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

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent
1	Myles Garrett	Browns	Jets
2	Micah Parsons	Cowboys	Bengals
3	Nick Bosa	49ers	Seahawks
4	Aaron Donald	Rams	Falcons
5	Joey Bosa	Chargers	Chiefs
6	Trey Hendrickson	Bengals	Cowboys
7	Rashan Gary	Packers	Bears
8	Maxx Crosby	Raiders	Cardinals
9	Brian Burns	Panthers	Giants
10	Matthew Judon	Patriots	Steelers
11	Khalil Mack	Chargers	Chiefs
12	Danielle Hunter	Vikings	Eagles
13	Alex Highsmith	Steelers	Patriots
14	Shaquil Barrett	Buccaneers	Saints
15	Montez Sweat	Commanders	Lions
16	Von Miller	Bills	Titans
17	Sam Hubbard	Bengals	Cowboys
18	Haason Reddick	Eagles	Vikings
19	Za’Darius Smith	Vikings	Eagles
20	Demarcus Lawrence	Cowboys	Bengals
21	Charles Harris	Lions	Commanders
22	Jonathan Allen (Q)	Commanders	Lions
23	Chandler Jones	Raiders	Cardinals
24	Kwity Paye	Colts	Jaguars
25	Cameron Heyward	Steelers	Patriots
26	Bradley Chubb	Broncos	Texans
27	Gregory Rousseau	Bills	Titans
28	Jeffery Simmons	Titans	Bills
29	Cameron Jordan	Saints	Buccaneers
30	Josh Allen	Jaguars	Colts
31	Leonard Williams	Giants	Panthers
32	Marcus Davenport	Saints	Buccaneers
33	Rashad Weaver	Titans	Bills
34	Leonard Floyd	Rams	Falcons
35	Jaelan Phillips	Dolphins	Ravens
36	Kayvon Thiboeaux (Q)	Giants	Panthers
37	Preston Smith	Packers	Bears
38	Robert Quinn	Bears	Packers
39	Uchena Nwosu	Seahawks	49ers
40	Chris Jones	Chiefs	Chargers
41	Randy Gregory	Broncos	Texans
42	Deforest Buckner	Colts	Jaguars
43	Jerry Hughes	Texans	Broncos
44	Travon Walker	Jaguars	Colts
45	Aiden Hutchinson	Lions	Commanders
46	Azeez Ojulari (Q)	Giants	Panthers
47	Bud Dupree	Titans	Bills
48	Jonathan Greenard	Texans	Broncos
49	Odafe Oweh	Ravens	Dolphins
50	Daron Payne	Commanders	Lions

 

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

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent
1	Jordyn Brooks	Seahawks	49ers
2	C.J. Mosley	Jets	Browns
3	Roquan Smith	Bears	Packers
4	Devin White	Buccaneers	Saints
5	Shaquille Leonard (Q)	Colts	Jaguars
6	Bobby Wagner	Rams	Falcons
7	Micah Parsons	Cowboys	Bengals
8	Foyesade Oluokun	Jaguars	Colts
9	De’Vondre Campbell	Packers	Bears
10	Logan Wilson	Bengals	Cowboys
11	T.J. Edwards	Eagles	Vikings
12	Eric Kendricks	Vikings	Eagles
13	Cole Holcomb	Commanders	Lions
14	Devin Lloyd	Jaguars	Colts
15	Kamu Grugier-Hill	Texans	Broncos
16	Cody Barton	Seahawks	49ers
17	Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah	Browns	Jets
18	Jordan Hicks	Vikings	Eagles
19	Nick Bolton	Chiefs	Chargers
20	Pete Werner	Saints	Buccaneers
21	Fred Warner	49ers	Seahawks
22	Tremaine Edmunds	Bills	Titans
23	Myles Jack	Steelers	Patriots
24	Lavonte David	Buccaneers	Saints
25	Denzel Perryman (Q)	Raiders	Cardinals
26	Christian Kirksey	Texans	Broncos
27	Demario Davis	Saints	Buccaneers
28	Ernest Jones	Rams	Falcons
29	Bobby Okereke	Colts	Jaguars
30	Jerome Baker	Dolphins	Ravens
31	Shaq Thompson	Panthers	Giants
32	Isaiah Simmons	Cardinals	Raiders
33	Patrick Queen	Ravens	Dolphins
34	Leighton Vander Esch	Cowboys	Bengals
35	Zaven Collins	Cardinals	Raiders
36	Tae Crowder	Giants	Panthers
37	Kyzir White	Eagles	Vikings
38	Malcolm Rodriguez	Lions	Commanders
39	Rashaan Evans	Falcons	Rams
40	David Long Jr.	Titans	Bills
41	Quincy Williams	Jets	Browns
42	Dre Greenlaw	49ers	Seahawks
43	Ja’Whaun Bentley	Patriots	Steelers
44	Mykal Walker	Falcons	Rams
45	Nicholas Morrow	Bears	Packers
46	Germaine Pratt	Bengals	Cowboys
47	Zach Cunningham	Titans	Bills
48	Matt Milano	Bills	Titans
49	Alex Singleton	Broncos	Texans
50	Jamin Davis	Commanders	Lions

 

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

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent
1	Derwin James Jr.	Chargers	Chiefs
2	Budda Baker	Cardinals	Raiders
3	Johnathan Abram	Raiders	Cardinals
4	Jordan Poyer	Bills	Titans
5	Mikah Fitzpatrick	Steelers	Patriots
6	Harrison Smith	Vikings	Eagles
7	Jeremy Chinn	Panthers	Giants
8	Antoine Winfield Jr.	Buccaneers	Saints
9	Kevin Byard	Titans	Bills
10	Jalen Thompson	Cardinals	Raiders
11	Talanoa Hufanga	49ers	Seahawks
12	Kamren Curl (Q)	Commanders	Lions
13	Kyle Dugger	Patriots	Steelers
14	Grant Delpit	Browns	Jets
15	Jevon Holland	Dolphins	Ravens
16	Vonn Bell	Bengals	Cowboys
17	Brandon Jones	Dolphins	Ravens
18	Jonathan Owens	Texans	Broncos
19	Tracy Walker III	Lions	Commanders
20	Trevon Diggs	Cowboys	Bengals
21	Kenny Moore II (Q)	Colts	Jaguars
22	Jaquan Brisker	Bears	Packers
23	Marcus Williams	Ravens	Dolphins
24	Xavier McKinney	Giants	Panthers
25	A.J. Terrell	Falcons	Rams
26	Marlon Humphrey	Ravens	Dolphins
27	Richie Grant	Falcons	Rams
28	Jalen Pitre	Texans	Broncos
29	Andre Cisco	Jaguars	Colts
30	Jordan Fuller	Rams	Falcons
31	Marcus Maye	Saints	Buccaneers
32	Jalen Ramsey	Rams	Falcons
33	Taylor Rapp	Rams	Falcons
34	Carlton Davis	Buccaneers	Saints
35	Xavier Woods	Panthers	Giants
36	Adrian Amos	Packers	Bears
37	Jessie Bates III	Bengals	Cowboys
38	Marcus Epps	Eagles	Vikings
39	Kyle Hamilton	Ravens	Dolphins
40	Jordan Whitehead (Q)	Jets	Browns
41	Donovan Wilson	Cowboys	Bengals
42	Mike Edwards	Buccaneers	Saints
43	Kendall Fuller	Commanders	Lions
44	Logan Ryan	Buccaneers	Saints
45	Taron Johnson	Bills	Titans
46	Nasir Adderley	Chargers	Chiefs
47	Amani Hooker	Titans	Bills
48	L’Jarius Sneed	Chiefs	Chargers
49	Josh Jones	Seahawks	49ers
50	C.J. Gardner-Johnson	Eagles	Vikings

 

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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