Week 2 IDP Fantasy Football Rankings

We say this every year, but… man, that Week 1 was weird! We saw potential stars unexpectedly benched (Kadarius Toney and Cam Akers). We saw numerous fantasy-relevant QBs play like they were passing kidney stones (Joe Burrow, Dak Prescott, Tom Brady, Trey Lance, etc.). We also saw some of the highest drafted players in all of fantasy perform just adequately (Derrick Henry, Christian McCaffrey, Dalvin Cook, etc.). At the same time, a guy who seemingly lost his job just weeks ago (Antonio Gibson) excelled.

However, things were a little more predictable on the defensive side of the ball. A number of our Week 1 Gambles and Streamers were hits thanks to big plays, while several other defenders we've pushed in the past finally broke out (thanks, Alex Highsmith). Unfortunately, there were also major injuries that IDP managers must be aware of, like the losses of Jamal Adams, Justin Simmons, and T.J. Watt. Luckily, we are here to address how to replace those players this week.

Before we get started, as always, these rankings primarily use my Casual Scoring system that rewards 0.5-points per half tackle, 1-point per solo, 2-points per PD or FR, 4-points per sack, and 6-points per forced turnover (INT or FF). However, these rankings will also consider our new Rotoballer IDP scoring (Premium Defensive Scoring). We will also cover positional Gambles worth taking, defenders you should Fold on, and occasionally defenders On the Rise (Talanoa Hufanga) this season. With that covered, let’s get to it!

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Top Fantasy Defensive Linemen of the Week

DL Gamble(s) of the Week

Azeez Ojulari & Kayvon Thibodeaux as DL2 Options

Both Ojulari and Thibodeaux are big names, so they may not appear to be “gambles” this week. However, neither pass rusher played in Week 1, and both are listed as questionable. Thus, if they play this week, they could be on a serious snap count. It also means you would be starting a possibly gimpy Thibodeaux in his first NFL game, sight unseen. Those factors add a lot of risk/gamble to these popular quantities.

Despite injury, we will consider making these Giants a DL2 in our lineup if they play. The reason for that is they play the Panthers in Week 2. Carolina surrendered a pressure once every 3.5 pass plays in Week 1, and both of their offensive tackles graded very poorly as pass blockers. Rookie Ikem Ekwonu was particularly bad, giving up four pressures and two sacks. While the Panthers may not throw a lot, their pass protection is bad enough to elevate opposing edge rushers every week.

DL Fold(s) of the Week

Robert Quinn, Chicago Bears

Many of Robert Quinn's fantasy prospects in Week 2 ride on whether David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins play in this contest. Early reports indicate both practiced in individual drills on Wednesday, which could indicate at least one elite tackle will return for the Packers on Sunday. If either player is healthy enough to return to full action, that is bad news for Chicago.

While it’s been a while since Bakhtiari was fully healthy, he's an All-Pro when active. Jenkins wasn't much worse, showing Pro Bowl potential at every position on the line. Add that to the fact Robert Quinn graded poorly as a pass rusher in Week 1, was a pre-season fade for us, and no longer has Khalil Mack to take attention, and this former Tar Heel could disappoint this week. If both tackles are out again, we won't bet against Quinn as a DL2, but if they play he’s a hard fold for us.

Top Fantasy Linebackers of the Week

LB Gamble(s) of the Week

Devin Lloyd as an LB1

Things are moving fast for this rookie, who still carries the risk of the unknown this early in his career. However, he performed very well in his first NFL action by accruing double-digit tackles and playing 90% of Jacksonville's defensive snaps. This suggests he has terrific usage for fantasy purposes and is acclimating quickly to his role.

This week Lloyd gets every linebacker’s dream: the Colts' offense. Last week Jonathan Taylor helped two Texan linebackers stuff the stat sheet in a competitive game, and this matchup should be similar. We expect the Colts to again control the clock in this one, with plenty of Taylor runs and short screens. That should offer enough volume to make Lloyd a borderline LB1 candidate this week, which is significantly higher than where many are ranking him.

LB Fold(s) of the Week

Denzel Perryman, Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders’ primary tackler left the Chargers game early with an injury last week. What’s worse, he was listed as questionable to play with an ankle injury on Wednesday. If Perryman does manage to play, there's a risk the team will protect him with a snap count. However, even if the Miami product is a full-go, he doesn’t have an ideal matchup.

Arizona ran the ball just 34% of the time last week, and the state of their defense suggests they could again go down early in this contest. The Cardinals are currently struggling to find their true #1 weapon on offense, and their defense looks worse than it has in years. That formula spells a heavy workload for Kyler Murray, which doesn’t play into Perryman's wheelhouse. Fade the Raiders' linebacker to an LB3 if he plays.

Top Fantasy Defensive Backs of the Week

DB Gamble(s) of the Week

Trevon Diggs, Dallas Cowboys

Our Fold from last week is now our Gamble for this one. As always, Diggs has elite ball skills. This week he should get to use those skills repeatedly against Ja’Marr Chase, especially if Tee Higgins remains out with a concussion. If there’s no Higgins, you can bet Chase will again see double-digit targets. That could mean multiple shots at an INT for Diggs, and Joe Burrow has been feeling very generous with those lately.

DB Fold(s) of the Week

Marshon Lattimore & the Saints Secondary

Tampa Bay was the most pass-oriented offense in the NFL in 2021, but in Week 1 of this season, they flipped the script entirely. Last Sunday, the Buccaneers were the sixth most run-heavy offense in the league, likely due to multiple injuries that in their receiver room and along their offensive line. It also didn't help that Tom Brady looked rustier than we are used to seeing him.

Now reports out of Tampa are that Mike Evans and Julio Jones were both limited in practice on Wednesday, while Chris Godwin and Russell Gage are unlikely to play against the Saints. Given the injuries on their line and the plague hitting that receiver room, it seems logical that Tampa would try to stick with their run-heavy script. If that happens, it means limited fantasy opportunities for everyone in New Orleans’ secondary.

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