Welcome to the NFL and fantasy football Week 2 kickoff.
With minimal data available, we will try to make the best start/sit decisions and roster moves based on the offseason/coach speak and Week 1 results. Pay attention to injuries, and keep your lineup flexible when setting to cover your risk and maximize results.
Every league is different — especially in the individual defensive player world. These rankings are based on our fantasy scoring to help you adjust to your league while acknowledging that there will be some variations across different platforms. It doesn’t account for position requirements and is more along the lines of IDP Flex rankings for 2024 Week 2!
Which IDP Players Should You Start in Fantasy Football?
1) Roquan Smith, LB | BAL (vs. LV)
2) T.J. Edwards, LB | CHI (at HOU)
3) Alex Singleton, LB | DEN (vs. PIT)
4) Zack Baun, LB | PHI (vs. ATL)
5) Bobby Okereke, LB | NYG (at WAS)
6) Azeez Al-Shaair, LB | HOU (vs. CHI)
7) Terrel Bernard, LB | BUF (at MIA)
8) Foyesade Oluokun, LB | JAC (vs. CLE)
9) Maxx Crosby, DE | LV (at BAL)
10) Nick Bosa, DE | SF (at MIN)
11) Nick Bolton, LB | KC (vs. CIN)
12) Bobby Wagner, LB | WAS (vs. NYG)
13) Fred Warner, LB | SF (at MIN)
14) Quay Walker, LB | GB (vs. IND)
15) E.J. Speed, LB | IND (at GB)
16) Derwin James Jr., S | LAC (at CAR)
17) Brian Branch, S | DET (vs. TB)
18) Micah Parsons, LB | DAL (vs. NO)
19) C.J. Mosley, LB | NYJ (at TEN)
20) Kyzir White, LB | ARI (vs. LAR)
21) Logan Wilson, LB | CIN (at KC)
22) Lavonte David, LB | TB (at DET)
23) Myles Garrett, DE | CLE (at JAC)
24) T.J. Watt, LB | PIT (at DEN)
25) Patrick Queen, LB | PIT (at DEN)
26) Aidan Hutchinson, DE | DET (vs. TB)
27) Tyrel Dodson, LB | SEA (at NE)
28) Zaire Franklin, LB | IND (at GB)
29) Quincy Williams, LB | NYJ (at TEN)
30) Eric Kendricks, LB | DAL (vs. NO)
31) Jaquan Brisker, S | CHI (at HOU)
32) Kyle Hamilton, S | BAL (vs. LV)
33) Blake Cashman, LB | MIN (vs. SF)
34) Tremaine Edmunds, LB | CHI (at HOU)
35) Joshua Metellus, S | MIN (vs. SF)
36) Demario Davis, LB | NO (at DAL)
37) Robert Spillane, LB | LV (at BAL)
38) Shaq Thompson, LB | CAR (vs. LAC)
39) Alex Anzalone, LB | DET (vs. TB)
40) Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB | CLE (at JAC)
41) Jordyn Brooks, LB | MIA (vs. BUF)
42) Kenneth Murray Jr., LB | TEN (vs. NYJ)
43) Quinnen Williams, DT | NYJ (at TEN)
44) Trey Hendrickson, DE | CIN (at KC)
45) Kaden Elliss, LB | ATL (at PHI)
46) Grant Delpit, S | CLE (at JAC)
47) Kyle Dugger, S | NE (vs. SEA)
48) Khalil Mack, LB | LAC (at CAR)
49) Kamren Curl, S | LAR (at ARI)
50) Trenton Simpson, LB | BAL (vs. LV)
51) Denzel Perryman, LB | LAC (at CAR)
52) Josey Jewell, LB | CAR (vs. LAC)
53) Nakobe Dean, LB | PHI (vs. ATL)
54) Ja’Whaun Bentley, LB | NE (vs. SEA)
55) Budda Baker, S | ARI (vs. LAR)
56) De’Vondre Campbell Sr., LB | SF (at MIN)
57) Jordan Hicks, LB | CLE (at JAC)
58) David Long Jr., LB | MIA (vs. BUF)
59) Camryn Bynum, S | MIN (vs. SF)
60) Frankie Luvu, LB | WAS (vs. NYG)
61) Drue Tranquill, LB | KC (vs. CIN)
62) Germaine Pratt, LB | CIN (at KC)
63) Julian Love, S | SEA (at NE)
64) Alex Highsmith, LB | PIT (at DEN)
65) Dorian Williams, LB | BUF (at MIA)
66) DeMarvion Overshown, LB | DAL (vs. NO)
67) Minkah Fitzpatrick, S | PIT (at DEN)
68) Jalen Thompson, S | ARI (vs. LAR)
69) Jeremy Chinn, S | WAS (vs. NYG)
70) Devin Lloyd, LB | JAC (vs. CLE)
71) K.J. Britt, LB | TB (at DET)
72) Julian Blackmon, S | IND (at GB)
73) Will Anderson Jr., DE | HOU (vs. CHI)
74) Jevon Holland, S | MIA (vs. BUF)
75) Devon Witherspoon, CB | SEA (at NE)
76) Kenny Moore II, CB | IND (at GB)
77) Troy Reeder, LB | LAR (at ARI)
78) Danielle Hunter, DE | HOU (vs. CHI)
79) Jalen Pitre, S | HOU (vs. CHI)
80) Jessie Bates III, S | ATL (at PHI)
81) Montez Sweat, DE | CHI (at HOU)
82) C.J. Gardner-Johnson, S | PHI (vs. ATL)
83) Isaiah McDuffie, LB | GB (vs. IND)
84) Xavier McKinney, S | GB (vs. IND)
85) Brandon Jones, S | DEN (vs. PIT)
86) Daiyan Henley, LB | LAC (at CAR)
87) Divine Deablo, LB | LV (at BAL)
88) Josh Hines-Allen, DE | JAC (vs. CLE)
89) Reed Blankenship, S | PHI (vs. ATL)
90) Ivan Pace Jr., LB | MIN (vs. SF)
91) Ernest Jones IV, LB | TEN (vs. NYJ)
92) Jack Campbell, LB | DET (vs. TB)
93) Nate Hobbs, CB | LV (at BAL)
94) Brian Burns, DE | NYG (at WAS)
95) Justin Reid, S | KC (vs. CIN)
96) Cody Barton, LB | DEN (vs. PIT)
97) Jerome Baker, LB | SEA (at NE)
98) Mike Sainristil, CB | WAS (vs. NYG)
99) Harold Landry III, LB | TEN (vs. NYJ)
100) Justin Simmons, S | ATL (at PHI)
Best IDP Players To Start in Week 2
Zack Baun, LB, Philadelphia Eagles
Zack Baun led off my IDP Sleepers article, and yet, I still never saw that Week 1 performance coming. Baun is already halfway to his previous season high in both solo and total tackles. That’s right, after a single game, he’s already hit 15 tackles, including 11 solo tackles and two sacks to go along with it.
Baun’s role is likely to continue with his early success, and if allowed to play as he did, it should continue. His numbers are likely to regress, as he had a tackle on over a quarter of his snaps. Baun will likely keep getting to the quarterback, though, as he rushed the quarterback on over 30% of his passing snaps.
Brian Branch, CB/S, Detroit Lions
Brian Branch had such a fantastic rookie year and built off of it in Week 1. After posting 74 tackles in 15 games as a rookie, he started strong with seven combined tackles against the Los Angeles Rams. On top of that, he added three pass breakups to reach nearly 25% of his first-year total.
Branch’s role is all over the place, but with a Tampa Bay Buccaneers matchup on deck, he’ll be a busy guy on Sunday. Whether it’s covering Chris Godwin from the slot or matching up with a tight end or running back, he’s going to see plenty of opportunities to match his tackle and PBU totals from Week 1. Fire Branch up with supreme confidence this week.