Week 8 IDP Fantasy Football Rankings

If you want an idea of just how valuable fantasy defenders can be, look no further than Antonio Gibson…. While this statement may seem odd at first glance, just consider that Gibson (PPR's RB16) is outscoring the RB30 in PPR scoring by 25%. Now consider that T.J. Watt is outscoring fantasy’s DL9 by 23%, while Trevon Diggs has outscored everyone at his position by at least 22%. These simple figures strongly suggest that Watt, Diggs, and Gibson have provided fantasy managers with a similar positional value/advantage so far, right?

Now consider that Gibson is rostered in 99% of leagues, while Watt is rostered in just 75% of IDP leagues, and Diggs is held in only 54%. Despite both Watt and Diggs providing similar positional value to Gibson, and despite Diggs actually scoring more fantasy points per game than Gibson on the season, both of these defenders are rostered in far fewer leagues than the Washington running back. That should tell you all you need to know about how most people value defenders in fantasy, regardless of the true edge they give you each week. It should also tell you how easy it may be to gain a significant edge on defense in your average IDP league.

While we are not saying Watt or Diggs should be enough to secure a player like Gibson in a trade, or that Diggs is particularly due for regression, we are saying you should value star defenders like Watt or Derwin James more than you probably do. If you're comfortable at RB or WR then reach out to the Watt manager and see if they are willing to do a Zack Moss or Tyler Boyd for Watt deal straight up, despite Watt outscoring both in PPR/IDP standard scoring. Or you could see if an RB needy team might package Darius Leonard and Rashod Bateman for a name like Miles Sanders or James Conner. You might be surprised who ends up winning these kinds of deals in the end…. And with that said, let’s get to our Week 8 rankings, shall we?

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Top-30 Fantasy Defensive Linemen of the Week

DL Streamer of the Week: Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati Bengals

The more prolific of the Bengals’ pass rushers, though the less popular one in many IDP circles, Hendrickson has a terrific matchup ahead of him. The Jets have the second-least efficient pass-blocking unit in all of the NFL while allowing the fourth-most sacks in the league, and they will be starting a backup quarterback as well. Expect this FAU product to secure at least one more sack against New York, driving his season total over 7.5 if he can play.

The only question mark here is Hendrickson’s health, as he currently carries the questionable tag going into Thursday practices. No reports suggest the former Saint won't play though, so we are projecting him to have a big Week 8.

DL Fade of the Week: Von Miller, Denver Broncos

Denver's tenured sack master was on a stellar comeback tour this season until he came up empty in a soft matchup with Cleveland's backup right tackle and second-string quarterback last week. Apart from one QB knockdown, Miller did little to take advantage of his ideal matchup with the Browns, as he visibly took plays off before leaving the game with an injury.

Setting Miller’s injury and sub-optimal performance from last week aside, the matchup for this week should give fantasy managers serious pause before starting this former Aggie in Week 8. The Washington Football Team has surrendered just six sacks all year, and they continue to be one of the best units in the league in Adjusted Sack Rate despite several injuries on their line. Given the concerns about Miller's health and the strength of Washington’s pass blocking, you shouldn’t expect more than a DL3 level performance from the former superstar in Week 8.

Top-30 Fantasy Linebackers of the Week

LB Streamer of the Week: Anthony Walker Jr., Cleveland Browns

Walker has been a reliable tackler and fantasy LB3 when healthy this season, and his playing time just saw an increase with Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah out of commission. Expect elite playing time to continue as Cleveland works to get healthy, and it should translate into strong fantasy production against the Steelers.

As we’ve stated before, Pittsburgh is one of the friendlier offenses in terms of fantasy LB production. Coach Tomlin has a strong dedication to the run regardless of whether it is working. The offense staff also loves to target the short-center field with screens and crossing routes, while Big Ben struggles with his accuracy and decision-making. Altogether, Pittsburgh’s offense should continue providing elite opportunities for fantasy LBs like Walker.

LB Fade of the Week: Tremaine Edmunds, Buffalo Bills

A recommended streamer for us two weeks ago, Edmunds has been on a fantasy roll the past four weeks. During that time, he's contributed 33 tackles, an interception, and three tackles for a loss. On paper, that kind of production seems like an ideal matchup against an offensive line sporting a 6.9% Adjusted Sack Rate and the fourth-lowest Adjusted Line Yards in the NFL, right?

The problem with projecting fantasy success for Edmunds in Week 8 is the lack of projected opportunities. Buffalo rarely brings Edmunds as a pass rusher (just 2.8 times per game), and the Dolphins run the ball a league-low 32.88% of the time. That means that Edmunds will have to drop into coverage on approximately 65% of his snaps if he wants to stay on the field, and that is a bad thing for a guy whose PFF coverage grade is an abysmal 49.2. Consider this a good opportunity for Matt Milano to see increased usage, but Edmunds could see the opposite as he struggles to match up with speedy weapons like Mike Gesicki and Jaylen Waddle. Fade the former Hokie against Miami.

Top-30 Fantasy Defensive Backs of the Week

DB Streamer of the Week: Kyle Dugger, New England Patriots

Full disclosure, this week’s DB streamer is less about the matchup and more about the player.  We’ve said for some time that Dugger possesses elite fantasy potential given his size, speed, and hybrid role on the Patriots’ defense. He’s now living up to that potential, totaling 27 tackles and two interceptions over the past three games. The good times should keep rolling against the Chargers, too.

While Justin Herbert’s efficiency this year should limit the big play opportunities for all Patriots defenders, the Chargers’ offense overall is a nice matchup for playmaking safeties. The Chargers are the fifth most pass-heavy offense in the NFL, they run the tenth most plays in the league, and Mike Williams is the only pass-catcher they have who won't regularly run through Dugger’s zone. Consider the sophomore from Lenoir-Rhyne to be a borderline DB1 this week and possibly for the rest of the year.

DB Fade of the Week: Jamel Dean, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The New Orleans Saints are the most run-heavy offense in the NFL this season, earning the distinction of being the only team in the league to call a run on over half of their plays. To make matters worse, Sean Payton seems to have finally remembered that Alvin Kamara is the best pass-catcher on his team. The re-emergence of Kamara as the team’s leading pass catcher should only exacerbate the already low ten targets per game that Saints wide receivers have gotten this season, and that’s a problem for Dean.

While Dean has been a dependable fantasy CB since Carlton Davis went on IR, the conservative Saints offense should drastically limit his fantasy potential this week. With the possibility of single-digit wide receiver targets coming in Week 8 and the miserable 4.3 targets per game that Marquez Callaway is earning as the team's leading receiver, Dean shouldn't see many chances to earn you fantasy points. Consider him a big-play-dependent desperation play and nothing more.

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