Fantasy Football: Week 3 IDP Rankings & Tiers

• The league’s most zone-heavy defense produces an elite tackler: Quay Walker’s emergence as a top-tier IDP is a combination of winning the Packers’ LB1 role and playing more zone coverage than any team in the league.

• What to do with slow starts from top edge rushers: Kayvon Thibodeaux and Haason Reddick have produced next to nothing for IDP managers so far despite their high draft capital this offseason. Are we willing to give them another shot in Week 3?

• Dominate your fantasy league in 2023: For up-to-date fantasy draft rankings and projections, check out PFF’s fantasy rankings tool!

Estimated Reading Time: 12 minutes

With more snaps and a larger sample size for 2023 IDPs available after Week 2, there are plenty of adjustments to make in the rankings. Find out how to value the key defensive players for fantasy purposes heading into Week 3.

Check the PFF.com rankings page for any updates closer to game time.

Jump to a Position:

LB | ED | DI | S | CB

LINEBACKER

RANK	TIER	NAME	TEAM	OPP	NOTES
1	1A	Roquan Smith	BLT	IND
2	1A	Foyesade Oluokun	JAX	HST
3	1A	Quay Walker	GB	NO
4	1A	Bobby Wagner	SEA	CAR
5	1B	Zaire Franklin	IND	@ BLT
6	1B	Ernest Jones	LAR	@ CIN	MNF
7	1B	T.J. Edwards	CHI	@ KC
8	1B	C.J. Mosley	NYJ	NE
9	1C	Fred Warner	SF	NYG	TNF
10	1C	Frankie Luvu	CAR	@ SEA
11	1C	Devin White	TB	PHI	Q/MNF
12	1C	Robert Spillane	LV	PIT	SNF
13	2A	Drue Tranquill	KC	CHI
14	2A	Dre Greenlaw	SF	NYG	TNF
15	2A	Pete Werner	NO	@ GB
16	2A	Josey Jewell	DEN	@ MIA
17	2B	Logan Wilson	CIN	LAR	MNF
18	2B	Germaine Pratt	CIN	LAR	MNF
19	2B	Matt Milano	BUF	@ WAS
20	2B	Kaden Elliss	ATL	@ DET
21	2C	Kyzir White	ARZ	DAL
22	2C	Patrick Queen	BLT	IND
23	2C	Lavonte David	TB	PHI	MNF
24	2C	Bobby Okereke	NYG	@ SF	TNF
25	3A	Tremaine Edmunds	CHI	@ KC
26	3A	Jordyn Brooks	SEA	CAR
27	3A	Cody Barton	WAS	BUF
28	3A	De'Vondre Campbell	GB	NO
29	3B	Azeez Al-Shaair	TEN	@ CLV
30	3B	Henry To'oTo'o	HST	@ JAX
31	3B	Kamu Grugier-Hill	CAR	@ SEA	WW
32	3B	Alex Singleton	DEN	@ MIA
33	3C	Terrel Bernard	BUF	@ WAS
34	3C	Demario Davis	NO	@ GB
35	3C	Troy Andersen	ATL	@ DET
36	3C	Shaquille Leonard	IND	@ BLT
37	4A	Devin Lloyd	JAX	HST
38	4A	Divine Deablo	LV	PIT	SNF
39	4A	Kenneth Murray Jr.	LAC	@ MIN
40	4A	Alex Anzalone	DET	ATL
41	4B	Ja'Whaun Bentley	NE	@ NYJ
42	4B	Nicholas Morrow	PHI	@ TB	WW
43	4B	Quincy Williams	NYJ	NE	Q
44	4B	Zach Cunningham	PHI	@ TB	MNF
45	4C	Cole Holcomb	PIT	@ LV	SNF
46	4C	Jordan Hicks	MIN	LAC
47	4C	Ivan Pace Jr.	MIN	LAC
48	4C	Willie Gay	KC	CHI	Q
49	5A	Jerome Baker	MIA	DEN
50	5A	Krys Barnes	ARZ	DAL	WW
51	5A	Christian Harris	HST	@ JAX
52	5A	Leighton Vander Esch	DAL	@ ARZ
53	5B	Kwon Alexander	PIT	@ LV	SNF
54	5B	Jamin Davis	WAS	BUF
55	5B	Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah	CLV	TEN
56	5B	Anthony Walker Jr.	CLV	TEN
57	5C	E.J. Speed	IND	@ BLT
58	5C	Christian Rozeboom	LAR	@ CIN	MNF
59	5C	Jack Gibbens	TEN	@ CLV
60	5C	Nick Niemann	LAC	@ MIN

Quay Walker’s (LB3) emergence as the Packers’ lone every-down linebacker has led to elite tackle production. He has also already added some big plays, recording a pick-six in Week 1. Walker is playing in the most zone-heavy defense in the league, which has boosted his tackle efficiency. He is making a case to be a locked-in top-five IDP linebacker early in the season.

Alex Singleton (LB31) falls down the ranks despite being a typically elite tackler. He played fewer than 65% of the team’s defensive snaps in Week 2 after getting up over 90% in Week 1. That level of fluctuation makes him less trustworthy heading into Week 3, as the Broncos could be choosing to play much more nickel personnel than they did this past week (74%), despite ranking last in nickel personnel in Week 1 (34%).

Germaine Pratt (LB19) has seen a positive trend with his playing time so far this season compared to past years. Pratt is now averaging 92% of the team’s defensive snaps through two weeks after averaging only 76% in 2022. He has been a more effective tackler than running mate Logan Wilson (LB18), but with Wilson not leaving the field, Pratt still gets the slightest edge for now in a more man-heavy defense.

EDGE DEFENDER

RANK	TIER	NAME	TEAM	OPP	NOTES
1	1A	Micah Parsons	DAL	@ ARZ
2	1A	T.J. Watt	PIT	@ LV	SNF
3	1A	Maxx Crosby	LV	PIT	SNF
4	1A	Nick Bosa	SF	NYG	TNF
5	1B	Myles Garrett	CLV	TEN
6	1B	Danielle Hunter	MIN	LAC
7	1B	Brian Burns	CAR	@ SEA
8	1B	Montez Sweat	WAS	BUF
9	1C	Josh Allen	JAX	HST	Q
10	1C	Aidan Hutchinson	DET	ATL
11	1C	Jaelan Phillips	MIA	DEN	Q
12	1C	Alex Highsmith	PIT	@ LV	SNF
13	2A	Matthew Judon	NE	@ NYJ
14	2A	Joey Bosa	LAC	@ MIN
15	2A	Will Anderson Jr.	HST	@ JAX
16	2A	Uchenna Nwosu	SEA	CAR
17	2B	Harold Landry III	TEN	@ CLV
18	2B	Josh Sweat	PHI	@ TB	MNF
19	2B	DeMarcus Lawrence	DAL	@ ARZ
20	2B	George Karlaftis	KC	CHI
21	2C	Kayvon Thibodeaux	NYG	@ SF	TNF
22	2C	Khalil Mack	LAC	@ MIN
23	2C	Za'Darius Smith	CLV	TEN
24	2C	Haason Reddick	PHI	@ TB	MNF
25	3A	Sam Hubbard	CIN	LAR	MNF
26	3A	Denico Autry	TEN	@ CLV	Q
27	3A	Carl Granderson	NO	@ GB
28	3A	Greg Rousseau	BUF	@ WAS
29	3B	Kwity Paye	IND	@ BLT
30	3B	Chase Young	WAS	BUF
31	3B	Preston Smith	GB	NO
32	3B	Trey Hendrickson	CIN	LAR	MNF
33	3C	Bradley Chubb	MIA	DEN
34	3C	Shaquil Barrett	TB	PHI	MNF
35	3C	Cameron Jordan	NO	@ GB
36	3C	Travon Walker	JAX	HST
37	4A	Jermaine Johnson	NYJ	NE
38	4A	Arden Key	TEN	@ CLV
39	4A	Randy Gregory	DEN	@ MIA
40	4A	Josh Uche	NE	@ NYJ
41	4B	Leonard Floyd	BUF	@ WAS	Q
42	4B	Andrew Van Ginkel	MIA	DEN	WW
43	4B	Boye Mafe	SEA	CAR	Q
44	4B	Drake Jackson	SF	NYG	TNF
45	4C	Yannick Ngakoue	CHI	@ KC
46	4C	Deatrich Wise Jr.	NE	@ NYJ
47	4C	Brandon Graham	PHI	@ TB	MNF
48	4C	Azeez Ojulari	NYG	@ SF	Q/TNF
49	5A	Rashan Gary	GB	NO
50	5A	Joe Tryon-Shoyinka	TB	PHI	MNF
51	5A	Ogbo Okoronkwo	CLV	TEN
52	5A	Jonathan Greenard	HST	@ JAX
53	5B	David Ojabo	BLT	IND
54	5B	Samson Ebukam	IND	@ BLT
55	5B	Michael Hoecht	LAR	@ CIN	MNF
56	5B	John Franklin-Myers	NYJ	NE
57	5C	Dorance Armstrong	DAL	@ ARZ
58	5C	Jonathon Cooper	DEN	@ MIA	WW
59	5C	Mike Danna	KC	CHI
60	5C	Zaven Collins	ARZ	DAL

Kayvon Thibodeaux (ED20) has gotten off to a slow start this season and hasn’t really had any particularly encouraging pass-rush metrics to fall back on. But for IDP managers who spent significant draft capital on him this year, he could show some signs of improvement in Week 3. Thibodeaux has rushed off both sides of the line and is playing more than enough snaps to get in plenty of production against 49ers right tackle Colton McKivitz, who has allowed three sacks so far this season with a 48.6 pass-blocking grade (61st). For those holding out hope for Thibodeaux, this should serve as a good measuring stick going forward.

Haason Reddick (ED23) has been another disappointing edge rusher to start this season, having produced only one assisted tackle and one quarterback hit through two games. Things don’t get any easier for Reddick in Week 3 against Luke Goedeke, one of the better pass-blocking right tackles in the league so far. Goedeke has earned a 75.3 pass-blocking grade (25th) and has allowed just two pressures on 76 pass-blocking snaps this season. Reddick is capable of big games, so he should still be in the ED2 conversation — but on the lower end for now.

INTERIOR DEFENDER

RANK	TIER	NAME	TEAM	OPP	NOTES
1	1A	Quinnen Williams	NYJ	NE
2	1A	DeForest Buckner	IND	@ BLT
3	1A	Chris Jones	KC	CHI
4	1A	Aaron Donald	LAR	@ CIN	MNF
5	1B	Jeffery Simmons	TEN	@ CLV
6	1B	Christian Wilkins	MIA	DEN
7	1B	Javon Hargrave	SF	NYG	TNF
8	1B	Jonathan Allen	WAS	BUF
9	1C	Dexter Lawrence	NYG	@ SF	TNF
10	1C	Daron Payne	WAS	BUF
11	1C	Leonard Williams	NYG	@ SF	TNF
12	1C	Dre'Mont Jones	SEA	CAR
13	2A	Jalen Carter	PHI	@ TB	MNF
14	2A	Harrison Phillips	MIN	LAC
15	2A	Derrick Brown	CAR	@ SEA
16	2A	Kenny Clark	GB	NO
17	2B	Arik Armstead	SF	NYG	TNF
18	2B	Osa Odighizuwa	DAL	@ ARZ
19	2B	DJ Reader	CIN	LAR	MNF
20	2B	Ed Oliver	BUF	@ WAS
21	2C	Zach Allen	DEN	@ MIA
22	2C	Grady Jarrett	ATL	@ DET
23	2C	Grover Stewart	IND	@ BLT
24	2C	Larry Ogunjobi	PIT	@ LV	SNF
25	3A	David Onyemata	ATL	@ DET
26	3A	Dalvin Tomlinson	CLV	TEN
27	3A	Christian Barmore	NE	@ NYJ	Q
28	3A	B.J. Hill	CIN	LAR	MNF
29	3B	Calijah Kancey	TB	PHI	Q/MNF
30	3B	Zach Sieler	MIA	DEN
31	3B	Sheldon Rankins	HST	@ JAX
32	3B	Andrew Billings	CHI	@ KC
33	3C	Vita Vea	TB	PHI	MNF
34	3C	Fletcher Cox	PHI	@ TB	MNF
35	3C	Morgan Fox	LAC	@ MIN
36	3C	Logan Hall	TB	PHI	MNF

Harrison Phillips (DT14) has emerged early this season as a very effective IDP option on the defensive interior. Phillips has earned most of his production as a tackler and doesn’t offer a high pass-rush upside, despite landing a half-sack so far this season. He draws a typically more pass-heavy offense in Week 3 in the Chargers, so there could be some tackle regression this week, though he is playing enough snaps (83%) to still be productive as a DT2 option.

SAFETY

RANK	TIER	NAME	TEAM	OPP	NOTES
1	1A	Derwin James Jr.	LAC	@ MIN
2	1A	Kamren Curl	WAS	BUF
3	1A	Grant Delpit	CLV	TEN
4	1A	Jevon Holland	MIA	DEN
5	1B	Talanoa Hufanga	SF	NYG	TNF
6	1B	Jaquan Brisker	CHI	@ KC
7	1B	Antoine Winfield Jr.	TB	PHI	MNF
8	1B	K'Von Wallace	ARZ	DAL
9	1C	Kyle Hamilton	BLT	IND
10	1C	Julian Blackmon	IND	@ BLT
11	1C	Ryan Neal	TB	PHI	MNF
12	1C	Vonn Bell	CAR	@ SEA
13	2A	Kyle Dugger	NE	@ NYJ
14	2A	Rayshawn Jenkins	JAX	HST
15	2A	Richie Grant	ATL	@ DET
16	2A	Camryn Bynum	MIN	LAC
17	2B	Jason Pinnock	NYG	@ SF	TNF
18	2B	Jayron Kearse	DAL	@ ARZ
19	2B	Nick Scott	CIN	LAR	Q/MNF
20	2B	Kevin Byard	TEN	@ CLV
21	2C	Minkah Fitzpatrick	PIT	@ LV	Q/SNF
22	2C	Dax Hill	CIN	LAR	MNF
23	2C	Jordan Whitehead	NYJ	NE
24	2C	Xavier McKinney	NYG	@ SF	TNF
25	3A	Julian Love	SEA	CAR
26	3A	Jessie Bates III	ATL	@ DET
27	3A	DeShon Elliott	MIA	DEN
28	3A	Eric Murray	HST	@ JAX	Q
29	3B	Justin Reid	KC	CHI
30	3B	Marcus Epps	LV	PIT	SNF
31	3B	Tracy Walker III	DET	ATL	WW
32	3B	Jordan Poyer	BUF	@ WAS
33	3C	Reed Blankenship	PHI	@ TB	Q/MNF
34	3C	Jordan Fuller	LAR	@ CIN	MNF
35	3C	Tyrann Mathieu	NO	@ GB
36	3C	Harrison Smith	MIN	LAC
37	4A	Jalen Thompson	ARZ	DAL
38	4A	Jabrill Peppers	NE	@ NYJ
39	4A	Josh Metellus	MIN	LAC
40	4A	Amani Hooker	TEN	@ CLV	Q
41	4B	Darrick Forrest	WAS	BUF
42	4B	Jimmie Ward	HST	@ JAX	Q
43	4B	Rudy Ford	GB	NO
44	4B	Russ Yeast	LAR	@ CIN	MNF
45	4C	Geno Stone	BLT	IND
46	4C	Kerby Joseph	DET	ATL
47	4C	Juan Thornhill	CLV	TEN
48	4C	Darnell Savage	GB	NO
49	5A	Quandre Diggs	SEA	CAR
50	5A	Xavier Woods	CAR	@ SEA
51	5A	Alohi Gilman	LAC	@ MIN
52	5A	Trevon Moehrig	LV	PIT	SNF
53	5B	Brian Branch	DET	ATL
54	5B	Andre Cisco	JAX	HST
55	5B	Justin Evans	PHI	@ TB	MNF
56	5B	Adrian Amos	NYJ	NE	WW
57	5C	Micah Hyde	BUF	@ WAS	Q
58	5C	Kareem Jackson	DEN	@ MIA
59	5C	Rodney Thomas II	IND	@ BLT
60	5C	Elijah Hicks	CHI	@ KC	WW

K’Von Wallace (S8) jumps up the rankings this week with Budda Baker landing on injured reserve. Wallace played 65% of his defensive snaps in the box this past week in an every-down role, which is the most optimal IDP deployment among all safeties through the first two weeks.

Dax Hill (S22) is off to a great start in 2023 — his first crack as a full-time starter in the NFL — posting 17 tackles and an interception through the first two games of the year. His fantasy production thus far has been excellent, but it is worth noting that we could see some regression, as Nick Scott (S19) is getting the more optimal IDP deployment. Scott has played 36% of his snaps in the box so far, which has led to better tackle efficiency (16.7%) compared to Hill (11.1%). That gives Scott a slight edge at the moment.

CORNERBACK

RANK	TIER	NAME	TEAM	OPP	NOTES
1	1A	Nate Hobbs	LV	PIT	SNF
2	1A	Trent McDuffie	KC	CHI
3	1A	L'Jarius Sneed	KC	CHI
4	1A	Deommodore Lenoir	SF	NYG	TNF
5	1B	Kader Kohou	MIA	DEN
6	1B	Jamel Dean	TB	PHI	MNF
7	1B	Christian Gonzalez	NE	@ NYJ
8	1B	Tavierre Thomas	HST	@ JAX	Q
9	1C	Kenny Moore II	IND	@ BLT
10	1C	Adoree' Jackson	NYG	@ SF	TNF
11	1C	Alontae Taylor	NO	@ GB
12	1C	Coby Bryant	SEA	CAR
13	2A	D.J. Reed	NYJ	NE
14	2A	Tyson Campbell	JAX	HST
15	2A	Rasul Douglas	GB	NO
16	2A	Charvarius Ward	SF	NYG	TNF
17	2B	Cam Taylor-Britt	CIN	LAR	MNF
18	2B	Carlton Davis III	TB	PHI	Q/MNF
19	2B	Damarri Mathis	DEN	@ MIA
20	2B	Jakorian Bennett	LV	PIT	Q/SNF
21	2C	Emmanuel Forbes	WAS	BUF
22	2C	Sauce Gardner	NYJ	NE
23	2C	Marco Wilson	ARZ	DAL
24	2C	Jerry Jacobs	DET	ATL
25	3A	Taron Johnson	BUF	@ WAS
26	3A	Xavien Howard	MIA	DEN
27	3A	Denzel Ward	CLV	TEN
28	3A	A.J. Terrell	ATL	@ DET
29	3B	CJ Henderson	CAR	@ SEA
30	3B	Roger McCreary	TEN	@ CLV
31	3B	Mike Hilton	CIN	LAR	MNF
32	3B	Asante Samuel Jr.	LAC	@ MIN
33	3C	Greg Newsome II	CLV	TEN	Q
34	3C	Jaire Alexander	GB	NO
35	3C	Tre Avery	TEN	@ CLV
36	3C	Tyrique Stevenson	CHI	@ KC
37	4A	Cobie Durant	LAR	@ CIN	MNF
38	4A	Tre'Davious White	BUF	@ WAS
39	4A	Eli Apple	MIA	DEN
40	4A	Pat Surtain II	DEN	@ MIA
41	4B	Kendall Fuller	WAS	BUF
42	4B	Darius Slay	PHI	@ TB	MNF
43	4B	Byron Murphy Jr.	MIN	LAC
44	4B	Cameron Sutton	DET	ATL
45	4C	Kei'Trel Clark	ARZ	DAL
46	4C	Tariq Woolen	SEA	CAR	D
47	4C	Marshon Lattimore	NO	@ GB
48	4C	Dallis Flowers	IND	@ BLT

Tavierre Thomas (CB9) has been among the better tackling cornerbacks thus far, earning an 18.1% tackle efficiency this season that ranks first among all defensive backs (minimum of 25% of defensive snaps). While not an every-down player, he is the Texans’ primary slot cornerback, which has yielded very positive results early in the season. Thomas is questionable coming into the week, and in each of the past two weeks, one of our two highlighted cornerbacks has suffered an in-game injury, so hopefully he can play and break that streak in Week 3.

Deommodore Lenoir (CB4) is tied for the most targets in coverage (20) at his position so far this season, and it has led to strong tackle numbers. Lenoir ranks seventh among all defensive backs in tackle efficiency (15.6%). He should continue to make the most of his opportunities on Thursday Night Football against the New York Giants, who rank among the top five teams in average fantasy points allowed to the cornerback position this season.

KEY

DNP: Did not participate in team's most recent practice due to injury
LP: Limited participation in team's most recent practice due to injury
D: Player is doubtful to play due to injury
Q: Player is questionable to play due to injury
TNF: Player is playing on Thursday Night Football. Set lineups accordingly.
SNF: Player is playing on Sunday Night Football. Set lineups accordingly.
MNF: Player is playing on Monday Night Football. Set lineups accordingly.
WW: Potential waiver-wire claim (see Weekly IDP Fantasy Report)