Welcome to the NFL and fantasy football Week 4 kickoff.
With minimal data available, we will try to make the best start/sit decisions based on the offseason/coach speak and Weeks 1 through 3 results. Hopefully, you followed my advice as the top IDP ranker in the FantasyPros Week 3 expert contest. 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 4!
Which IDP Players Should You Start in Fantasy Football?
1) Fred Warner, LB | SF (vs. NE)
2) Zack Baun, LB | PHI (at TB)
3) Roquan Smith, LB | BAL (vs. BUF)
4) T.J. Edwards, LB | CHI (vs. LAR)
5) Bobby Wagner, LB | WAS (at ARI)
6) E.J. Speed, LB | IND (vs. PIT)
7) Aidan Hutchinson, DE | DET (vs. SEA)
8) Nick Bolton, LB | KC (at LAC)
9) Logan Wilson, LB | CIN (at CAR)
10) Azeez Al-Shaair, LB | HOU (vs. JAC)
11) Bobby Okereke, LB | NYG (vs. DAL)
12) Nick Bosa, DE | SF (vs. NE)
13) Blake Cashman, LB | MIN (at GB)
14) Ernest Jones IV, LB | TEN (at MIA)
15) Tyrel Dodson, LB | SEA (at DET)
16) Lavonte David, LB | TB (vs. PHI)
17) Shaq Thompson, LB | CAR (vs. CIN)
18) Kyle Hamilton, S | BAL (vs. BUF)
19) Zaire Franklin, LB | IND (vs. PIT)
20) Robert Spillane, LB | LV (vs. CLE)
21) Kyzir White, LB | ARI (vs. WAS)
22) Eric Kendricks, LB | DAL (at NYG)
23) Daiyan Henley, LB | LAC (vs. KC)
24) Myles Garrett, DE | CLE (at LV)
25) T.J. Watt, LB | PIT (at IND)
26) Tremaine Edmunds, LB | CHI (vs. LAR)
27) C.J. Mosley, LB | NYJ (vs. DEN)
28) Micah Parsons, LB | DAL (at NYG)
29) Josey Jewell, LB | CAR (vs. CIN)
30) Quincy Williams, LB | NYJ (vs. DEN)
31) Alex Anzalone, LB | DET (vs. SEA)
32) Micah McFadden, LB | NYG (vs. DAL)
33) Patrick Queen, LB | PIT (at IND)
34) Brian Branch, S | DET (vs. SEA)
35) Germaine Pratt, LB | CIN (at CAR)
36) Demario Davis, LB | NO (at ATL)
37) Kyle Dugger, S | NE (at SF)
38) Dorian Williams, LB | BUF (at BAL)
39) Grant Delpit, S | CLE (at LV)
40) Maxx Crosby, DE | LV (vs. CLE)
41) Jaquan Brisker, S | CHI (vs. LAR)
42) Kaden Elliss, LB | ATL (vs. NO)
43) Jalen Pitre, S | HOU (vs. JAC)
44) Quay Walker, LB | GB (vs. MIN)
45) Quentin Lake, S | LAR (at CHI)
46) Jordyn Brooks, LB | MIA (vs. TEN)
47) Devin Lloyd, LB | JAC (at HOU)
48) Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB | CLE (at LV)
49) Nick Cross, S | IND (vs. PIT)
50) Jalen Thompson, S | ARI (vs. WAS)
51) Joshua Metellus, S | MIN (at GB)
52) Budda Baker, S | ARI (vs. WAS)
53) Will Anderson Jr., DE | HOU (vs. JAC)
54) Jahlani Tavai, LB | NE (at SF)
55) Nakobe Dean, LB | PHI (at TB)
56) Cody Barton, LB | DEN (at NYJ)
57) Baylon Spector, LB | BUF (at BAL)
58) Justin Strnad, LB | DEN (at NYJ)
59) Devon Witherspoon, CB | SEA (at DET)
60) Kamren Curl, S | LAR (at CHI)
61) Camryn Bynum, S | MIN (at GB)
62) Jamien Sherwood, LB | NYJ (vs. DEN)
63) Denzel Perryman, LB | LAC (vs. KC)
64) Jevon Holland, S | MIA (vs. TEN)
65) Julian Love, S | SEA (at DET)
66) Minkah Fitzpatrick, S | PIT (at IND)
67) Jessie Bates III, S | ATL (vs. NO)
68) Xavier McKinney, S | GB (vs. MIN)
69) Henry To’oTo’o, LB | HOU (vs. JAC)
70) Boye Mafe, DE | SEA (at DET)
71) Kenneth Murray Jr., LB | TEN (at MIA)
72) Quinnen Williams, DT | NYJ (vs. DEN)
73) Troy Reeder, LB | LAR (at CHI)
74) Trey Hendrickson, DE | CIN (at CAR)
75) Josh Hines-Allen, DE | JAC (at HOU)
76) Chris Jones, DT | KC (at LAC)
77) Jonathan Greenard, DE | MIN (at GB)
78) Khalil Mack, LB | LAC (vs. KC)
79) Tyler Nubin, S | NYG (vs. DAL)
80) Montez Sweat, DE | CHI (vs. LAR)
81) Mike Sainristil, CB | WAS (at ARI)
82) P.J. Locke, S | DEN (at NYJ)
83) Justin Reid, S | KC (at LAC)
84) Greg Rousseau, DE | BUF (at BAL)
85) Javon Bullard, S | GB (vs. MIN)
86) Drue Tranquill, LB | KC (at LAC)
87) Trenton Simpson, LB | BAL (vs. BUF)
88) Damar Hamlin, S | BUF (at BAL)
89) Troy Andersen, LB | ATL (vs. NO)
90) Danielle Hunter, DE | HOU (vs. JAC)
91) George Karlaftis III, DE | KC (at LAC)
92) Brian Burns, DE | NYG (vs. DAL)
93) Keion White, DE | NE (at SF)
94) Jordan Hicks, LB | CLE (at LV)
95) Mack Wilson Sr., LB | ARI (vs. WAS)
96) Rayshawn Jenkins, S | SEA (at DET)
97) Carl Granderson, DE | NO (at ATL)
98) Nick Herbig, LB | PIT (at IND)
99) Jordan Poyer, S | MIA (vs. TEN)
100) Dexter Lawrence II, DT | NYG (vs. DAL)
Best IDP Players To Start in Week 4
Nick Bolton, LB, Kansas City Chiefs
Nick Bolton has been a bit more name value than fantasy production so far in 2024. Even with a fantastic play to end the win last week, he only finished with eight tackles after getting seven each of the first couple weeks. That seems ripe for change coming in Week 4 though.
The Chargers are a plus matchup for LBs, and Bolton should see a lot of opportunity to bring down the RBs that LA likes to feature. The pace of play is a concern but this is the opportunity for a signature Bolton game. Don’t worry about his first few weeks, play Bolton with supreme confidence.
Daiyan Henley, LB, Los Angeles Chargers
Daiyan Henley announced himself to the IDP community at large after his Week 3 performance, but he is primed to follow it up. Junior Colson has not practiced again this week, which is what allowed Henley to play every snap in Week 3. Henley balled out as a full-time LB, securing 12 total tackles, including 9 solo tackles.
Now against the Chiefs this week, expect more of the same. Teammate Derwin James being suspended this week ought to allow Henley to be in on even more tackle opportunities. It’d be difficult to sit Henley in very many leagues in Week 4, and hopefully he can keep the role beyond the Chargers Week 5 bye.