Fantasy Football IDP Rankings for Week 17 feat. Lavonte David, Jordyn Brooks, Derwin James

Managers still alive in their playoffs entering Week 17 of the 2024 fantasy football season will need to make sure they optimize their lineups. This means that all positions should be filled with the most favorable options, including the IDP spots. Here are some of the best defenders to target based on this week's rankings.

Fantasy Football Week 17 IDP rankings

Week 17 IDP rankings

#1 - Zack Baun

Zack baun has been one of the most impressive breakout players during the 2024 fantasy football season. He had never finished inside of the top 100 IDP before but currently ranks as the LB1.

#2 - Zaire Franklin

Zaire Franklin got off to a slow start but has come on strong lately. This includes finishing as the weekly LB5 or better in three of his past four games.

#3 - Jordyn Brooks

Jordyn Brooks has been incredibly consistent for the Miami Dolphins in recent weeks. He has finished as the LB24 or better in each of his past seven games, improving his overall ranking to LB8.

#4 - Frankie Luvu

Frankie Luvu has demonstrated his weekly upside by finishing among the top 10 fantasy football linebackers five times. This includes three times in his past five games, so he is trending in the right direction.

#5 - Nakobe Dean

Nakobe Dean currently ranks as the LB3 this season, creating a dominant linebacker duo with Zack Baun for the Philadelphia Eagles. He has also finished as the LB20 or better in nine of his past 11 games.

#6 - Lavonte David

Lavonte David has been streaky for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this year, but his current form in fantasy football has been excellent. He has finished as the weekly LB12 or better in each of his past three games.

#7 - Kaden Elliss

Kaden Elliss has demonstrated elite consistency and has elevated his game even further in recent weeks. He has finished as the weekly LB13 or better in five of his past seven games, including in each of the past three weeks.

#8 - Derwin James

Derwin James has been a bit inconsistent for the Los Angeles Chargers, but his dynamic contributions still make him an elite option in fantasy football. He has filled the stat sheet with 88 total tackles, four sacks, six defended passes and an interception.

#9 - Budda Baker

Budda Baker currently ranks as the overall DB1 in fantasy football, mostly due to his tackling numbers being comparable to any linebacker. He has already totaled 148 tackles this season, despite playing as a safety.

#10 - Demario Davis

Demario Davis is having a down year in fantasy football, but he is currently on his best stretch of the season. He finished among the top 10 weekly linebackers in four of his past five games.

#11 - Nick Cross

Nick Cross has been one of the biggest breakout stars of the 2024 fantasy football season. He currently ranks as the overall DB2 after a previous career-best of DB96 prior to this year.

#12 - TJ Edwards

TJ Edwaads has come on strong in fantasy football during the second half of the 2024 season. Three of of his four weekly finishes as the LB8 or better have all come in his past seven games.

#13 - Kyle Hamilton

Kyle Hamilton is one of the most dynamic defenders in the NFL, which has helped him on his way to eight finishes as the weekly DB15 or better. His contributions include exceeding 100 total tackles this year with multiple sacks and passes defended.

#14 - Brian Branch

Brian Branch has proven his elite upside in fantasy football by finishing among the top five weekly defensive backs six times. This has helped him to an overall DB4 ranking.

#15 - Blake Cashman

Blake Cashman has turned in consistent production in recent weeks, including four consecutive finishes among the top 20 linebackers. This includes a season-best LB3 finish in his most recent game, giving him plenty of momentum as Week 17 approaches.

#16 - Roquan Smith

#17 - Fred Warner

#18 - Kevin Byard III

#19 - Foyesade Oluokun

#20 - Terrel Bernard

#21 - Julian Love

#22 - Bobby Wagner

#23 - Christian Rozeboom

#24 - Patrick Queen

#25 - Jack Campbell

#26 - Germaine Pratt

#27 - Josey Jewell

#28 - Jamien Sherwood

#29 - Robert Spillane

#30 - Nick Bolton

#31 - Daiyan Henley

#32 - Micah McFadden

#33 - Akeem Davis-Gaither

#34 - Xavier McKinney

#35 - Kyzir White

#36 - TJ Watt

#37 - Quincy Williams

#38 - Kyle Dugger

#39 - Grant Delpit

#40 - Devin Lloyd

#41 - Micah Parsons

#42 - Jordan Hicks

#43 - Tremaine Edmunds

#44 - Myles Garrett

#45 - Tyrice Knight

#46 - Jessie Bates III

#47 - Cody Barton

#48 - Joshua Metellus

#49 - Minkah Fitzpatrick

#50 - Kenneth Murray Jr.