The fantasy football IDP report provides an early look at several waiver wire priorities for varying league sizes, along with preliminary Week 16 IDP rankings. Since all leagues are different and have differing IDP requirements, the weekly rankings might be more beneficial to some than the waiver list.
As usual, the rankings are a reflection of IDP Flex rankings for tackle-heavy formats. Let’s get you into your fantasy championships!
Ed Oliver, DT, Buffalo Bills
This time of year, it’s hard to “chase” stats for IDP players and stay alive in the playoffs. So we’ll offer up players like Ed Oliver, who is stat-chasing but also draws a favorable matchup. This week, that matchup for Oliver is the New England Patriots, who are a mess along the line.
Oliver is a good player who’s having something of a down year. Week 15 saw Oliver pick up just his second sack of the season against the Detroit Lions while also tying a season-high with four tackles. Now maybe the game script was a part of it, but the Buffalo Bills will be front-running against the Patriots too, so I’d expect a decent shot at another sack.
Henry To’oTo’o, LB, Houston Texans
The Houston Texans LB corps was one to watch coming off the bye week. The results were good for fantasy managers, especially ones who already roster Henry To’oTo’o. The young Texans LB went from a near full-time player to a true full-time player in Week 15.
DeMeco Ryans on Henry To’oTo’o (11 tackles & .5 sacks) performance & being “calm in the moment” making defensive calls #Texans
“He led the unit in a very nice manor. Just the communication piece was off the charts.” pic.twitter.com/ITRYbJPU3R
— Shaun Bijani (@ShaunBijani) December 16, 2024
The second-year LB responded by balling out and putting forth his second-best performance of the season. To’oTo’o tallied 11 combined tackles, as well as a half sack against the Miami Dolphins. Now the Texans get the Kansas City Chiefs, with either a hobbled starter or backup QB. Expect a healthy dose of underneath throws and runs, and more tackle opportunities.
Malik Harrison, LB, Baltimore Ravens
When looking at deeper names for LBs, all you want is some level of tackle consistency and a stable situation for the player. It appears as though the Baltimore Ravens are giving you the second as they move away from second-year LB Trenton Simpson and toward Malik Harrison down the stretch.
Harrison has rewarded the Ravens with some strong play in recent weeks too, as he’s hit at least eight tackles now in two of his last three games. While that might not sound like a ton, that isn’t the easiest on 60-75% of the team’s snaps. Add in playing against the Pittsburgh Steelers this week, and he’s a great deep league add and play.
Dane Belton, S, New York Giants
Speaking of plug-and-play options, say hello to the new Tyler Nubin for the remainder of the fantasy season. Dane Belton is here to be a top-10 safety and DB rest-of-season for anyone looking for help.
So over the last two weeks, Belton has been thrown right into that perfect fantasy IDP option place, playing over 50% of his snaps as a box safety and another 10% from the slot. He posted a whopping 15 stops in Week 15, as well as his first sack of the season.
Week 16 Fantasy Football IDP Rankings
1) Roquan Smith, LB | BAL (vs. PIT)
2) Foyesade Oluokun, LB | JAX (at LV)
3) Brian Branch, S | DET (at CHI)
4) Zaire Franklin, LB | IND (vs. TEN)
5) Zack Baun, LB | PHI (at WAS)
6) Nick Cross, S | IND (vs. TEN)
7) Robert Spillane, LB | LV (vs. JAX)
8) Kaden Elliss, LB | ATL (vs. NYG)
9) E.J. Speed, LB | IND (vs. TEN)
10) Budda Baker, S | ARI (at CAR)
11) Terrel Bernard, LB | BUF (vs. NE)
12) Ernest Jones, LB | SEA (vs. MIN)
13) Daiyan Henley, LB | LAC (vs. DEN)
14) Derwin James Jr., S | LAC (vs. DEN)
15) Jordyn Brooks, LB | MIA (vs. SF)
16) Bobby Wagner, LB | WAS (vs. PHI)
17) Nakobe Dean, LB | PHI (at WAS)
18) Grant Delpit, S | CLE (at CIN)
19) Germaine Pratt, LB | CIN (vs. CLE)
20) Frankie Luvu, LB | WAS (vs. PHI)
21) Joshua Metellus, S | MIN (at SEA)
22) T.J. Edwards, LB | CHI (vs. DET)
23) Jack Campbell, LB | DET (at CHI)
24) Lavonte David, LB | TB (at DAL)
25) Dre Greenlaw, LB | SF (at MIA)
26) Dane Belton, S | NYG (at ATL)
27) Josey Jewell, LB | CAR (vs. ARI)
28) Quentin Lake, S | LAR (at NYJ)
29) Kevin Byard III, S | CHI (vs. DET)
30) Julian Love, S | SEA (vs. MIN)
31) Fred Warner, LB | SF (at MIA)
32) Akeem Davis-Gaither, LB | CIN (vs. CLE)
33) Will Anderson Jr., DE | HOU (at KC)
34) Brandon Jones, S | DEN (at LAC)
35) Kyle Hamilton, S | BAL (vs. PIT)
36) Jamien Sherwood, LB | NYJ (vs. LAR)
37) Myles Garrett, DE | CLE (at CIN)
38) Nick Bolton, LB | KC (vs. HOU)
39) Blake Cashman, LB | MIN (at SEA)
40) Kyle Dugger, S | NE (at BUF)
41) Jabrill Peppers, S | NE (at BUF)
42) Quincy Williams, LB | NYJ (vs. LAR)
43) Xavier McKinney, S | GB (vs. NO)
44) Tre’von Moehrig, S | LV (vs. JAX)
45) Micah Parsons, LB | DAL (vs. TB)
46) Jeremy Chinn, S | WAS (vs. PHI)
47) Jessie Bates III, S | ATL (vs. NYG)
48) Kenneth Murray Jr., LB | TEN (at IND)
49) Jordan Battle, S | CIN (vs. CLE)
50) Henry To’oTo’o, LB | HOU (at KC)
51) Reed Blankenship, S | PHI (at WAS)
52) Trey Hendrickson, DE | CIN (vs. CLE)
53) Patrick Queen, LB | PIT (at BAL)
54) Christian Rozeboom, LB | LAR (at NYJ)
55) Danielle Hunter, DE | HOU (at KC)
56) Jalen Thompson, S | ARI (at CAR)
57) Eric Kendricks, LB | DAL (vs. TB)
58) Xavier Woods, S | CAR (vs. ARI)
59) DeShon Elliott, S | PIT (at BAL)
60) Ugo Amadi, S | NO (at GB)
Top IDP Players To Start in Week 16
Kaden Elliss, LB, Atlanta Falcons
Kaden Elliss has been a stud IDP asset for like two months now. Despite the rocky season for the Atlanta Falcons on offense, the defense overall has been decent despite a continuing issue with the pass rushing.
Over the last eight games, Elliss has just one game where he failed to hit double-digit stops in a game. That’s just an insane run of consistency akin to last year’s run by A.J. Brown of 125-yard receiving games. Don’t shy away from the Falcons’ defensive captain now; keep him locked into your lineups.
Dane Belton, S, New York Giants
That’s right, like I said above Belton is a locked-in player and a smash-start this week. Not just as a DB but in play for me as high as a second IDP flex if that’s your league’s setup. Nubin was in the midst of three straight 12-tackle games, and Belton got 15 in his first start in the role.
The New York Giants don’t have alternatives and aren’t good right now. Who knows which QB will be available to go in Week 16? Stay in the flames with their SS spot and fire up Belton as a locked-in top-10 DB in your semifinal matchup!
