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Fantasy Football: Week 16 IDP rankings and tiers

Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun (23) reacts to his third down stop as teammate linebacker Devin Lloyd (33) looks on during the second quarter of a regular season NFL football matchup Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union] Jki 121822 Cowboys Jags Cp 14

• Injury pivots for questionable IDPs: Injuries at the linebacker position have created more pathways to other viable options.

• Issues with Derwin James’ status in the final game of the week: Where to pivot and how to treat the IDP star who has missed two in a row and is playing on Monday night.

• Will Aaron Donald and/or Quinnen Williams return?: If they don’t, where should IDP managers look for help at the defensive tackle position?

Estimated Reading Time: 14 mins

Another week of the fantasy football playoffs is here, which means another week of crucial, stressful lineup decisions to help get those fantasy teams a championship.

At this point in the season, IDP managers are acutely aware of who these players are and what they’re capable of, so going forward, most of the focus will be on pivot points in case starters can’t go this week and where their replacements fit into the rankings if that is the case. There are many players listed as questionable this week, but pivot points will focus on players who appear to have a more significant risk of missing this week.

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

JUMP TO A POSITION:

LB | ED | DI | S | CB

LINEBACKER

RANK TIER NAME TEAM OPP NOTES
1 1A Foyesade Oluokun JAX @ NYJ TNF
2 1A Zaire Franklin IND LAC MNF
3 1A Rashaan Evans ATL @ BLT
4 1A Jordyn Brooks SEA @ KC Q
5 1B Micah Parsons DAL PHI Q
6 1B Devin White TB @ ARZ SUN
7 1B Nick Bolton KC SEA
8 1B Roquan Smith BLT ATL
9 1C T.J. Edwards PHI @ DAL
10 1C Josey Jewell DEN @ LAR SUN
11 1C C.J. Mosley NYJ JAX TNF
12 1C Cody Barton SEA @ KC
13 2A Dre Greenlaw SF WAS
14 2A Matt Milano BUF @ CHI Q
15 2A Eric Kendricks MIN NYG Q
16 2A De’Vondre Campbell GB @ MIA SUN
17 2B Alex Singleton DEN @ LAR SUN
18 2B Fred Warner SF WAS
19 2B Frankie Luvu CAR DET
20 2B Bobby Wagner LAR DEN SUN
21 2C Tremaine Edmunds BUF @ CHI
22 2C Drue Tranquill LAC @ IND MNF
23 2C Logan Wilson CIN @ NE
24 2C Christian Kirksey HST @ TEN
25 3A Christian Harris HST @ TEN
26 3A Quay Walker GB @ MIA SUN
27 3A Shaq Thompson CAR DET
28 3A Denzel Perryman LV @ PIT
29 3B Lavonte David TB @ ARZ SUN
30 3B Devin Lloyd JAX @ NYJ TNF
31 3B Pete Werner NO @ CLV Q/WW
32 3B Bobby Okereke IND LAC MNF
33 3C Demario Davis NO @ CLV
34 3C Zaven Collins ARZ TB SUN
35 3C Nicholas Morrow CHI BUF
36 3C Isaiah Simmons ARZ TB SUN
37 4A Patrick Queen BLT ATL
38 4A Deion Jones CLV NO
39 4A Jamin Davis WAS @ SF
40 4A Troy Andersen ATL @ BLT WW
41 4B Monty Rice TEN HST
42 4B Joe Thomas CHI BUF WW
43 4B Robert Spillane PIT LV WW
44 4B Ernest Jones LAR DEN SUN
45 4C Jordan Hicks MIN NYG
46 4C Quincy Williams NYJ JAX TNF
47 4C Germaine Pratt CIN @ NE
48 4C Willie Gay Jr. KC SEA
49 5A Jerome Baker MIA GB Q/SUN
50 5A Alex Anzalone DET @ CAR
51 5A Anthony Barr DAL PHI WW
52 5A Jaylon Smith NYG @ MIN
53 5B Kyzir White PHI @ DAL
54 5B Ja’Whaun Bentley NE CIN
55 5B Devin Bush PIT LV
56 5B Damone Clark DAL PHI WW
57 5C Kenneth Murray LAC @ IND MNF
58 5C Jon Bostic WAS @ SF
59 5C Kaden Elliss NO @ CLV
60 5C Jahlani Tavai NE CIN

Jordyn Brooks (LB4) is at risk of missing this week as he deals with a neck injury. This would create an every-down role for Cody Barton (LB12), who was getting near that point in recent weeks. If Brooks misses time, then all ambiguity regarding Barton’s snap share should be erased. Barton would move up a few spots, likely just ahead of T.J. Edwards (LB9), playing in a zone-heavy defense that allows for plenty of linebacker tackle opportunities. Brooks missing time would also move Tanner Muse into a profitable IDP role and into the 4B range, just behind Monty Rice (LB41).

Joe Thomas (LB42) is expected to step into a near-every-down role with Jack Sanborn landing on injured reserve. Sanborn was ranked significantly higher when healthy, but he was tackling at an overly efficient rate while there are still some questions about how effective Thomas can be in this defense and whether he’ll share snaps with Matthew Adams. Thomas is worth an add but should be considered a riskier start in the fantasy playoffs and not a one-for-one replacement for Sanborn.

Robert Spillane (LB43) could be another waiver option, and a desperation start this week for anyone in need, but only if Myles Jack misses another game. Jack is considered questionable as of now, but with Jack out of the lineup, the linebacker rotation becomes a lot less complicated and allows for an every-down role for Spillane, compared to his typical 30%-40% share.


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