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The NFL returns for Week 7, and we’re back with another look at the best individual defensive players to consider in fantasy football. We have four teams on bye this week, so top players like Devin Bush, Devin White, Joe Schobert, Lavonte David, Luke Kuechly and Myles Garrett are unavailable.
With Garrett unavailable, Chargers’ defensive end Joey Bosa, claims the top defensive line ranking going up against the Tennessee Titans who’ve giving up 16 sacks and the second most fantasy points to the DE position. The New York Jets are the only team who give up more fantasy points to defensive ends and the Seattle Seahawks will stay in the top-three again this week.
The Carolina Panthers give up the most fantasy points to the linebacker position, but they’re on a bye this week, so the top-three teams who give up the most fantasy points to linebackers are the Buffalo Bills, the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos.
The Atlanta Falcons have moved into the top spot giving up the most fantasy points to opposing safety’s, but the DB1 in Los Angeles, John Johnson, hurt his shoulder in last week’s game and is questionable this week. If Johnson suits up for Week 7, he’ll move into the top spot in the defensive back rankings. [UPDATE: The Rams placed Johnson on injured reserve]
Individual Defense Player rankings, Week 7
Defensive Line IDP rankings, Week 7
| Rk | Name | Team | Opp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rk | Name | Team | Opp |
| 1 | Joey Bosa | LAC | @ TEN |
| 2 | Danielle Hunter | MIN | @ DET |
| 3 | J.J. Watt | HOU | @ IND |
| 4 | Chandler Jones | ARI | @ NYG |
| 5 | Cameron Jordan | NO | @ CHI |
| 6 | Demarcus Lawrence | DAL | v. PHI |
| 7 | DeForest Buckner | SF | @ WSH |
| 8 | Calais Campbell | JAX | @ CIN |
| 9 | Aaron Donald | LAR | @ ATL |
| 10 | Sam Hubbard | CIN | v. JAX |
| 11 | Justin Houston | IND | v. HOU |
| 12 | Tre Flowers | DET | v. MIN |
| 13 | Everson Griffen | MIN | @ DET |
| 14 | Nick Bosa | SF | @ WSH |
| 15 | Jadevon Clowney | SEA | v. BAL |
| 16 | Markus Golden | NYG | v. ARI |
| 17 | Robert Quinn | DAL | v. PHI |
| 18 | Chris Jones | KC | @ DEN |
| 19 | Frank Clark | KC | @ DEN |
| 20 | Denico Autry | IND | v. HOU |
| 21 | Carlos Dunlap | CIN | v. JAX |
| 22 | Grady Jarrett | ATL | v. LAR |
| 23 | Josh Allen | JAX | @ CIN |
| 24 | Kenny Clark | GB | v. OAK |
Injuries: Melvin Ingram (status uncertain), Stephon Tuitt (I.L.)
Linebackers IDP rankings, Week 7
| Rk | Name | Team | Opp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rk | Name | Team | Opp |
| 1 | Bobby Wagner | SEA | v. BAL |
| 2 | Blake Martinez | GB | v. OAK |
| 3 | Darius Leonard | IND | v. HOU |
| 4 | Corey Littleton | LAR | @ ATL |
| 5 | Roquan Smith | CHI | v. NO |
| 6 | Jordan Hicks | ARI | @ NYG |
| 7 | Jaylon Smith | DAL | v. PHI |
| 8 | Deion Jones | ATL | v. LAR |
| 9 | Leighton Vander Esch | DAL | v. PHI |
| 10 | Zach Cunningham | HOU | @ IND |
| 11 | Myles Jack | JAX | @ CIN |
| 12 | Kwon Alexander | SF | @ WSH |
| 13 | Nick Vigil | CIN | v. JAX |
| 14 | Danny Trevathan | CHI | v. NO |
| 15 | Neville Hewitt | NYJ | v. NE |
| 16 | Jerome Baker | MIA | @ BUF |
| 17 | Patrick Onwuasor | BAL | @ SEA |
| 18 | Jaime Collins | NE | @ NYJ |
| 19 | Eric Kendricks | MIN | @ DET |
| 20 | Tremaine Edmunds | BUF | v. MIA |
| 21 | Todd Davis | DEN | v. KC |
| 22 | Khalil Mack | CHI | v. NO |
| 23 | Demario Davis | NO | @ CHI |
| 24 | De'Vondre Campbell | ATL | v. LAR |
Injuries: C.J. Mosley (Questionable), Jayon Brown (Questionable)
Defensive Backs IDP rankings, Week 7
| Rk | Name | Team | Opp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rk | Name | Team | Opp |
| 1 | Landon Collins | WSH | V. SF |
| 2 | Jamal Adams | NYJ | v. NE |
| 3 | Jordan Poyer | BUF | v. MIA |
| 4 | Justin Reid | HOU | @ IND |
| 5 | Harrison Smith | MIN | @ DET |
| 6 | Kevin Byard | TEN | v. LAC |
| 7 | Shawn Williams | CIN | v. JAX |
| 8 | Antoine Bethea | NYG | v. ARI |
| 9 | Tracy Walker | DET | v. MIN |
| 10 | Jessie Bates III | CIN | v. JAX |
| 11 | Ronnie Harrison | JAX | @ CIN |
| 12 | Von Bell | NO | @ CHI |
| 13 | Jabrill Peppers | NYG | v. ARI |
| 14 | Budda Baker | ARI | @ NYG |
| 15 | Reshad Jones | MIA | @ BUF |
| 16 | Adrian Amos | GB | v. OAK |
| 17 | Hasean Clinton-Dix | CHI | v. NO |
| 18 | Justin Simmons | DEN | v. KC |
| 19 | Tyrann Mathieu | KC | @ DEN |
| 20 | Bradley McDougald | SEA | v. BAL |
| 21 | Eric Weddle | LAR | @ ATL |
| 22 | Kenny Vaccaro | TEN | v. LAC |
| 23 | Kyler Fuller | CHI | v. NO |
| 24 | Montae Nichelson | WSH | v. SF |
Injuries: Desmond Trufant (Doubtful), Tony Jefferson (I.L.), Donte Jackson (Questionable), William Jackson (out), Dre Kirkpatrick (out), Denzel Ward (uncertain), Greedy Williams (uncertain), Byron Jones (Questionable), Bradley Roby (out), Aquib Talib (out), Jalen Ramsey (Questionable), John Johnson (IR)