Welcome to the NFL, Week 13 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 13!
Which IDP Players Should You Start in Fantasy Football?
1) Roquan Smith, LB | BAL (vs. PHI)
2) Foyesade Oluokun, LB | JAX (vs. HOU)
3) Daiyan Henley, LB | LAC (at ATL)
4) Zack Baun, LB | PHI (at BAL)
5) Robert Spillane, LB | LV (at KC)
6) Bobby Wagner, LB | WAS (vs. TEN)
7) E.J. Speed, LB | IND (at NE)
8) Brian Branch, S | DET (vs. CHI)
9) Zaire Franklin, LB | IND (at NE)
10) Nick Cross, S | IND (at NE)
11) Logan Wilson, LB | CIN (vs. PIT)
12) Ernest Jones, LB | SEA (at NYJ)
13) Derwin James Jr., S | LAC (at ATL)
14) Azeez Al-Shaair, LB | HOU (at JAX)
15) Budda Baker, S | ARI (at MIN)
16) Quentin Lake, S | LAR (at NO)
17) Fred Warner, LB | SF (at BUF)
18) Frankie Luvu, LB | WAS (vs. TEN)
19) Blake Cashman, LB | MIN (vs. ARI)
20) Grant Delpit, S | CLE (at DEN)
21) Jordyn Brooks, LB | MIA (at GB)
22) Terrel Bernard, LB | BUF (vs. SF)
23) Nakobe Dean, LB | PHI (at BAL)
24) Lavonte David, LB | TB (at CAR)
25) Kyle Hamilton, S | BAL (vs. PHI)
26) Jack Campbell, LB | DET (vs. CHI)
27) Antoine Winfield Jr., S | TB (at CAR)
28) Kaden Elliss, LB | ATL (vs. LAC)
29) Myles Garrett, DE | CLE (at DEN)
30) Kevin Byard III, S | CHI (at DET)
31) Quincy Williams, LB | NYJ (vs. SEA)
32) Brandon Jones, S | DEN (vs. CLE)
33) T.J. Edwards, LB | CHI (at DET)
34) DeMarvion Overshown, LB | DAL (vs. NYG)
35) Jamien Sherwood, LB | NYJ (vs. SEA)
36) Kyle Dugger, S | NE (vs. IND)
37) Julian Love, S | SEA (at NYJ)
38) Tyler Nubin, S | NYG (at DAL)
39) Germaine Pratt, LB | CIN (vs. PIT)
40) Jeremy Chinn, S | WAS (vs. TEN)
41) Joshua Metellus, S | MIN (vs. ARI)
42) Tre’von Moehrig, S | LV (at KC)
43) Rayshawn Jenkins, S | SEA (at NYJ)
44) Micah Parsons, LB | DAL (vs. NYG)
45) Nick Bolton, LB | KC (vs. LV)
46) Reed Blankenship, S | PHI (at BAL)
47) Xavier McKinney, S | GB (vs. MIA)
48) Minkah Fitzpatrick, S | PIT (at CIN)
49) Kyzir White, LB | ARI (at MIN)
50) Devin Lloyd, LB | JAX (vs. HOU)
51) Jevon Holland, S | MIA (at GB)
52) Jessie Bates III, S | ATL (vs. LAC)
53) Patrick Queen, LB | PIT (at CIN)
54) Bobby Okereke, LB | NYG (at DAL)
55) Kenneth Murray Jr., LB | TEN (at WAS)
56) Tremaine Edmunds, LB | CHI (at DET)
57) T.J. Watt, LB | PIT (at CIN)
58) Kerby Joseph, S | DET (vs. CHI)
59) Danielle Hunter, DE | HOU (at JAX)
60) Josey Jewell, LB | CAR (vs. TB)
61) Will Anderson Jr., DE | HOU (at JAX)
62) Damar Hamlin, S | BUF (vs. SF)
63) Quay Walker, LB | GB (vs. MIA)
64) Camryn Bynum, S | MIN (vs. ARI)
65) Jalen Thompson, S | ARI (at MIN)
66) Drue Tranquill, LB | KC (vs. LV)
67) Cody Barton, LB | DEN (vs. CLE)
68) DeShon Elliott, S | PIT (at CIN)
69) Kenny Moore II, CB | IND (at NE)
70) Malcolm Rodriguez, LB | DET (vs. CHI)
71) Justin Reid, S | KC (vs. LV)
72) C.J. Gardner-Johnson, S | PHI (at BAL)
73) Evan Williams, S | GB (vs. MIA)
74) Tyrice Knight, LB | SEA (at NYJ)
75) Josh Hines-Allen, DE | JAX (vs. HOU)
76) Kam Curl, S | LAR (at NO)
77) Jordan Fuller, S | CAR (vs. TB)
78) Demario Davis, LB | NO (vs. LAR)
79) Eric Kendricks, LB | DAL (vs. NYG)
80) Xavier Woods, S | CAR (vs. TB)
81) Jerome Baker, LB | TEN (at WAS)
82) Mike Edwards, S | TB (at CAR)
83) Nate Landman, LB | ATL (vs. LAC)
84) Maxx Crosby, DE | LV (at KC)
85) Trevin Wallace, LB | CAR (vs. TB)
86) Taylor Rapp, S | BUF (vs. SF)
87) Mack Wilson Sr., LB | ARI (at MIN)
88) Henry To’oTo’o, LB | HOU (at JAX)
89) Tyrann Mathieu, S | NO (vs. LAR)
90) Jahlani Tavai, LB | NE (vs. IND)
91) Mohamoud Diabate, LB | CLE (at DEN)
92) Jared Verse, DE | LAR (at NO)
93) Christian Rozeboom, LB | LAR (at NO)
94) Devon Witherspoon, CB | SEA (at NYJ)
95) Omar Speights, LB | LAR (at NO)
96) Jonathan Owens, S | CHI (at DET)
97) Tyrel Dodson, LB | MIA (at GB)
Best IDP Players To Start in Week 13
E.J. Speed, LB, Indianapolis Colts
E.J. Speed is the third leading tackler on his own squad but still has over 100 tackles on the season. He’s having a true IDP breakout year after taking several seasons to see consistent defensive snaps. Despite this, he’s still not viewed as a universal start somehow.
PPG leaders @ LB weeks 8-11 #FFIDP
Zack Baun 22.1 ppg
Daiyan Henley 19.9
Demarvion Overshown 18.6
Jamien Sherwood 17.5
Frankie Luvu 17
Kaden Elliss 16.9
EJ Speed 16.8
Terrel Bernard 16.7
Bobby Okereke 15.4
Patrick Queen 15
Jahlani Tavai 15
Ernest Jones 14.8
Josey Jewell 14.7— theidpshow.com (@adamIDP) November 20, 2024
Speed has been one of the more consistently strong IDP assets this season. He’s hit double-digit tackles in seven of his 11 games; his lowest tackle total is six, which while not ideal is still solid in many leagues. Do not hesitate to start Speed this week or any week he’s active for the rest of 2024.
Danielle Hunter, DE, Houston Texans
Despite 2023 feeling like the peak for Danielle Hunter, he’s playing at a similar level still in 2024 on a new team. It’s crazy to have a player who can post the types of tackle numbers Hunter is capable of while also being able to get you multiple sacks.
For perspective, in two of his last three games, he’s earned seven tackles. That’s a number that’s hard to hit as a D-lineman. Add on the five sacks over the same period and you get both a solid floor as well as an elite ceiling with him. Hunter has been killing it and might finally get less offensive attention as Will Anderson Jr. approaches full health again.