Fantasy Football: Week 9 IDP Rankings & Tiers

2MA1F5D Green Bay Packers linebacker Rashan Gary (52) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

• A great week to start Rashan Gary: Gary’s dominant pass-rush metrics combined with his regular workload and positive matchup make him one of the top bets among edge rushers this week.

• A favorable matchup for the Seattle IDPs: Bobby Wagner, Jordyn Brooks and Jamal Adams are all in line for strong fantasy performances against the Baltimore Ravens this week.

• 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: 13 minutes


With bye weeks and injuries beginning to test the depth of fantasy football rosters, checking in on weekly rankings to find all the players to target and avoid each week becomes all the more crucial. 

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

Jump to a Position:

LB | ED | DI | S | CB

WR:CB Matchup Chart


LINEBACKER

RANK TIER NAME TEAM OPP NOTES
1 1A Bobby Wagner SEA @ BLT
2 1A Roquan Smith BLT SEA
3 1A T.J. Edwards CHI @ NO
4 1A Frankie Luvu CAR IND
5 1B Bobby Okereke NYG @ LV
6 1B Lavonte David TB @ HST
7 1B Kyzir White ARZ @ CLV
8 1B Quincy Williams NYJ LAC MNF
9 1C Shaquille Leonard IND @ CAR
10 1C Jordyn Brooks SEA @ BLT
11 1C Quay Walker GB LAR
12 1C Jordan Hicks MIN @ ATL
13 2A Terrel Bernard BUF @ CIN SNF
14 2A Jack Sanborn CHI @ NO WW
15 2A C.J. Mosley NYJ LAC MNF
16 2A Logan Wilson CIN BUF SNF
17 2B Drue Tranquill KC MIA GER
18 2B Patrick Queen BLT SEA
19 2B Christian Rozeboom LAR @ GB
20 2B Azeez Al-Shaair TEN @ PIT TNF
21 2C Devin White TB @ HST
22 2C E.J. Speed IND @ CAR
23 2C Kenneth Murray Jr. LAC @ NYJ Q/MNF
24 2C Blake Cashman HST TB
25 3A Robert Spillane LV NYG
26 3A De'Vondre Campbell GB LAR WW
27 3A Cole Holcomb PIT TEN TNF
28 3A Germaine Pratt CIN BUF SNF
29 3B Nate Landman ATL MIN
30 3B Jamin Davis WAS @ NE
31 3B Eric Kendricks LAC @ NYJ Q/MNF
32 3B Jerome Baker MIA @ KC GER
33 3C Damone Clark DAL @ PHI
34 3C Kaden Elliss ATL MIN
35 3C Jack Gibbens TEN @ PIT TNF
36 3C Pete Werner NO CHI
37 4A Demario Davis NO CHI
38 4A Zach Cunningham PHI DAL
39 4A Nakobe Dean PHI DAL
40 4A Josh Woods ARZ @ CLV
41 4B David Long Jr. MIA @ KC GER
42 4B Ja'Whaun Bentley NE WAS Q
43 4B David Mayo WAS @ NE
44 4B Tyrel Dodson BUF @ CIN SNF
45 4C Markquese Bell DAL @ PHI WW
46 4C Micah McFadden NYG @ LV
47 4C Willie Gay KC MIA Q/GER
48 4C Leo Chenal KC MIA WW/GER
49 5A Anthony Walker Jr. CLV ARZ
50 5A Denzel Perryman HST TB
51 5A Henry To'oTo'o HST TB
52 5A Elandon Roberts PIT TEN TNF
53 5B Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah CLV ARZ
54 5B Jaylon Smith LV NYG
55 5B Kwon Alexander PIT TEN TNF
56 5B Deion Jones CAR IND
57 5C Ivan Pace Jr. MIN @ ATL
58 5C Sione Takitaki CLV ARZ
59 5C Nicholas Morrow PHI DAL
60 5C Amari Burney LV NYG WW

Bobby Wagner (LB2) and Jordyn Brooks (LB10) have been especially effective this season, with both players ranking inside the top 10 at their positions in tackle efficiency (minimum of 50% of snaps). It has helped to play on the most zone-heavy defense in the league. Brooks ranks fifth in tackle efficiency (16.2%) and is doing so on an average of just 79% of defensive snaps. The Seattle Seahawks linebackers draw the top matchup of the week in terms of teams that yield the most tackles per game to the position — the Ravens (19.6) — which should allow this duo to continue being among the most efficient in the league.

Jack Sanborn (LB14) is likely to take on a full-time role this week as Tremaine Edmunds deals with a knee injury that is expected to sideline him for at least one game. Sanborn was one of the more efficient linebackers in the league last season when he took over a starting role in this Chicago Bears defense, and he draws a favorable matchup against the Saints this week to keep that going. In 2022, Sanborn delivered a very high 17.8% tackle efficiency and continues to deliver over expectations in a limited role this season at a 16.0% efficiency clip. The Saints are giving up 18.9 tackles per game to the linebacker position, which is the seventh most in the league.

Blake Cashman (LB23) emerged as the Houston Texans top linebacker in snaps in Week 8 amid an entirely healthy corps of options for the team. This, unfortunately, caused both Denzel Perryman (LB50) and Henry To’oTo’o (LB51) to split the secondary linebacker snaps, with both playing just under half of the team’s defensive snaps. Perryman was still an effective IDP last week, but his usage isn’t worth relying on consistently if his role remains the same. For now, Cashman is the lone Texans linebacker to start in most IDP leagues in a slightly below-average matchup for the position going against Tampa Bay.


EDGE DEFENDER

RANK TIER NAME TEAM OPP NOTES
1 1A Maxx Crosby LV NYG
2 1A Myles Garrett CLV ARZ
3 1A T.J. Watt PIT TEN TNF
4 1A Danielle Hunter MIN @ ATL
5 1B Micah Parsons DAL @ PHI
6 1B Rashan Gary GB LAR
7 1B Haason Reddick PHI DAL
8 1B Kayvon Thibodeaux NYG @ LV
9 1C Trey Hendrickson CIN BUF SNF
10 1C Carl Granderson NO CHI
11 1C Brian Burns CAR IND
12 1C Alex Highsmith PIT TEN TNF
13 2A Joey Bosa LAC @ NYJ MNF
14 2A Jaelan Phillips MIA @ KC GER
15 2A Josh Sweat PHI DAL
16 2A Preston Smith GB LAR
17 2B Kwity Paye IND @ CAR
18 2B Harold Landry III TEN @ PIT TNF
19 2B Montez Sweat CHI @ NO
20 2B Jermaine Johnson NYJ LAC MNF
21 2C Denico Autry TEN @ PIT TNF
22 2C Sam Hubbard CIN BUF SNF
23 2C DeMarcus Lawrence DAL @ PHI
24 2C Khalil Mack LAC @ NYJ MNF
25 3A Za'Darius Smith CLV ARZ Q
26 3A Greg Rousseau BUF @ CIN SNF
27 3A George Karlaftis KC MIA GER
28 3A Bradley Chubb MIA @ KC GER
29 3B Odafe Oweh BLT SEA
30 3B Darrell Taylor SEA @ BLT
31 3B Byron Young LAR @ GB
32 3B Jonathan Greenard HST TB
33 3C Samson Ebukam IND @ CAR
34 3C Will Anderson Jr. HST TB
35 3C Cameron Jordan NO CHI
36 3C Boye Mafe SEA @ BLT
37 4A Michael Hoecht LAR @ GB
38 4A Ogbo Okoronkwo CLV ARZ
39 4A Shaquil Barrett TB @ HST
40 4A Mike Danna KC MIA GER
41 4B Tuli Tuipuloto LAC @ NYJ MNF
42 4B Yannick Ngakoue CHI @ NO
43 4B Charles Omenihu KC MIA GER
44 4B Leonard Floyd BUF @ CIN SNF
45 4C Anfernee Jennings NE WAS
46 4C Andrew Van Ginkel MIA @ KC GER
47 4C Dayo Odeyingbo IND @ CAR
48 4C Kyle Van Noy BLT SEA
49 5A Bryce Huff NYJ LAC MNF
50 5A Von Miller BUF @ CIN SNF
51 5A Cameron Thomas ARZ @ CLV
52 5A Arden Key TEN @ PIT TNF
53 5B Jadeveon Clowney BLT SEA
54 5B Josh Uche NE WAS Q
55 5B Brandon Graham PHI DAL
56 5B Zaven Collins ARZ @ CLV
57 5C Bud Dupree ATL MIN
58 5C Joe Tryon-Shoyinka TB @ HST
59 5C Tyree Wilson LV NYG
60 5C Lorenzo Carter ATL MIN

Coming out of the team’s Week 6 bye week, Rashan Gary (ED6) has been relatively quiet in the box score after a hot start to the year. Gary is coming off one of the tougher matchups in the league for pass-rushers in Week 8 against Minnesota but draws a favorable matchup this week against the Los Angeles Rams, who rank 30th in team pass-blocking grade (47.8) and could potentially be without starting quarterback Matthew Stafford. Gary ranks 10th among edge defenders in pass-rush grade (82.8), second in pass-rush win rate (25.2%) and second in pressure rate (22.1%), putting him in a great position to deliver a strong IDP performance.

The Commanders traded Montez Sweat (ED19) to the Bears at the NFL’s trade deadline, which will have him in line to play his first game with his new team this Sunday in New Orleans. Sweat has delivered in terms of sacks so far this season (6.5) but could potentially be overproducing in that regard, as he ranks just 49th at his position in pass-rush grade (67.2) and leads the position in clean-up and unblocked pressures (13). Playing on a top-end defensive line certainly helped Sweat, but he now joins one of the worst defensive lines in the league, so he may not get nearly as many of those clean-up opportunities. The Saints do have the eighth-worst pass-blocking unit in the league this season, so there is at least one positive for Sweat heading into Week 9.


INTERIOR DEFENDER

RANK TIER NAME TEAM OPP NOTES
1 1A DeForest Buckner IND @ CAR
2 1A Jeffery Simmons TEN @ PIT Q/TNF
3 1A Chris Jones KC MIA GER
4 1A Quinnen Williams NYJ LAC MNF
5 1B Aaron Donald LAR @ GB
6 1B Christian Wilkins MIA @ KC GER
7 1B Dexter Lawrence NYG @ LV
8 1B Jonathan Allen WAS @ NE
9 1C Derrick Brown CAR IND
10 1C Harrison Phillips MIN @ ATL
11 1C Leonard Williams SEA @ BLT
12 1C Justin Madubuike BLT SEA
13 2A Jalen Carter PHI DAL Q
14 2A Ed Oliver BUF @ CIN SNF
15 2A Christian Barmore NE WAS
16 2A Cameron Heyward PIT TEN WW/TNF
17 2B David Onyemata ATL MIN
18 2B Osa Odighizuwa DAL @ PHI
19 2B Daron Payne WAS @ NE
20 2B Dre'Mont Jones SEA @ BLT
21 2C Kenny Clark GB LAR
22 2C Zach Sieler MIA @ KC GER
23 2C DJ Reader CIN BUF SNF
24 2C Jarran Reed SEA @ BLT
25 3A Larry Ogunjobi PIT TEN TNF
26 3A B.J. Hill CIN BUF SNF
27 3A Maliek Collins HST TB
28 3A A'Shawn Robinson NYG @ LV
29 3B Dalvin Tomlinson CLV ARZ
30 3B Vita Vea TB @ HST Q
31 3B Fletcher Cox PHI DAL
32 3B Andrew Billings CHI @ NO
33 3C Nathan Shepherd NYJ LAC MNF
34 3C Devonte Wyatt GB LAR
35 3C DaQuan Jones BUF @ CIN SNF
36 3C Calijah Kancey TB @ HST

Harrison Phillips (DT10) has been one of the most effective defensive tackles for IDP leagues this season, in large part because of his ability to rack up tackles. He currently leads his position with 45 total tackles on the year, and he has also added two sacks. Phillips draws a great matchup to continue making tackles. The Atlanta Falcons have allowed the fifth-most tackles to the defensive line position this season.


SAFETY

RANK TIER NAME TEAM OPP NOTES
1 1A Derwin James Jr. LAC @ NYJ MNF
2 1A Kamren Curl WAS @ NE
3 1A Budda Baker ARZ @ CLV
4 1A Camryn Bynum MIN @ ATL
5 1B Dax Hill CIN BUF SNF
6 1B Jevon Holland MIA @ KC Q/GER
7 1B Grant Delpit CLV ARZ
8 1B Kyle Dugger NE WAS
9 1C Reed Blankenship PHI DAL
10 1C Julian Blackmon IND @ CAR
11 1C Harrison Smith MIN @ ATL
12 1C Jamal Adams SEA @ BLT
13 2A Antoine Winfield Jr. TB @ HST
14 2A Justin Reid KC MIA GER
15 2A Jayron Kearse DAL @ PHI
16 2A Kyle Hamilton BLT SEA
17 2B Kevin Byard PHI DAL
18 2B Rudy Ford GB LAR
19 2B Jessie Bates III ATL MIN
20 2B Jordan Poyer BUF @ CIN SNF
21 2C Jabrill Peppers NE WAS
22 2C Jalen Pitre HST TB
23 2C Richie Grant ATL MIN
24 2C Jalen Thompson ARZ @ CLV
25 3A Xavier McKinney NYG @ LV
26 3A Josh Metellus MIN @ ATL
27 3A Xavier Woods CAR IND
28 3A Jordan Fuller LAR @ GB
29 3B Ryan Neal TB @ HST
30 3B Tre'von Moehrig LV NYG
31 3B Elijah Hicks CHI @ NO
32 3B Julian Love SEA @ BLT
33 3C Keanu Neal PIT TEN WW/TNF
34 3C Tyrann Mathieu NO CHI
35 3C Amani Hooker TEN @ PIT TNF
36 3C Jordan Whitehead NYJ LAC MNF
37 4A Marcus Maye NO CHI
38 4A Nick Scott CIN BUF SNF
39 4A Sam Franklin Jr. CAR IND
40 4A Jimmie Ward HST TB
41 4B Marcus Williams BLT SEA Q
42 4B DeShon Elliott MIA @ KC GER
43 4B Jason Pinnock NYG @ LV
44 4B Donovan Wilson DAL @ PHI
45 4C Micah Hyde BUF @ CIN SNF
46 4C Eddie Jackson CHI @ NO
47 4C Jonathan Owens GB LAR
48 4C Quandre Diggs SEA @ BLT
49 5A Marcus Epps LV NYG
50 5A Tony Adams NYJ LAC MNF
51 5A Mike Edwards KC MIA GER
52 5A Percy Butler WAS @ NE Q
53 5B Elijah Molden TEN @ PIT WW/TNF
54 5B Rodney Thomas II IND @ CAR
55 5B Russ Yeast LAR @ GB
56 5B Damontae Kazee PIT TEN WW/TNF
57 5C Malik Hooker DAL @ PHI
58 5C Alohi Gilman LAC @ NYJ MNF
59 5C Bryan Cook KC MIA GER
60 5C Juan Thornhill CLV ARZ

Jamal Adams (S13) played just 81% of his team’s defensive snaps this past week but is still getting ideal IDP usage, with only 17.5% of those snaps coming from a deep alignment. He spends the rest of his time closer to the line of scrimmage and even gets a few opportunities per game to rush the passer. Against the Ravens, who are giving up the second-most tackles to the safety position this season, expect Adams to deliver a productive day in the box score, even if he doesn’t play a true full-time workload.

Justin Reid (S15) also draws a favorable matchup against the Miami Dolphins in Germany, as Miami has given up the fifth-most tackles per game to the safety position this season. Reid is the Kansas City Chiefs‘ lone every-down safety and has lined up in the box on a strong 38% of his snaps this season. Reid has had some up-and-down games this year but should be in a position to have one of his better performances of the season this week.


CORNERBACK

RANK TIER NAME TEAM OPP NOTES
1 1A Kenny Moore II IND @ CAR
2 1A Kader Kohou MIA @ KC GER
3 1A Cam Taylor-Britt CIN BUF SNF
4 1A D.J. Reed NYJ LAC MNF
5 1B Nate Hobbs LV NYG
6 1B DaRon Bland DAL @ PHI
7 1B Taron Johnson BUF @ CIN SNF
8 1B Jamel Dean TB @ HST
9 1C Trent McDuffie KC MIA GER
10 1C Marshon Lattimore NO CHI
11 1C Devon Witherspoon SEA @ BLT
12 1C L'Jarius Sneed KC MIA GER
13 2A Sauce Gardner NYJ LAC MNF
14 2A Carlton Davis III TB @ HST
15 2A Tyrique Stevenson CHI @ NO
16 2A Xavien Howard MIA @ KC Q/GER
17 2B Jaire Alexander GB LAR
18 2B Kyler Gordon CHI @ NO
19 2B Brandon Stephens BLT SEA
20 2B Paulson Adebo NO CHI
21 2C Benjamin St. Juste WAS @ NE
22 2C A.J. Terrell ATL MIN
23 2C Darius Slay PHI DAL
24 2C Amik Robertson LV NYG
25 3A Michael Davis LAC @ NYJ MNF
26 3A Levi Wallace PIT TEN Q/TNF
27 3A Jalen Ramsey MIA @ KC GER
28 3A Rasul Douglas BUF @ CIN SNF
29 3B Akayleb Evans MIN @ ATL
30 3B Marco Wilson ARZ @ CLV
31 3B Christian Benford BUF @ CIN SNF
32 3B Roger McCreary TEN @ PIT Q/TNF
33 3C James Bradberry PHI DAL
34 3C Asante Samuel Jr. LAC @ NYJ MNF
35 3C Kendall Fuller WAS @ NE
36 3C Stephon Gilmore DAL @ PHI
37 4A Deonte Banks NYG @ LV
38 4A Tavierre Thomas HST TB
39 4A Byron Murphy Jr. MIN @ ATL
40 4A Jaylon Johnson CHI @ NO
41 4B Patrick Peterson PIT TEN TNF
42 4B Sean Murphy-Bunting TEN @ PIT TNF
43 4B CJ Henderson CAR IND
44 4B Alontae Taylor NO CHI
45 4C Marlon Humphrey BLT SEA
46 4C Tariq Woolen SEA @ BLT
47 4C Derion Kendrick LAR @ GB
48 4C Denzel Ward CLV ARZ

Cam Taylor-Britt (CB3) has been an efficient tackler at cornerback and has even come up with two interceptions, allowing him to be among the top-scoring cornerbacks in IDP leagues this year. Taylor-Britt faces the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night, a team that is giving up the second-most tackles to the cornerback position (15.8) this season. He is also the Bengals' most targeted defensive back (36) this season and should see plenty of looks his way to create more opportunities for IDP production this week.

D.J. Reed (CB4) returned to the New York Jets lineup in Week 8, and while he didn’t have the most productive game, he’s still been a strong IDP option overall. Reed is averaging six tackles per game and draws a matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, who are allowing the most tackles to the cornerback position this season (16.1). Reed has been the most efficient tackler of the Jets' cornerbacks and should see plenty of volume against the eighth-most pass-heavy team in the league this week.


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.
  • UK: Player is playing on Sunday morning’s London game. Set lineups accordingly.
  • GER: Player is playing on Sunday morning’s Germany game. Set lineups accordingly.
  • WW: Potential waiver-wire target (see Weekly IDP Fantasy Report).
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