Week 3 of football is officially in the books, and it’s time to look ahead for our fantasy football leagues.
The IDP report will provide an early look at several waiver wire priorities of varying league sizes, along with preliminary Week 4 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.
Top Week 4 IDP Pickups
Nick Herbig, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
First off, while Nick Herbig is technically an OLB, he should be played as a DL or Edge, depending on your league. If listed at LB only, he’s much less interesting in tackle-heavy leagues. With Alex Highsmith likely out for a few weeks with a groin issue, though, Herbig is a plug-and-play high-level DL or Edge.
For instance, just this last week, Herbig played only 41% of snaps, filling in after the injury. His stats in that minimal playing time? Herbig posted three combined tackles and two sacks. This doesn’t read fluky either, as he posted strong stats in his rookie year despite playing only minimal time behind the Steelers’ star pass rushers.
Chad Muma & Ventrell Miller, LBs, Jacksonville Jaguars
Let’s kick off LBs with a two-for-one. Jaguars star LB Foyesade Oluokun is out for a bit with plantar fasciitis, which is a tricky thing to work through. Now, one of these two will need to seize the role and not just split time. So far in 2024, they’ve played nearly the exact same number of snaps, including splitting time after Oluokun left in Week 3.
The best guess on the two is that Chad Muma plays more than Ventrell Miller, but it could be murky. If the two of them rotate close to 50/50, then neither will be playable. So this add is mainly a deep league play for LB-needy teams. Keep them on the bench this week as well, if at all possible.
Daiyan Henley, LB, Los Angeles Chargers
Now for shallower leagues, Daiyan Henley is a universal roster add. With Junior Colson out last week, Henley got to play every single snap for the Chargers. He responded by increasing his tackle total for a third week in a row, setting a new career high with 12 total tackles and a pass defended.
With the Chargers on bye Week 5, expect Colson to be held out again. That clears the way for Henley to play a full snap share again against the Chiefs. He’s a stud who needs to be rostered everywhere and played with supreme confidence. Henley looks to be the future of the Chargers LB room.
Quentin Lake, DB, Los Angeles Rams
Another player, like Henley, who almost made last week’s article, Quentin Lake continues to ball out to start 2024. The young Rams DB is playing a full-time role, and in the “star” position. This is the role similar to players like Derwin James and Kyle Hamilton tend to play on their defenses.
He’s been in the slot about half his snaps, deep for a quarter, and in the box for the last quarter. This role allows him to continue posting high tackle totals, as he’s eclipsed 10 total tackles in each of his first 3 games. He’ll be climbing the weekly rankings and is approaching top-10 DB status.
Early Week 4 Fantasy Football IDP Rankings
1) Zack Baun, LB | PHI (at TB)
2) Fred Warner, LB | SF (vs. NE)
3) T.J. Edwards, LB | CHI (vs. LAR)
4) Roquan Smith, LB | BAL (vs. BUF)
5) Azeez Al-Shaair, LB | HOU (vs. JAC)
6) Bobby Wagner, LB | WAS (at ARI)
7) Aidan Hutchinson, DE | DET (vs. SEA)
8) E.J. Speed, LB | IND (vs. PIT)
9) Nick Bolton, LB | KC (at LAC)
10) Logan Wilson, LB | CIN (at CAR)
11) Bobby Okereke, LB | NYG (vs. DAL)
12) Nick Bosa, DE | SF (vs. NE)
13) Lavonte David, LB | TB (vs. PHI)
14) Blake Cashman, LB | MIN (at GB)
15) Ernest Jones IV, LB | TEN (at MIA)
16) Tyrel Dodson, LB | SEA (at DET)
17) Shaq Thompson, LB | CAR (vs. CIN)
18) Kyle Hamilton, S | BAL (vs. BUF)
19) Robert Spillane, LB | LV (vs. CLE)
20) Kyzir White, LB | ARI (vs. WAS)
21) Zaire Franklin, LB | IND (vs. PIT)
22) Eric Kendricks, LB | DAL (at NYG)
23) T.J. Watt, LB | PIT (at IND)
24) Maxx Crosby, DE | LV (vs. CLE)
25) Myles Garrett, DE | CLE (at LV)
26) Tremaine Edmunds, LB | CHI (vs. LAR)
27) C.J. Mosley, LB | NYJ (vs. DEN)
28) Josey Jewell, LB | CAR (vs. CIN)
29) Micah Parsons, LB | DAL (at NYG)
30) Quincy Williams, LB | NYJ (vs. DEN)
31) Daiyan Henley, LB | LAC (vs. KC)
32) Germaine Pratt, LB | CIN (at CAR)
33) Micah McFadden, LB | NYG (vs. DAL)
34) Brian Branch, S | DET (vs. SEA)
35) Demario Davis, LB | NO (at ATL)
36) Quay Walker, LB | GB (vs. MIN)
37) Kyle Dugger, S | NE (at SF)
38) Jordyn Brooks, LB | MIA (vs. TEN)
39) Grant Delpit, S | CLE (at LV)
40) Will Anderson Jr., DE | HOU (vs. JAC)
41) Jaquan Brisker, S | CHI (vs. LAR)
42) Patrick Queen, LB | PIT (at IND)
43) Jalen Pitre, S | HOU (vs. JAC)
44) Devin Lloyd, LB | JAC (at HOU)
45) Quentin Lake, S | LAR (at CHI)
46) Boye Mafe, DE | SEA (at DET)
47) Dorian Williams, LB | BUF (at BAL)
48) Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB | CLE (at LV)
49) Alex Anzalone, LB | DET (vs. SEA)
50) Nick Cross, S | IND (vs. PIT)
51) Jalen Thompson, S | ARI (vs. WAS)
52) Joshua Metellus, S | MIN (at GB)
53) Budda Baker, S | ARI (vs. WAS)
54) Quinnen Williams, DT | NYJ (vs. DEN)
55) Cody Barton, LB | DEN (at NYJ)
56) Trenton Simpson, LB | BAL (vs. BUF)
57) Kaden Elliss, LB | ATL (vs. NO)
58) Jahlani Tavai, LB | NE (at SF)
59) Nakobe Dean, LB | PHI (at TB)
60) Baylon Spector, LB | BUF (at BAL)
Top IDP Players To Start in Week 4
Nick Bosa, DE, San Francisco 49ers
Let’s start with Nick Bosa, the second-ranked DL this week. Bosa has not had the best start to 2024, but that could easily change this week. The Patriots’ OL has been one of the worst at allowing pressure. Bosa has been getting pressure at a reasonable rate to start 2024 but hasn’t gotten home as much.
This could easily change with the matchup this week. Bosa should be one of the best bets of the weekend to post a sack, and could easily see a bigger total if the 49ers can jump out to a lead early. Don’t worry about the start with Bosa, the pass rush metrics are there and now so is the matchup.
Ernest Jones, LB, Tennessee Titans
Ernest Jones has finally recovered from the late preseason trade that affected his value. In his first game, he played under 50% of snaps but has been a 100% player the last two weeks. This past week, he also totaled 13 tackles, hitting the double-digit mark for the first time in 2024.
Now that Jones has shown the role and the tackle floor again, he’s a locked and loaded high-end play weekly. Against the Dolphins and their struggling offense sans Tua Tagovailoa, fire him up. Miami will likely try to run the ball and minimize the burden on their QB. Expect another solid tackle outing from the young stud LB.