The defensive line is always the weakest position for IDP because it’s the most rotated spot on the field. 86 offensive linemen played over 1,000 snaps last season, but only five defensive linemen did. On the defensive side of the ball, 26 LBs played over 1,000 snaps and 53 DBs played over 1,000 snaps. In terms of 80% or more per game, only two DLs hit that marker, Maxx Crosby and Alex Highsmith.

Snap percentage obviously doesn’t reflect performance entirely, but you have to be on the field to make plays, and we are looking for shots. Volume is king on the offensive side of the ball, and it’s no different on defense, so more snaps equals more chances for fantasy points. With LB being fairly deep this season and DBs being deeper than ever, DL should be a priority if you can make it one.

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Fantasy Football IDP Defensive Linemen Rankings & Tiers

Here are my rankings and tiers for 2023 fantasy football defensive linemen.

Tip of The Spear

• Maxx Crosby (DE – LV)
• Nick Bosa (DE – SF)
• Myles Garrett (DE – CLE)

These players all have high snap counts, snap percentages and tackle numbers. Crosby was the only player to average over 10 PPG along the DL. Nick Bosa is coming off a DPOY season. Myles Garrett has had over 15 sacks and 50 tackles two seasons in a row. These linemen are no doubt first-rounders.

The Elites

• Brian Burns (DE – CAR)
• Alex Highsmith (LB – PIT)
• Christian Wilkins (DT – MIA)
• Aidan Hutchinson (DE – DET)
• Danielle Hunter (DE – MIN)
• Cameron Heyward (DE – PIT)

The Elite tier is filled with underrated, high-floor players like Christian Wilkins (who led all DL in tackles). Alex Highsmith was fourth in scoring behind the three players in the tier above this one.

Danielle Hunter and Cameron Heyward aren’t going to offer a ton of upside but still have enough juice to carry a starting spot and offer a very high floor.

Brian Burns put together career-highs in tackles and sacks in 2022, but he’ll be adjusting to a different position as a 3-4 OLB, which could limit his upside a bit.

Aidan Hutchinson is really the only upside play. He finished as a DL2 last season, but at least a slight jump to a DL1 is a reasonable expectation in his second year with room for way more production.

Frontline Starters

• Joey Bosa (DE – LAC)
• Aaron Donald (DT – LAR)
• Jaelan Phillips (DE – MIA)
• Quinnen Williams (DT – NYJ)
• DeForest Buckner (DT – IND)
• DeMarcus Lawrence (DE – DAL)

These players are all still very solid, but I want at least one starter from the top two tiers. Joey Bosa only played in five games because of a groin injury and only scored more than 5.5 points in one of those games.

Aaron Donald is one of the best defensive tackles ever, but the Rams have completely dismantled their defense. Donald has 134 career starts, and the other four projected starters have 16 combined.

Jaelen Phillips is my upside play for this tier. If he improves his tackling, he should take a decent jump. DeMarcus Lawrence and DeForest Buckner are my ‘high-floor’ plays to pair with someone like Hutchinson or Joey Bosa.

Quinnen Williams wants a new deal, and they seemed to be close at the end of May, but no new deal as of yet. Williams flipped a switch last season and really got after the QB with a career-high 12 sacks and is looking to build on that after he secures the bag.

Better Get One Tier

• Kayvon Thibodeaux (DE – NYG)
• Javon Hargrave (DT – SF)
• Chris Jones (DT – KC)
• Sam Hubbard (DE – CIN)
• Will Anderson (DE – HOU)
• Uchenna Nwosu (LB – SEA)
• Cameron Jordan (DE – NO)
• Chase Young (DE – WAS)

This tier is all over the place in types of talent, but I want to ensure that my second starter is, at the very least, out of this group. DL has a lot of talent but not a ton of players with high snap percentages, and these players are all in line for a lot. Kayvon Thibodeaux, Will Anderson and Chase Young represent the young upside group. Thibodeaux was outstanding at the end of last season. Anderson would have been the first Defensive Player taken in the last two drafts. As for Young, we are just hoping he can stay on the field and get back to at least his rookie pace, if not more, as a more experienced player.

Javon Hargrave and Chris Jones are interior players who are maxed out, in my opinion. Hargrave was awesome last season, but the Eagles’ line was one of the best in the league. The move to San Francisco was just about the only place he could have gone and not taken a significant hit. Jones is unbelievable at getting after the QB, but a lack of tackles (averaging just under 35 per season over seven seasons) limits his upside in tackle-heavy formats.

Sam Hubbard, Uchenna Nwosu and Cameron Jordan are safer than the younger players in this tier but are most likely without their upside. Hubbard has had 60 tackles and 7.5 sacks two seasons in a row. Nwosu exploded in his first season with the Seahawks after being a rotational player for the Chargers. Cameron Jordan is 34 and still stacking tackles and sacks, but we are definitely in the ‘falling knife’ territory.

Next Man Up Tier

• Jeffery Simmons (DT – TEN)
• Kwity Paye (DE – IND)
• Jonathan Allen (DT – WAS)
• Dexter Lawrence (DT – NYG)
• Josh Allen (DE – JAX)
• Gregory Rousseau (DE – BUF)
• Josh Sweat (DE – PHI)
• Azeez Ojulari (LB – NYG)
• Travon Walker (DE – JAX)
• Leonard Williams (DE – NYG)
• Montez Sweat (DE – WAS)

This is the last tier that I have real trust in for DL. I expect all of these players to have a ton of snaps and produce some great numbers, and do it consistently (at least for DL).

Jeffrey Simmons, Jonathan Allen, Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams are the only interior players in this tier. They are all high-ceiling players, but their spot on the field limits their potential. Lawrence had the second best PR grade behind Parsons, but because he was lined over center most snaps, he faced a lot of double teams.

The rest of these players are early-round picks that have already produced and have room for growth. Kwity Paye showed the biggest jump from these players last season, but we have No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker and a lot of high draft investments still in this tier. Any of these defensive linemen could break through and surprise us this season.

Steady Veteran DEs

• Zach Allen (DE – DEN)
• Darrell Taylor (DE – SEA)
• Brandon Graham (DE – PHI)
• Chandler Jones (LB – LV)
• Denico Autry (DT – TEN)
• Deatrich Wise (DE – NE)
• Carl Granderson (DE – NO)

Sack-Dependent Edge Rushers

• Trey Hendrickson (DE – CIN)
• Marcus Davenport (DE – MIN)
• George Karlaftis (DE – KC)
• Arden Key (DE – TEN)
• Bradley Chubb (B – MIA)
• Carl Lawson (DE – NYJ)

Steady Interior DL

• Daron Payne (DT – WAS)
• Zach Sieler (DE – MIA)
• Grover Stewart (DT – IND)
• Arik Armstead (DE – SF)
• B.J. Hill (DT – CIN)
• Kenny Clark (DT – GB)

Dart Throws if You Already Have Depth

• Tyree Wilson (DE – LV)
• Drake Jackson (DE – SF)
• David Ojabo (DE – BAL)
• Charles Omenihu (DE – KC)
• Felix Anudike-Uzomah (DE – KC)
• BJ Ojulari (DE – ARI)

Players That Don’t Qualify on Most Platforms at DL but May for You

• T.J. Watt (LB – PIT)
• Micah Parsons (LB – DAL)
• Matt Judon (LB – NE)
• Zaven Collins (LB – ARI)
• Haason Reddick (DE – PHI)
• Harold Landry (LB – TEN)
• Za’Darius Smith (LB – CLE)
• Khalil Mack (LB – LAC)
• Rashan Gary (LB – GB)
• Shaquill Barrett (LB – TB)

Bogman’s 2023 Fantasy Football IDP Draft Rankings

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