Miami Dolphins rookie linebacker Jacob Rodriguez takes over No. 1 in my Week 5 individual defensive player (IDP) fantasy football rankings after an 18-tackle game at Minnesota pushed him to 46 tackles through four games.
Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. made the biggest jump in the top 10, climbing from 18th to 10th overall, and he’s my new top defensive lineman. Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton stays No. 1 at defensive back.
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You can find my overall IDP and position-by-position rankings tables at the bottom of the article.
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Will Anderson Jr., Dallas Turner lead Week 5 DL rankings
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner (15) sacks Chicago Bears quarterback Tyson Bagent (17) to end the game in the second half at Soldier Field. | Matt Marton-Imagn Images
Anderson moves from DL2 to DL1 for Houston at Tennessee. He was credited with only a half-sack in a 34-30 loss to Dallas, but he blocked a 62-yard field goal, made a tackle for loss and hit Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott three times. It was his fourth straight game with at least a half-sack.
The Titans have allowed the second-fewest fantasy points per game (FP/G) to defensive linemen (14.5) and just five sacks in four games. Still, the Alabama product scores through blocked kicks, run stops and pressure, so I’m not moving him off the top spot for one matchup.
Minnesota Vikings edge rusher Dallas Turner climbs from DL4 to DL2 for Minnesota at New Orleans. He sacked Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis twice in a 15-10 win, and one of those was a strip-sack that linebacker Blake Cashman recovered. The South Florida native has 5.5 sacks, a half-sack behind Buffalo Bills edge rusher Greg Rousseau for the league lead.
New Orleans fell to 1-3 after a 45-24 loss to Atlanta on Monday night. The Saints have allowed the 11th-most FP/G to defensive linemen (24.4), so Turner should get plenty of chances at quarterback Tyler Shough.
Aidan Hutchinson, Arvell Reese, T.J. Watt round out top-five DL
Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson holds at DL3 for Detroit at Arizona. He didn’t get a sack at Carolina, but he played 93% of the snaps and hit Panthers quarterback Bryce Young twice. New York Giants rookie Arvell Reese slides to DL4 for New York at Washington after nine tackles, three passes defensed and an interception against Arizona.
Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt rises from DL9 to DL5 for Indianapolis at Pittsburgh. He posted four solo tackles, two tackles for loss and a strip-sack he recovered himself in a 27-24 loss at Cleveland, and he now has 4.5 sacks.
“To sit here and not be 3-1 isn’t acceptable,” Watt said.
The Colts have allowed the ninth-most FP/G to DL (25.4).
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby moves to DL6 for Las Vegas at New England. He has two sacks through four games, but the Patriots have allowed the most FP/G to DL (32.1).
“I think we’re getting a lot better [but] today wasn’t our best,” Crosby said after the loss to Kansas City.
Los Angeles Rams edge rusher Byron Young made the biggest climb on the board, rising from DL27 to DL9 for Buffalo at Los Angeles. He finished with six tackles and 2.5 sacks in a 24-20 win at Philadelphia, including two sacks of Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts on the final drive. Buffalo has allowed the sixth-fewest FP/G to DL (19.1), which keeps the Tennessee product outside my top eight.
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Jacob Rodriguez, Fred Warner lead Week 5 LB rankings
Miami Dolphins linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (10) leaves the field at the end of a preseason game against the New York Giants | Rich Storry-Imagn Images
Rodriguez jumps from LB3 to LB1 for Cincinnati at Miami. He led the 0-4 Dolphins with 18 tackles in the loss, and the Texas Tech product also wears the green-dot helmet as the defensive play caller.
“I don’t necessarily believe in moral victories,” Rodriguez said. “I think the physicality and the ‘want to’ is all there. That’s all you can ask for. We’ve just got to clean up the football.”
The Bengals have allowed the 12th-most FP/G to LB (20.4). Teammate Jordyn Brooks slides from LB1 to LB8 after 13 tackles.
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner holds at LB2 for San Francisco at Seattle. He made seven tackles and defended two passes in a 24-14 win over Denver, and he played all 67 defensive snaps for the 4-0 49ers. Seattle has allowed the fifth-most FP/G to LB (21.4).
Roquan Smith, Ernest Jones IV, Jack Campbell land in top-five
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith moves up to LB3 for Baltimore at Atlanta. He’s made at least six tackles in all four games, and he has 34 tackles, a sack, an interception and a forced fumble. The Falcons ran for 205 yards on Monday night, and they’ve allowed the third-most FP/G to LB (21.9).
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV climbs from LB7 to LB4. He had 12 tackles, a sack and an interception in a 30-23 win over the Chargers, the first game of his career with both a pick and a full sack. The South Carolina product has 41 tackles, one more than Warner.
Lions linebacker Jack Campbell rises from LB9 to LB5 after 14 tackles at Carolina, his first double-digit game of the season. He played all 75 snaps, and Arizona has allowed the second-most FP/G to LB (22.5).
Denver Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton climbs from LB12 to LB7 for Denver at Los Angeles. He leads the NFL with 47 tackles, and the Chargers have allowed the sixth-most FP/G to LB (21.4).
Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie Josiah Trotter jumps from LB39 to LB15 for Tampa Bay at Dallas. He made nine tackles in a 17-14 loss to Green Bay, and his 26 tackles through three career games are the most by a Buccaneer since at least 2000.
Green Bay lost linebacker Edgerrin Cooper to a torn Achilles in that game, so Isaiah McDuffie enters at LB26 for Chicago at Green Bay.
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Kyle Hamilton, Quentin Lake lead Week 5 DB rankings
Los Angeles Rams safety Quentin Lake (37) reacts in the second half at Melbourne Cricket Ground. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Hamilton stays DB1 while headed to Atlanta. He posted six tackles, a tackle for loss, a forced fumble and a pass breakup in a 24-18 win over Tennessee. Rams safety Quentin Lake and Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker hold at DB2 and DB3.
Chicago Bears rookie Dillon Thieneman climbs from DB6 to DB4 for Chicago at Green Bay. He’s led the Bears in tackles in every game and has 30 tackles without missing a defensive snap. He still made seven tackles in a 23-12 win over the Jets even though Chicago’s 232-yard rushing day kept the defense off the field. Green Bay has allowed the 12th-most FP/G to DB (32.9).
“Yeah, it felt a little weird just kind of chilling on the sideline for a lot of it,” Thieneman said.
Packers safety Evan Williams jumps from DB13 to DB5. He had seven tackles, his first career sack, an interception, two pass breakups and two quarterback hits in the win at Tampa Bay. With Cooper out, defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon sent the Oregon product after the quarterback late in the game, and the Bears have allowed the fifth-most FP/G to DB (34.6).
Nick Emmanwori, Brandon Jones and the rest of the top ten
Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori rises from DB21 to DB6 after nine tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and two quarterback hits against the Chargers. San Francisco has allowed the fifth-fewest FP/G to DB (24.9), but Seattle keeps using him near the line of scrimmage.
Broncos safety Brandon Jones moves from DB23 to DB7 for Denver at Los Angeles. He played every defensive snap at San Francisco, and the Chargers have allowed the third-most FP/G to DB (37.9).
Lions safety Christian Izien leaps from DB53 to DB10. He played 73 of 75 snaps at Carolina with Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph out, and Arizona has allowed the 11th-most FP/G to DB (33.0).
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Overall IDP Rankings
RankPlayerPosTeamOpponent1Jacob RodriguezLBMIAvs. CIN2Fred WarnerLBSFat SEA3Roquan SmithLBBALat ATL4Ernest Jones IVLBSEAvs. SF5Jack CampbellLBDETat ARI6Blake CashmanLBMINat NO7Alex SingletonLBDENat LAC8Jordyn BrooksLBMIAvs. CIN9Nakobe DeanLBLVat NE10Will Anderson Jr.DEHOUat TEN11Foyesade OluokunLBJACvs. PHI12Anthony Hill Jr.LBTENvs. HOU13Arvell ReeseLBNYGat WAS14Dallas TurnerDEMINat NO15Jihaad CampbellLBPHIat JAC16Zack BaunLBPHIat JAC17Josiah TrotterLBTBat DAL18Aidan HutchinsonDEDETat ARI19Tremaine EdmundsLBNYGat WAS20Carson SchwesingerLBCLEat NYJ21Kyle HamiltonSBALat ATL22Quentin LakeSLARvs. BUF23Demario DavisLBNYJvs. CLE24Budda BakerSARIvs. DET25Kaden EllissLBNOvs. MIN26Quay WalkerLBLVat NE27Dillon ThienemanSCHIat GB28Evan WilliamsSGBvs. CHI29Akeem Davis-GaitherLBINDat PIT30Robert SpillaneLBNEvs. LV31Nick EmmanworiSSEAvs. SF32Brandon JonesSDENat LAC33Azeez Al-ShaairLBHOUat TEN34Terrel BernardLBBUFat LAR35Barrett CarterLBCINat MIA36Isaiah McDuffieLBGBvs. CHI37Amani HookerSTENvs. HOU38Jamien SherwoodLBNYJvs. CLE39Drake ThomasLBSEAvs. SF40Nate LandmanLBLARvs. BUF41Zaire FranklinLBGBvs. CHI42Derwin James Jr.SLACvs. DEN43Payton WilsonLBPITvs. IND44Eric WilsonLBMINat NO45Christian IzienSDETat ARI46Jack GibbensLBARIvs. DET47Daiyan HenleyLBLACvs. DEN48Caleb DownsSDALvs. TB49Xavier WattsSATLvs. BAL50Demetrius Knight Jr.LBCINat MIA51Mack Wilson Sr.LBARIvs. DET52Jeremy ChinnSLVat NE53Talanoa HufangaSDENat LAC54Patrick QueenLBPITvs. IND55Jordan BattleSCINat MIA56Maxx CrosbyDELVat NE57Dre GreenlawLBSFat SEA58Devin Bush Jr.LBCHIat GB59Kevin Winston Jr.STENvs. HOU60T.J. WattLBPITvs. IND61Julian LoveSSEAvs. SF62Christian EllissLBNEvs. LV63Minkah FitzpatrickSNYJvs. CLE64Andrew Van GinkelLBMINat NO65Tykee SmithSTBat DAL66Jalen PitreSHOUat TEN67Greg RousseauDEBUFat LAR68Cooper DeJeanCBPHIat JAC69Kamari LassiterCBHOUat TEN70Divine DeabloLBATLvs. BAL71Chuck ClarkSDETat ARI72Ventrell MillerLBJACvs. PHI73Byron YoungDELARvs. BUF74T.J. EdwardsLBCHIat GB75Dorian WilliamsLBBUFat LAR76Sonny StylesLBWASvs. NYG77Jake HansenLBHOUat TEN78Jeffery SimmonsDTTENvs. HOU79Dee WintersLBDALvs. TB80Devon WitherspoonCBSEAvs. SF81Frankie LuvuLBWASvs. NYG82Quincy WilliamsLBCLEat NYJ83Tuli TuipulotuDELACvs. DEN84Jaishawn BarhamLBDALvs. TB85Pete WernerLBNOvs. MIN86Alex AnzaloneLBTBat DAL87DeForest BucknerDTINDat PIT88Derrick BarnesLBDETat ARI89Danielle HunterDEHOUat TEN90Alex HighsmithLBPITvs. IND91David BaileyDENYJvs. CLE92Leonard WilliamsDTSEAvs. SF93Justin StrnadLBDENat LAC94Abdul CarterDENYGat WAS95Kam CurlSLARvs. BUF96Cole BishopSBUFat LAR97Josh Hines-AllenDEJACvs. PHI98Khalil MackLBLACvs. DEN99Trenton SimpsonLBBALat ATL100Cody BartonLBTENvs. HOU
Defensive Line Rankings
RankPlayerTeamOpponent1Will Anderson Jr.HOUat TEN2Dallas TurnerMINat NO3Aidan HutchinsonDETat ARI4Arvell ReeseNYGat WAS5T.J. WattPITvs. IND6Maxx CrosbyLVat NE7Andrew Van GinkelMINat NO8Greg RousseauBUFat LAR9Byron YoungLARvs. BUF10Jeffery SimmonsTENvs. HOU11Tuli TuipulotuLACvs. DEN12DeForest BucknerINDat PIT13Danielle HunterHOUat TEN14David BaileyNYJvs. CLE15Leonard WilliamsSEAvs. SF16Abdul CarterNYGat WAS17Josh Hines-AllenJACvs. PHI18Alex HighsmithPITvs. IND19Chase YoungNOvs. MIN20Lukas Van NessGBvs. CHI21Laiatu LatuINDat PIT22Jaishawn BarhamDALvs. TB23Mason GrahamCLEat NYJ24Nik BonittoDENat LAC25Montez SweatCHIat GB26Jared VerseCLEat NYJ27Zach AllenDENat LAC28Khalil MackLACvs. DEN29Travon WalkerJACvs. PHI30Boye MafeCINat MIA31Nick HerbigPITvs. IND32Quinnen WilliamsDALvs. TB33Dexter Lawrence IICINat MIA34Cameron HeywardPITvs. IND35Odafe OwehWASvs. NYG36Donovan EzeiruakuDALvs. TB37Nolan Smith Jr.PHIat JAC38Yaya DiabyTBat DAL39Rashan GaryDALvs. TB40Tavius RobinsonBALat ATL41Bradley ChubbBUFat LAR42Kayvon ThibodeauxNYGat WAS43Chop RobinsonMIAvs. CIN44Kwity PayeLVat NE45Zach SielerMIAvs. CIN46Nnamdi MadubuikeBALat ATL47Jalyx HuntPHIat JAC48Jonathan GreenardPHIat JAC49Jermaine Johnson IITENvs. HOU50Jalen CarterPHIat JAC51Will McDonald IVNYJvs. CLE52Byron Murphy IISEAvs. SF53Josh SweatARIvs. DET54K’Lavon ChaissonWASvs. NYG55Deone WalkerBUFat LAR56Dre’Mont JonesNEvs. LV57Jalen RedmondMINat NO58Kobie TurnerLARvs. BUF59Alim McNeillDETat ARI60Malcolm KoonceLVat NE61Jonah EllissDENat LAC62DeMarcus LawrenceSEAvs. SF63Osa OdighizuwaSFat SEA64Jordan DavisPHIat JAC65Cameron ThomasATLvs. BAL66Za’Darius SmithATLvs. BAL67Jonathan AllenCINat MIA68Calijah KanceyTBat DAL69Myles MurphyCINat MIA70Vita VeaTBat DAL71Derick HallSEAvs. SF72Josaiah StewartLARvs. BUF73DJ WonnumDETat ARI74Akheem MesidorLACvs. DEN75Dorance Armstrong Jr.WASvs. NYG76Austin BookerCHIat GB77Ed OliverBUFat LAR78Gabe JacasNEvs. LV79Dayo OdeyingboCHIat GB
Linebacker Rankings
RankPlayerTeamOpponent1Jacob RodriguezMIAvs. CIN2Fred WarnerSFat SEA3Roquan SmithBALat ATL4Ernest Jones IVSEAvs. SF5Jack CampbellDETat ARI6Blake CashmanMINat NO7Alex SingletonDENat LAC8Jordyn BrooksMIAvs. CIN9Nakobe DeanLVat NE10Foyesade OluokunJACvs. PHI11Anthony Hill Jr.TENvs. HOU12Arvell ReeseNYGat WAS13Jihaad CampbellPHIat JAC14Zack BaunPHIat JAC15Josiah TrotterTBat DAL16Tremaine EdmundsNYGat WAS17Carson SchwesingerCLEat NYJ18Demario DavisNYJvs. CLE19Kaden EllissNOvs. MIN20Quay WalkerLVat NE21Akeem Davis-GaitherINDat PIT22Robert SpillaneNEvs. LV23Azeez Al-ShaairHOUat TEN24Terrel BernardBUFat LAR25Barrett CarterCINat MIA26Isaiah McDuffieGBvs. CHI27Jamien SherwoodNYJvs. CLE28Drake ThomasSEAvs. SF29Nate LandmanLARvs. BUF30Zaire FranklinGBvs. CHI31Payton WilsonPITvs. IND32Eric WilsonMINat NO33Jack GibbensARIvs. DET34Daiyan HenleyLACvs. DEN35Demetrius Knight Jr.CINat MIA36Mack Wilson Sr.ARIvs. DET37Patrick QueenPITvs. IND38Dre GreenlawSFat SEA39Devin Bush Jr.CHIat GB40T.J. WattPITvs. IND41Christian EllissNEvs. LV42Andrew Van GinkelMINat NO43Divine DeabloATLvs. BAL44Ventrell MillerJACvs. PHI45T.J. EdwardsCHIat GB46Dorian WilliamsBUFat LAR47Sonny StylesWASvs. NYG48Jake HansenHOUat TEN49Dee WintersDALvs. TB50Frankie LuvuWASvs. NYG51Quincy WilliamsCLEat NYJ52Jaishawn BarhamDALvs. TB53Pete WernerNOvs. MIN54Alex AnzaloneTBat DAL55Derrick BarnesDETat ARI56Alex HighsmithPITvs. IND57Justin StrnadDENat LAC58Khalil MackLACvs. DEN59Trenton SimpsonBALat ATL60Cody BartonTENvs. HOU61Del’Shawn PhillipsLACvs. DEN62Omar SpeightsLARvs. BUF63Nick HerbigPITvs. IND64DeMarvion OvershownDALvs. TB65Cedric GrayTENvs. HOU66Jaylon CarliesINDat PIT67Kain MedranoWASvs. NYG68Bradley ChubbBUFat LAR69Teddye BuchananBALat ATL70Harold Perkins Jr.ATLvs. BAL71Rashan GaryDALvs. TB72Jalyx HuntPHIat JAC73Za’Darius SmithATLvs. BAL74Willie Gay Jr.MIAvs. CIN75Malcolm RodriguezDETat ARI76Kendal DanielsATLvs. BAL77Gabe JacasNEvs. LV78Jonah EllissDENat LAC79Bryce BoettcherINDat PIT80Oren BurksCINat MIA
Defensive Back Rankings
RankPlayerTeamOpponent1Kyle HamiltonBALat ATL2Quentin LakeLARvs. BUF3Budda BakerARIvs. DET4Dillon ThienemanCHIat GB5Evan WilliamsGBvs. CHI6Nick EmmanworiSEAvs. SF7Brandon JonesDENat LAC8Amani HookerTENvs. HOU9Derwin James Jr.LACvs. DEN10Christian IzienDETat ARI11Caleb DownsDALvs. TB12Xavier WattsATLvs. BAL13Jeremy ChinnLVat NE14Talanoa HufangaDENat LAC15Jordan BattleCINat MIA16Kevin Winston Jr.TENvs. HOU17Julian LoveSEAvs. SF18Minkah FitzpatrickNYJvs. CLE19Tykee SmithTBat DAL20Jalen PitreHOUat TEN21Cooper DeJeanPHIat JAC22Kamari LassiterHOUat TEN23Chuck ClarkDETat ARI24Devon WitherspoonSEAvs. SF25Kam CurlLARvs. BUF26Cole BishopBUFat LAR27Joshua MetellusMINat NO28Reed BlankenshipHOUat TEN29Xavier McKinneyGBvs. CHI30Alontae TaylorTENvs. HOU31Jaquan BriskerPITvs. IND32Andrew WingardARIvs. DET33Dax HillCINat MIA34C.J. Gardner-JohnsonBUFat LAR35Grant DelpitCLEat NYJ36Jessie Bates IIIATLvs. BAL37Dante Trader Jr.MIAvs. CIN38Chris JohnsonMIAvs. CIN39Hezekiah MassesLVat NE40Michael TaaffeMIAvs. CIN41Jevon HollandNYGat WAS42Jalen RamseyPITvs. IND43Keisean NixonGBvs. CHI44Dane BeltonNYJvs. CLE45Ji’Ayir BrownSFat SEA46Amik RobertsonWASvs. NYG47Cam BynumINDat PIT48Kevin Byard IIINEvs. LV49Jonas SankerNOvs. MIN50Byron Murphy Jr.MINat NO51Marlon HumphreyBALat ATL52Antonio JohnsonJACvs. PHI53Trent McDuffieLARvs. BUF54D.J. Reed Jr.DETat ARI55Ronnie Hickman Jr.CLEat NYJ56Malik MustaphaSFat SEA57Kamren KinchensLARvs. BUF58Malik Muhammad IICHIat GB59Jeremy ReavesWASvs. NYG60Malaki StarksBALat ATL61Justin WalleyINDat PIT62Craig WoodsonNEvs. LV63C.J. HendersonATLvs. BAL64Jacob ParrishTBat DAL65Justin ReidNOvs. MIN66Jourdan LewisJACvs. PHI67Riley MossDENat LAC68Zyon McCollumTBat DAL69Dru PhillipsNYGat WAS70Marcus HarrisTENvs. HOU71AJ HaulcyINDat PIT72DaRon BlandDALvs. TB73Tyler NubinNYGat WAS74Treydan StukesLVat NE75Quan MartinWASvs. NYG76Julian BlackmonNOvs. MIN77Andrew MukubaPHIat JAC78Kendal DanielsATLvs. BAL79Keionte ScottTBat DAL80Billy Bowman Jr.ATLvs. BAL
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