Week 17 IDP Rankings for Fantasy Football - Positional Rankings for Linebacker, Defensive Line, Defensive Back

As we enter Week 17, most analysts operate under the assumption that this is the last week for almost all of your leagues. I've told you before that most savvy fans and fantasy commissioners purposefully avoid their fantasy titles being decided in Week 18. While there are more teams playing for something than there used to be in the final week, it is still a time when stars rest for all or large chunks of a game. With that in mind, there are two ways to look at this final week.

From a redraft perspective, this is it. There are two teams with something to gain. If your league punishes the last-place team in your league, then there are also two teams with something to lose. Those two or four teams are it, no one else should make waiver claims. That means competition for waivers should be lower, and defender pools should be higher. It also means teams have decisions to make. Do you go for upside as an underdog or security as the favorite?

In dynasty or deep IDP, things are different. Many dynasty leagues still allow trades and most allow waiver pickups for all. That means your league’s losers will hold on to good defenders and add new ones, instead of dumping assets or tuning out. So, those in dynasty or deep IDP leagues will have tougher choices to make. You won’t have the luxury of picking from the top of my rankings, instead looking at my lower tiers or even my deep streamers that come out tomorrow.

• 2025 fantasy football rankings (redraft)
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings
• 2025 NFL rookie fantasy football rankings
• Best ball fantasy football rankings
• Quarterback fantasy football rankings
• Running back fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
• Tight end fantasy football rankings

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

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent
1	Myles Garrett	Browns	Jets
2	Nick Bosa	49ers	Commanders
3	T.J. Watt	Steelers	Seahawks
4	Maxx Crosby	Raiders	Colts
5	Micah Parsons	Cowboys	Lions
6	Bradley Chubb	Dolphins	Ravens
7	Josh Allen	Jaguars	Panthers
8	Andrew Van Ginkel	Dolphins	Ravens
9	Trey Hendrickson	Bengals	Chiefs
10	Montez Sweat	Bears	Falcons
11	Danielle Hunter	Vikings	Packers
12	Haason Reddick	Eagles	Cardinals
13	Alex Highsmith	Steelers	Seahawks
14	Harold Landry III	Titans	Texans
15	Khalil Mack	Chargers	Broncos
16	Aidan Hutchinson	Lions	Cowboys
17	Kayvon Thibodeaux	Giants	Rams
18	Justin Madubuike	Ravens	Dolphins
19	Chris Jones	Chiefs	Bengals
20	Chase Young	49ers	Commanders
21	Javon Hargrave (Q)	49ers	Commanders
22	Jonathon Cooper	Broncos	Chargers
23	Christian Wilkins	Dolphins	Ravens
24	Kwity Paye	Colts	Raiders
25	Jonathan Allen	Commanders	49ers
26	Cameron Heyward (Q)	Steelers	Seahawks
27	Carl Granderson	Saints	Buccaneers
28	Will Anderson Jr.	Texans	Titans
29	Jonathan Greenard (Q)	Texans	Titans
30	Derrick Brown	Panthers	Jaguars
31	Dexter Lawrence	Giants	Rams
32	DeForest Buckner	Colts	Raiders
33	Aaron Donald	Rams	Giants
34	Boye Mafe	Seahawks	Steelers
35	Harrison Phillips	Vikings	Packers
36	Quinnen Williams	Jets	Browns
37	Byron Young	Rams	Giants
38	Rashan Gary	Packers	Vikings
39	Brian Burns	Panthers	Jaguars
40	Zach Seiler	Dolphins	Ravens
41	Denico Autry	Titans	Texans
42	Shaquil Barrett	Buccaneers	Saints
43	Leonard Floyd	Bills	Patriots
44	Michael Hoecht	Rams	Giants
45	Jalen Carter	Eagles	Cardinals
46	Josh Sweat	Eagles	Cardinals
47	Jadeveon Clowney	Ravens	Dolphins
48	Ed Oliver	Bills	Patriots
49	Vita Vea	Buccaneers	Saints
50	Ya Ya Diaby	Buccaneers	Saints

DL Riser of the Week:

Derrick Brown, Carolina Panthers

As was mentioned above, championship week can call for a different strategy than most weeks. Typically, I will preach chasing upside with your defensive linemen. My Standard IDP Scoring and the scoring in many other formats pays a premium for sacks, and DLs rarely collect tackles with regularity. So, chasing sacks makes sense. However, if you feel good about your championship being close or a big win, safe DLs are the play.

Brown has five games with seven or more tackles this season. Better yet, the Auburn alum has only four games with fewer than five total tackles. That's stability at a usually unstable position. He now faces a Jaguars offense that is sixth in offensive plays per game and could be without its starting quarterback. Brown should be good for at least four standard fantasy points this week, which is all you may need.

DL Disappointment of the Week:

Carl Granderson, New Orleans Saints

Let’s put my “fade” of Granderson into perspective. He is still a borderline DL2 with a steady tackle floor, even if sacks are unlikely. However, this is the week of the fantasy championship. As I mentioned in my introduction, only two teams have anything to play for this week. This means you should be extra cautious about bad matchups like Granderson has this week, especially if waivers are flush with options.

Granderson lines up over the left tackle on 89.4% of his defensive snaps. That puts him on Tristan Wirfs for the vast majority of Week 17. Wirfs has allowed the second-fewest quarterback pressures and has earned the third-highest PFF pass-blocking grade of any tackle who has played 80% or more of his team’s snaps. He is responsible for just five sacks and 24 pressures all season long. Wirfs is a rock.

Top Fantasy Linebackers of the Week

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent
1	Zaire Franklin	Colts	Raiders
2	Foyesade Oluokun	Jaguars	Panthers
3	T.J. Edwards	Bears	Falcons
4	Roquan Smith	Ravens	Dolphins
5	Ernest Jones	Rams	Giants
6	Bobby Wagner	Seahawks	Steelers
7	Logan Wilson	Bengals	Chiefs
8	Lavonte David	Buccaneers	Saints
9	Alex Singleton	Broncos	Chargers
10	Terrel Bernard	Bills	Patriots
11	Azeez Al-Shaair	Titans	Texans
12	C.J. Mosley	Jets	Browns
13	Fred Warner	49ers	Commanders
14	Jordan Hicks	Vikings	Packers
15	Quay Walker	Packers	Vikings
16	Nick Bolton	Chiefs	Bengals
17	Eric Kendricks	Chargers	Broncos
18	Bobby Okereke	Giants	Rams
19	Khaleke Hudson	Commanders	49ers
20	Jordyn Brooks (Q)	Seahawks	Steelers
21	Patrick Queen	Ravens	Dolphins
22	E.J. Speed	Colts	Raiders
23	Cody Barton	Commanders	49ers
24	Dre Greenlaw	49ers	Commanders
25	Tremaine Edmunds	Bears	Falcons
26	Devin Lloyd	Jaguars	Panthers
27	Demario Davis	Saints	Buccaneers
28	Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah	Browns	Jets
29	Robert Spillane	Raiders	Colts
30	Frankie Luvu	Panthers	Jaguars
31	T.J. Watt	Steelers	Seahawks
33	Christian Harris	Texans	Titans
34	Josey Jewell	Broncos	Chargers
35	Micah Parsons	Cowboys	Lions
36	Shaquille Leonard	Eagles	Cardinals
37	Kenneth Murray Jr.	Chargers	Broncos
38	Quincy Williams	Jets	Browns
39	Bradley Chubb	Dolphins	Ravens
40	Andrew Van Ginkel	Dolphins	Ravens
41	Divine Deablo	Raiders	Colts
42	Markquese Bell	Cowboys	Lions
43	Kaden Elliss	Falcons	Bears
44	Germaine Pratt	Bengals	Chiefs
45	Blake Cashman (Q)	Texans	Titans
46	Alex Anzalone	Lions	Cowboys
47	Denzel Perryman	Texans	Titans
48	Mykal Walker	Steelers	Seahawks
49	Nate Landman (Q)	Falcons	Bears
50	Jahlani Tavai	Patriots	Bills

LB Riser of the Week:

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Cleveland Browns

Owusu-Koramoah made our streamers list recently. We noted he has been playing over 85% of the Browns' defensive snaps since Week 10, which is well above his career average. During that span, he's averaged 10.1 fantasy points per game. Were that his season average, he'd be LB6 per game this season.

The Jets are a fine matchup for the Notre Dame product, too. He is a coverage linebacker with an elite ability to cover screens and tight ends. Breece Hall is averaging 8.8 targets per game over his past five contests. Better, Trevor Siemian’s average Intended Air Yards per Target is lower than any quarterback with enough attempts to qualify.

This current iteration of the Jets’ offense is built to feed opposing linebackers. Hence, Cody Barton and Khaleke Hudson both notching double-digit tackles last weekend.

LB Disappointment of the Week:

Ivan Pace Jr., Minnesota Vikings

My regular readers will know how much it pains me to put Ivan Pace Jr. on my disappointment list. He's arguably the best defensive player on the Vikings this year. He is without question one of the four most consistent defenders on the roster and is battling Jordan Hicks for the top defensive grade from PFF. The rookie's film is tremendous as well, as his ability to impact fantasy in all phases.

Unfortunately, the Vikings seem unable to put Pace, Hicks, and Josh Metellus on the field at the same time. When Hicks returned last week, Pace saw his defensive snaps cut in half. In fact, Pace has just one game with more than 68% of the snaps when Hicks is healthy. Worse, Pace hasn’t played more than 38% of the snaps since Week 5, unless Hicks is hurt. You can’t trust that usage in your fantasy championship.

Top Fantasy Defensive Backs of the Week

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent
1	Antoine Winfield Jr.	Buccaneers	Saints
2	Derwin James	Chargers	Broncos
3	Kyle Hamilton (Q)	Ravens	Dolphins
4	Jessie Bates III	Falcons	Bears
5	Jaquan Brisker	Bears	Falcons
6	Camryn Bynum	Vikings	Packers
7	Xavier McKinney	Giants	Rams
8	Paulson Adebo	Saints	Buccaneers
9	Josh Metellus	Vikings	Packers
10	Kamren Curl	Commanders	49ers
11	Devon Witherspoon (Q)	Seahawks	Steelers
12	Jordan Battle	Bengals	Chiefs
13	L’Jarius Sneed	Chiefs	Bengals
14	Jalen Pitre	Texans	Titans
15	Justin Reid	Chiefs	Bengals
16	Reed Blankenship	Eagles	Cardinals
17	Rayshawn Jenkins	Jaguars	Panthers
18	Charvarius Ward	49ers	Commanders
19	Kevin Byard	Eagles	Cardinals
20	DaRon Bland	Cowboys	Lions
21	Jevon Holland (Q)	Dolphins	Ravens
22	Dax Hill	Bengals	Chiefs
23	Kenny Moore II	Colts	Raiders
24	Desmond King	Texans	Titans
25	Budda Baker	Cardinals	Eagles
26	Taron Johnson	Bills	Patriots
27	Kyle Dugger	Patriots	Bills
28	Jalen Thompson	Cardinals	Eagles
29	Ji’Ayir Brown	49ers	Commanders
30	D.J. Reed	Jets	Browns
31	Donovan Wilson	Cowboys	Lions
32	Marcus Williams	Ravens	Dolphins
33	Jonathan Owens	Packers	Vikings
34	Nate Hobbs	Raiders	Colts
35	Mike Hilton	Bengals	Chiefs
36	Jordan Whitehead	Jets	Browns
37	Tyrann Mathieu	Saints	Buccaneers
38	Kerby Joseph	Lions	Cowboys
39	Justin Simmons	Broncos	Chargers
40	Alohi Gilman	Chargers	Broncos
41	Brian Branch	Lions	Cowboys
42	Taylor Rapp	Bills	Patriots
43	Richie Grant	Falcons	Bears
44	Derek Stingley Jr.	Texans	Titans
45	Roger McCreary	Titans	Texans
46	Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner	Jets	Browns
47	Zyon McCollum	Buccaneers	Saints
48	Jayron Kearse (Q)	Cowboys	Lions
49	Jordan Poyer	Bills	Patriots
50	Benjamin St- Juste (Q)	Commanders	49ers

DB Riser of the Week:

D.J. Reed, New York Jets

Since Joe Flacco took over as their starting quarterback, the Browns have averaged the most offensive plays and the second-most pass attempts in the NFL. That is elite volume for opposing pass defenders.

Amari Cooper is obviously the top weapon on Cleveland's offense, but he splits his time equally on the left and right sides. Likewise, the Jets do not shadow, so Reed and Sauce Gardner should both see a lot of Cooper. Because Gardner is so feared, Reed leads this secondary in targets and completion rate. Expect Flacco to target him a lot, which should lead to good fantasy volume.

DB Disappointment of the Week:

Kenny Moore II, Indianapolis Colts

It's tough to bench a DB2 you've relied on all season, as many of you have with Moore. We aren't telling you to outright bench him, either. However, in your championship matchup, you have to consider fading him for available defenders with better matchups and more projected volume.

The Raiders are averaging the third-fewest pass attempts per game over the past three weeks. Their preferred formula is running the ball and controlling the clock, which was evident when they attempted a league-low 21 pass attempts against the Chiefs. Moore takes 63.5% of his snaps in the slot, which is an area of the field Las Vegas targets with 19% of its pass attempts. Moore could be in for a very low-volume day.

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