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IDP Fantasy Football Rankings Going Into Week 9

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Week 8 was a big week for some IDP players. Here you will find my rankings after week 8 and notice some familiar faces as well as some new ones. See who made the list this time.

Key: Stock Up   Stock Down   No Change

Linebacker

Rankings

  1. Darius Leonard– 88 Tackles (58 solo), 7 tackles for a loss, 2 pass deflections, 4 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries. (Last week at #1)
  2. Cory Littleton– 66 Tackles (46 solo), 5 tackles for a loss, 8 pass deflections, 3 sacks, 1 interception, 2 blocked kicks, 1 safety. (Last week at #3)
  3. Jordan Hicks– 70 Tackles (49 solo), 5 tackles for a loss, 4 pass deflections, 3 sacks, 1 fumble recovery. (Last week at #8)
  4. Kiko Alonso– 76 Tackles (51 solo), 4 pass deflections, 2 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery. (Last week at #2)
  5. Blake Martinez– 63 Tackles (41 solo), 8 tackles for a loss, 2 pass deflections, 4 sacks. (Last week at #9)
  6. Tremaine Edmunds– 62 Tackles (45 solo), 3 tackles for a loss, 7 pass deflections, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles. (Last week at #5)
  7. Luke Kuechly– 57 Tackles (47 solo), 9 tackles for a loss, 2 pass deflections, 2 sacks, 1 interception. (Last week at #4)
  8. Avery Williamson– 55 Tackles (41 solo), 4 tackles for a loss, 4 pass deflections, 2 sacks, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery. (Last week at #7)
  9. T.J. Watt– 37 Tackles (26 solo), 9 tackles for a loss, 1 pass deflection, 7 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 blocked kick. (Last week not on the list)
  10. Josh Bynes– 61 Tackles (43 solo), 3 tackles for a loss, 3 pass deflections, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery, 1 Touchdown. (Last week not on the list)

Everything Changed…Except #1

Every single spot on the Linebacker ranking list changed this week outside of #1. Although Cory Littleton had another great week and definitely closed the gap on Darius Leonard, Leonard did enough to hold onto the #1 spot. Littleton has been playing out of his mind recently. In the last 2 games he has 18 total tackles (15 solo) to go along with 3 sacks. Another week like that and Leonard’s reign at #1 could be in jeopardy.

Newcomers

There were two newcomers to the top 10 rankings this week. One has never been on the list (T.J. Watt) and one who is cracking the ranking list a second time (Josh Bynes). T.J. Watt has been a disruptive force behind the line of scrimmage.

His total tackles are far lower than anybody else on this list but he has 7 sacks and 9 tackles for a loss. In three games in October he has accumulated 17 tackles (13 solo), 4 sacks, 1 forced fumble and 1 pass deflection. His great October has shot him up the rankings.

Josh Bynes had another solid game and good enough to get him back on the list. He ended with 5 tackles (4 solo) and a pass deflection. Just another game in the season of Josh Bynes. He won’t blow your mind with games most weeks but will still get solid production.

Whose Rising and Falling

Rising

As I mentioned earlier Cory Littleton is playing at an elite level right now and is continuing his ascension towards #1 in the rankings. Jordan Hicks though made the largest jump moving up 5 spots from #8 to #3. Last week he finished with 12 tackles (8 solo), 1 for a loss, and 1.5 sacks against the Jaguars. It’s production like that which puts him high on the rankings. Hicks likes the week he had as well:

https://twitter.com/MusikFan4Life25/status/1056590631110356993

Blake Martinez also made a nice leap this week although his descent last week was do to a BYE. He came back from his BYE in a big way with 12 tackles (7solo), 2 tackles for a loss, and a sack. Martinez would probably be higher on the list had he played in as many games as the rest. Watch here the havoc Martinez can wreak:

Falling

Kiko Alonso is continuing his drop in the rankings. The emergence of Raekwon McMillan has been tough for Kiko’s numbers. McMillan has been the leading fantasy scorer for the Dolphins the last 2 weeks. Kiko hasn’t been terrible but not good enough to stay in the top 3.

Luke Kuechly also had a pedestrian day in Week 8. He was only able to come up with 5 tackles (4 solo) and a pass deflection. Kuechly is a top talent and has a cake remaining schedule but for now his drop will remain.

Defensive Back

Rankings

  1. Budda Baker– 72 Tackles (52 solo), 7 tackles for a loss, 1 pass deflection, 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 1 Touchdown. (Last week at #1)
  2. Harrison Smith– 40 Tackles (32 solo), 4 tackles for a loss, 5 pass deflections, 3 sacks, 3 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery. (Last week at #5)
  3. Jamal Adams– 56 Tackles (42 solo), 6 tackles for a loss, 6 pass deflections, 1 sack, 1 interception, 2 forced fumbles. (Last week at #3)
  4. Jessie Bates III- 60 Tackles (41 solo), 5 pass deflections, 3 interceptions, 1 Touchdown. (Last week not on the list)
  5. Damarius Randall- 50 Tackles (45 solo), 1 tackle for a loss, 7 pass deflections, 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery. (Last week at #4)
  6. Kareem Jackson– 47 Tackles (37 solo), 4 tackles for a loss, 8 pass deflections, 2 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries. (Last week at #8)
  7. Denzel Ward– 39 Tackles (28 solo), 3 tackles for a loss, 9 pass deflections,  3 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 blocked kick. (Last week at #9)
  8. Tyrann Mathieu– 46 Tackles (38 solo), 3 tackles for a loss, 5 pass deflections, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery. (Last week at #10)
  9. Derwin James– 44 Tackles (33 solo), 4 tackles for a loss, 6 pass deflections, 3.5 sacks, 1 interception. (Last week at #2)
  10. Antoine Bethea– 67 Tackles (56 solo), 2 tackles for a loss, 1 pass deflection, 1 sack. (Last week not on the list)

The Bates Motel

Jessie Bates III has been murdering opposing teams this year with a bit of ball hawking and sure tackling. A starter since Week 1, he has put together quite and impressive year. Although he has had a solid year, it was Week 8 that he really started to shoot himself up the rankings. In last weeks game against the Buccaneers he finished with 6 tackles (4 solo), 3 pass deflections and an interception which he returned for a Touchdown. Keep killing them Mr. Bates.

Newcomers

There were two newcomers to my top 10 rankings for Defensive Backs. The before mentioned Jessie Bates III and veteran Safety Antoine Bethea. Bethea has been playing more of a hybrid Linebacker role for the Cardinals but is still listed as a Safety. If there is anything (and the only thing) that he does well it is come up with tackles.

The Cardinals are very thin at Linebacker and he has 67 tackles on the season, 2nd to teammate Budda Baker. Adding to his tackle prowess he recorded a sack last week which helped bump him up the rankings.

Whose Rising and Falling

Rising

Jessie Bates III made the largest leap on the top 10 rankings list this week going from not present all the way up to #4. The only other player who made a leap of more than 2 spots was Harrison Smith. Denzel Ward, Tyrann Mathieu, and Kareem Jackson all moved up 2 spots. Smith though made his ascension into the top 2. In week 8 he came up with 3 solo tackles, 1 pass deflection and an interception. His knack for forcing turnovers and making big plays keeps him near the top of the list.

Falling

Damarius Randall dropped one spot to #5 with a pretty standard game. Unfortunately for him the guys above him all played well pushing him back a spot. Derwin James dropped huge from #2 to #9 but was only because he was on a BYE. The rookies production has been great this year and I fully expect him to jump back up the rankings.

Defensive Line

Rankings

  1. Aaron Donald– 29 Tackles (19 solo), 12 tackles for a loss, 10 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery. (Last week at #2)
  2. J.J. Watt– 30 Tackles (23 solo), 10 tackles for a loss, 2 pass deflections, 8 sacks, 4 forced fumbles. (Last week at #3)
  3. Myles Garrett– 25 Tackles (20 solo), 6 tackles for a loss, 3 pass deflections, 8 sacks, 3 forced fumbles. (Last week at #4)
  4. Carlos Dunlap– 26 Tackles (19 solo), 6 tackles for a loss, 5 pass deflections, 7 sacks, 2 forced fumbles. (Last week at #9)
  5. Danielle Hunter– 34 Tackles (24 solo), 10 tackles for a loss, 8 sacks. (Last week at #1)
  6. Chandler Jones– 26 Tackles (19 solo), 6 tackles for a loss, 4 pass deflections, 6.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery. (Last week at #5)
  7. Jason Pierre-Paul– 25 Tackles (23 solo), 9 tackles for a loss, 8 sacks, 1 forced fumble. (Last week at #10)
  8. Calais Campbell– 39 Tackles (28 solo), 9 tackles for a loss, 5 sacks. (Last week no on the list)
  9. Bradley Chubb– 24 Tackles (18 solo), 6 tackles for a loss, 1 pass deflection, 7 sacks, 1 forced fumble. (Last week at #8)
  10. Khalil Mack– 20 Tackles (16 solo), 3 tackles for a loss, 2 pass deflections, 5 sacks, 1 interception, 4 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 Touchdown. (Last week at #7)

A  New Sheriff in Town

Aaron Donald has finally completed his climb back to the top of the top 10 rankings. After shaking off the early season rust he has been dominant over anybody trying to block him. Week 8 he went off yet again increasing his sack total to a league leading 10. He ended the day with 3 tackles (2 solo), 2 tackles for a loss, and 2 Sacks. All 10 of his sacks have come in the last five games, QB’s look out the rest of the season, the Sheriff is coming.

Newcomers

We have one newcomer joining the top 10 rankings this week. Calais Campbell, who has been one of the best Defensive Ends in the NFL the last few years came in with a great week to join the crew. He amassed 7 tackles (5 solo), 2 for a loss and a sack.

It was surprising not to see Campbell on the list yet but his lack of production outside of tackles has kept him off. If he forces a few fumbles or gets some more sacks he could easily climb the list.

Whose Rising and Falling

Rising

More than half of the people on this rankings list moved up. The two that sky rocketed were Carlos Dunlap and Jason Pierre-Paul. Dunlap rose 5 spots form #9 to #4 and Pierre-Paul went from #10 to #7. The both of them had huge games last week.

Dunlap made a living in the in the backfield of the Buccaneers. He finished the day with 4 solo tackles, 3 tackles for a loss, and 2 sacks. His pressure was one of the main reasons Jameis Winston rushed some throws and had 4 interceptions. I think he was sick of being hit.

Jason Pierre-Paul was in the other teams backfield not allowing Dunlap to outshine him. Andy Dalton was bothered most of the day by Pierre-Paul where he ended with 2 solo tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, and 2 sacks. The pass rushing competition between the two was fun to watch, unless you were Winston and Dalton.

Falling

Nobody fell more than Danielle Hunter. He dropped from top of the list all the way down to #5. Hunter was very disruptive early in the season but this week was very subpar for the course. He finished week 8 with only 2 tackles (1 solo) and 1 for a loss. That’s not the Hunter we grew to know, I’m sure he will be coming back to form soon.

Khalil Mack’s injury has hobbled him the past 3 weeks. He has 1 solo tackle in the past 3 weeks. If he were smart he may want to hold off for another week or two to return. The Bears are one of the most improved teams in the NFL and a healthy Mack could help them surge in the playoffs.

Week 9 could cause a change in my top 10 rankings. Keep your eyes on the rams as they have some of the best defenders in Littleton and Donald. Let’s see if Darius Leonard can hold on to his top spot. I also predict that Budda Baker will lose his top spot unless he is able to produce something outside of tackles.

Check out my top 10 rankings every week on IDPGuys.org. Don’t forget to follow me on twitter, @josephhaggan as well as listen to the teams weekly podcast to catch the most recent news and fantasy advice.

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