Week 2 IDP Rankings for Fantasy Football (2024) - Defense Positional Rankings for LB, DL, DB

As happens after Week 1 of every NFL season, there is a lot of panic in the fantasy community right now. Inevitably, some of the veterans you've always relied on are starting to show their age, while many sleepers or breakouts haven't yet cracked their shells. It's a natural time to worry and to overreact.

The first thing to remember is that plenty of superstars struggle in Week 1. Just consider Joe Burrow's opening season jitters. Between 2020-2023, Burrow averaged just 218 passing yards, one passing TD, 1.25 INTs, and 23 rushing yards in Week 1 games. That translates to just 7.8 fantasy ppg in standard leagues.

Burrow was awful to start this season, too, but you won’t drop him. Cutting a fantasy stalwart like Joe Cool after one dud is foolhardy, and the same applies to your IDP studs. Remember, Week 1 is just 5% of the season after a long offseason of rust and relaxation. Opening week is always hectic and strange, but talent and opportunity usually persevere.

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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 with one player at each defensive position (DL, LB, DB) and two DFLEX.

Top Fantasy Defensive Linemen of the Week

DL Riser of the Week

Jared Verse, DL, Los Angeles Rams

Verse was my favorite defender in this year’s NFL Draft, thanks to his combination of motor and power that helped him repeatedly obliterate blockers last fall. Verse flashed that same dominant power in Week 1, securing a sack and logging the sixth-most QB pressures in the league despite playing against a stout Detroit offensive line.

The Cardinals should offer Verse a far easier matchup than the Lions did, especially with Jonah Williams out. Arizona surrendered four sacks and 12 pressures to Buffalo, including a three-sack performance from Gregory Rousseau. Given the matchup and talent, Verse is a nice upside play this week.

Quality quality sack by rookie Jared Verse against Taylor Decker with a chip pic.twitter.com/qy6t90eU44

— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) September 10, 2024

DL Disappointment of the Week

Matthew Judon, Atlanta Falcons

Fading Judon this week may be risky since he overcame a shortened offseason and limited help to produce a respectable 4.5 Standard IDP points against Pittsburgh. That said, Judon is a rotational pass rusher in this front and the Steelers' patchwork line was a favorable matchup for an edge like him.

This week, Judon gets a far less favorable matchup against the Eagles. Philly fields two of the best pass-blocking tackles in the NFL, who surrendered a combined three pressures against the Packers in Week 1. Philadelphia has had PFF's top-graded pass-blocking unit for two straight seasons, and they are on pace for a similarly effective season so far.

Top Fantasy Linebackers of the Week

LB Riser of the Week

Zack Baun, Philadelphia Eagles

If you have followed my articles and rankings since I started covering IDP for Rotoballer nearly five years ago, you know Zack Baun has always been one of my favorites. I had him ranked as a top-25 prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft, and I bemoaned the poor fit New Orleans was for his skill set.

After considering Baun a “sleeper” or “breakout” candidate every offseason, including this one, his ascension may finally be happening. In Week 1, Baun was the clear lead linebacker for Philly, playing 100% of the snaps while securing 15 tackles and two sacks. Those sacks are part of his skill set, too, as he was a gifted pass rusher in Wisconsin.

Rumors are that Baun may be playing Devin White out of a job (more on that below), and it was Nakobe Dean who came off the field in the rare instance Philly used just one linebacker last week. Baun is a well-rounded tackler who produced the second-most fantasy points of any LB in Week 1, and he is available in 99.2% of IDP leagues.

Note that Baun also has a premium matchup this week. The Falcons ran their entire offense through Bijan Robinson in Week 1, which is great for Baun. Even better, the Falcons' pass-blocking unit surrendered constant pressure against Pittsburgh, and Kirk Cousins looked incapable of getting away from it.

Wow I underestimated Zack Baun pic.twitter.com/jBbqvotC7k

— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) September 7, 2024

LB Disappointment of the Week

Devin White, Philadelphia Eagles

The official word out of Philadelphia is that White did not play in Week 1 due to an ankle injury. The unofficial word is that the team may be trying to trade him. By all accounts, both Baun and Nakobe Dean have outplayed the more expensive White this offseason. The team also likes the depth at the LB position with Jeremiah Trotter Jr.

Despite being a premium athlete who can produce as a pass rusher and tackler, White lost favor in Tampa Bay over the past few years. Be it personality or a decline in ability, White ceded playing time to much less heralded defenders on the Buccaneers, and it looks like that may happen again in Philadelphia.

Top Fantasy Defensive Backs of the Week

DB Riser of the Week

Javon Bullard, Green Bay Packers

Bullard was an overlooked prospect when it came to our preseason IDP rankings, but he demands attention after an NFL debut with 11 tackles. While Bullard played in the box less than Xavier McKinney last week, contrary to what his hard-hitting style would suggest, he does merit plenty of box and nickel assignments.

Bullard is widely available in IDP leagues, with a rostership of just 1.4%. He also has a fascinating matchup against a Colts offense that should run the ball a lot but also attempt several risky deep throws. Richardson risked interception on at least four of his 19 passes last week.

Xavier McKinney and Javon Bullard communicating pre-snap on the motion could tell right way what the Eagles were doing. Bullard triggered downhill as soon as he saw Goedert's bubble. pic.twitter.com/VihsKXWsVi

— Rich (@richjmadrid) September 9, 2024

DB Disappointment of the Week

Green Bay Packers Cornerbacks

While there is plenty of potential for Packer defenders playing in the box or deep, beware of their outside corners. The Colts ran the fewest plays in the NFL in Week 1. Now, the Packers are projected to start Malik Willis, whose career completion percentage is 52.2% and who has thrown for a total of 350 yards in eight NFL games and three starts.

Given how inefficient the Packers' offense is likely to be with Willis under center and the Colts' slow pace of play, players like Jaire Alexander could see an extremely limited number of opportunities to make a play. Expect Richardson and company to run a lot and throw a few balls up for grabs, but ultimately limit throws to the outside.

i can’t possibly seem to figure out why Jaire Alexander isn’t allowed to guard WR1s, can anyone help? pic.twitter.com/eDYDpUHNC6 https://t.co/bhtSF9cgNP

— ryan maye (@ryanolsonn) September 7, 2024

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