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Fantasy Football IDP Rankings for Week 9 (Top 100)

Three of the top offenses in the league are taking a break this week, which could result in some lower-scoring games. New quarterbacks in Denver and Washington could lead to promising defensive performances from their opponents. As always, those who play in IDP leagues should balance safety at the linebacker position with some risk at DB or DL in order to seek out sacks or always unpredictable turnovers.

Dedicated fantasy football players know that the game isn't played on offense alone. While team defenses are a staple of the game, being able to identify value with individual defensive players (IDP) takes it to the next level. As we do with each position and every league type, RotoBaller has you covered when it comes to IDP. Expert analysts Pierre Camus and Justin Carter will bring you their top-100 consensus IDP rankings throughout the 2019 season, so check here for the latest weekly updates.

Players are classified by major position group (DL, LB, DB) to simplify things for you. We've also tiered these rankings to give you an idea of relative importance and will analyze a few key players to watch. Check out our rankings page for the offensive players right here.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

Top 100 Individual Defensive Players - Week 9

Tier Rank Player Name Position
1 1 Darius Leonard LB
1 2 Bobby Wagner LB
1 3 Danielle Hunter DL
1 4 Landon Collins DB
1 5 Joe Schobert LB
1 6 Luke Kuechly LB
2 7 Blake Martinez LB
2 8 Jordan Hicks LB
2 9 Jamal Adams DB
2 10 Myles Garrett DL
2 11 Calais Campbell DL
2 12 Jordan Poyer DB
3 13 Kevin Byard DB
3 14 Leighton Vander Esch LB
3 15 Tracy Walker DB
3 16 Eric Kendricks LB
3 17 Jamie Collins LB
3 18 Joey Bosa DL
3 19 Nick Bosa DL
4 20 Devin Bush LB
4 21 Danny Trevathan LB
4 22 Zach Cunningham LB
4 23 Logan Ryan DB
4 24 Jabrill Peppers DB
4 25 Roquan Smith LB
4 26 Rashaan Evans LB
4 27 Khalil Mack LB
4 28 Shaq Thompson LB
4 29 Harrison Smith DB
4 30 Tremaine Edmunds LB
5 31 DeForest Buckner DL
5 32 Alec Ogletree LB
5 33 Ronnie Harrison DB
5 34 Shaquil Barrett LB
5 35 K.J. Wright LB
5 36 Lavonte David LB
5 37 Benardrick McKinney LB
5 38 Budda Baker DB
5 39 Kwon Alexander LB
5 40 Devin White LB
5 41 Eric Reid DB
5 42 Todd Davis LB
5 43 Jaylon Smith LB
5 44 Justin Houston DL
6 45 Yannick Ngakoue DL
6 46 Antoine Bethea DB
6 47 Everson Griffen DL
6 48 Fred Warner LB
6 49 Tyrann Mathieu DB
6 50 Olivier Vernon DL
6 51 Haason Reddick LB
6 52 Jadeveon Clowney DL
7 53 Cameron Heyward DL
7 54 Mychal Kendricks LB
7 55 Robert Quinn DL
7 56 Von Miller LB
7 57 Jurrell Casey DL
7 58 Jayon Brown LB
7 59 Richard Sherman DB
7 60 Jarrad Davis LB
7 61 Devin McCourty DB
7 62 Matt Milano LB
7 63 Jerry Hughes DL
7 64 Jabaal Sheard DL
7 65 Demarcus Lawrence DL
7 66 Tahir Whitehead LB
7 67 Morgan Burnett DB
7 68 Jon Bostic LB
7 69 Myles Jack LB
7 70 Dont'a Hightower LB
7 71 Malcolm Jenkins DB
7 72 Melvin Ingram DL
8 73 Minkah Fitzpatrick DB
8 74 Justin Simmons DB
8 75 T.J. Watt LB
8 76 Wesley Woodyard LB
8 77 A.J. Johnson LB
8 78 Hasean Clinton-Dix DB
8 79 Justin Reid DB
8 80 Kyle Fuller DB
8 81 Vince Williams LB
8 82 Jalen Mills DB
8 83 Kyle Van Noy LB
8 84 Nathan Gerry LB
8 85 Za'Darius Smith LB
8 86 Janoris Jenkins DB
8 87 Chandler Jones LB
8 88 Whitney Mercilus LB
8 89 Markus Golden LB
8 90 Jerome Baker LB
8 91 Adrian Amos DB
8 92 Jermaine Whitehead DB
8 93 Eddie Jackson DB
8 94 Thomas Davis LB
8 95 Earl Thomas DB
9 96 Micah Hyde DB
9 97 Raekwon McMillan LB
9 98 Mario Addison DL
9 99 Jonathan Allen DL
9 100 Anthony Hitchens LB

 

Streamers/Key Players to Watch

Von Miller (LB, DEN) vs Cleveland

The seven-time Pro Bowler has been relatively quiet this year with no sacks in half of his games played. He also has a knee injury to deal with, although he is listed as probable for Week 9. Miller was blanked in the stat sheet in Week 7 but came back strong with 1.5 sacks and five solo tackles last week. He now gets to face one of the few teams struggling as badly in the passing game as his own - the Browns. Picks aside, Baker Mayfield has been sacked an average of three times per game, with a sack rate of 8.3% that is ninth-worst in the league. The fact that the Broncos are rolling out Brandon Allen at QB and no longer have Emmanuel Sanders could lead to a lot more time on the field for the defense. That's not good for the team but it could benefit some individual defenders on the stat sheet.

Rashaan Evans (LB, TEN) @ Carolina

Quietly, Evans has solidified himself as a top-20 IDP asset in his second season. His solo tackle totals have risen the last couple of weeks and he's recorded at least eight combined tackles for five straight games. Carolina is in the bottom-third in terms of total plays run this season but we know as long as Kyle Allen remains at QB, this offense will live and die with Christian McCaffrey. The run game and short passes will continue to keep the ball within Evans' range, so expect a high tackle total once more.

Devin White (LB, TB) @ Seattle

Tampa's rookie is far behind in the battle of the Devins. While Steelers LB Devin Bush is already an IDP stud in the vein of Darius Leonard last year, White has missed time with injury and is stuck on a team that leaves its defense in bad positions way too often. Still, there's plenty of value here as White promises to be one of the leading tacklers against a Seattle team that will run, run, run. In his last two games, White has played 98% and 85% of the team's defensive snaps. He'll continue to move up the linebacker ranks as the season wears on and could be someone to add now while his ownership remains at a meager 14%.

Olivier Vernon (DE, CLE) @ Denver

After a slow start to his career in Cleveland, Vernon is picking things up. He posted a season-high six solo tackles last week along with his second sack. Getting to face a first-time starter in QB Brandon Allen could lead to an even better day, as Denver's offense struggles to remain competent by NFL standards. They have the fifth-highest sack rate at 9.3% and are still trending downward, if you can believe it.

Darryl Roberts (CB, NYJ) @ Miami

If you thought the offense looked bad, things are getting so ugly on the Jets' defensive side, particularly the LB corps, that Ryan Fitzpatrick is looking mighty streamable in Week 9. Avery Williamson tore his ACL in the preseason, CJ Mosley is out for several weeks, and Blake Cashman was just put on IR too. That leaves cornerback Darryl Roberts as the leading tackler outside of Jamal Adams. He's averaging 5.5 solo stops per game and also has one INT and three PD on the year. Facing Fitzpatrick doesn't hurt his chances of coming up with a big play, if we're being honest here.

More Week 9 Lineup Prep


Check out all of RotoBaller's fantasy football rankings. Staff rankings are updated regularly for all positions and include standard formats, PPR scoring, tiered rankings and dynasty leagues.




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Brian Thomas Jr.

Limited in Practice on Wednesday
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Available Wednesday Night
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Returns From Two-Game Absence
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Available to Play Wednesday
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Downgraded to Out
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Misses Wednesday's Game
Dereck Lively II

Cleared for Action Wednesday
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Starts on Wednesday
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Good to Go Wednesday
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to Miss Road Trip
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Michael Penix Jr.

Needs Reconstructive Surgery on Torn ACL
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Expected to Return to Practice on Wednesday
Shedeur Sanders

Will Start Against Raiders
Dalton Kincaid

Ruled Out Against Texans
Connor Bedard

Continues Tear With Hat Trick
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Pots Hat Trick in Tuesday's Win
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Records Eighth Career Hat Trick
Sammy Blais

Injured Versus Blues
Alexander Romanov

Injured in Tuesday's Win
Ryan Hartman

Considered Week-to-Week
Michael Thorbjornsen

Hopes to End 2025 Campaign With Another Solid Finish
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Looks to End 2025 Season on High Note at RSM Classic
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Nico Echavarria has the Potential to Contend at the RSM Classic
Sam Stevens

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Playing Better at the Right Time
Beau Hossler

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Quade Cummins

The Time is Now for Quade Cummins in Georgia
Austin Cook

Needs a Win at the RSM Classic
Cameron Champ

on the PGA Tour Card Bubble
Grayson Rodriguez

Shipped to Angels
Taylor Ward

Orioles Acquire Taylor Ward From Angels
Shota Imanaga

Accepts Cubs Qualifying Offer
Brandon Woodruff

Returning to Milwaukee in 2026
Denny McCarthy

Looking For Another Solid Finish at RSM Classic
Si Woo Kim

Looking To Use Current Momentum to Flip Script at RSM Classic
Mackenzie Hughes

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Harris English

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Konnor Griffin

Could Compete for Starting Shortstop Job in 2026
Gleyber Torres

Accepts Tigers Qualifying Offer
Odell Beckham Jr.

Officially Reinstated by NFL Commissioner
Matt Murray

to Miss Six Weeks With Lower-Body Injury
Ilya Lyubushkin

Out on Tuesday
Jamie Benn

Makes Season Debut Tuesday
Evgenii Dadonov

on Track to Return Tuesday
Dougie Hamilton

a Game-Time Call Tuesday
Anthony Cirelli

Expected to Return Against Devils
Victor Hedman

Questionable for Tuesday
Auston Matthews

to Miss at Least Two More Games
C.J. Stroud

Expected to Return in Week 13 Against Colts
C.J. Stroud

to Miss Another Game
Joe Mixon

Uncertainty Remains Around Joe Mixon's Return Timeline
CFB

Sam Leavitt Set to Enter Transfer Portal?
Jose Altuve

Undergoes Foot Surgery
Alex Bregman

Red Sox Going for Either Alex Bregman or Pete Alonso?
CFB

James Franklin to be Virginia Tech's Next Head Coach
CFB

Fernando Mendoza the Clear Heisman Trophy Favorite?
CFB

Beau Pribula Has Chance to Face Oklahoma on Saturday
Jack Della Maddalena

Gets Dominated
Islam Makhachev

Claims UFC Welterweight Belt
Zhang Weili

Gets Outclassed
Valentina Shevchenko

Wins Unanimous Decision At UFC 322
Sean Brady

Suffers First-Round TKO Loss
Michael Morales

Remains Unbeaten
Leon Edwards

Suffers Second-Round Knockout Loss
Leon Edwards

Carlos Prates Becomes The First Man To Knock Out Leon Edwards
Beneil Dariush

Suffers Brutal First-Round Knockout Loss
Beneil Dariush

Benoit Saint Denis Knocks Out Beneil Dariush In 16 Seconds
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CFB

Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate Not Dealing With Long-Term Injuries
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Virginia Tech Close To Naming James Franklin As Head Coach
CFB

Garrett Nussmeier Doubtful vs. Arkansas On Saturday
Edwin Díaz

Blue Jays Interested in Signing Edwin Diaz?
Jacob deGrom

Named AL Comeback Player of the Year
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Wins NL Comeback Player of the Year Award
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Edwin Díaz

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Virginia's Chandler Morris Trending Toward Facing Duke on Saturday

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