Welcome to the NFL, Week 12 kickoff, and the stretch run of the fantasy football season!
With growing data available, we will try to make the best start/sit decisions based on the early season results. Pay attention to the injury reports, and keep your lineup flexible when setting to cover your risk and maximize results.
Every league is different — especially in the individual defensive player (IDP) world. These rankings are based on our fantasy scoring to help you adjust to your league while acknowledging that there will be some variations across different platforms. It doesn’t account for position requirements and is best thought of as IDP Flex rankings for Week 12!
Which IDP Players Should You Start in Fantasy Football?
1) Daiyan Henley, LB | LAC (vs. BAL)
2) Robert Spillane, LB | LV (vs. DEN)
3) Zack Baun, LB | PHI (at LAR)
4) Bobby Wagner, LB | WAS (vs. DAL)
5) Fred Warner, LB | SF (at GB)
6) Ernest Jones, LB | SEA (vs. ARI)
7) Roquan Smith, LB | BAL (at LAC)
8) Blake Cashman, LB | MIN (at CHI)
9) Brian Branch, S | DET (at IND)
10) E.J. Speed, LB | IND (vs. DET)
11) T.J. Edwards, LB | CHI (vs. MIN)
12) Nick Cross, S | IND (vs. DET)
13) Jordyn Brooks, LB | MIA (vs. NE)
14) Lavonte David, LB | TB (at NYG)
15) Jack Campbell, LB | DET (at IND)
16) Quentin Lake, S | LAR (vs. PHI)
17) Zaire Franklin, LB | IND (vs. DET)
18) Frankie Luvu, LB | WAS (vs. DAL)
19) Kyzir White, LB | ARI (at SEA)
20) Nakobe Dean, LB | PHI (at LAR)
21) DeMarvion Overshown, LB | DAL (at WAS)
22) Derwin James Jr., S | LAC (vs. BAL)
23) Budda Baker, S | ARI (at SEA)
24) Nick Bolton, LB | KC (at CAR)
25) Patrick Queen, LB | PIT (at CLE)
26) Grant Delpit, S | CLE (vs. PIT)
27) Azeez Al-Shaair, LB | HOU (vs. TEN)
28) Antoine Winfield Jr., S | TB (at NYG)
29) Kyle Dugger, S | NE (at MIA)
30) Trenton Simpson, LB | BAL (at LAC)
31) Kyle Hamilton, S | BAL (at LAC)
32) Kenneth Murray Jr., LB | TEN (at HOU)
33) Jeremy Chinn, S | WAS (vs. DAL)
34) Tre’von Moehrig, S | LV (vs. DEN)
35) T.J. Watt, LB | PIT (at CLE)
36) Quay Walker, LB | GB (vs. SF)
37) Tyler Nubin, S | NYG (vs. TB)
38) Brandon Jones, S | DEN (at LV)
39) Josey Jewell, LB | CAR (vs. KC)
40) Joshua Metellus, S | MIN (at CHI)
41) Henry To’oTo’o, LB | HOU (vs. TEN)
42) Malcolm Rodriguez, LB | DET (at IND)
43) Kevin Byard III, S | CHI (vs. MIN)
44) Jalen Pitre, S | HOU (vs. TEN)
45) Julian Love, S | SEA (vs. ARI)
46) Micah Parsons, LB | DAL (at WAS)
47) Jordan Hicks, LB | CLE (vs. PIT)
48) Tremaine Edmunds, LB | CHI (vs. MIN)
49) Minkah Fitzpatrick, S | PIT (at CLE)
50) Rayshawn Jenkins, S | SEA (vs. ARI)
51) Eric Kendricks, LB | DAL (at WAS)
52) Xavier McKinney, S | GB (vs. SF)
53) Bobby Okereke, LB | NYG (vs. TB)
54) Trevin Wallace, LB | CAR (vs. KC)
55) Evan Williams, S | GB (vs. SF)
56) DeShon Elliott, S | PIT (at CLE)
57) Jordan Whitehead, S | TB (at NYG)
58) Jalen Thompson, S | ARI (at SEA)
59) Mack Wilson Sr., LB | ARI (at SEA)
60) Jahlani Tavai, LB | NE (at MIA)
61) Myles Garrett, DE | CLE (vs. PIT)
62) Maxx Crosby, DE | LV (vs. DEN)
63) Reed Blankenship, S | PHI (at LAR)
64) Will Anderson Jr., DE | HOU (vs. TEN)
65) Dexter Lawrence II, DT | NYG (vs. TB)
66) Jared Verse, DE | LAR (vs. PHI)
67) Justin Reid, S | KC (at CAR)
68) Tyrice Knight, LB | SEA (vs. ARI)
69) Mohamoud Diabate, LB | CLE (vs. PIT)
70) Kenny Moore II, CB | IND (vs. DET)
71) C.J. Gardner-Johnson, S | PHI (at LAR)
72) Jordan Fuller, S | CAR (vs. KC)
73) Drue Tranquill, LB | KC (at CAR)
74) Danielle Hunter, DE | HOU (vs. TEN)
75) Jerome Baker, LB | TEN (at HOU)
76) Cody Barton, LB | DEN (at LV)
77) Jevon Holland, S | MIA (vs. NE)
78) Kerby Joseph, S | DET (at IND)
79) Devon Witherspoon, CB | SEA (vs. ARI)
80) Divine Deablo, LB | LV (vs. DEN)
81) Micah McFadden, LB | NYG (vs. TB)
82) Julian Blackmon, S | IND (vs. DET)
83) Kyler Gordon, CB | CHI (vs. MIN)
84) Isaiah McDuffie, LB | GB (vs. SF)
85) Xavier Woods, S | CAR (vs. KC)
86) Donovan Wilson, S | DAL (at WAS)
87) Denzel Perryman, LB | LAC (vs. BAL)
88) Payton Wilson, LB | PIT (at CLE)
89) Camryn Bynum, S | MIN (at CHI)
90) Nick Bosa, DE | SF (at GB)
91) P.J. Locke, S | DEN (at LV)
92) Amani Hooker, S | TEN (at HOU)
93) Kam Curl, S | LAR (vs. PHI)
94) Zach Allen, DE | DEN (at LV)
Best IDP Players To Start in Week 12
Jack Campbell, LB, Detroit Lions
For anyone who missed it, Alex Anzalone broke a bone in his arm in Week 11, at least that’s what it looked like he said in the game. Even before that, though, the Lions’ second 2023 first-round pick was emerging in Detroit.
Over the past four weeks, no player has more defensive stops against the run (13) than Jack Campbell per @PFF pic.twitter.com/SqdZ42gQ2E
— LionsFanReport (@lionsfanreport) November 21, 2024
Jack Campbell has exceeded 90% of snaps in four straight weeks now. He’s posted nine or more tackles in three of those four games. After a rocky rookie season for IDP gamers, those patient enough to hold the young LB are seeing the talents that made Campbell a top pick.
Now, he’s the unquestioned LB1 in Detroit, so expect more of the same going forward.
Trenton Simpson, LB, Baltimore Ravens
Speaking of LB injuries, even though I have Roquan Smith ranked highly, Trenton Simpson (and Malik Harrison) are both bumped up a bit too. With the Ravens playing on Monday night, Smith managers need to see him practice (he didn’t Thursday), but Simpson needs to be locked into lineups regardless.
Similar to Campbell in Detroit, Simpson has been coming on over the last four weeks, too, seeing at least 85% snaps in each after only exceeding that once prior to this stretch. The tackle totals have been a bit all over, but that’s a bit of playing next to a stud in Smith. It appears unlikely Smith goes, the nine-tackle high he hit (Week 9) feels doable this week.