What is IDP and what does it mean to you as a fantasy football player? It stands for Individual Defensive Player and it’s your ticket to a more competitive league. Sick of the entire Indianapolis Colts defense letting you down but Darius Leonard had a career game? Don’t fret this is why you’re here, I’m going to give you the option that saves you from relying on team play in Fantasy IDP Rankings.

Now as this is only an option right now and most leagues aren’t utilizing it, player value vastly depends on scoring just like offense does. The issue is there isn’t a standardized scoring for defense like there is for offense. As a die-hard that will not play fantasy football unless there is IDP, I’m going to help you choose your players.

Linebackers are your scoring machines, much like a bell cow running back. Difference is you get to find diamonds in the rough in the waiver wire throughout the year. Safety’s equate to a WR2-WR3 and your lineman are like fullbacks that have a chance at a sack. There’s many variations of this, in two of my leagues we run a full 4-3 defense. To ease you into it, we’ll use a basic 5 player format, 1 Flex, 2 DB, 1 LB, 1 DL.

Alright now to my Fantasy IDP Rankings. Remember to always look at your scoring. If tackles are scored at .5, it’s going to value your Defensive Backs differently than scoring at one.

Linebackers

Darius Leonard

Yea, I gave it up in the beginning of the article. This man is a beast, he’s got everything you’ll ask for in a linebacker and in a redraft situation I have taken him in round 5. Yeah, after I drafted Chris Godwin in the 4th last year but now here we are in 2020 and I was crazy in 2019 for these picks.

TJ Watt

This Watt brother should be 100% owned in every IDP. He runs like a plane and hits like a train. Sacks, Tackles, Interceptions and pick 6’s he’s going to help anchor your defense to get you into the “W” column.

Bobby Wagner

In the same draft I took Darius Leonard in round 5, Bobby Wagner was my round 6. Always a yearly stud of the Seattle defense he can easily make or break a weekly match-up.

Jaylon Smith

This Cowboy is different from the rest, you can count on him. Jaylon puts up consistent points, unlike his counterparts on the offense.

Notable LB’s

• Khalil Mack
• Shaquil Barrett
• Cory Littleton
• Fred Warner
• Blake Martinez
• Devin Bush
• Rashaan Evans
• Harold Landry
• Jaylon Brown
• K.J. Wright
• Bud Dupree
• Kyle Van Noy
• Leighton Vander-Esch

Defensive Backs

Jamal Adams

The star of Gang Green. He’s a staple to any fantasy defense. What he lacks in interceptions he makes up for in solo tackles since he’s all over the field.

Derwin James

What’s not to love about a top-10 fantasy producing DB and he’s only a 3 year pro? If you’re in a dynasty jump on the James wagon. I know he was hurt in 2019 but if 2020 looks like 2018 he won’t be available on a waiver wire.

Minkah Fitzpatrick

Do you see the trend yet? DB means Safety. After Minkah found his way to the land of bumblebee jerseys and Primanti Bros’ sandwiches he turned his prime talent into magic for Mike Tomlin’s secondary.

Kevin Byard

Nashville’s resident ball-hawk should never be looked over. 2 years removed from the most interceptions he’s still playing lights out. This is’t just a homer fan talking either. Yes, I’m probably the only public Titans fan in the media.

Notable DB’s

• Budda Baker
• Tyrann Mathieu
• Tracy Walker
• Logan Ryan
• Stephon Gilmore 
• Tre’Davious White

Defensive Linemen

This one will be short and sweet since you’ll likely never need more than 1. In the leagues I’m in, i need 3 or 4 so If you’re in one of those you wont end up with multiples on here. They’re also names that you probably know. They are ordered to my personal fantasy rankings.

• Aaron Donald
• Nick Bosa
• Danielle Hunter
• Joey Bosa
• J.J. Watt
• Deforest Buckner
• Jadeveon Clowney
• Justin Houston
• Jurrell Casey
•  Myles Garrett

That was my introduction to IDP if you play it, you get it. Follow me @KennyYake for my upcoming articles and @BellyUpFantasySports to catch all of our amazing fantasy sports content.