The serious fantasy footballer knows 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 possible, 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.
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Top 100 Individual Defensive Players - Week 2
Tier | Rank | Player Name | Pos |
1 | 1 | Darius Leonard | LB |
1 | 2 | Bobby Wagner | LB |
1 | 3 | Leighton Vander Esch | LB |
1 | 4 | J.J. Watt | DL |
1 | 5 | Luke Kuechly | LB |
1 | 6 | Deion Jones | LB |
2 | 7 | Cory Littleton | LB |
2 | 8 | Myles Garrett | DL |
2 | 9 | Roquan Smith | LB |
2 | 10 | Blake Martinez | LB |
2 | 11 | Joey Bosa | DL |
2 | 12 | Aaron Donald | DL |
3 | 13 | Jamal Adams | DB |
3 | 14 | Tremaine Edmunds | LB |
3 | 15 | C.J. Mosley | LB |
3 | 16 | Danielle Hunter | DL |
3 | 17 | Landon Collins | DB |
3 | 18 | Cameron Jordan | DL |
3 | 19 | Lavonte David | LB |
4 | 20 | Joe Schobert | LB |
4 | 21 | Devin White | LB |
4 | 22 | John Johnson | DB |
4 | 23 | Calais Campbell | DL |
4 | 24 | Demarcus Lawrence | DL |
4 | 25 | Jaylon Smith | LB |
4 | 26 | Keanu Neal | DB |
4 | 27 | Devin Bush | LB |
4 | 28 | Jordan Poyer | DB |
4 | 29 | Khalil Mack | LB |
4 | 30 | Christian Kirksey | LB |
5 | 31 | DeForest Buckner | DL |
5 | 32 | Shawn Williams | DB |
5 | 33 | Kwon Alexander | LB |
5 | 34 | Budda Baker | DB |
5 | 35 | Demario Davis | LB |
5 | 36 | Frank Clark | DL |
5 | 37 | Zach Cunningham | LB |
5 | 38 | Anthony Hitchens | LB |
5 | 39 | Fred Warner | LB |
5 | 40 | Jayon Brown | LB |
5 | 41 | Myles Jack | LB |
5 | 42 | Melvin Ingram | DL |
5 | 43 | Dee Ford | DL |
5 | 44 | Harrison Smith | DB |
6 | 45 | Carlos Dunlap | DL |
6 | 46 | Chris Jones | DL |
6 | 47 | Danny Trevathan | LB |
6 | 48 | Jordan Hicks | LB |
6 | 49 | Malcolm Jenkins | DB |
6 | 50 | Justin Reid | DB |
6 | 51 | Alec Ogletree | LB |
6 | 52 | Trey Flowers | DL |
7 | 53 | Akiem Hicks | DL |
7 | 54 | Patrick Onwuasor | LB |
7 | 55 | Eric Kendricks | LB |
7 | 56 | Antoine Bethea | DB |
7 | 57 | Kevin Byard | DB |
7 | 58 | Nick Vigil | LB |
7 | 59 | Avery Williamson | LB |
7 | 60 | Cameron Heyward | DL |
7 | 61 | Zach Brown | LB |
7 | 62 | Everson Griffen | DL |
7 | 63 | Olivier Vernon | DL |
7 | 64 | Jarrad Davis | LB |
7 | 65 | Jadeveon Clowney | DL |
7 | 66 | Tyrann Mathieu | DB |
7 | 67 | Bradley McDougald | DB |
7 | 68 | Reshad Jones | DB |
7 | 69 | Clayton Geathers | DB |
7 | 70 | Ha Ha Clinton-Dix | DB |
7 | 71 | Bradley Chubb | LB |
7 | 72 | Justin Houston | DL |
8 | 73 | Jessie Bates III | DB |
8 | 74 | Von Miller | LB |
8 | 75 | Damon Harrison | DL |
8 | 76 | Jamie Collins | LB |
8 | 77 | Kiko Alonso | LB |
8 | 78 | Jabaal Sheard | DL |
8 | 79 | Jabrill Peppers | DB |
8 | 80 | Kenny Clark | DL |
8 | 81 | Matt Milano | LB |
8 | 82 | Nick Bosa | DL |
8 | 83 | Justin Evans | DB |
8 | 84 | Earl Thomas | DB |
8 | 85 | Kareem Jackson | DB |
8 | 86 | Jurrell Casey | DL |
8 | 87 | Tracy Walker | DB |
8 | 88 | Jerome Baker | LB |
8 | 89 | Jonathan Allen | DL |
8 | 90 | Brandon Graham | DL |
8 | 91 | T.J. Watt | LB |
8 | 92 | Tahir Whitehead | LB |
8 | 93 | Wesley Woodyard | LB |
8 | 94 | Vontaze Burfict | LB |
8 | 95 | Terrell Suggs | LB |
9 | 96 | Malcolm Jenkins | DB |
9 | 97 | Tony Jefferson | DB |
9 | 98 | K.J. Wright | LB |
9 | 99 | Adrian Amos | DB |
9 | 100 | Ezekiel Ansah | DL |
Key Players to Watch
Myles Garrett (DE, CLE) - If he keeps playing the way he did in the opener, he'll finally live up to his billing as the first overall pick. Garrett registered two sacks against Tennessee and now has the luxury of facing a Jets team that looks like a MASH unit with Trevor Siemian at QB. This is a good week to deploy almost any Cleveland Browns player but especially their top pass rusher.
Jaylon Smith (LB, DAL) - The other New York team isn't in quite as bad shape but it's close. Sterling Shepard has been ruled out, Golden Tate is still suspended, and even Cody Latimer is banged up. There could be 30+ targets between Evan Engram and Saquon Barkley, which means a lot of action in the middle. Leighton Vander Esch is the obvious high-end LB but in deeper leagues, Smith is a player to consider.
Tracy Walker (S, DET) - Now in his second season, Walker moves into a starting role after serving as a backup safety in 2018. Walker provided immediate results in Week 1 with an interception, two passes defended, and 18 solo tackles. He will be a busy man once again as the Chargers will rely on their running backs and intermediate pass game now that Hunter Henry and possibly Mike Williams are out.
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.