Fantasy Football Week 4 IDP rankings feat. Eric Kendricks, Robert Spillane, Nick Bolton

Week 4 of the fantasy football season has officially arrived, and managers can now begin setting their lineups. While most of the focus is often placed on the offensive players, it's always important to get the best defenses in weekly starting lineups as well. They score fantasy points just like the offense does, so they have an equal impact on the outcome of each matchup.

Many fantasy football leagues elect to provide each team with a DST spot in their starting lineups. This gives them an entire NFL team's defense and special teams unit to score them fantasy points each week. An alternative to this format that has been growing in popularity is the IDP leagues, which include individual defensive players in starting lineups rather than an entire unit.

IDP leagues reward fantasy points for all of the same categories as DST leagues, such as turnovers, sacks and touchdowns, but with one major addition. Individual defenders will also score fantasy points for recording tackles, which is easily the most reliable statistic to count on in fantasy football. This plays a major role in determining the best IDPs each week.

Using tackles as a scoring category in fantasy football has resulted in middle linebackers being the most desirable targets by a wide margin. They are followed by safeties who play an active role in defending the run and defensive players who contribute in many different statistical categories. It also eliminates the need for most defensive linemen, except those who consistently sack the quarterback.

Taking all of this into consideration helps to produce the IDP rankings for Week 4 of the 2024 season. It's also important to analyze weekly matchups because the offense that an IDP is playing against also plays a role in their fantasy outlook. Teams that rush often and quarterbacks prone to sacks and turnovers present the most favorable situations for IDP targets in fantasy lineups.

Here's where the fantasy football IDP rankings are this week.

Week 4 fantasy football IDP rankings

#1 - Roquan Smith

Roquan Smith has consistently been one of the best overall IDPs to target during his career. He is off to another solid start as the LB10 through three weeks and is still the safest player to count on each week.

#2 - Robert Spillane

Robert Spillane has been a dynamic weapon in the middle of the Las Vegas Raiders' defense. He has played in 100% of their snaps this year and currently ranks as the overall LB2 in the 2024 season.

#3 - Zack Baun

Zack Baun has been one of the most surprising IDPs during the 2024 fantasy football season so far. He currently ranks the overall LB1 in season-long scoring through three weeks.

#4 - Fred Warner

Fred Warner recorded just one tackle last week, but he still ranks as the LB5 in total defensive scoring in fantasy football this year. This makes him a reliable option in Week 4, as he is extremely likely to bounce back strong.

#5 - Eric Kendricks

Eric Kendrick has been a key piece of the Dallas Cowboys' defense this season as he leads the team in tackles. He also ranks as LB6 in fantasy football so far and faces Daniel Jones this week, so he could have turnover opportunities.

#6 - Bobby Wagner

Bobby Wagner has been one of the most consistently reliable IDP options during his entire career so far. This season is no different, as he has played in 100% of the defensive snaps and currently ranks as the LB9 overall.

#7 - Zaire Franklin

Zaire Franklin has increased his fantasy ranking each week of the 2024 season, despite competing with EJ Speed for tackles. Franklin is coming off a season-best LB12 finish last week and is trending upwards.

#8 - Nick Bolton

Nick Bolton was excellent last week, turning in a season-best LB6 finish in fantasy football. He gets a favorable matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers' run-first offense, making him an elite option.

#9 - Ernest Jones IV

Ernest Jones IV has improved his weekly ranking in all three of his games with the Tennessee Titans so far this season. This makes him a solid option in Week 4 fantasy football after an LB9 finish last week.

#10 - Foyesade Oluokun

Foyesade Oluokun is off to a disappointing start this year, as he currently ranks as the LB15 overall. He finished as the LB3 in fantasy football last year, so he has a strong chance of breaking out in any week this season.

#11 - Quincy Williams

Quincy Williams is always a solid IDP to target for fantasy lineups, but his value is even higher when CJ Mosely is out of the lineup. Mosely is currently dealing with an injury, improving Williams' already strong fantasy outlook.

#12 - Logan Wilson

Logan Wilson has an excellent Week 4 matchup against the Carolina Panthers, one of the weakest offenses in the entire NFL. He already ranks as the LB8 this year, improving his outlook even further.

#13 - EJ Speed

EJ Speed has finished among the top 30 linebackers in all three weeks this season and currently ranks as the LB15 in season-long scoring. He has proven to be a useful option for fantasy lineups, despite playing alongside Zaire Franklin.

#14 - TJ Edwards

TJ Edwards led the entire NFL with 17 solo tackles through the first two weeks of the season, but recorded just one of them last week. His strong output so far this year gives him an ideal candidate to bounce back in Week 4.

#15 - Jessie Bates III

Jessie Bates III is the highest-ranked non-linebacker in the Week 4 IDP rankings. He has been heavily involved in the Atlanta Falcons' defense, including 24 total tackles and four passes defended across his first three games this year.

#16 - Tyrel Dodson

#17 - Quay Walker

#18 - Kenneth Murray Jr.

#19 - Bobby Okereke

#20 - Alex Singleton

#21 - Tremaine Edmunds

#22 - Lavonte David

#23 - Azeez Al-Shaair

#24 - Kyle Hamilton

#25 - Jordyn Brooks

#26 - Devin Lloyd

#27 - Blake Cashman

#28 - TJ Watt

#29 - Budda Baker

#30 - Patrick Queen

#31 - Micah Parsons

#32 - Brian Branch

#33 - Demario Davis

#34 - Jordan Hicks

#35 - Nakobe Dean

#36 - Kaden Elliss

#37 - Kyle Dugger

#38 - Maxx Crosby

#39 - Jeremiah Owusu-Karamoah

#40 - Alex Anzalone

#41 - Myles Garrett

#42 - Shaq Thompson

#43 - Frankie Luvu

#44 - Josey Jewell

#45 - Nick Bosa

#46 - Julian Love

#47 - Kyzir White

#48 - Aidan Hutchinson

#49 - Trey Hendrickson

#50 - David Long Jr.