Week 4 IDP Rankings for Fantasy Football - Positional Rankings for Linebacker, Defensive Line, Defensive Back

September 30, 2023

Fantasy football IDP rankings and IDP streamers for Week 4 if the 2023 NFL season. Chris's IDP fantasy start em, sit em picks for individual defensive players.

Week 3 was a nice recovery from the sleight before it, where my risers and fades had more misses than not. Of course, any streamer recommendations are aimed at little-rostered or seldom-started players, so those calls will always have hits and misses. That is the nature of elevating waiver options and fading regular starters. However, in Week 3, I had a stronger-than-average success rate with my streamers, risers, and fades.

Included in my hits from last week were my fades of Alex Highsmith and the Jaguars' Josh Allen (who combined for two total tackles) and my streams of Terrel Bernard, Dax Hill, and Alohi Gilman. Those calls led to a good week for my columns, which deal with highly volatile players and matchups. However, I don’t mention these victories to gloat, because I still missed my share of calls. I mention these picks to give context of what streamers and fades really are.

Fantasy analysts pick busts and breakouts every week. Those calls should be viewed in the context of an analyst’s overall rankings. While I may love the matchup for a Tank Dell or Drake Jackson, I’m not ranking them ahead of a healthy Justin Jefferson or Myles Garrett. Streamers and fades are simply players whose fantasy potential is notably higher or lower than usual. They are lottery tickets who you may consider benching/starting if you’re looking to make a move.

IDP Scoring System for Rankings:

• 6-points per Defensive Touchdown
• 4-points per Forced Turnover (FF/INT)
• 3-points per Sack
• 2- points per PD, FR, Safety
• 1-point Solo Tackle
• 0.5-points Assisted Tackle
• Note: These rankings are also based on leagues that start one player at each defensive position (DL, LB, DB) and two DFLEX.

Top Fantasy Defensive Linemen of the Week

DL Riser of the Week:

Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati Bengals

Hendrickson was in the DL2 conversation for years with us. Last year, his production dipped a bit, and he fell out of that tier. The former Saint has a good matchup on paper that should allow him to have two consecutive weeks of plus production, though.

The Titans were arguably the worst pass-blocking offensive line in the NFL last year. The offense’s overall blocking has improved, thanks largely to Peter Skoronski (who hasn’t played since Week 1) and solid blocking from position players. However, four of their projected five starters on the offensive line for Week 4 grade negatively as pass blockers. Hendrickson should be a solid streaming DL2 option.

DL Disappointment of the Week:

Miami Dolphins Pass Rushers

You'll notice we have two Miami DLs in this week's rankings despite telling you to fade them. Please read my introduction to this article to better understand why. Put simply, studs like Jaelan Phillips or Christian Wilkins can't fall too far because they are just too good. Expectations can be faded for them, and they can drop a tier thanks to a tough matchup, though.

The Bills currently grade as PFF's second-best pass-blocking offense in the NFL. They've surrendered just 32 pressures in three contests. Even worse, Josh Allen is obviously hard to bring down. Hence, Allen is averaging fewer than three sacks per game despite facing plus pass rushers on the Jets and Commanders. Making matters worse is Phillips’ nagging injury, and a Bills defense that should keep this game from getting too out of hand.

Top Fantasy Linebackers of the Week

LB Riser of the Week:

Cody Barton, Washington Commanders

Barton has played 100% of the Commanders' defensive snaps this season. That's led to two double-digit tackle games so far. Now he has a positive fantasy matchup on tap that helps launch him up our rankings.

The Eagles offense runs the ball the second-most times in the NFL. Philly is also running the third-most offensive plays per game. Barton has produced fantasy points against mobile quarterbacks in the past and the matchup metrics favor Barton, whose usage has been elite this season. In tackle-premium scoring, he’s in the LB2 tier this week.

LB Disappointment of the Week:

Robert Spillane & Divine Deablo, Las Vegas Raiders

The Chargers have run the ball 36 times in two games without Austin Ekeler. Last week, that number fell to 15 attempts, while Justin Herbert attempted 47 pass attempts. The backups behind Ekeler have been extremely ineffective, and Kellen Moore has leaned into the pass as a result. If Ekeler is out again in Week 4, expect more of the same.

If Ekeler does sit, it means problems for Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo. Both earn most of their fantasy points from tackles in run support and the short area passing game. Justin Herbert's Average Intended Air Yards Per Attempt is a career-high 8.1 this season and he averages 6.3 attempts to his short-area targets without Ekeler. Thus, we project 20 opportunities for Spillane and Deablo to collect fantasy points this week. That’s low.

Top Fantasy Defensive Backs of the Week

DB Riser of the Week:

Julian Blackmon, Indianapolis Colts

Blackmon is another defender who has played every defensive snap for his team, which is always positive. He produced against a pass-oriented Texans team and a run-oriented Ravens offense. The Rams are running the sixth most offensive plays per game and utilize a lot of crossing routes and screens. That should help Blackmon’s opportunities for tackles continue.

DB Disappointment of the Week:

Cam Taylor-Britt, Cincinnati Bengals

Taylor-Britt is a solid CB1 option most weeks and a DB3 consideration in many formats. However, this week he plays a Titans offense that averages the third-fewest offensive plays per game. It’s also unclear whether he has an obvious target-hog to shadow.

While De'Andre Hopkins is technically getting solid usage (8.3 per game) and he may get shadowed on reputation alone, he hasn’t actually deserved a shadow this year. Hopkins has averaged just six targets since injuring his ankle, plus his yards per target and successful reception rate are career lows. Whether Taylor-Britt sees a lot of Hopkins or just a little, the volume should be low this week.

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