Fantasy Football IDP Rankings for Week 8 (Top 100)

Back to another short bye, where only the Ravens and Cowboys will rest. A couple of high-end LBs will need to be replaced but otherwise there aren't many significant gaps in player availability. With offenses exploding recently, it's a fair question to ask whether players on top-flight units like the Bears Defense and 49ers Defense could be prone to a letdown. You may be more likely to stream at DST than IDP but those who in deeper leagues requiring a player at each position group are always looking for an edge.

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.

Top 100 Individual Defensive Players - Week 8

Streamers/Key Players to Watch

Shaquil Barrett (LB, TB) @ Tennessee

He's still tied for the league lead with nine sacks even after a two-week disappearing act and then a bye. Maybe Barrett was just tired from taking down so many quarterbacks but we'll see if he can regain his early form against Ryan Tannehill, who has been sacked six times in his two games as Titans QB. The Bucs' pass defense as a whole has been terrible but Barrett could be the lone bright spot once more.

Danny Trevathan (LB, CHI) vs L.A. Chargers

With all the young talent in Chicago's linebacker corps, it's easy to overlook 29-year-old veteran Danny Trevathan. He is pacing the team with 55 combines and 43 solo tackles, the latter of which ranks fifth in the league. Although the Bears looked like a shell of themselves last week and have allowed the last two opponents to score a combined 60 points, I'd bet on a bounceback against a Chargers team that seems to have lost its identity ever since Melvin Gordon returned. If Keenan Allen doesn't play due to his in-week injury, they may rely on the ground game and dump-offs even more, giving Trevathan and crew the chance to rack up tackles.

Nick Bosa (DE, SF) vs Carolina

Dee Ford leads the Niners' defense that is second-best in the league right now (behind the Patriots Defense of course) with 4.5 sacks. Bosa is nipping at his heels with four sacks but he leads the team by far in QB Hits with 10, followed by Bucker with 6, Armstead with five and Ford with four. He's picking things up in the tackle category too, with five solo stops in Week 7. Ford has been limited in practice (quadriceps) and may be limited in this game so leave it to Bosa to do his thing against Kyle Allen.

Devin McCourty (S, NE) vs Cleveland

Here's a no-brainer. McCourty has five INT this season to lead the NFL. Baker Mayfield has thrown a league-high 11 INT, 10 of which went to defensive backs. Unless you think Jarvis Landry is clairvoyant, expect the Browns to pass a lot and have trouble doing so.

Ronnie Harrison (S, JAX) vs N.Y. Jets

We can't expect Sam Darnold to cough it up four times like he did last week but one will do. Harrison, a former Alabama standout, has two picks in the last four games. He's been a steady, if unspectacular, contributor in tackles and defended three passes last week too. He figures to be a relatively safe play for those needing safety help.