Week 3 IDP Rankings for Fantasy Football (2024) - Defense Positional Rankings for LB, DL, DB

One factor IDP managers often struggle with far more than traditional fantasy managers is the war between fantasy and reality. On the offensive side of the ball, reality often meets fantasy expectations. An example is Josh Allen, who is great for fantasy and real football. This is not always the case with defenders in fantasy, though.

While you can usually count on the most talented offensive players to produce fantasy-worthy stats, the best defenders often get the fewest opportunities. The perfect example is elite cornerbacks, which we've touched on in this very space before. Shutdown corners like Sauce Gardner are avoided like the plague by opposing QBs, meaning they rarely produce in fantasy.

Unfortunately, IDP managers also struggle with the “George Kittle effect.” This is the concept that a player can often be used so much as a blocker or in coverage, or they are just getting rotated off for some reason that it impacts their fantasy numbers. Ivan Pace Jr. is starting to feel like that kind of guy. His usage is varied and inconsistent, but his metrics and film remain upper-tier.

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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

Keion White, New England Patriots

White made my Defenders to Stash column last week after he more than doubled his career sack total in one game against the Bengals. That burst in Week 1 could be the real deal, as he secured another 1.5 sacks and seven total tackles in Week 2.

The bulky Georgia Tech alum has played 80% or more of New England's defensive snaps in each of their games, signaling he's a full-time starter on their surprisingly sturdy front. While the Jets' offensive line has been much improved through two weeks, White's snap rate and run support make him a low-end DL2 in a mediocre matchup.

Seven wins against the LT-LG-C-RT from Keion White's monster Week 2 performance.

- 4 inside swipe variations (LG-LG-LG-C)
- 1 outside swipe (LT)
- 1 ghost (RT)
- 1 inside spin (RT) pic.twitter.com/qFm6rKt5jn

— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) September 17, 2024

DL Disappointment of the Week

Josh Sweat and Bryce Huff, Philadelphia Eagles

Two weeks into the season, the Saints' rebuilt offensive line is the top-rated pass-blocking unit on PFF. While that is partially because they capitalized on a soft matchup with the Panthers in Week 1, this team also limited Micah Parsons to three pressures and zero quarterback hits/sacks in Week 2.

Rookie Taliese Fuaga has been everything many of us NFL Draft fans hoped for and more, surrendering zero pressures in two games at left tackle. Meanwhile, beleaguered right tackle Trevor Penning has surrendered just two pressures of his own. These rates could be an aberration, but they are concerning for the Eagles' edge rushers.

Top Fantasy Linebackers of the Week

LB Riser of the Week

Dorian Williams, Buffalo Bills

Reports indicate Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard could be out for four weeks with a pectoral injury. That's good news for the fantasy stock of Williams, who was already having a breakout campaign before Bernard's injury.

Williams is tied for 19^th in total tackles this season, but his volume should increase as the Bills likely move him around their front more often with Bernard out. Look for him to continue putting up LB2-caliber numbers over the next few weeks, especially against a Jaguars offense that prioritizes targets to its tight ends and running backs.

LB Disappointment of the Week

Ivan Pace Jr., Minnesota Vikings

Listing Pace Jr. here is an uncomfortable admission that the talented blitzer and run stuffer is tough to trust as more than a low-end LB2 until the Vikings use him more. While Pace remains an elite linebacker in most metrics, the Vikings clearly see him as too small to man the middle full-time, and that's why Blake Cashman is filling that role.

Despite Pace producing last year, he was LB12 in fantasy when he played over 70% of Minnesota’s snaps, and earning considerable preseason hype, the Vikings seem more interested in using him as a STAR-type of weapon than their lead ‘backer. They seem to view him as an all-around weapon who can play both ends, slot corner, and inside.

Right now, Pace is LB29 in Standard IDP Scoring. This is despite the fact he’s not topped 70% of his team’s defensive snaps this season. After missing a couple of tackles against San Francisco, it’s possible that usage continues despite his supernatural nose for the ball and ability to slip into the right gaps at the right times.

While I've tried to be patient because the metrics and film show Pace is a top-tier linebacker in the NFL, his inconsistent usage is concerning. That's why my preseason expectations have to come down a bit, at least until the Vikings start using him more. For now, the bigger-bodied Cashman has passed him over in fantasy.

Top Fantasy Defensive Backs of the Week

DB Riser of the Week

Nick Cross, Indianapolis Colts

Cross came out of college as an athletic safety who profiled best as a downhill thumper who played in the box and as a blitzer. So far this season, the Colts are utilizing him that way, and it's paying off in fantasy.

The Maryland product has played in the box 31.7% of the time this year, but that number jumped to 49% against a run-heavy Green Bay offense. As a result, Cross currently leads the NFL in tackles. While he hasn’t added anything else to the stat sheet, his tackle production should continue against a struggling Bears attack this week.

A recent trend has showcased #Colts third-year S Nick Cross in the box more than ever before.

Cross has been aligned in the box on 25.8% of snaps through 2 games, nearly 20% higher from 2023 (6.6%). He's also the team's highest-graded tackler (84.6) during the preseason. pic.twitter.com/IirRv1h5Ad

— Noah Compton (@nerlens_) August 21, 2024

DB Disappointment of the Week

Quinyon Mitchell & Darius Slay, Philadelphia Eagles

The rookie Mitchell has been particularly intriguing in deeper IDP leagues as a source of pass deflections and targets. One should not expect too much in terms of fantasy points from this duo in Week 3, though.

The Saints have been the NFL’s most prolific offense through two weeks, but they’ve also been the least pass-heavy. New Orleans is attempting a pass on just 35.59% of their offensive plays so far. While that may change once they stop playing with an insurmountable lead, this is a team that wants to lean on the run.

Worse for Philadelphia's corners, Derek Carr has only ever forced the ball to Davante Adams, never any other lead receiver. It’s a trait that has frustrated Amari Cooper and Chris Olave fantasy managers for years. Adams is not on this roster, so expect this offense to continue to run the ball and take what defenses give them.

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