“It’s raining men! Hallelujah! It’s raining men! Amen!” 

When ranking IDP players, as with ranking anything, you want to go with the ones who are irreplaceable first. For instance, last year you had 13 defensive line players who averaged double-digit fantasy points, and 51 linebackers who averaged double-digit fantasy points. The defensive backs had a steady year, with 32 averaging double-digit fantasy points.  

But who wants to be average, right? I mean, who wants to be Average Stan if you could be Michael B. Jordan? But I digress. 

These are preseason rankings, and with preseason shenanigans, things change (so stay tuned), but for now, let's get those defensive linemen, linebackers, defensive backs, and for those formats that allow it separately, defensive tackles ranked. 

2025 Fantasy Football IDP Rankings Defensive Ends And Linebackers

DEFENSIVE LINE (EDGE) 

Starting with edge rushers because there are fewer ‘elite’ choices.  As Omar, from The Wire, has offered, “When you go for the King, you best not miss.” 

These are the Kings, they are going to get you points rushing the quarterback, sacking the quarterback, and if we are really lucky, add on those tackles.  

TIER 1 

1. Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys

The big news is that Parsons has asked for a trade; the bigger news is that it is probably never going to happen. Regardless, it is hard to argue with: 

With Parsons, you aren’t only getting the sacks and quarterback pressure points, but he also added 30 solo tackles and 90 assisted tackles in only 13 games played last season.  

2. Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit Lions

It is not hard to argue that if he had not been injured, Hutchinson would have dominated this category. Now what remains to be seen is how he roars back—see what I did there?—from this injury. 

This is a five-game sample! Now, combine that with the Detroit Lions having the third-hardest strength of schedule, a new defensive coordinator, and a new offensive coordinator, and the man who averaged 56 defensive snaps in a five-game sample should see lots of time on the field.  

3. Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns

As a Pittsburgh fan, I was rooting for a new home for Garrett, somewhere warm, but alas, here we are. 

Garrett also added 40 solo tackles, and with the offense still in flux, Garrett, who averaged 64 defensive snaps per game, will be a steady presence. 

4. T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers are 79-44-2 when Watt is on the field and 1-11 without him. Coincidence? I think not.  

Watt was also eighth in solo tackles with 40, second in tackles for loss, and fourth in run stuffs (15). 

5. Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers

Pro Football Focus graded Bosa the fourth-best edge rusher in 2024 with a 91.0 overall grade.  

Bosa played in 14 games last season.  

6. Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders

Although the Raiders will enter the season with a new head coach, Pete Carroll, Patrick Graham remains the defensive coordinator. (And the image of Crosby at the ESPYs lives rent-free in my mind ... but that’s another matter). 

Crosby played in 12 games last year.  

7. Jared Verse, Los Angeles Rams

When you are brought in to replace Aaron Donald and then proceed to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, it’s a good start.  

Verse was first in quarterback pressures, seventh in tackles for loss, fourth in run stuffs (15), and fourth in solo tackles (36). 

8. Danielle Hunter, Houston Texans

He is half of one of the best edge-rushing duos in the league.  

9. Will Anderson, Houston Texans

And here is the other half of the dynamic duo.  

Anderson played in 14 games last season. 

10. Brian Burns, New York Giants: Playing on a team with a not-so-great offense must account for something. Burns averaged 50.9 defensive snaps per game, while ranking fifth in solo tackles (41), fifth in assisted tackles (29), and sixth in tackles for loss (17). 

11. Alex Highsmith, Pittsburgh Steelers: Highsmith played in 11 games last season and averaged 12 fantasy points per game. 

12. Josh Hines-Allen, Jacksonville Jaguars: This is a player who will have better stats with the new coaching staff.  

13. Jonathan Greenard, Minnesota Vikings: Greenard combined his 56 quarterback pressures with 12 sacks with 18 tackles for loss, and 41 solo tackles.  

Plus, DC Brian Flores is just good for IDP.  

14. Lavonte David, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Finished top 10 in sacks (5.5) and quarterback pressures (28) and top 12 in solo tackles (77). 

15. Frankie Luvu, Washington Commanders: There is some grumbling that Luvu is being “over drafted” this season. Perhaps, but it is hard to argue with his top 5 in sacks (8), quarterback pressures (31), and tackles for loss (12). And having Dan Quinn as your coach doesn’t hurt. 

16. Germaine Pratt, Las Vegas Raiders: Out of the jungle into Sin City, Pratt arrives with 127 total tackles last season, 117 tackles in 2023. He needs to get those sack numbers.  

LINEBACKERS 

A great IDP linebacker relies on snaps. Simple math, the more you are on the field, the more chances you have of tackling someone. Give us more, please.  

1. Zaire Franklin, Indianapolis Colts: Averaged 68 defensive snaps/ game, ranked second in solo tackles (92) and first in assisted tackles (78). 

2. Roquan Smith, Baltimore Ravens: Averaged 62 defensive snaps/game, with his 1.5 sacks and six quarterback pressures, had 82 solo tackles and 73 assisted tackles. 

3. Jamien Sherwood, New York Jets: Finished 2024 with 95 solo tackles, 59 assisted tackles, was 10th in tackles for loss (10), and was on the field for an average of 62.2 snaps.  

4. Zack Baun, Philadelphia Eagles: Averaged only 58.7 snaps, but managed 92 solo tackles, 59 assisted tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 13 quarterback pressures.  

5. Blake Cashman, Minnesota Vikings: In 14 games racked up 111 total tackles, 4.5 sacks, 31 quarterback pressures, and 8 tackles for loss.  

6. Kaden Elliss, Atlanta Falcons: Collected 84 solo tackles, 64 assisted tackles, 34 quarterback pressures, and 5 sacks. All while on the field for an average of 64 snaps.  

7. Jordyn Brooks, Miami Dolphins: Averaged 61.1 snaps, grabbing 86 solo tackles, 56 assisted tackles, 19 quarterback pressures, and 3 sacks.  

8. Daiyan Henley, Los Angeles Chargers: On the field for an average of 58.7 defensive snaps, Henley was responsible for 82 solo tackles, 59 assisted tackles, 13 quarterback pressures, and 1 sack.  

9. Edgerrin Cooper, Green Bay Packers: Cooper took over when Quay Walker got injured, so Cooper was only on the field for an average of 34.9 snaps. Showing up when it mattered, he collected 49 solo tackles, 28 assisted, 34 quarterback pressures, and 5 sacks. 

10. Alex Singleton, Denver Broncos: Singleton played only three games before tearing his ACL (a game he reportedly finished with a torn ACL) BRO! Anyway, his 2023 stats are more telling, a year he had 103 solo tackles, 71 assisted tackles, and 2 sacks. Per PFF, Singleton has never finished lower than the 99th percentile in tackles versus efficiency. “Tell me about it, stud.” 

11. Robert Spillane, New England Patriots: Playing all 17 games, Spillane racked up 91 solo tackles, 66 assisted tackles, two sacks, 10 tackles for loss, and 13 quarterback pressures. New regime in town, but still in a defensive mindset.  

12. Jack Campbell, Detroit Lions: Campbell took over after Alex Anzalone’s injury. Playing only 57.3 snaps on average, Campbell collected 66 solo tackles, 59 assisted tackles, and 1.5 sacks. Look for Campbell to make the jump over Anzalone.  

 13. Foye Oluokun, Jacksonville Jaguars:  This is a belief that new DC Anthony Campanile knows how to handle talent better than Jacksonville’s last DC. Last year, Oluokun was moved around playing both linebacker and defensive line. Stats tell the story: 

            Stats courtesy playerprofiler.com 

 14. T.J. Edwards, Chicago Bears: While on the field for an average of 62.1 snaps, Edwards had a lackluster 2024 (feel that could be the mantra for the 2024 Bears). His 79 solo tackles, 19 assisted, 4 sacks, 18 quarterback pressures, and 12 tackles for loss are just a glimpse of his capabilities.  

15. Bobby Wagner, Washington Commanders: Mr. Consistency played an average of 63.1 snaps and collected 76 solo tackles, 56 assisted tackles, 2 sacks, 10 quarterback pressures, 24 run stuffs, and 10 tackles for loss.  

16. Terrel Bernard, Buffalo Bills: Bernard made it through only 13 games last season (so here’s hoping he rebounds to his 2023 form).  

17. Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers: Warner’s stats aren’t going to blow your mind, but he has consistently finished as at least LB15 in the last three years.  

Honorable Mention 

18. Logan Wilson, Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals’ defense is much maligned (rightfully so), but there are a few players you can count on when healthy.  

Wilson played in 11 games last season. His stats were meh, but a new DC and a healthy Wilson ... 

OK, that's the  top EDGE and linebackers (aka Part 1 because I’m not so great at just listing—you need a reason, right? And I have a word count!) 

Who is your top EDGE and top linebacker ... heck, who is your top defense in your fantasy draft this season? I need to know.  

Stay tuned for top defensive tackles (for those leagues that allow such) and defensive backs! 

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