RADIO
There are four NFL teams on bye in Week 11. That is usually a prescription for heavy roster turnover and triage in fantasy circles. However, this bye week is uniquely tame.
While this bye is taking the NFL’s leading tackler (Zaire Franklin) away from us, the losses could be far worse. The Saints typically have just three players in our weekly IDP rankings, the Colts five, the Patriots two, and the Falcons four. That’s a loss of 3.5 defenders per team due to bye, which is negligible when you consider we lost 26 IDP-ranked starters in Week 7.
Things are further improved when you consider that of the defenders on bye, only one (Franklin) ranks in the top ten at his position most weeks. Deforest Buckner is a DT1, and Paulson Adebo is a CB1, but in leagues that don't use those designations, you won't miss them too badly. As a result, this week’s rankings will be deep, and some good players will be crowded off the list because the Week 11 bye is being unusually kind to us this year.
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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
| Rank | Player | Team | Opponent |
| 1 | Micah Parsons | Cowboys | Panthers |
| 2 | T.J. Watt | Steelers | Browns |
| 3 | Maxx Crosby | Raiders | Dolphins |
| 4 | Myles Garrett | Browns | Steelers |
| 5 | Josh Allen | Jaguars | Titans |
| 6 | Aidan Hutchinson | Lions | Bears |
| 7 | Nick Bosa | 49ers | Buccaneers |
| 8 | Haason Reddick | Eagles | Chiefs |
| 9 | Danielle Hunter | Vikings | Broncos |
| 10 | Trey Hendrickson (Q) | Bengals | Ravens |
| 11 | Alex Highsmith | Steelers | Browns |
| 12 | Chris Jones | Chiefs | Eagles |
| 13 | Brian Burns (Q) | Panthers | Cowboys |
| 14 | Aaron Donald | Rams | Seahawks |
| 15 | Kayvon Thibodeaux | Giants | Commanders |
| 16 | Christian Wilkins | Dolphins | Raiders |
| 17 | Jaelan Phillips | Dolphins | Raiders |
| 18 | Joey Bosa | Chargers | Packers |
| 19 | Josh Sweat | Eagles | Chiefs |
| 20 | Jonathan Allen | Commanders | Giants |
| 21 | Javon Hargrave | 49ers | Buccaneers |
| 22 | Shaquil Barrett | Buccaneers | 49ers |
| 23 | Rashan Gary | Packers | Chargers |
| 24 | Daron Payne | Commanders | Giants |
| 25 | Khalil Mack | Chargers | Packers |
| 26 | Dexter Lawrence | Giants | Commanders |
| 27 | Jonathan Greenard | Texans | Cardinals |
| 28 | Jeffery Simmons | Titans | Jaguars |
| 29 | Chase Young | 49ers | Buccaneers |
| 30 | Jalen Carter | Eagles | Chiefs |
| 31 | Boye Mafe | Seahawks | Rams |
| 32 | Ed Oliver (Q) | Bills | Jets |
| 33 | Cameron Heyward | Steelers | Browns |
| 34 | Bradley Chubb | Dolphins | Raiders |
| 35 | Byron Young | Rams | Seahawks |
| 36 | Harold Landry III | Titans | Jaguars |
| 37 | Will Anderson Jr. | Texans | Cardinals |
| 38 | Justin Madubuike | Ravens | Bengals |
| 39 | Preston Smith | Packers | Chargers |
| 40 | Vita Vea (Q) | Buccaneers | 49ers |
| 41 | Montez Sweat | Bears | Lions |
| 42 | Demarcus Lawrence | Cowboys | Panthers |
| 43 | Baron Browning | Broncos | Vikings |
| 44 | Harrison Phillips | Vikings | Broncos |
| 45 | Denico Autry | Titans | Jaguars |
| 46 | Derrick Brown | Panthers | Cowboys |
| 47 | Calijah Kancey | Buccaneers | 49ers |
| 48 | George Karlaftis | Chiefs | Eagles |
| 49 | Jonathan Cooper | Broncos | Vikings |
| 50 | Nik Bonitto | Broncos | Vikings |
DL Riser of the Week
Boye Mafe, Seattle Seahawks
Mafe was a pre-season sleeper for me, and I recommended you stash him early in the season. Few of us could have expected he would notch a sack in seven straight games, though. The metrics suggest he can continue to be a solid fantasy DL going forward, even if this streak doesn't keep up.
Mafe is 23rd in Pass Rush Win Rate amongst defensive linemen with more than 200 pass rush snaps. He also grades as PFF’s 34th best pass rushing DL. Mafe is also a reliable tackler, notching five or more tackles in half of his games this season. Those rates are all signs of progress for a raw prospect coming out of Minnesota. Plus, the Rams are allowing pressure on 34% of dropbacks since Week 4, which helps.
DL Disappointment of the Week
Chase Young, San Francisco 49ers
Let's start with the positives. In Young's first game with San Francisco, he played most of the defensive snaps. He subbed out on obvious running downs and managed just one tackle, but he also collected a half-sack and forced a fumble that didn't count. It was a promising first showing on a favorable fantasy front.
Now for the downside. Young played 79% over Jacksonville’s left side. This is consistent with his usage all season, lining him up over the left tackle on most downs. This week that means he pulls Tristan Wirfs duty. Add to that the fact Young is still learning a new defensive scheme and could keep subbing out on running downs, and there's downside that drops the former Buckeye lower than usual.
Top Fantasy Linebackers of the Week
| Rank | Player | Team | Opponent |
| 1 | Foyesade Oluokun | Jaguars | Titans |
| 2 | T.J. Edwards | Bears | Lions |
| 3 | Roquan Smith | Ravens | Bengals |
| 4 | Jordyn Brooks | Seahawks | Rams |
| 5 | Terrel Bernard (Q) | Bills | Jets |
| 6 | Bobby Wagner | Seahawks | Rams |
| 7 | C.J. Mosley | Jets | Bills |
| 8 | Ernest Jones (Q) | Rams | Seahawks |
| 9 | Fred Warner | 49ers | Buccaneers |
| 10 | Logan Wilson | Bengals | Ravens |
| 11 | Lavonte David | Buccaneers | 49ers |
| 12 | Bobby Okereke | Giants | Commanders |
| 13 | Quay Walker (Q) | Packers | Chargers |
| 14 | Azeez Al-Shaair | Titans | Jaguars |
| 15 | Patrick Queen | Ravens | Bengals |
| 16 | Quincy Williams | Jets | Bills |
| 17 | Frankie Luvu | Panthers | Cowboys |
| 18 | Alex Singleton | Broncos | Vikings |
| 19 | Devin White | Buccaneers | 49ers |
| 20 | Devin Lloyd | Jaguars | Titans |
| 21 | Elandon Roberts | Steelers | Browns |
| 22 | Dre Greenlaw | 49ers | Buccaneers |
| 23 | Kyzir White | Cardinals | Texans |
| 24 | Eric Kendricks | Chargers | Packers |
| 25 | Jack Gibbens | Titans | Jaguars |
| 26 | De’Vondre Campbell | Packers | Chargers |
| 27 | Micah Parsons | Cowboys | Panthers |
| 28 | David Long Jr. | Dolphins | Raiders |
| 29 | Ivan Pace Jr. | Vikings | Broncos |
| 30 | Germaine Pratt | Bengals | Ravens |
| 31 | Drue Tranquill | Chiefs | Eagles |
| 32 | Tremaine Edmunds (Q) | Bears | Lions |
| 33 | Josey Jewell | Broncos | Vikings |
| 34 | Kenneth Murray Jr. | Chargers | Packers |
| 35 | T.J. Watt | Steelers | Browns |
| 36 | Blake Cashman | Texans | Cardinals |
| 37 | Robert Spillane | Raiders | Dolphins |
| 38 | Nicholas Morrow | Eagles | Chiefs |
| 39 | Damone Clark | Cowboys | Panthers |
| 40 | Leo Chenal | Chiefs | Eagles |
| 41 | Divine Deablo | Raiders | Dolphins |
| 42 | Henry To’oTo’o | Texans | Cardinals |
| 43 | Jamin Davis | Commanders | Giants |
| 44 | Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah | Browns | Steelers |
| 45 | Alex Anzalone | Lions | Bears |
| 46 | Micah McFadden | Giants | Commanders |
| 47 | Zach Cunningham | Eagles | Chiefs |
| 48 | Jerome Baker | Dolphins | Raiders |
| 49 | Jack Sanborn | Bears | Lions |
| 50 | Christian Rozeboom | Rams | Seahawks |
LB Riser of the Week
Elandon Roberts, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
This marks two straight weeks that an injury to a Steelers LB has elevated the next man up, making them our riser of the week. We noted last week that Roberts was the more consistent tackler, but Kwon Alexander was designated as the defensive playcaller and leader after Cole Holcomb's injury. Well, Alexander is now headed for IR, and Roberts is up.
The former Dolphin has played 50% or more of Pittsburgh's defensive snaps three times this season. He has eight or more tackles in each of those contests. On Sunday, he saw nearly 100% of the defensive snaps, which should continue given the dearth of healthy talent that Pitt has at linebacker. That should be an attractive role for fantasy since the Steelers (17.3 ppg) never blow out opponents, and thus the run game is always an option.
LB Disappointment of the Week
Jack Sanborn, Chicago Bears
Listing Sanborn as a “disappointment” is a bit of a misnomer since he’s a good player with a good matchup against the Lions on tap. However, Tremaine Edmunds has been upgraded to Questionable, and some Bears pundits think he will play. Edmunds’ return would spell a significant drop in Sanborn’s playing time, even if Edmunds is limited.
Sanborn has only one game with five or more tackles when Edmunds and T.J. Edwards are both healthy. He’s seen over 60% of the snaps just once in those situations, as well. That means if Edmunds is practicing in full on Friday, Sanborn will be difficult to trust in most fantasy formats. However, if Edmunds sits this week out, Sanborn jumps back into the LB2 conversation.
Top Fantasy Defensive Backs of the Week
| Rank | Player | Team | Opponent |
| 1 | Derwin James (Q) | Chargers | Packers |
| 2 | Camryn Bynum | Vikings | Broncos |
| 3 | Antoine Winfield Jr. | Buccaneers | 49ers |
| 4 | Kamren Curl | Commanders | Giants |
| 5 | Talanoa Hufanga | 49ers | Buccaneers |
| 6 | Kyle Hamilton | Ravens | Bengals |
| 7 | Minkah Fitzpatrick (Q) | Steelers | Browns |
| 8 | Jalen Pitre | Texans | Cardinals |
| 9 | Reed Blankenship | Eagles | Chiefs |
| 10 | Jevon Holland | Dolphins | Raiders |
| 11 | Jaquan Brisker | Bears | Lions |
| 12 | Jordan Poyer | Bills | Jets |
| 13 | Dax Hill | Bengals | Ravens |
| 14 | Rayshawn Jenkins | Jaguars | Titans |
| 15 | Grant Delpit | Browns | Steelers |
| 16 | Devon Witherspoon | Seahawks | Rams |
| 17 | L’Jarius Sneed | Chiefs | Eagles |
| 18 | Kevin Byard | Eagles | Chiefs |
| 19 | Budda Baker | Cardinals | Texans |
| 20 | Tre’von Moehrig | Raiders | Dolphins |
| 21 | Xavier McKinney | Giants | Commanders |
| 22 | Kerby Joseph | Lions | Bears |
| 23 | Josh Metellus | Vikings | Broncos |
| 24 | Justin Simmons | Broncos | Vikings |
| 25 | Brian Branch | Lions | Bears |
| 26 | Ryan Neal | Buccaneers | 49ers |
| 27 | Darious Williams | Jaguars | Titans |
| 28 | Rasul Douglas | Bills | Jets |
| 29 | Alohi Gilman | Chargers | Packers |
| 30 | Geno Stone | Ravens | Bengals |
| 31 | Taron Johnson | Bills | Jets |
| 32 | Daron Bland | Cowboys | Panthers |
| 33 | Rudy Ford | Packers | Chargers |
| 34 | Harrison Smith | Vikings | Broncos |
| 35 | Nate Hobbs | Raiders | Dolphins |
| 36 | Jayron Kearse | Cowboys | Panthers |
| 37 | Justin Reid | Chiefs | Eagles |
| 38 | Brandon Stephens | Ravens | Bengals |
| 39 | Andre Cisco (Q) | Jaguars | Titans |
| 40 | Jamal Adams | Seahawks | Rams |
| 41 | Kyler Gordon | Bears | Lions |
| 42 | Tracy Walker III | Lions | Bears |
| 43 | Jason Pinnock | Giants | Commanders |
| 44 | Nick Scott | Bengals | Ravens |
| 45 | Jalen Ramsey | Dolphins | Raiders |
| 46 | DeShon Elliott | Dolphins | Raiders |
| 47 | Jordan Fuller | Rams | Seahawks |
| 49 | Sydney Brown | Eagles | Chiefs |
| 50 | Cam Taylor-Britt | Bengals | Ravens |
DB Riser of the Week
Kerby Joseph, DB, Detroit Lions
Joseph is on a heater, notching a turnover or double-digit tackles in three straight games. He is an every-down starter on a strong Lions defense that should put pressure on a Bears team allowing 12.6 pressures per game. For perspective, consider that Chicago attempts the sixth-fewest passes per game, meaning their quarterbacks are under pressure 42% of the time.
The Lions should jump out to an early lead in this one, meaning the Bears will have to throw to catch up. That could also mean Justin Fields throwing with protection on his injured finger. Joseph has a decent chance to get a turnover in this one.
DB Disappointment of the Week
Jaylon Johnson, Chicago Bears
Detroit is the seventh most pass-oriented offense in the NFL. Some of that is attributable to Jahmyr Gibbs being used in the passing game and some to do with the team losing David Montgomery for a spell. Whatever the reason, the Lions have been above league-average in pass attempts all year. So, it is surprising that Jared Goff has the lowest Turnover Worthy Play percentage amongst all starting NFL quarterbacks.
In fact, Goff has committed a turnover-worthy play on just 1.7% percent of his plays, totaling six all year. That's staggeringly low. What's worse, Jaylon Johnson plays 91.5% of his snaps out wide, while Detroit's top pass catchers run most of their routes away from Johnson's side. Thus, Johnson's floor and ceiling are both low this week. His teammate, Kyler Gordon, is rostered in fewer leagues and has a much better matchup.
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