Week 8 IDP fantasy football rankings: Watt, Hutchinson surge

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV holds No. 1 in my Week 8 individual defensive player (IDP) fantasy football rankings after a nine-tackle night in a 20-3 win over the previously unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie linebacker Josiah Trotter jumps from 10th to second overall, and Detroit Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson climbs to third. The 49ers, Giants, Saints and Texans are on bye, which sidelines Fred Warner and Will Anderson Jr.

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

MORE:Week 8 fantasy football PPR rankings: Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry rise

T.J. Watt, Aidan Hutchinson lead DL

Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt moves from seventh to first in my defensive line (DL) rankings for Cleveland at Pittsburgh. He spun past the Saints’ right tackle for a second-quarter sack of Tyler Shough and added two quarterback hits in a 16-10 win in Paris.

“Good defenses are always sitting on the bench,” Watt said after Pittsburgh held New Orleans to 18 rushing yards. The Browns have allowed a league-high 25 sacks and the most fantasy points per game (FP/G) to DL (29.6), and both teams are 5-2 and tied atop the AFC North.

Hutchinson rises from DL12 to DL2 for Minnesota at Detroit. He sacked Jordan Love for a 10-yard loss and drew a holding penalty in a 20-17 win over Green Bay, and his 48th career sack tied Ezekiel Ansah for fourth in Lions history. The Vikings are 6-0 but have allowed the second-most FP/G to DL (29.4).

MORE:Week 8 fantasy football QB start-sit: Murray, McKee, Young, Goff

Why are four Steelers in the top six?

Steelers outside linebackers Nick Herbig and Alex Highsmith jump from DL25 and DL24 to DL3 and DL4, and defensive tackle Cameron Heyward climbs from DL35 to DL6. Pittsburgh is tied for third in the NFL in sacks, and Cleveland is also without starting right guard Teven Jenkins.

Ernest Jones IV tops LB rankings

Jones holds at LB1 for Chicago at Seattle on Monday night (8:15 p.m. ET). He led the Seahawks with nine tackles against Kansas City, his third straight game with exactly nine, and he has at least eight tackles in all seven games. His 68 tackles are tied for third in the NFL.

“Nobody was down, it was just, ‘Let’s get to Sunday, let’s go get a win,'” Jones said. The Bears have allowed the fourth-most FP/G to linebackers (20.9).

Trotter climbs from LB9 to LB2 for Atlanta at Tampa Bay. The Missouri product led the Buccaneers in tackles in a 43-13 rout at Carolina and leads the team with 62 tackles through six games.

His 42.5% run-stop win rate ranks 10th among all players, and the Falcons have allowed the ninth-most FP/G to linebackers (20.6).

Why did Devin Bush Jr. climb?

Chicago Bears linebacker Devin Bush Jr. jumps from LB31 to LB5 for Chicago at Seattle. T.J. Edwards has missed two straight games with a hamstring injury, and the Bears need more from Bush without him.

Coverage was a problem in a 30-24 win over New England, as Bush allowed six receptions on six targets for 81 yards and a 30-yard touchdown. But Seattle converted 11 of 16 third downs against Kansas City, which means longer drives and more tackle chances, and the Seahawks have allowed the second-most FP/G to linebackers (21.2).

MORE:Week 8 waiver wire FAAB: Omar Cooper Jr., Jonah Coleman are top adds

Quentin Lake tops DB rankings

Los Angeles Rams safety Quentin Lake climbs from fifth to first in my defensive back (DB) rankings for the Chargers at Rams. He led the Rams with seven tackles in a 35-21 win at Las Vegas and has at least six tackles in every game this season. The Chargers have allowed the second-most FP/G to DB (37.3).

Rams safety Kam Curl jumps from DB21 to DB3 in the same matchup. He played all but one defensive snap against the Raiders and has 34 tackles through seven games.

Why is Derwin James at DB4?

Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. debuts in the top five after missing three straight games with a hamstring injury. Head coach Jim Harbaugh named James among the players the 0-6 Chargers hope to have back after the bye, and the Florida State product worked on a side field during Tuesday’s bonus practice.

The Rams have allowed the most FP/G to DB (37.9), so James carries top-five upside if he’s cleared. Check his injury designation before lineups lock.

— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —

Tap the rankings arrow you want to see below, and they will appear. You can open and close the ranking lists to make them easier to view.

Overall IDP Rankings

Fantasy Football Week 8 IDP Rankings

RankPlayerTeamPositionOpponent1Ernest Jones IVSEALBvs CHI2Josiah TrotterTBLBvs ATL3Aidan HutchinsonDETDEvs MIN4Zack BaunPHILB@ WAS5Roquan SmithBALLB@ BUF6Quentin LakeLARSvs LAC7Nick EmmanworiSEASvs CHI8Nakobe DeanLVLB@ NYJ9Devin Bush Jr.CHILB@ SEA10Evan WilliamsGBSvs CAR11Anthony Hill Jr.TENLB@ CIN12Barrett CarterCINLBvs TEN13Payton WilsonPITLBvs CLE14Alex SingletonDENLBvs KC15Nate LandmanLARLBvs LAC16Jamien SherwoodNYJLBvs LV17Xavier WattsATLS@ TB18Kam CurlLARSvs LAC19Caleb DownsDALSvs ARI20Demetrius Knight Jr.CINLBvs TEN21Blake CashmanMINLB@ DET22Budda BakerARIS@ DAL23Demario DavisNYJLBvs LV24Jacob RodriguezMIALBvs NE25Quay WalkerLVLB@ NYJ26Jaishawn BarhamDALLBvs ARI27Kendal DanielsATLS@ TB28Trenton SimpsonBALLB@ BUF29DeMarvion OvershownDALLBvs ARI30Jessie Bates IIIATLS@ TB31Dillon ThienemanCHIS@ SEA32Derwin James Jr.LACS@ LAR33D’Marco JacksonCHILB@ SEA34Julian LoveSEASvs CHI35Devon WitherspoonSEACBvs CHI36Jihaad CampbellPHILB@ WAS37Jordyn BrooksMIALBvs NE38T.J. WattPITLBvs CLE39Patrick QueenPITLBvs CLE40Kyle HamiltonBALS@ BUF41Shemar JamesDALLBvs ARI42Keisean NixonGBCBvs CAR43Harold Perkins Jr.ATLLB@ TB44Alex AnzaloneTBLBvs ATL45Cameron HeywardPITDTvs CLE46Tyrice KnightSEALBvs CHI47Carson SchwesingerCLELB@ PIT48Sonny StylesWASLBvs PHI49Terrel BernardBUFLBvs BAL50Omar SpeightsLARLBvs LAC51Dane BeltonNYJSvs LV52Minkah FitzpatrickNYJSvs LV53Foyesade OluokunJACLBvs IND54Christian EllissNELB@ MIA55Leonard WilliamsSEADTvs CHI56Xavier McKinneyGBSvs CAR57Quincy WilliamsCLELB@ PIT58Amani HookerTENS@ CIN59Robert SpillaneNELB@ MIA60Jeremy ChinnLVS@ NYJ61Dorian WilliamsBUFLBvs BAL62Nick BoltonKCLB@ DEN63Daiyan HenleyLACLB@ LAR64Dallas TurnerMINDE@ DET65Jack CampbellDETLBvs MIN66Devin LloydCARLB@ GB67Cedric GrayTENLB@ CIN68Frankie LuvuWASLBvs PHI69Alex HighsmithPITLBvs CLE70Jeffery SimmonsTENDT@ CIN71Kevin Winston Jr.TENS@ CIN72Mack Wilson Sr.ARILB@ DAL73Tykee SmithTBSvs ATL74Eric KendricksLARLBvs LAC75Nick HerbigPITLBvs CLE76Ventrell MillerJACLBvs IND77Justin StrnadDENLBvs KC78A.J. HaulcyINDS@ JAC79Drue TranquillKCLB@ DEN80Jack GibbensARILB@ DAL81Andrew Van GinkelMINLB@ DET82Eric WilsonMINLB@ DET83Bobby OkerekeCARLB@ GB84Joshua MetellusMINS@ DET85Akeem Davis-GaitherINDLB@ JAC86Maxx CrosbyLVDE@ NYJ87Jalen RamseyPITCBvs CLE88Brandon JonesDENSvs KC89Chamarri ConnerKCS@ DEN90Brian BranchDETSvs MIN91Jordan BattleCINSvs TEN92Derrick BarnesDETLBvs MIN93Quinnen WilliamsDALDTvs ARI94Chuck ClarkDETSvs MIN95Cooper DeJeanPHICB@ WAS96Jaquan BriskerPITSvs CLE97Isaiah McDuffieGBLBvs CAR98Laiatu LatuINDDE@ JAC99Zach AllenDENDEvs KC100George Karlaftis IIIKCDE@ DEN101Dexter Lawrence IICINDTvs TEN102Ty’Ron HopperGBLBvs CAR

DL Rankings

Fantasy Football Week 8 DL Rankings

RankPlayerTeamOpponent1T.J. WattPITvs CLE2Aidan HutchinsonDETvs MIN3Nick HerbigPITvs CLE4Alex HighsmithPITvs CLE5Byron YoungLARvs LAC6Cameron HeywardPITvs CLE7Lukas Van NessGBvs CAR8Leonard WilliamsSEAvs CHI9Dallas TurnerMIN@ DET10Austin BookerCHI@ SEA11Greg RousseauBUFvs BAL12Andrew Van GinkelMIN@ DET13Elijah PonderNE@ MIA14Aaron DonaldLARvs LAC15Mason GrahamCLE@ PIT16Josh Hines-AllenJACvs IND17Jared VerseCLE@ PIT18DJ WonnumDETvs MIN19Alim McNeillDETvs MIN20Isaiah McGuireCLE@ PIT21Montez SweatCHI@ SEA22Zach SielerMIAvs NE23Travon WalkerJACvs IND24Byron Murphy IISEAvs CHI25Josh UcheMIAvs NE26Josaiah StewartLARvs LAC27Jeffery SimmonsTEN@ CIN28Maxx CrosbyLV@ NYJ29David BaileyNYJvs LV30DeMarcus LawrenceSEAvs CHI31Chop RobinsonMIAvs NE32Jalen RedmondMIN@ DET33Jalen CarterPHI@ WAS34Gabe JacasNE@ MIA35Maliek CollinsCLE@ PIT36Devonte WyattGBvs CAR37Milton WilliamsNE@ MIA38Derick HallSEAvs CHI39Yaya DiabyTBvs ATL40Quinnen WilliamsDALvs ARI41Deone WalkerBUFvs BAL42Jaishawn BarhamDALvs ARI43Bradley ChubbBUFvs BAL44Donovan EzeiruakuDALvs ARI45Ed OliverBUFvs BAL46Derrick BrownCAR@ GB47Dre’Mont JonesNE@ MIA48Boye MafeCINvs TEN49Laiatu LatuIND@ JAC50Tuli TuipulotuLAC@ LAR51Zach AllenDENvs KC52Jaelan PhillipsCAR@ GB53Princely UmanmielenCAR@ GB54Dexter Lawrence IICINvs TEN55George Karlaftis IIIKC@ DEN56Nik BonittoDENvs KC57Kwity PayeLV@ NYJ58Patrick Jones IICAR@ GB59Kingsley EnagbareNYJvs LV60Trey HendricksonBAL@ BUF61Rashan GaryDALvs ARI62Jonathan GreenardPHI@ WAS63Malcolm KoonceLV@ NYJ64Khalil MackLAC@ LAR65Vita VeaTBvs ATL66Arnold EbiketiePHI@ WAS67Jermaine Johnson IITEN@ CIN68Akheem MesidorLAC@ LAR69Nnamdi MadubuikeBAL@ BUF70Rueben Bain Jr.TBvs ATL71K’Lavon ChaissonWASvs PHI72Jonathan AllenCINvs TEN73Grover StewartIND@ JAC74Jaylahn TuimoloauIND@ JAC75Adetomiwa AdebaworeIND@ JAC76Mike GreenBAL@ BUF77Josh SweatARI@ DAL78Jonathon CooperDENvs KC79Malachi LawrenceDALvs ARI80Dorance Armstrong Jr.WASvs PHI81Will McDonald IVNYJvs LV82Daron PayneWASvs PHI83Chris JonesKC@ DEN

LB Rankings

Fantasy Football Week 8 LB Rankings

RankPlayerTeamOpponent1Ernest Jones IVSEAvs CHI2Josiah TrotterTBvs ATL3Zack BaunPHI@ WAS4Roquan SmithBAL@ BUF5Devin Bush Jr.CHI@ SEA6Nakobe DeanLV@ NYJ7Nate LandmanLARvs LAC8Kendal DanielsATL@ TB9Anthony Hill Jr.TEN@ CIN10Barrett CarterCINvs TEN11Payton WilsonPITvs CLE12Alex SingletonDENvs KC13Jamien SherwoodNYJvs LV14Jaishawn BarhamDALvs ARI15Demetrius Knight Jr.CINvs TEN16DeMarvion OvershownDALvs ARI17Trenton SimpsonBAL@ BUF18Demario DavisNYJvs LV19Blake CashmanMIN@ DET20Jihaad CampbellPHI@ WAS21Jacob RodriguezMIAvs NE22Quay WalkerLV@ NYJ23D’Marco JacksonCHI@ SEA24Shemar JamesDALvs ARI25Harold Perkins Jr.ATL@ TB26Alex AnzaloneTBvs ATL27T.J. WattPITvs CLE28Terrel BernardBUFvs BAL29Tyrice KnightSEAvs CHI30Patrick QueenPITvs CLE31Omar SpeightsLARvs LAC32Jordyn BrooksMIAvs NE33Sonny StylesWASvs PHI34Carson SchwesingerCLE@ PIT35Foyesade OluokunJACvs IND36Rashan GaryDALvs ARI37Dorian WilliamsBUFvs BAL38Jeremiah Trotter Jr.PHI@ WAS39Christian EllissNE@ MIA40Quincy WilliamsCLE@ PIT41Robert SpillaneNE@ MIA42Daiyan HenleyLAC@ LAR43Cedric GrayTEN@ CIN44Noah SewellCHI@ SEA45Frankie LuvuWASvs PHI46Alex HighsmithPITvs CLE47Nick BoltonKC@ DEN48Eric KendricksLARvs LAC49Samson EbukamATL@ TB50Nick HerbigPITvs CLE51Teddye BuchananBAL@ BUF52Cody BartonTEN@ CIN53Ventrell MillerJACvs IND54Jack CampbellDETvs MIN55Devin LloydCAR@ GB56Mack Wilson Sr.ARI@ DAL57Josh WoodsATL@ TB58Justin StrnadDENvs KC59Shaun DolacLARvs LAC60Andrew Van GinkelMIN@ DET61Jack GibbensARI@ DAL62Eric WilsonMIN@ DET63Jacob MartinTEN@ CIN64Drue TranquillKC@ DEN65Kaleb Elarms-OrrBUFvs BAL66Del’Shawn PhillipsLAC@ LAR67Dallas TurnerMIN@ DET68Bobby OkerekeCAR@ GB69Akeem Davis-GaitherIND@ JAC70Troy DyeLAC@ LAR71Tommy EichenbergLV@ NYJ72Oren BurksCINvs TEN73Derrick BarnesDETvs MIN74Gabe JacasNE@ MIA75Jackson WoodardMIAvs NE76Isaiah McDuffieGBvs CAR77Cody SimonARI@ DAL78Ty’Ron HopperGBvs CAR79Malcolm RodriguezDETvs MIN80Jaylon CarliesIND@ JAC81Germaine PrattIND@ JAC82Austin AjiakeIND@ JAC

DB Rankings

Fantasy Football Week 8 DB Rankings

RankPlayerTeamOpponent1Quentin LakeLARvs LAC2Nick EmmanworiSEAvs CHI3Kam CurlLARvs LAC4Derwin James Jr.LAC@ LAR5Xavier WattsATL@ TB6Evan WilliamsGBvs CAR7Caleb DownsDALvs ARI8Kendal DanielsATL@ TB9Julian LoveSEAvs CHI10Devon WitherspoonSEAvs CHI11Jessie Bates IIIATL@ TB12Kyler GordonCHI@ SEA13Budda BakerARI@ DAL14Dillon ThienemanCHI@ SEA15Keisean NixonGBvs CAR16Kyle HamiltonBAL@ BUF17Dane BeltonNYJvs LV18C.J. HendersonATL@ TB19Minkah FitzpatrickNYJvs LV20Xavier McKinneyGBvs CAR21Antonio JohnsonJACvs IND22Kamren KinchensLARvs LAC23Amani HookerTEN@ CIN24Javon BullardGBvs CAR25Jeremy ChinnLV@ NYJ26A.J. HaulcyIND@ JAC27Grant DelpitCLE@ PIT28Tykee SmithTBvs ATL29Kevin Winston Jr.TEN@ CIN30DaRon BlandDALvs ARI31Jacob ParrishTBvs ATL32Nick ScottCAR@ GB33Tre’von MoehrigCAR@ GB34Joshua MetellusMIN@ DET35Cam BynumIND@ JAC36Brandon CisseGBvs CAR37Jalen RamseyPITvs CLE38Will Lee IIICAR@ GB39Ronnie Hickman Jr.CLE@ PIT40Antoine Winfield Jr.TBvs ATL41Brian BranchDETvs MIN42Chamarri ConnerKC@ DEN43Justin WalleyIND@ JAC44Brandon JonesDENvs KC45Marlon HumphreyBAL@ BUF46Zyon McCollumTBvs ATL47Malik Muhammad IICHI@ SEA48Dante Trader Jr.MIAvs NE49Jordan BattleCINvs TEN50Chuck ClarkDETvs MIN51Byron Murphy Jr.MIN@ DET52Tyson CampbellCLE@ PIT53Jaquan BriskerPITvs CLE54Keionte ScottTBvs ATL55Treydan StukesLV@ NYJ56Michael TaaffeMIAvs NE57Amik RobertsonWASvs PHI58Akayleb EvansCAR@ GB59Malaki StarksBAL@ BUF60Mansoor DelaneKC@ DEN61Nick CrossWASvs PHI62Cooper DeJeanPHI@ WAS63L’Jarius SneedKC@ DEN64Kevin Byard IIINE@ MIA65D.J. Reed Jr.DETvs MIN66Cole BishopBUFvs BAL67DeShon ElliottPITvs CLE68Nohl WilliamsKC@ DEN69Ifeatu MelifonwuTBvs ATL70Dax HillCINvs TEN71Jeremy ReavesWASvs PHI72Roger McCrearyDETvs MIN73Craig WoodsonNE@ MIA74Carlton Davis IIINE@ MIA75Marcus JonesNE@ MIA76Riley MossDENvs KC77Quinyon MitchellPHI@ WAS78Andrew MukubaPHI@ WAS79Christian BenfordBUFvs BAL