Seattle Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV stays No. 1 in my Week 9 individual defensive player (IDP) fantasy football rankings after a 13-tackle game in a 34-17 home loss to the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football.
Buffalo Bills pass rusher Greg Rousseau takes over the top DL spot, and Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger climbs from 11th to fourth overall. The Steelers and Titans are on bye, which sidelines T.J. Watt and Titans linebacker Anthony Hill Jr.
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You can find my overall IDP and position-by-position rankings tables at the bottom of the article.
MORE: Week 9 fantasy football PPR rankings: Burrow, Gibbs, Smith-Njigba lead
Rousseau moves from eighth to first in my defensive line (DL) rankings for Buffalo at Minnesota. He sacked Joe Fagnano and added three quarterback hits and two passes defensed in a 36-10 win over Baltimore, and his 46 pressures lead the NFL.
“We talked about it all week, just being aggressive after coming off the bye,” Rousseau said. The Vikings dropped their first game of the season, 19-15 at Detroit, and have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game (FP/G) to DL (28.1).
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Bears defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons moves from DL3 to DL2 for Tampa Bay at Chicago. He shared the team lead with six tackles, sacked Sam Darnold and broke up a pass in his Bears debut after Chicago sent its 2027 and 2028 first-round picks to Tennessee for him.
MORE: Week 9 fantasy football QB start-sit: Willis, Shough, Darnold, Stroud
Denver Broncos defensive lineman Zach Allen makes the biggest jump at the position, from DL52 to DL5 for Denver at Carolina. He played through a hamstring injury in a 28-24 win over Kansas City, led Denver’s defensive linemen with 49 snaps and hit Patrick Mahomes three times.
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Allen leads the Broncos with 4.5 sacks. The Panthers have allowed 20.5 sacks and the second-most FP/G to DL (30.1), and teammate Nik Bonitto rises from DL17 to DL6 in the same matchup.
Jones holds at LB1 for Arizona at Seattle. He had a game-high 13 tackles and a pass breakup against Chicago, and he has at least eight tackles in every game this season. His 81 tackles rank third in the NFL.
The Cardinals have allowed the most FP/G to linebackers (22.3), and the 4-4 Seahawks need a division win after back-to-back home games against contenders.
Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman holds at LB2 for Buffalo at Minnesota on Monday night. He had 10 tackles at Detroit and has 64 tackles and 4.5 sacks in seven games. The Bills have allowed 20.9 FP/G to linebackers, tied for the third-most.
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Schwesinger climbs from LB10 to LB3 for Cleveland at New Orleans. He led the Browns with 10 tackles in a 27-6 loss at Pittsburgh and played every defensive snap while working through ankle and hand injuries.
He also missed three tackles and took the blame for two big catches by tight end Darnell Washington. “Those are purely my fault,” Schwesinger said.
The Saints have allowed the sixth-most FP/G to linebackers (20.7), and teammate Quincy Williams jumps from LB24 to LB7 after forcing his fourth fumble of the season against Pittsburgh.
MORE: Week 9 waiver wire FAAB: Mike Washington Jr., Tyler Allgeier top fantasy adds
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Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton holds at DB1 in my defensive back (DB) rankings for Jacksonville at Baltimore on Thursday night. He had seven tackles in the 36-10 loss at Buffalo, and his eight tackles for loss are tied for the third-most by a DB through eight games since 2008.
Lamar Jackson (thumb) and Tyler Huntley (toe) both left the Bills game, and Baltimore’s offense managed 144 yards, so expect another heavy workload for the defense.
Atlanta Falcons rookie Kendal Daniels rises from DB8 to DB2 for Cincinnati vs. Atlanta in Madrid. He had a team-high 13 tackles in a 16-0 loss at Tampa Bay, and Divine Deablo (forearm) has missed two straight games. The Oklahoma product plays linebacker, so leagues that list him at safety get linebacker volume in a DB slot. The Bengals have allowed the 10th-most FP/G to DB (32.7).
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Jacob Parrish moves from DB33 to DB13 for Tampa Bay at Chicago. He picked off Michael Penix Jr. on fourth down and added seven tackles in the 16-0 win over Atlanta, when the Bucs intercepted Penix four times.
The Bears have allowed 35.3 FP/G to DB, tied for the fifth-most, and teammate Tykee Smith rises from DB23 to DB11 in the same matchup.
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Tap the rankings arrow you want to see below, and they will appear. You can open and close the ranking lists to make them easier to view.
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IDP Rankings
|
Rank |
Player |
Team |
Position |
Opponent |
|
1 |
Ernest Jones IV |
SEA |
LB |
vs ARI |
|
2 |
Blake Cashman |
MIN |
LB |
vs BUF |
|
3 |
Josiah Trotter |
TB |
LB |
@ CHI |
|
4 |
Carson Schwesinger |
CLE |
LB |
@ NO |
|
5 |
Nakobe Dean |
LV |
LB |
@ SF |
|
6 |
Barrett Carter |
CIN |
LB |
@ ATL |
|
7 |
Quincy Williams |
CLE |
LB |
@ NO |
|
8 |
Alex Singleton |
DEN |
LB |
@ CAR |
|
9 |
Demetrius Knight Jr. |
CIN |
LB |
@ ATL |
|
10 |
Jacob Rodriguez |
MIA |
LB |
vs DET |
|
11 |
Foyesade Oluokun |
JAC |
LB |
@ BAL |
|
12 |
Jamien Sherwood |
NYJ |
LB |
@ KC |
|
13 |
Nate Landman |
LAR |
LB |
@ WAS |
|
14 |
Devin Bush Jr. |
CHI |
LB |
vs TB |
|
15 |
Budda Baker |
ARI |
S |
@ SEA |
|
16 |
Dillon Thieneman |
CHI |
S |
vs TB |
|
17 |
Nick Bolton |
KC |
LB |
vs NYJ |
|
18 |
Quay Walker |
LV |
LB |
@ SF |
|
19 |
Nick Emmanwori |
SEA |
S |
vs ARI |
|
20 |
Kyle Hamilton |
BAL |
S |
vs JAC |
|
21 |
Greg Rousseau |
BUF |
DE |
@ MIN |
|
22 |
Kendal Daniels |
ATL |
S |
vs CIN |
|
23 |
Aidan Hutchinson |
DET |
DE |
@ MIA |
|
24 |
Evan Williams |
GB |
S |
@ NE |
|
25 |
Jordyn Brooks |
MIA |
LB |
vs DET |
|
26 |
Brandon Jones |
DEN |
S |
@ CAR |
|
27 |
Zack Baun |
PHI |
LB |
vs NYG |
|
28 |
Caleb Downs |
DAL |
S |
@ IND |
|
29 |
Cooper DeJean |
PHI |
CB |
vs NYG |
|
30 |
Azeez Al-Shaair |
HOU |
LB |
@ LAC |
|
31 |
Devin Lloyd |
CAR |
LB |
vs DEN |
|
32 |
Sonny Styles |
WAS |
LB |
vs LAR |
|
33 |
Fred Warner |
SF |
LB |
vs LV |
|
34 |
Eric Wilson |
MIN |
LB |
vs BUF |
|
35 |
Jessie Bates III |
ATL |
S |
vs CIN |
|
36 |
Xavier Watts |
ATL |
S |
vs CIN |
|
37 |
Tykee Smith |
TB |
S |
@ CHI |
|
38 |
Jacob Parrish |
TB |
CB |
@ CHI |
|
39 |
Mack Wilson Sr. |
ARI |
LB |
@ SEA |
|
40 |
Jeremy Chinn |
LV |
S |
@ SF |
|
41 |
Kyler Gordon |
CHI |
CB |
vs TB |
|
42 |
Demario Davis |
NYJ |
LB |
@ KC |
|
43 |
Devon Witherspoon |
SEA |
CB |
vs ARI |
|
44 |
Jeffery Simmons |
CHI |
DT |
vs TB |
|
45 |
Jordan Battle |
CIN |
S |
@ ATL |
|
46 |
Roquan Smith |
BAL |
LB |
vs JAC |
|
47 |
Dane Belton |
NYJ |
S |
@ KC |
|
48 |
Drue Tranquill |
KC |
LB |
vs NYJ |
|
49 |
Bobby Okereke |
CAR |
LB |
vs DEN |
|
50 |
Kaden Elliss |
NO |
LB |
vs CLE |
|
51 |
Julian Love |
SEA |
S |
vs ARI |
|
52 |
Akeem Davis-Gaither |
IND |
LB |
vs DAL |
|
53 |
Minkah Fitzpatrick |
NYJ |
S |
@ KC |
|
54 |
Isaiah McDuffie |
GB |
LB |
@ NE |
|
55 |
Jack Gibbens |
ARI |
LB |
@ SEA |
|
56 |
Quentin Lake |
LAR |
S |
@ WAS |
|
57 |
Joshua Metellus |
MIN |
S |
vs BUF |
|
58 |
Amik Robertson |
WAS |
CB |
vs LAR |
|
59 |
Jack Campbell |
DET |
LB |
@ MIA |
|
60 |
Keisean Nixon |
GB |
CB |
@ NE |
|
61 |
D’Marco Jackson |
CHI |
LB |
vs TB |
|
62 |
Christian Elliss |
NE |
LB |
vs GB |
|
63 |
Alex Anzalone |
TB |
LB |
@ CHI |
|
64 |
Chamarri Conner |
KC |
S |
vs NYJ |
|
65 |
C.J. Henderson |
ATL |
CB |
vs CIN |
|
66 |
Brian Branch |
DET |
S |
@ MIA |
|
67 |
Harold Perkins Jr. |
ATL |
LB |
vs CIN |
|
68 |
Frankie Luvu |
WAS |
LB |
vs LAR |
|
69 |
DeMarvion Overshown |
DAL |
LB |
@ IND |
|
70 |
Tyrice Knight |
SEA |
LB |
vs ARI |
|
71 |
Xavier McKinney |
GB |
S |
@ NE |
|
72 |
Arvell Reese |
NYG |
LB |
@ PHI |
|
73 |
Derrick Barnes |
DET |
LB |
@ MIA |
|
74 |
Ventrell Miller |
JAC |
LB |
@ BAL |
|
75 |
Andrew Van Ginkel |
MIN |
LB |
vs BUF |
|
76 |
Robert Spillane |
NE |
LB |
vs GB |
|
77 |
Terrel Bernard |
BUF |
LB |
@ MIN |
|
78 |
Chuck Clark |
DET |
S |
@ MIA |
|
79 |
Cole Bishop |
BUF |
S |
@ MIN |
|
80 |
Antoine Winfield Jr. |
TB |
S |
@ CHI |
|
81 |
Kam Curl |
LAR |
S |
@ WAS |
|
82 |
Ty’Ron Hopper |
GB |
LB |
@ NE |
|
83 |
Dallas Turner |
MIN |
DE |
vs BUF |
|
84 |
Trenton Simpson |
BAL |
LB |
vs JAC |
|
85 |
Grant Delpit |
CLE |
S |
@ NO |
|
86 |
Daiyan Henley |
LAC |
LB |
vs HOU |
|
87 |
Dorian Williams |
BUF |
LB |
@ MIN |
|
88 |
A.J. Haulcy |
IND |
S |
vs DAL |
|
89 |
Byron Young |
LAR |
DE |
@ WAS |
|
90 |
Maxx Crosby |
LV |
DE |
@ SF |
|
91 |
Shemar James |
DAL |
LB |
@ IND |
|
92 |
Javon Bullard |
GB |
S |
@ NE |
|
93 |
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. |
PHI |
LB |
vs NYG |
|
94 |
Dante Trader Jr. |
MIA |
S |
vs DET |
|
95 |
Justin Strnad |
DEN |
LB |
@ CAR |
|
96 |
Kevin Byard III |
NE |
S |
vs GB |
DL Rankings
|
Rank |
Player |
Team |
Position |
Opponent |
|
1 |
Greg Rousseau |
BUF |
DE |
@ MIN |
|
2 |
Jeffery Simmons |
CHI |
DT |
vs TB |
|
3 |
Aidan Hutchinson |
DET |
DE |
@ MIA |
|
4 |
Quinnen Williams |
DAL |
DT |
@ IND |
|
5 |
Zach Allen |
DEN |
DE |
@ CAR |
|
6 |
Nik Bonitto |
DEN |
DE |
@ CAR |
|
7 |
Andrew Van Ginkel |
MIN |
LB |
vs BUF |
|
8 |
Josh Hines-Allen |
JAC |
DE |
@ BAL |
|
9 |
Lukas Van Ness |
GB |
DE |
@ NE |
|
10 |
Tuli Tuipulotu |
LAC |
DE |
vs HOU |
|
11 |
Chase Young |
NO |
DE |
vs CLE |
|
12 |
Dallas Turner |
MIN |
DE |
vs BUF |
|
13 |
George Karlaftis III |
KC |
DE |
vs NYJ |
|
14 |
Boye Mafe |
CIN |
DE |
@ ATL |
|
15 |
Carl Granderson |
NO |
DE |
vs CLE |
|
16 |
Jalen Carter |
PHI |
DT |
vs NYG |
|
17 |
Elijah Ponder |
NE |
DE |
vs GB |
|
18 |
Byron Young |
LAR |
DE |
@ WAS |
|
19 |
Leonard Williams |
SEA |
DT |
vs ARI |
|
20 |
Will Anderson Jr. |
HOU |
DE |
@ LAC |
|
21 |
Donovan Ezeiruaku |
DAL |
DE |
@ IND |
|
22 |
Jaishawn Barham |
DAL |
LB |
@ IND |
|
23 |
Dexter Lawrence II |
CIN |
DT |
@ ATL |
|
24 |
Travon Walker |
JAC |
DE |
@ BAL |
|
25 |
Austin Booker |
CHI |
LB |
vs TB |
|
26 |
Yaya Diaby |
TB |
DE |
@ CHI |
|
27 |
Danielle Hunter |
HOU |
DE |
@ LAC |
|
28 |
Zach Sieler |
MIA |
DT |
vs DET |
|
29 |
Maxx Crosby |
LV |
DE |
@ SF |
|
30 |
Khalil Mack |
LAC |
LB |
vs HOU |
|
31 |
Arvell Reese |
NYG |
LB |
@ PHI |
|
32 |
Mason Graham |
CLE |
DT |
@ NO |
|
33 |
Laiatu Latu |
IND |
DE |
vs DAL |
|
34 |
Montez Sweat |
CHI |
DE |
vs TB |
|
35 |
Chop Robinson |
MIA |
DE |
vs DET |
|
36 |
Trey Hendrickson |
BAL |
DE |
vs JAC |
|
37 |
Aaron Donald |
LAR |
DT |
@ WAS |
|
38 |
Jared Verse |
CLE |
DE |
@ NO |
|
39 |
Isaiah McGuire |
CLE |
DT |
@ NO |
|
40 |
David Bailey |
NYJ |
DE |
@ KC |
|
41 |
DeForest Buckner |
SF |
DT |
vs LV |
|
42 |
Nnamdi Madubuike |
BAL |
DT |
vs JAC |
|
43 |
Josh Uche |
MIA |
DE |
vs DET |
|
44 |
Josh Sweat |
ARI |
DE |
@ SEA |
|
45 |
Rashan Gary |
DAL |
LB |
@ IND |
|
46 |
Abdul Carter |
NYG |
DE |
@ PHI |
|
47 |
Jalen Redmond |
MIN |
DE |
vs BUF |
|
48 |
Byron Murphy II |
SEA |
DT |
vs ARI |
|
49 |
Kingsley Enagbare |
NYJ |
DE |
@ KC |
|
50 |
Nick Bosa |
SF |
DE |
vs LV |
LB Rankings
|
Rank |
Player |
Team |
Position |
Opponent |
|
1 |
Ernest Jones IV |
SEA |
LB |
vs ARI |
|
2 |
Blake Cashman |
MIN |
LB |
vs BUF |
|
3 |
Carson Schwesinger |
CLE |
LB |
@ NO |
|
4 |
Nakobe Dean |
LV |
LB |
@ SF |
|
5 |
Josiah Trotter |
TB |
LB |
@ CHI |
|
6 |
Barrett Carter |
CIN |
LB |
@ ATL |
|
7 |
Quincy Williams |
CLE |
LB |
@ NO |
|
8 |
Alex Singleton |
DEN |
LB |
@ CAR |
|
9 |
Nate Landman |
LAR |
LB |
@ WAS |
|
10 |
Jacob Rodriguez |
MIA |
LB |
vs DET |
|
11 |
Kendal Daniels |
ATL |
S |
vs CIN |
|
12 |
Foyesade Oluokun |
JAC |
LB |
@ BAL |
|
13 |
Demetrius Knight Jr. |
CIN |
LB |
@ ATL |
|
14 |
Fred Warner |
SF |
LB |
vs LV |
|
15 |
Jamien Sherwood |
NYJ |
LB |
@ KC |
|
16 |
Nick Bolton |
KC |
LB |
vs NYJ |
|
17 |
Quay Walker |
LV |
LB |
@ SF |
|
18 |
Azeez Al-Shaair |
HOU |
LB |
@ LAC |
|
19 |
Devin Bush Jr. |
CHI |
LB |
vs TB |
|
20 |
Jordyn Brooks |
MIA |
LB |
vs DET |
|
21 |
Eric Wilson |
MIN |
LB |
vs BUF |
|
22 |
Sonny Styles |
WAS |
LB |
vs LAR |
|
23 |
Zack Baun |
PHI |
LB |
vs NYG |
|
24 |
Mack Wilson Sr. |
ARI |
LB |
@ SEA |
|
25 |
Devin Lloyd |
CAR |
LB |
vs DEN |
|
26 |
Kaden Elliss |
NO |
LB |
vs CLE |
|
27 |
Demario Davis |
NYJ |
LB |
@ KC |
|
28 |
Bobby Okereke |
CAR |
LB |
vs DEN |
|
29 |
Roquan Smith |
BAL |
LB |
vs JAC |
|
30 |
Isaiah McDuffie |
GB |
LB |
@ NE |
|
31 |
Drue Tranquill |
KC |
LB |
vs NYJ |
|
32 |
Arvell Reese |
NYG |
LB |
@ PHI |
|
33 |
Derrick Barnes |
DET |
LB |
@ MIA |
|
34 |
Jack Campbell |
DET |
LB |
@ MIA |
|
35 |
Akeem Davis-Gaither |
IND |
LB |
vs DAL |
|
36 |
Christian Elliss |
NE |
LB |
vs GB |
|
37 |
DeMarvion Overshown |
DAL |
LB |
@ IND |
|
38 |
Frankie Luvu |
WAS |
LB |
vs LAR |
|
39 |
Ty’Ron Hopper |
GB |
LB |
@ NE |
|
40 |
Jack Gibbens |
ARI |
LB |
@ SEA |
|
41 |
Harold Perkins Jr. |
ATL |
LB |
vs CIN |
|
42 |
Terrel Bernard |
BUF |
LB |
@ MIN |
|
43 |
Robert Spillane |
NE |
LB |
vs GB |
|
44 |
Daiyan Henley |
LAC |
LB |
vs HOU |
|
45 |
Alex Anzalone |
TB |
LB |
@ CHI |
|
46 |
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. |
PHI |
LB |
vs NYG |
|
47 |
Trenton Simpson |
BAL |
LB |
vs JAC |
|
48 |
Dorian Williams |
BUF |
LB |
@ MIN |
|
49 |
Micah McFadden |
NYG |
LB |
@ PHI |
|
50 |
Shemar James |
DAL |
LB |
@ IND |
DB Rankings
|
Rank |
Player |
Team |
Position |
Opponent |
|
1 |
Kyle Hamilton |
BAL |
S |
vs JAC |
|
2 |
Kendal Daniels |
ATL |
S |
vs CIN |
|
3 |
Budda Baker |
ARI |
S |
@ SEA |
|
4 |
Evan Williams |
GB |
S |
@ NE |
|
5 |
Dillon Thieneman |
CHI |
S |
vs TB |
|
6 |
Nick Emmanwori |
SEA |
S |
vs ARI |
|
7 |
Brandon Jones |
DEN |
S |
@ CAR |
|
8 |
Xavier Watts |
ATL |
S |
vs CIN |
|
9 |
Caleb Downs |
DAL |
S |
@ IND |
|
10 |
Jessie Bates III |
ATL |
S |
vs CIN |
|
11 |
Tykee Smith |
TB |
S |
@ CHI |
|
12 |
Cooper DeJean |
PHI |
CB |
vs NYG |
|
13 |
Jacob Parrish |
TB |
CB |
@ CHI |
|
14 |
Jordan Battle |
CIN |
S |
@ ATL |
|
15 |
Kyler Gordon |
CHI |
CB |
vs TB |
|
16 |
Jeremy Chinn |
LV |
S |
@ SF |
|
17 |
Antoine Winfield Jr. |
TB |
S |
@ CHI |
|
18 |
Dane Belton |
NYJ |
S |
@ KC |
|
19 |
Devon Witherspoon |
SEA |
CB |
vs ARI |
|
20 |
Amik Robertson |
WAS |
CB |
vs LAR |
|
21 |
Julian Love |
SEA |
S |
vs ARI |
|
22 |
Minkah Fitzpatrick |
NYJ |
S |
@ KC |
|
23 |
Kamari Lassiter |
HOU |
CB |
@ LAC |
|
24 |
Reed Blankenship |
HOU |
S |
@ LAC |
|
25 |
Joshua Metellus |
MIN |
S |
vs BUF |
|
26 |
Nick Cross |
WAS |
S |
vs LAR |
|
27 |
Brian Branch |
DET |
S |
@ MIA |
|
28 |
Jalen Pitre |
HOU |
S |
@ LAC |
|
29 |
Quentin Lake |
LAR |
S |
@ WAS |
|
30 |
Grant Delpit |
CLE |
S |
@ NO |
|
31 |
Keisean Nixon |
GB |
CB |
@ NE |
|
32 |
C.J. Henderson |
ATL |
CB |
vs CIN |
|
33 |
Chamarri Conner |
KC |
S |
vs NYJ |
|
34 |
Talanoa Hufanga |
DEN |
S |
@ CAR |
|
35 |
Zyon McCollum |
TB |
CB |
@ CHI |
|
36 |
Chuck Clark |
DET |
S |
@ MIA |
|
37 |
A.J. Haulcy |
IND |
S |
vs DAL |
|
38 |
Xavier McKinney |
GB |
S |
@ NE |
|
39 |
Kevin Byard III |
NE |
S |
vs GB |
|
40 |
Dante Trader Jr. |
MIA |
S |
vs DET |
|
41 |
Andrew Wingard |
ARI |
S |
@ SEA |
|
42 |
Cole Bishop |
BUF |
S |
@ MIN |
|
43 |
Javon Bullard |
GB |
S |
@ NE |
|
44 |
D.J. Reed Jr. |
DET |
CB |
@ MIA |
|
45 |
Kam Curl |
LAR |
S |
@ WAS |
|
46 |
Nick Scott |
CAR |
S |
vs DEN |
|
47 |
Treydan Stukes |
LV |
CB |
@ SF |
|
48 |
Marlon Humphrey |
BAL |
CB |
vs JAC |
|
49 |
Dax Hill |
CIN |
S |
@ ATL |
|
50 |
Tre’von Moehrig |
CAR |
S |
vs DEN |
