The fantasy football IDP report will provide an early look at several waiver wire priorities of varying league sizes, along with preliminary Week 12 IDP rankings. Since all leagues are different sizes and have differing IDP requirements, the weekly rankings might be more beneficial than the waiver list.
As usual, the rankings are a reflection of IDP Flex rankings for tackle-heavy formats.
Kwity Paye, DE, Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts’ pass rush has been a whirlwind this season. Despite being the top-drafted pass rusher and having a strong preseason, Laiatu Latu has yet to see that translate consistently to Sundays. One player who’s starting to consistently show up, though, is Kwity Paye.
Paye has always been a solid, if somewhat unspectacular, IDP option among defensive linemen. He’s yet to post double-digit sacks, but this might finally be the year.
Paye has now tallied four sacks over his last three games. Combine that with his typically solid tackle performances, and you’ve got an edge who gives you a solid floor and a ceiling.
Jerome Baker, LB, Tennessee Titans
This one hurts, as the Tennessee Titans had just seen Jack Gibbens emerge again as what appeared to be a solid every-down player and IDP asset. Gibbens underwent ankle surgery already and is on injured reserve, leading the Titans to lean into their recent trade acquisition.
Jerome Baker has been a solid IDP player before, even filling in after Gibbens’ injury. Baker’s eight tackles were the second-best output of the year for him. He also registered a QB hit, which is good news because he’s at his best being allowed to blitz and get after the quarterback. Baker is a solid option, though he’s at risk of losing production to rookies as the season ends.
Tyrice Knight, LB, Seattle Seahawks
Speaking of Baker’s former team, they surprisingly cut the second LB from their Week 1 tandem, creating a great opportunity for Tyrice Knight for at least the rest of the year. Knight has also performed well thus far in his opportunities.
The #Seahawks have shown full confidence in Tyrice Knight, who just had his best game of the year in a full-time starting role. He had a 77.5 overall grade and an 83.6 tackling grade. Definitely still a young player, but he continues to flash. pic.twitter.com/vLDbSa7sEx
— William Herman (@_williamherman) November 18, 2024
In his last game, Knight played a new season-high 81% of snaps off the bye. This shows the growing trust the young linebacker seems to be earning from his coaching staff. He rewarded that faith with his best performance of the year, posting his first double-digit stop game of his career. He’s a worthy addition to any LB-needy squad.
Evan Williams, S, Green Bay Packers
Coming off the bye week and the hamstring injury, Evan Williams was a player to watch for me this last weekend. Mainly, how would the Green Bay Packers deploy their secondary in Week 11?
The good news for Williams is that he went right back to his full-time role next to Xavier McKinney. Williams played every single snap but one, so he seems locked into a full-time spot for the rest of the year.
The performance wasn’t ideal, but this was Williams’ worst IDP performance as a full-time safety. He’s averaging just over eight tackles per game in his three games as a ~100% snap type of player.
Week 12 Fantasy Football IDP Rankings
1) Roquan Smith, LB | BAL (at LAC)
2) Daiyan Henley, LB | LAC (vs. BAL)
3) Robert Spillane, LB | LV (vs. DEN)
4) Brian Branch, S | DET (at IND)
5) Derwin James Jr., S | LAC (vs. BAL)
6) Zack Baun, LB | PHI (at LAR)
7) Bobby Wagner, LB | WAS (vs. DAL)
8) Fred Warner, LB | SF (at GB)
9) Ernest Jones IV, LB | SEA (vs. ARI)
10) Nick Cross, S | IND (vs. DET)
11) E.J. Speed, LB | IND (vs. DET)
12) T.J. Edwards, LB | CHI (vs. MIN)
13) Lavonte David, LB | TB (at NYG)
14) Blake Cashman, LB | MIN (at CHI)
15) Zaire Franklin, LB | IND (vs. DET)
16) Jordyn Brooks, LB | MIA (vs. NE)
17) Frankie Luvu, LB | WAS (vs. DAL)
18) Jack Campbell, LB | DET (at IND)
19) Nick Bolton, LB | KC (at CAR)
20) Kyzir White, LB | ARI (at SEA)
21) Quentin Lake, S | LAR (vs. PHI)
22) Budda Baker, S | ARI (at SEA)
23) Grant Delpit, S | CLE (vs. PIT)
24) Antoine Winfield Jr., S | TB (at NYG)
25) Nakobe Dean, LB | PHI (at LAR)
26) DeMarvion Overshown, LB | DAL (at WAS)
27) Julian Love, S | SEA (vs. ARI)
28) Kyle Hamilton, S | BAL (at LAC)
29) Kyle Dugger, S | NE (at MIA)
30) Patrick Queen, LB | PIT (at CLE)
31) Myles Garrett, DE | CLE (vs. PIT)
32) Jeremy Chinn, S | WAS (vs. DAL)
33) Josey Jewell, LB | CAR (vs. KC)
34) Kenneth Murray Jr., LB | TEN (at HOU)
35) Azeez Al-Shaair, LB | HOU (vs. TEN)
36) T.J. Watt, LB | PIT (at CLE)
37) Maxx Crosby, DE | LV (vs. DEN)
38) Tremaine Edmunds, LB | CHI (vs. MIN)
39) Tre’von Moehrig, S | LV (vs. DEN)
40) Tyler Nubin, S | NYG (vs. TB)
41) Joshua Metellus, S | MIN (at CHI)
42) Trenton Simpson, LB | BAL (at LAC)
43) Quay Walker, LB | GB (vs. SF)
44) Henry To’oTo’o, LB | HOU (vs. TEN)
45) Nick Bosa, DE | SF (at GB)
46) Kevin Byard III, S | CHI (vs. MIN)
47) Brandon Jones, S | DEN (at LV)
48) Xavier McKinney, S | GB (vs. SF)
49) Will Anderson Jr., DE | HOU (vs. TEN)
50) Eric Kendricks, LB | DAL (at WAS)
51) Jordan Hicks, LB | CLE (vs. PIT)
52) Minkah Fitzpatrick, S | PIT (at CLE)
53) Jalen Pitre, S | HOU (vs. TEN)
54) Micah Parsons, LB | DAL (at WAS)
55) Evan Williams, S | GB (vs. SF)
56) Bobby Okereke, LB | NYG (vs. TB)
57) Trevin Wallace, LB | CAR (vs. KC)
58) Jordan Whitehead, S | TB (at NYG)
59) DeShon Elliott, S | PIT (at CLE)
60) Reed Blankenship, S | PHI (at LAR)
Top IDP Players To Start in Week 12
Blake Cashman, LB, Minnesota Vikings
Similar to Williams, Blake Cashman has been on the watchlist coming back from injury. After only playing around 80% of snaps in Week 10, Cashman returned to 100% of snaps in Week 11 and seems likely to get back to his old performances.
I’ve gotten questions on Cashman and concerns after totaling nine tackles in his last two games. The Vikings’ full-time LB role at LB has been productive for a couple of years now. Cashman already has multiple double-digit tackle games on the year, and a couple of down weeks don’t change that level of upside — keep playing Cashman.
Grant Delpit, S, Cleveland Browns
The stats for Cleveland’s strong safety have been hard to predict, but Grant Delpit appears to be emerging as a consistent DB threat. Despite a strong box-heavy role, Delpit hasn’t had as many elite games as you’d hope for from a defensive back.
Over the last three weeks, though, he appears to be turning the corner. Delpit has tackle performances of nine, seven, and nine, respectively, which are all top-five tackle totals for Delpit in 2024.
In the matchup against the Steelers and their run-heavy approach, expect more of the same from the young DB, fire him up with confidence.