Fantasy Football: Week 10 IDP Rankings & Tiers

• Jordan Hicks delivering for IDP managers at a high level this season: The Minnesota Vikings’ lone every-down linebacker has been a great IDP asset in 2023, and there’s no reason that shouldn’t continue this week and the rest of the season.

• Grant Delpit set to stay hot: Delpit has delivered some big tackle games over the past few weeks and now draws a very favorable matchup in Week 10 to keep that going.

• 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 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

LINEBACKER

Jordan Hicks (LB8) has delivered double-digit tackles in five of his nine games played this season and with the addition of some big plays, he’s been a top-12 IDP linebacker in a defense that has been kind to him. Brian Flores’ defense has typically been a man-heavy and blitz-heavy scheme, and while the very high blitz rate is still there (first in the league), Flores has shifted to more zone this year, doing so at a top-10 rate in the league. More zone coverages for linebacker tackle efficiency are important, and this has certainly helped Hicks this season. Hicks and the Vikings also draw a favorable matchup against the New Orleans Saints, who are giving up the second-most tackles to the linebacker position (19.6) this season.

Kenneth Murray has had a quietly productive season as the Los Angeles Chargers top linebacker, averaging 7.5 tackles per game on the season and 8.5 over his last four games. He’s also added two sacks and an interception this year to help boost those fantasy point totals for those who have been trusting him in lineups. Murray hasn’t even played a full workload over the past two games due to the Chargers pulling starters in blowouts late in the fourth quarter. He should see a full workload this week against the Detroit Lions, who are giving up the third-most tackles to the linebacker position (19.1) this season.

Elandon Roberts (LB40) and Kwon Alexander (LB41) should see a larger workload for the rest of the season with Cole Holcomb out for the year. The Pittsburgh Steelers have typically been a little frustrating with the usage of their linebackers, which is one of the reasons to not have too high expectations for them in the first week without Holcomb. It’s entirely possible that Pittsburgh does not trust either player in a full-time role, which it hasn’t this season, and that could hurt production. Roberts has been one of the most efficient linebackers in the league as a tackler (19.1%), which shouldn’t be expected to necessarily continue on a larger snap share, while also facing off against the Green Bay Packers, who are only giving up 15.0 tackles per game to opposing linebackers this season (26th).

EDGE DEFENDER

Chase Young (ED14) will play his first game for the San Francisco 49ers this week and one of the primary things to keep an eye on will be his overall playing time. In Washington this season, Young was averaging a career-high 84% of the team's defensive snaps, which is unlikely to continue in San Francisco, where not even Nick Bosa has averaged 80% or higher in a season during his time there. Expect to still see Young heavily involved and continue to be a major factor for IDP in an above-average matchup for pass rushers.

Boye Mafe (ED24) has delivered a sack in six-straight games heading into this week’s matchup against the NFL’s most-sacked quarterback, Sam Howell. The Washington Commanders quarterback has taken 44 sacks on the year, which should create a really nice opportunity for Mafe to increase that sack-streak to seven games. Mafe has earned a solid 77.7 pass-rush grade on the year which ranks 22nd among edge defenders.

INTERIOR DEFENDER

Justin Madubuike (DI7) is another player who has been in on a sack in six-straight games, now with 7.5 on the year. Madubuike draws a decent matchup against Deshaun Watson, who owns a 20.3% pressure-to-sack conversion rate on the year (14th highest). One of the big boosters for Madubuike this week will be that the Cleveland Browns are giving up by far the most tackles per game to opposing defensive linemen (24.0) on the year. Madubuike leads the team in snaps played along the defensive line, and this is a great spot for him to continue producing with a strong production floor against Cleveland.

SAFETY

Grant Delpit (S2) has been on a tear over these last three games with 26 total tackles and a half-sack on the back of ideal IDP alignment and great tackle efficiency. Delpit has played 48% of his defensive snaps in the box this year and, as a result, ranks fifth among safeties in tackle efficiency (12.2%). Delpit will have a chance to continue piling up the stats this week against the Baltimore Ravens, who have allowed the second-most tackles to the safety position (16.1) this season.

Xavier McKinney (S13) draws a favorable matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, who are allowing 14.6 tackles per game to the safety position (fifth-most) this season. McKinney has spent 32% of his defensive snaps lined up in the box this season but over the past two games, that number has jumped to 43%, which helped lead to his first double-digit tackle game this past week. Should this usage continue for McKinney, he may find himself ranked higher like this on a more consistent basis going forward.

CORNERBACK

Kyler Gordon (CB2) has steadily increased his defensive snap share in each of the past four weeks since returning from injured reserve, most recently playing 94% of the team’s defensive snaps. Gordon should remain in a full-time role now, playing mostly out of the slot against the Carolina Panthers who play the second-highest rate of 11 personnel on the year (89.0%) and allow him to be heavily involved in the play. The Panthers are also giving up the most tackles per game to the cornerback position (16.1), making this Thursday night game all the better for Gordon’s IDP potential in Week 10.

Tavierre Thomas (CB27) is an intriguing deep league streamer this week going against the Cincinnati Bengals, who are giving up the fifth-most tackles per game to the cornerback position (14.1). Thomas hasn’t played a true full-time role this season after missing a chunk of games on injured reserve and not exceeding 88% of defensive snaps in any one game which is why he remains outside of the top-24 at his position this week. However, as the team’s primary nickel corner, he could see more utilization this week against the Bengals who run the fourth-highest rate of 11 personnel in the league (77.9%). Thomas also leads all defensive backs (min. 25% of snaps played) in tackle efficiency (16.4%), so there is enough reason to like him this week in a favorable matchup.

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. 
• WW: Potential waiver-wire target (see Weekly IDP Fantasy Report).