Week 12 IDP Rankings for Fantasy Football (2024) - Defense Positional Rankings for LB, DL, DB

November 20, 2024

Fantasy football IDP rankings and IDP streamers for Week 12 of the 2024 NFL season. Chris's IDP fantasy start 'em, sit 'em picks for individual defensive players.

Week 12 is an appropriate time for fantasy and NFL general managers to take stock. Is their team a real contender, a pretender, or are you comfortably in the basement? Those in the basement of dynasties may be looking to tank for better picks, while those in redraft leagues may still want to win enough to avoid a painful last-place punishment.

One particularly interesting team in both fantasy and real football terms is the San Francisco 49ers. The defending NFC champs are 5-5 with at least two likely losses left on their schedule, with Green Bay, Buffalo, and Detroit on tap. The 49ers are an aging squad with consistently injured players like Nick Bosa and George Kittle on expensive deals. What are they or their managers to do?

A key concern with the 49ers in dynasty leagues is the potential of Brock Purdy’s record-setting contract. Those kinds of deals frequently lead to a jettisoning of elite players like Deebo Samuel Sr. or Nick Bosa soon after. Teams like the Bills and Chiefs can survive them because their quarterbacks are elite. Purdy isn’t elite, so those left to play with him could struggle soon.

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

Calijah Kancey, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Finally healthy, Kancey has played over 60% of Tampa's defensive snaps in four of five games since returning from injury in Week 6. In that span, he has totaled five sacks and ranks sixth in fantasy points per game amongst all DLs with at least five games played.

Kancey also has a tremendous matchup on tap this week. The Buccaneers play a Giants offense that has struggled to protect the quarterback since Andrew Thomas went down, plus they just moved to their third-string quarterback. In nine games last year, Tommy Devito took a sack on 17.21% of his pass plays, or once every 4.8 attempts.

Every Bengals fan’s draft darling Calijah Kancey, is balling right now. pic.twitter.com/rOXzmwa9A4

— ZIM (@zimwhodey) November 5, 2024

Kancey is rostered in just 1.8% of IDP leagues, and he was a polished interior pass-rusher coming out of Pitt. He is worth rostering in deeper leagues all season, but he's also a tremendous streaming option this week.

DL Disappointment of the Week

Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers

If Nick Bosa plays, odds are you will start him. He's a wrecking ball of a player whose advanced metrics and film are almost always perfect, even when he's playing injured. Against Seattle, he began the game injured and left halfway through, yet he still managed 1.5 sacks.

However, you must manage expectations if Bosa does play this week. As you saw last weekend, there’s always a chance that the oft-injured superstar could see limited snaps or even be pulled from the game. Worse, this week he’s facing the top-rated pass-blocking offense in the NFL, which is allowing the second-fewest sacks on a per-game basis.

If Bosa plays, you'll need a full game from him against this ferociously tough Packers offensive line. It feels unlikely you'll get that. Therefore, shallow league managers must strongly consider streaming someone like Jonathan Greenard over him … even if we lack the guts to punt the former Defensive Player of the Year out of our top 10 overall.

Top Fantasy Linebackers of the Week

LB Riser of the Week

Jerome Baker, Tennessee Titans

A week after telling you to fade Baker because he had zero usage and no clear path to playing time, Jack Gibbens went down with a season-ending injury. Baker's playing time skyrocketed in the face of that injury, and his fantasy value increased drastically.

Baker isn’t the top Titans linebacker to roster, but he’s certainly a viable streamer now that he’s projected to be a starter for the rest of this season. He is LB25 in fantasy points per game and the primary concern with him was always playing time. It looks like Tennessee may have no other option than to give Baker 100% of the snaps.

LB Disappointment of the Week

Troy Andersen, Atlanta Falcons

What Andersen has done this year in limited snaps has been phenomenal. The former Montana State quarterback sits fourth in fantasy points per game amongst all linebackers. Unfortunately, those figures are based on just five games and just two contests where he played most of Atlanta's defensive snaps.

We were used to Andersen sitting out with a knee injury until he inspired hope by coming back and starting in Week 11. Of course, he saw just 13 snaps in that game before reaggravating his knee injury. Then, he missed Week 12 with that same problem. A common and recurring reality for a player who always has the potential to play.

Some plays define a player… this play defines Troy Andersen. A guy that will go all out to win and never give up on any play. I love players like this. You get more guys like this on your defense and all of a sudden it has an identity #Falcons pic.twitter.com/BW3SIuexmi

— Steven Padillas (@Falcons_Pad) May 4, 2022

While the per-game metrics are astounding for Andersen, it’s become nearly impossible to rank him until he puts together at least one full game without injury concerns. Some IDP managers may be tempted to stash him or start him the next time he’s healthy, but the kid has struggled with injuries for two years and it’s hard to trust he will ever be healthy.

Note that Andersen does not play this week. However, there are plenty of people still rostering him and who may carry him through his bye. This is notice that you don’t have to do that in shallow leagues.

Top Fantasy Defensive Backs of the Week

DB Riser of the Week

Tyler Nubin, New York Giants

As we have previously mentioned, Nubin was a ballhawk in college. He totaled 13 interceptions and 11 pass deflections in 55 games at Minnesota. However, that ball production has not yet translated into the pros. The pass-oriented Buccaneers offense could help with that.

Tampa Bay has attempted the seventh-most pass attempts in the NFL since Chris Godwin and Mike Evans went down. The hope is that Evans will return this week, but even if he does, you should expect plenty of targets to go to Cade Otton and the running backs. That means plenty of volume for Nubin, who covers the slot and the box for nearly half his snaps.

Rookie safety Tyler Nubin with the tackle for a loss to force a third and long that was not converted. pic.twitter.com/nbDarHicMq

— Nick Falato (@nickfalato) November 10, 2024

Even if Nubin doesn't get one of those elusive turnovers, he's a fine streaming option this week. He has nine or more tackles in four of his past six games and should spend much time on the Buccaneers' top weapons. Nubin is also a fine stash for the rest of the season, as his production is trending up, and he has a favorable playoff slate.

DB Disappointment of the Week

Riley Moss, Denver Broncos

Moss is the 28th-most-rostered DB in fantasy and has been a consistent source of fantasy points, thanks partly to the high volume he sees as offenses avoid Pat Surtain II. His ability to support against the run keeps him viable in a Week 12 ravaged by bye-week losses, too. However, those regularly relying on Moss must manage expectations.

The Raiders are yet another team without a clear volume hog at wide receiver. That's a problem since Moss spends his time almost exclusively out wide. With Brock Bowers lining up almost exclusively on the inside and Jakobi Meyers spending one-third of his time in the slot, Vegas should be able to avoid Moss in the passing game.

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