Week 11 IDP Rankings for Fantasy Football (2025) - Defense Positional Rankings for LB, DL, DB

Fantasy football IDP rankings and IDP streamers for Week 11 of the 2025 NFL season. Chris's IDP fantasy start 'em, sit 'em picks for individual defensive players.

As fans and fantasy managers, we must always consider our sources. Often, we are driven by a disappointing point total, without digging deeper to see if the data or film supports our poor fantasy outing. In other words, sometimes a fantasy loss is just bad luck for us or a player, and sometimes the ones at fault are not the player but the coaches behind them.

Consider Aaron Glenn’s temporary benching of his star linebacker Jamien Sherwood to start Week 8. This came despite the Auburn alum grading as LB14 in PFF’s run defense metrics, with his best coverage performance coming in the game right before he was benched. It also came despite the Jets facing the ninth-most rush attempts per game… yet fans supported the benching.

Now consider that none of Glenn’s defenses in Detroit were top ten in points or yards allowed, with four of his five Lions defenses finishing bottom ten in both categories. With that lack of success, and the Jets still having zero interceptions on the season, fans should stop saying “Sherwood sucks” and start wondering if their coach is the reason for any defensive struggles.

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:

Jaelan Phillips, Philadelphia Eagles

We mentioned last week that our Riser of the Week in Week 10 was a toss-up between Phillips and rookie Jalon Walker. We went with Walker because of our love for his immense upside and his potentially strong role with Atlanta, and he rewarded our faith with another strong (14 points) game. However, Phillips still merits mentioning.

Injuries sapped the life out of Phillips’ fantasy profile the past two years, and the stagnant Dolphins defense did him no favors. However, his first game in Philadelphia resulted in seven quarterback pressures, six tackles, and a fumble recovery against a Packers offense that surrendered the third fewest sacks per game.

DL Disappointment of the Week:

Byron Young & Jared Verse, Los Angeles Rams

Both Young and Verse are prospects we were extremely high on coming out of college, and both have proven to be effective pass rushers who contribute a lot for fantasy. For those reasons, it is virtually impossible to bench them in most IDP leagues. However, you must manage expectations for both Rams this week.

While the Seattle Seahawks have a below-average pressure rate allowed and middling pass blocking grades, they simply don't give up sacks. Seattle is tied for the fewest sacks allowed per game, which is aided by the fact that they attempt the fewest passes in the league.

While the Rams offense is talented enough to drive up the score and force the Seahawks to throw more, Seattle's defense is no pushover. This game could easily spell disappointment for Los Angeles' pass rushers if the score remains close or if Seattle gets out to an early lead.

Top Fantasy Linebackers of the Week

LB Riser of the Week:

Tatum Bethune, San Francisco 49ers

Bethune is one of several risers on this list who have made past appearances in our IDP Streamers and Fades article. He has registered double-digit tackles and played over 80% of the defensive snaps in all five of San Francisco’s games since Fred Warner went down, yet he is still the 29^th most rostered LB in fantasy.

Many are already on the Bethune bandwagon, and we've pushed that bandwagon for weeks in our Streamers column. However, the former backup has a staggeringly steady floor that earned him consideration for the LB1 tier. That makes him our Riser of the Week at linebacker.

LB Disappointment of the Week:

Jihaad Campbell, Philadelphia Eagles

The return of Nakobe Dean has seemingly forced Jihaad Campbell off the field for most of Philly’s nickel and dime packages over the past two weeks. Against the Giants, Dean played 60% of the defensive snaps while the rookie played 40%. Then, against the Eagles, Dean saw most of the snaps and the tackles again.

Campbell is a first-round pick with immense talent, and he made a difference for the Eagles in Dean's absence. Thus, you should expect Philly to try to find ways to fit the Alabama alum onto the field. However, Zack Baun is the unquestioned leader on the Eagles’ defense, and it's becoming clear Dean is the team's clear #2.

Those established roles for some well-established veterans make it hard to trust Campbell in the short term, which is something we warned you about in the preseason.

Top Fantasy Defensive Backs of the Week

DB Riser of the Week:

Nick Emmanwori, Seattle Seahawks

We have been pushing Emmanwori for months now, dating back to the moment Seattle selected him in the NFL Draft. He has also been a persistent member of our "Defenders Worth Stashing" column. Fortunately, his usage and production continue to back up our faith.

The South Carolina product is now inside our DB1 tier, after he totaled 8.5 Standard IDP points against the Cardinals. His only game under five fantasy points came in an injury-shortened Week 1, and his snap rate is consistently above the 85% threshold. Plus, his role is further solidified by the absence of Julian Love.

DB Disappointment of the Week:

Tyson Campbell, Cleveland Browns

Campbell is currently DB3 overall in points per game, and he is the 20^th most rostered DB in fantasy. Unfortunately, he has a negative fantasy matchup ahead of him for the second straight week.

The Ravens are attempting the second fewest pass attempts in the NFL, and their pass rate has actually gone down since Lamar Jackson returned from injury. Worse yet, Campbell lines up exclusively at right outside cornerback. Meanwhile, Baltimore’s top wideout (Zay Flowers) only lines up on Campbell’s side for 28% of his snaps.

In other words, this could be an extremely low-volume game for Campbell. Those in leagues that require you to start a CB, go ahead and play him in the hopes he gets enough against the run to get by. For those in other formats, try to avoid this Brown if you can.

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