The DS staff got together to hash out who we believe will advance through the playoffs. If you want the rundown on that process, check Jared's post with the offensive rankings.
I used the same guide here on defense. If you play in a playoff league with IDPs, though, you can use this area to hedge your team bets a bit.
Passing on Aaron Rodgers and Aaron Jones because you don't think they have much chance of getting by the Saints? You could still find a spot for Packers LB Blake Martinez, just in case Green Bay moves on. The key difference here is that so few quality LBs exist in the playoff player pool that Martinez could quite plausibly score in 1 game as much or more as many other LBs might collect in 3. You can find examples at other positions as well.
Of course, these rankings could differ significantly by scoring or different format. So treat this more as a guide than a strict plan. Also, beware of injury statuses as you head into your draft (or lineup selection). The key players to watch: Saints S Vonn Bell (knee), Vikings LB Eric Kendricks (quad) and Texans DE J.J. Watt (pectoral).
I'd rank Bell higher without the injury that cost him the final 3 games of the season, so a good first couple of days to the practice week could boost his standing here.
Top 50 Overall
1. DeMario Davis, LB, Saints
2. Cameron Jordan, DE, Saints
3. Fred Warner, LB, 49ers
4. Dre Greenlaw, LB, 49ers
5. DeForest Buckner, DT, 49ers
6. Chris Jones, DT, Chiefs
7. Frank Clark, DE, Chiefs
8. Arik Armstead, DE, 49ers
9. Nick Bosa, DE, 49ers
10. Vonn Bell, S, Saints
11. Jordan Poyer, S, Bills
12. Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Bills
13. Zach Cunningham, LB, Texans
14. Marcus Lattimore, CB, Saints
15. Marlon Humphrey, CB, Ravens
16. Marcus Peters, CB, Ravens
17. Jimmie Ward, S, 49ers
18. Tyrann Mathieu, S, Chiefs
19. Chuck Clark, S, Ravens
20. Marcus Williams, S, Saints
21. Charvarius Ward, CB, Chiefs
22. Matt Judon, LB, Ravens
23. Matt Milano, LB, Bills
24. Jaylon Ferguson, LB, Ravens
25. Blake Martinez, LB, Packers
26. Eric Kendricks, LB, Vikings
27. Brandon Graham, DE, Eagles
28. J.J. Watt, DE, Texans
29. Danielle Hunter, DE, Vikings
30. Jadeveon Clowney, DE, Seahawks
31. Harrison Smith, S, Vikings
32. Logan Ryan, CB, Titans
33. Daniel Sorenson, S, Chiefs
34. Tre’Davious White, CB, Bills
35. Earl Thomas, S, Ravens
36. Micah Hyde, S, Bills
37. Anthony Hitchens, LB Chiefs
38. Dont’a Hightower, LB, Patriots
39. Jamie Collins, LB, Patriots
40. A.J. Klein, LB, Saints
41. Kyle Van Noy, LB, Patriots
42. Benardrick McKinney, LB, Texans
43. Jayon Brown, LB, Titans
44. Za’Darius Smith, LB, Packers
45. Preston Smith, LB, Packers
46. Kendall Fuller, CB, Chiefs
47. Patrick Chung, S, Patriots
48. Stephon Gilmore, CB, Patriots
49. Justin Reid, S, Texans
50. Devin McCourty, S, Patriots
DL
Cameron Jordan, DE, Saints
DeForest Buckner, DT, 49ers
Chris Jones, DT, Chiefs
Frank Clark, DE, Chiefs
Arik Armstead, DE, 49ers
Nick Bosa, DE, 49ers
Brandon Graham, DE, Eagles
J.J. Watt, DE, Texans
Danielle Hunter, DE, Vikings
Jadeveon Clowney, DE, Seahawks
Derek Barnett, DE, Eagles
Lawrence Guy, DE, Patriots
John Simon, DE, Patriots
D.J. Reader, DE, Texans
Shaq Lawson, DE, Bills (hamstring)
Ed Oliver, DT, Bills
Jurrell Casey, DE, Titans
Kenny Clark, DT, Packers
Fletcher Cox, DT, Eagles
Everson Griffen, DE, Vikings
Jarran Reed, DT, Seahawks
Quinton Jefferson, DT, Seahawks
LB
DeMario Davis, LB, Saints
Fred Warner, LB, 49ers
Dre Greenlaw, LB, 49ers
Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Bills
Zach Cunningham, LB, Texans
Matt Judon, LB, Ravens
Matt Milano, LB, Bills
Jaylon Ferguson, LB, Ravens
Blake Martinez, LB, Packers
Eric Kendricks, LB, Vikings
Anthony Hitchens, LB Chiefs
Dont’a Hightower, LB, Patriots
Jamie Collins, LB, Patriots
A.J. Klein, LB, Saints
Kyle Van Noy, LB, Patriots
Benardrick McKinney, LB, Texans
Jayon Brown, LB, Titans
Za’Darius Smith, LB, Packers
Preston Smith, LB, Packers
Nigel Bradham, LB, Eagles
Anthony Barr, LB, Vikings
Whitney Mercilus, LB, Texans
Brennan Scarlett, LB, Texans
Cody Barton, LB, Seahawks
Harold Landry, LB, Titans
Rashaan Evans, LB, Titans
Nathan Gerry, LB, Eagles
DB
Vonn Bell, S, Saints
Jordan Poyer, S, Bills
Marcus Lattimore, CB, Saints
Marlon Humphrey, CB, Ravens
Marcus Peters, CB, Ravens
Jimmie Ward, S, 49ers
Tyrann Mathieu, S, Chiefs
Chuck Clark, S, Ravens
Marcus Williams, S, Saints
Charvarius Ward, CB, Chiefs
Harrison Smith, S, Vikings
Logan Ryan, CB, Titans
Daniel Sorenson, S, Chiefs
Tre’Davious White, CB, Bills
Earl Thomas, S, Ravens
Micah Hyde, S, Bills
Harrison Smith, S, Vikings
Kendall Fuller, CB, Chiefs
Patrick Chung, S, Patriots
Stephon Gilmore, CB, Patriots
Justin Reid, S, Texans
Devin McCourty, S, Patriots
Kevin Byard, S, Titans
Bradley Roby, CB, Texans
Gareon Conley, CB, Texans
Levi Wallace, CB, Bills (ankle)
Kenny Vaccaro, S, Titans
Richard Sherman, CB, 49ers
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