Fantasy Football: Week 12 IDP Rankings & Tiers

• The rise of Nate Landman: The Atlanta Falcons linebacker has stepped up as a starter this season and is thriving, both as an IDP and in terms of his PFF grades.

• Trey Hendrickson’s career year continues: The Bengals’ star pass-rusher is among the best in the league at his position and draws a great matchup this week to continue his dominance in 2023.

• 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 testing 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

LINEBACKER

Nate Landman (LB14) played a true full-time role in back-to-back weeks heading into the team’s Week 11 bye. His 80.1 defensive grade on the season ranks 17th among linebackers. Landman has also delivered a very strong 15.0% tackle efficiency throughout the season, which is a top-15 mark at his position. He draws a great matchup this week against the New Orleans Saints, who have yielded the second-most tackles per game (19.2) to the linebacker position this season. Kaden Elliss (LB29) hasn’t been nearly as efficient as Landman and is delivering a tackle efficiency that is well below average for the year (10.9%), which pushes him outside the top 24 despite a favorable matchup.

Ivan Pace Jr. (LB16) played his first 100% snap game in the NFL this past week and delivered a productive showing that included an elite 18.2% tackle efficiency. Pace has the added benefit of playing in the sixth-most zone-heavy defense in the NFL to pair with his every-down role, which should allow for a great boost to his IDP production. Pace draws a strong matchup this week against the Bears, who yielded 31 tackles to the linebacker position in Week 11 and are now averaging 20.7 per game over their past three outings, which is among the highest marks in the league. Pace should be in for another strong game this week, much to the delight of IDP managers who were able to scoop him up off the waiver wire last week.

Tremaine Edmunds (LB22) also draws a great matchup this week against the Minnesota Vikings, along with T.J. Edwards (LB2). For Edmunds, there is a slight concern about him being eased back into action coming off an injury last week. Edmunds played just 66% of the team’s defensive snaps in Week 11 after missing two straight games, which has happened to many players this season. Edmunds' snaps should increase this week, but it is something IDP managers should be aware of, as it also affects Jack Sanborn (LB60), who was able to deliver a productive game in Week 11 as Edmunds ramped up.

EDGE DEFENDER

Trey Hendrickson (ED8) is in the midst of a career year in terms of PFF pass-rush grade, currently earning a 90.6 mark this season to rank fourth at his position. He has 9.5 sacks through 10 games. Hendrickson draws a great matchup against Pittsburgh Steelers left tackle Dan Moore, who owns a 30.3 pass-blocking grade — the second-lowest mark at his position among 85 qualifying offensive tackles. Hendrickson should be able to add to his sack total this week, although Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett has done a decent job at avoiding sacks this year, with a 16.9% pressure-to-sack conversion rate (14th).

DeMarcus Lawrence (ED26) has continued to play at a high level in Year 10 of his NFL career. His 82.8 pass-rush grade ranks 10th at his position, and his 91.1 run-defense grade places second. Lawrence is also averaging a career-low 52% defensive snap rate this season, which keeps him outside the top 24 at his position in the rankings, but he does draw a great matchup this week, just as he did last week when he came up with a sack. Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell has now taken 51 sacks on the year — the most in the league, by far — so Lawrence should be able to get home for at least one on Thanksgiving Day.

INTERIOR DEFENDER

Zach Allen (DT11) gets one of the best tackling matchups for defensive linemen this week, going up against the Cleveland Browns, who have yielded 23.8 tackles per game to the position on the year. That number has been even higher in the past three games, getting up to 29.7 per game since Week 9. Allen is playing more than any other Broncos defensive lineman, with 550 defensive snaps (82%) this season, and ranks fifth on the team in tackles (41).

SAFETY

Jamal Adams (S12) missed Week 11 with a knee injury but is expected to return to the lineup this week against the San Francisco 49ers, who are yielding the second-most tackles per game to the safety position (16.0). Adams should step back into his starting role, which would push Julian Love down the depth chart once again. Adams is seeing great usage in the box, with 40% of his defensive snaps coming from that alignment, which should help him deliver a productive game this week — and potentially his best of the year so far. He has been relatively quiet since getting back in the lineup, despite the strong usage.

Jalen Pitre (S29) has been relegated to more of a matchup-dependant IDP option this season after delivering remarkable tackle efficiency numbers as a rookie safety (13.0%), which helped him land 147 total tackles — the 11th most among all players. This season, under a new coaching staff and surrounded by different personnel on the field, Pitre has been hit hard by inevitable regression, managing just a 7.8% tackle efficiency. That is not only a below-average figure for his position, but it also ranks tied for 71st among defensive backs who have played at least 50% of defensive snaps this season. Pitre draws a Week 12 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have yielded just 11.4 tackles per game to the safety position, which ranks 28th this season. That keeps him from being a must-start option.

CORNERBACK

Benjamin St-Juste (CB6) has been one of the most consistent cornerback producers for IDP this season and draws a favorable matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, who have yielded the fifth-most tackles per game to the cornerback position (14.4). St-Juste has delivered 52 total tackles on the year, which is the seventh most for his position, and has also broken up 15 passes, which is the second most. He has a sack to boot and should be considered a locked-in CB1 this week in a strong matchup.

Devon Witherspoon (CB14) has been an excellent IDP all season, so it’s going to be difficult to keep him out of lineups, considering he is tied for third among cornerbacks with 55 tackles. His 2023 resume includes three sacks and a pick-six, as well. However, the 49ers have been remarkably stingy to opposing cornerbacks this year, allowing just 9.0 tackles per game to the position — the lowest mark in the league. Most IDP managers will start Witherspoon, but temper expectations 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.
• FRI: Player is playing on Friday this week. 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).