Week 7 IDP fantasy football rankings: Ernest Jones IV, Jeffery Simmons climb

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV takes over No. 1 in my Week 7 individual defensive player (IDP) fantasy football rankings, with at least eight tackles in all six games and extra rest before Kansas City visits Sunday night.

Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons jumps from 66th to 13th overall after a two-sack game at Indianapolis, while Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey climbs from 32nd to 10th in my defensive back (DB) rankings. The Bills, Chargers, Commanders and Jaguars are on bye.

You can find my overall IDP and position-by-position rankings tables at the bottom of the article.

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Will Anderson Jr., Jeffery Simmons lead Week 7 DL rankings

Houston Texans edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. moves from second to first in my defensive line (DL) rankings for New York at Houston. Jaguars tackles Walker Little and Cole Van Lanen kept him without a sack in Houston’s 34-31 win in London, but the Alabama product still has 7.5 sacks, and his 92.8 PFF grade ranks first among edge defenders.

The Giants have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game (FP/G) to DL (29.2), and head coach John Harbaugh said Monday the team is “honing in on” a decision between Jameis Winston and J.J. McCarthy.

Simmons climbs from DL3 to DL2 for Cleveland at Tennessee. He had six tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in the 26-20 win, becoming the first defensive tackle since 2020 to fill all four columns in one game. The Browns have allowed the most FP/G to DL (31.4).

Why did Chase Young climb to DL7?

New Orleans Saints edge rusher Chase Young jumps from DL17 to DL7 for Pittsburgh at New Orleans. He had 1.5 sacks and three quarterback hits in a 34-27 win over the Giants and has 5.5 sacks this season. The Steelers have allowed the ninth-most FP/G to DL (26.7).

Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner rises from DL11 to DL5 for Indianapolis at Minnesota. “I’m sick and tired of the same song and dance every year,” Buckner said after the loss to Tennessee, and he has four sacks. The Vikings have allowed the second-most FP/G to DL (30.3).

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Ernest Jones IV, Fred Warner lead Week 7 LB rankings

Jones moves from LB6 to LB1 for Kansas City at Seattle. He led the Seahawks with nine tackles and recorded a sack for the third straight week in a 17-14 overtime loss at Denver. The South Carolina product has 59 tackles and three sacks on 99.5% of Seattle’s defensive snaps, and the Seahawks get 10 days of rest before Sunday night.

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner slips from LB1 to LB2 for San Francisco at Atlanta. He made eight tackles in a 23-17 win over Washington on Monday night and became the first player in franchise history with 1,000 career tackles. The Falcons have allowed the ninth-most FP/G to linebackers (20.7).

Denver Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton sits at LB4 for Denver at Arizona. He leads the NFL with 68 tackles, and the Cardinals have allowed the second-most FP/G to linebackers (21.7).

How did Devin Lloyd climb to LB3?

Carolina Panthers linebacker Devin Lloyd makes the biggest jump in the top 10, from LB15 to LB3 for Tampa Bay at Carolina. He played all 64 defensive snaps and sacked Eagles quarterback Tanner McKee on a blitz in a 25-14 win at Philadelphia, and his 82% pass rush win rate was the highest since ESPN began tracking it in 2017.

The Utah product has 35 tackles, two sacks and two interceptions in four games. The Buccaneers have allowed the fifth-most FP/G to linebackers (21.1).

Steelers linebacker Payton Wilson jumps from LB16 to LB8 for Pittsburgh at New Orleans after a team-high 11 tackles in a 26-19 overtime win at Tampa Bay. He has 55 tackles, and the Saints have allowed the 11th-most FP/G to linebackers (19.9).

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Kyle Hamilton, Evan Williams lead Week 7 DB rankings

Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton holds at DB1 for Cincinnati at Baltimore. He made seven tackles, including a game-high three for loss, in a 13-10 loss at Cleveland.

“I think that’s one we definitely should’ve won,” Hamilton said.

Green Bay Packers safety Evan Williams moves from DB3 to DB2 for Green Bay at Detroit. He intercepted Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott inside the 20 on a third-and-8 in a 23-13 win on Sunday night.

Las Vegas Raiders safety Jeremy Chinn climbs from DB8 to DB3 for Los Angeles at Las Vegas. He had 10 tackles (nine solo) in a 33-30 loss to Buffalo, his first double-digit game this season, and has two forced fumbles. The Rams have allowed the most FP/G to DB (40.1).

Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker falls from DB2 to DB5 for Denver at Arizona. He sacked Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford in an 18-16 upset win but was questionable last week with a groin issue, and the Broncos have allowed the 10th-fewest FP/G to DB (28.0).

Why did Jalen Ramsey jump to DB10?

Ramsey climbs from DB32 to DB10 for Pittsburgh at New Orleans. Playing through a broken wrist, he had 10 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks at Tampa Bay, including a fourth-down sack of Buccaneers quarterback Jalon Daniels that ended the game in overtime.

The Florida State product played all 74 defensive snaps, and the Saints have allowed the third-most FP/G to DB (37.8).

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Overall Week 7 IDP Rankings

Week 7 DL Rankings

LB Week 7 Rankings

Week 7 DB Rankings