the lack of pass protection is terrific news for Bonitto.

DL Disappointment of the Week

Montez Sweat, Chicago Bears

The Detroit Lions are allowing just two sacks per game this season. Over their past three contests, they are tied for the second-fewest sacks allowed per game. Those rates are not surprising, considering the offense averages the fifth-fewest pass attempts per game and their right tackle has allowed zero sacks on the season.

Worse for Sweat is the fact he lines up over the right tackle on 86% of his snaps this season. That means he should see Penei Sewell for the majority of this game. Sewell is the aforementioned tackle who has allowed zero sacks and just 16 quarterback pressures all season. It’s a rough matchup for Sweat.

Top Fantasy Linebackers of the Week

LB Riser of the Week

Christian Rozeboom, Los Angeles Rams

The 41st-most-rostered LB in fantasy, Rozeboom is rostered in fewer leagues than C.J. Mosley and Alex Singleton. While dynasty dynamics play a role in those rates, his recent production demands that he should be rostered in more leagues.

Saquon Barkley just TOSSED Rams LB Christian Rozeboom like it’s nothing! 😳💪#GiantsPride #RamsHouse #SaquonBarkley #NFL pic.twitter.com/ypBP678wXY

— US TOP HEADLINES 🇺🇸 (@ustopheadline) November 25, 2024

Los Angeles has been without Troy Reeder since Week 8. In five games without Reeder, Rozeboom has scored 6.5 or more fantasy points four times. He has notched 10.5 or more fantasy points in three of those five contests. Rozeboom has produced double-digit fantasy points against both pass and run-oriented offenses, too.

Adding to his value this week is a matchup with New Orleans. The Saints have one of the lower-rated offensive lines in nearly every metric this season. Since Derek Carr returned from injury, they are also top five in rush attempts and short-area targets to RBs and TEs. This is a positive matchup for everyone in the Rams front seven.

LB Disappointment of the Week

Ivan Pace Jr., Minnesota Vikings

Ivan Pace Jr., one of our favorite IDP sleepers this season, went on IR this Tuesday. It was a story that neither made the front page of NFL.com nor was it conspicuous in ESPN's newsfeed. Nevertheless, it's a significant development for IDP formats.

Despite leaving multiple games with injuries this season, Pace is LB25 per game. His fantasy output also stepped up a notch when Blake Cashman was out, with the former undrafted free agent averaging 11 fantasy points during that span. For context, the highest per-game fantasy average of any LB this season is Zack Baun's 10.7 per game.

While Pace always has the potential to post the best fantasy line of any linebacker in a week, he also carries risk with his slight frame and injury profile. Now, he is out at least until Week 17, which is the final week of the playoffs in most fantasy leagues. Unfortunately, he isn't worth carrying through to that point in redraft formats.

Top Fantasy Defensive Backs of the Week

DB Riser of the Week

Tyler Nubin, New York Giants

Nubin was our Riser of the Week last week, but his roster percentage went up just 1%. He is still just the 57th-most-rostered DB in fantasy despite having one of the NFL's healthiest snap shares and tackle rates over the past month. More importantly, Nubin is playing a consistent 100% of the defensive snaps despite Big Blue’s struggles.

Tyler Nubin with the PBU ‼️

📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/IWYW7zkbtC

— New York Giants (@Giants) November 24, 2024

Since Week 5, Nubin has just two games with fewer than nine or more tackles. On the season, he is tied for 10th amongst all DBs in solo tackles, and he is fifth in that category since the beginning of October. Better yet, since Week 4, he is DB18 in fantasy points per game despite registering zero interceptions and just one PD.

As we’ve mentioned before, Nubin showed good ball skills in college, and it’s only a matter of time until he collects an interception. For the rookie to have an impeccable snap rate and consistently perform in fantasy despite just one turnover is impressive. Plus, he faces a high-volume Cowboys offense this week. Nubin should be rostered in far more leagues.

DB Disappointment of the Week

Tony Adams, New York Jets

Adams has been a consistent DB2 option this season. In games that he has started on defense, he’s averaged 7.4 fantasy points per game. That’s good for DB25 overall.

However, despite putting together a solid season on paper and film, the Jets elected to bench Adams in their last game. The former starter played exclusively on special teams. There was no explanation from interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich on why this was, though some in the local media speculate ownership made the call … but that seems unlikely.

For whatever reason, Adams didn't play any defensive snaps in his last game, and the team said it wasn't disciplinary or related to injury. Therefore, it is very hard to rely on him until we see his usage return to normal or we get an explanation for the benching.

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