Week 17 IDP Rankings for Fantasy Football (2025) - Defense Positional Rankings for LB, DL, DB

December 24, 2025

Fantasy football IDP rankings and IDP streamers for Week 17 of the 2025 NFL season. Chris's IDP fantasy start 'em, sit 'em picks for individual defensive players.

For most of you, this week is the culmination of the fantasy season. If you are still in it, you have a 50% shot at the title and your friends’ hard-earned cash. If your team is loaded, the odds may be higher. If your team is limping into the finals, perhaps the odds are lower. Either way, the fact that you’re in the big game gives you the best shot at glory you’ve had all season.

Of course, not all leagues play their final round this week. The default on some fantasy providers is still to have things wrap up in Week 18. This is despite the top NFL teams typically resting their starters during that week, while the worst teams often let vets get an early start on injury rehab while the rest of the team chases draft position.

If your league is set up to end in Week 18, or if you have a playoff that begins in Week 14, then the odds are unfair. In Week 14, bye weeks play a role in many fantasy championships. If you play in Week 18, then the NFL’s playoff picture will impact star players and fantasy results. The best way to ensure all of the best players play is to start the playoffs in Week 15 and end this week.

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

Daron Payne, Washington Commanders

Payne is purely a deep league find this late in the playoffs, but there are plenty of people who could use the 88th-most-rostered DL in fantasy. Despite his low 3.7 fantasy points per game this year, Payne has been reliable in the right situations.

Specifically, Payne has averaged five tackles against teams ranked in the top 10 in rush attempts per game. While Dallas does not fit that bill, it is second in offensive plays per game, and its pass-blocking rates are second-worst in the NFL. Better yet, Tyler Smith has kicked outside to left tackle, leaving a rookie and a poorly graded backup guard to stop Payne inside.

Note: If Nick Herbig plays and T.J. Watt does not, then Herbig will jump to DL18 overall on this list. However, we are currently projecting both to play with the possibility neither does, which limits Herbig’s rating here.

DL Fade of the Week

Jaelan Phillips, Philadelphia Eagles

The Bills' pass blocking has disappointed this year. They had surrendered the fewest sacks in the NFL for two straight years entering this season, but they rate league average this year with 2.3 sacks per game.

However, the Bills still rate highly across most important metrics related to sacks and pass-rush points surrendered. Their offensive line grades fourth-best in pass blocking, surrendering the third-fewest pressures per game. They are also attempting the fifth-fewest pass attempts per game, which Josh Allen’s reported foot injury could aggravate.

With Buffalo and Philly both wanting to run the ball and control the clock in this one, and Allen possibly limited by the injury he earned against Cleveland, this could end up a deceptively difficult matchup for Eagles pass-rushers.

Top Fantasy Linebackers of the Week

LB Riser of the Week

Shemar James, Dallas Cowboys

Before the Cowboys traded for Logan Wilson and DeMarvion Overshown returned from injury, James was a contender for IDP Rookie of the Year. From the moment he was given starter-caliber snaps in Week 5 until the influx of veteran linebackers, James was averaging a strong 7.5 standard IDP points per game and was LB12 overall in total fantasy points during that span.

James could see a return to his earlier form this week, given Overshown went down early with a concussion against the Chargers and may not clear protocol by Sunday. James saw nearly every defensive snap once Overshown was out, helping him finish the game with 4.5 fantasy points on just 78% of the defensive snaps.

When the Florida alum was starting for Dallas, he was getting over 90% of the defensive snaps. If Overshown fails to clear concussion protocol, the rookie could again see strong usage that typically leads to strong production. There is risk here, given the Cowboys’ illogical usage of their linebackers this year, but James has massive upside if Overshown is out.

Bonus Riser: If Robert Spillane is out again this week, Jack Gibbens is a fine streamer available in 99% of IDP leagues. He has averaged 11 standard fantasy points in the two games he has subbed for Spillane the past two weeks.

LB Fade of the Week

Robert Spillane, New England Patriots

Spillane remains the 12th-most-rostered LB in fantasy, meaning he is rostered as a starter in most deeper leagues despite his injury status. While many eliminated managers who have checked out on fantasy have surely impacted this number, the fact remains that many are seemingly holding onto him in hopes he returns as an LB2 in their championship round.

Unfortunately, the Jets offer a poor opponent for Spillane to return against … if he does return. Gang Green’s offense averages the 10th-fewest offensive plays per game in the NFL and the sixth-fewest rush attempts with Brady Cook under center. Worse, opponents average the third-most points per game against the Jets.

This game feels like one where Spillane could return from injury and see his roster rate spike. Unfortunately, the Patriots project to jump out to a significant lead early in this one, meaning the Jets' game script will lean toward (unsuccessful) throws, and Spillane could sit out the second half as the Patriots look to rest starters, particularly their injured ones.

Top Fantasy Defensive Backs of the Week

DB Riser of the Week

Jordan Poyer, Buffalo Bills

Poyer is just the 96th-most-rostered DB in fantasy, but the wily veteran is back in the defensive system that once made him an elite performer, and he’s showing signs of his old self lately. Since Week 9, Poyer has played a minimum of 77% of Buffalo’s defensive snaps and averaged 7.57 standard fantasy points per game.

Better yet, Poyer is seeing a 58% box usage rate, and he’s thriving against high-volume rushing attacks. This week, he faces an Eagles offense that is sixth in rush attempts per game and is second in that category over the past two weeks. This could be a great week to dust off the former IDP star and insert him as your DB3, if your championship squad needs him.

DB Fade of the Week

Tre’von Moehrig, Carolina Panthers

Moehrig is a fine fantasy asset, but we are in the championship round of most fantasy leagues, and contenders can afford to be picky at this stage of the game.

The TCU alum is the 18th-most-rostered DB in fantasy as of this writing, and he was the 23rd-most-started DB last week. While dead leagues and eliminated teams leaving their lineups alone can skew this statistic, the former Raider is just 29th in fantasy points per game and has just three games over six fantasy points in his past seven contests.

To make matters worse, Moehrig now faces a Seattle offense averaging the third-fewest pass attempts and the sixth-fewest offensive plays per game. In other words, the Seahawks are a low-volume and turnover-dependent fantasy matchup for opposing defensive backs.

Players rostered and started in fewer leagues than Moehrig but are averaging more points with a better matchup on tap include: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Marcus Jones, Devon Witherspoon, and Nick Emmanwori.

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