It seems everywhere you look people are putting out lists of top IDP’s, but then you get to read it and there is only a short list of 5-10 players. Not sure about how you guys do IDP leagues, but more than likely your league is going to draft more than 10 IDP’s. So I’ve compiled a list of the top LB’s, DB’s and DL’s. Since each position is so different they will be ranked separately (LB’s with LB’s, DB’s with DB’s, etc.). I’ll be doing each position in B-Funston-like Big Board setup (minus the actual spreadsheet) to make it more familiar.
**(These rankings are based on the most common IDP scoring settings: Solo Tackle = 1 pt, Assist tackle = 0.5 pts, sack = 2, INT = 3, forced fumble = 2, fumble recovery = 2, defensive TD = 6, safety = 2, pass defended (PD) = 2, block kick = 3)
Without further ado, here is you’re definitive guide to IDP’s.
Linebackers:
1. Patrick Willis (SF) – 100+ solo tackles every year in league and solid secondary stats; only has missed 1 game in 4 year career
2. London Fletcher (WAS) – NEVER missed a game in 13 seasons; always 120+ total tackles and averaged 8 PD’s the past 5 seasons.
3. Jerod Mayo (NE) – Last seasons tackle leader, but doesn’t offer much else; fear a D’Qwell Jackson-esque decline.
4. Stephen Tulloch (DET) – Dominant D-line will cause lots of short, quick passes for him to either tackle the receiver or swat to the ground.
5. Derrick Johnson (KC) – Haley’s coaching staff seems to have gotten the most out of his ridiculous talent; wouldn’t surprise to see him surpass last seasons numbers.
6. Ray Lewis (BAL) – Despite age he’s still one of the best; ball presence and pursuit to ball carrier is unmatched.
7. Paul Posluszny (JAX) – Darkhorse to lead league in tackles if healthy for 16 games; Del Rio seems to always produce a uber-productive MLB.
8. Brian Urlacher (CHI) – Solid choice after top guys; some recent injury concerns, but still a beast when healthy.
9. D.J. Williams (DEN) – Even with only 11 games back on ’08, still recorded 90+ tackles; leader of a defense that will be run against often which is nice for fantasy purposes.
10. Barrett Ruud (TEN) – Doesn’t matter who the Titans have put at MLB over the years (Bullock, Tulloch) they always put up juicy fantasy stats and Ruud is next.
11. Chad Greenway (MIN) – Down on all Minny IDPs this year due to losses on D-line (only Jared Allen is returning) and it will make it easier for opposing O-lines to bet their hands on Greeny, nonetheless, still a top backer.
12. Lawrence Timmons (PIT) – Seems late for a Steeler LB, but there are so many options on that team that there are only so many tackles to go around; Timmons will lead team in tackles again, while providing decent pass defense stats.
13. James Harrison (PIT) – Not as many tackles as you like from LB, but love the sacks and fumbles you’ll get; always a suspension risk though.
14. James Laurinaitis (STL) – Poor man’s Mayo, solid number of tackles, not a whole lot else.
15. Jon Beason (CAR) – absolute steal if ready for week 1, but recent foot surgery problematic; returning to MLB after last years experiment at OLB, but once healthy again elite numbers like Mayo and Willis will follow.
16. Paris Lenon (ARI) – Somewhat inconsistent over the past few years, but a decent chance to get an even return on investment at this spot.
17. Curtis Lofton (ATL) – Good bet for another 90+ solo tackle campaign and 120+ total tackles, but lacking in pass defensive stats.
18. James Anderson (CAR) – Drops this far compared to last year because of being moved to OLB; lack of track record causes concern.
19. Brian Cushing (HOU) – Suspended for first 4 games of ’10, but still finished on pace for 100+ total tackles; improvement on rookie season (’09) expected.
20. James Farrior (PIT) – Consistent, if unspectacular; 95+ total tackles in 8 of 9 seasons in Steel City.
21. Karlos Dansby (MIA) – 2nd year on South Beach will be more productive; return to his Arizona numbers likely.
22. Jonathan Vilma (NO) – Only season he didn’t produce was injury shortened; set-it-and-forget-it LB.
23. Lance Briggs (CHI) – Always puts up numbers that are slightly less than Urlachers’, so draft him as such.
24. Geno Hayes (TB) – Could add on 10-15 more solo tackles with Ruud gone.
25. Von Miller (DEN) – There’s always a rookie LB that blows up his first year and although it seems obvious to choose him, I don’t think it’s ill-advised to do so.
Bubble: Desmond Bishop (GB), AJ Hawk (GB), DeMarcus Ware (DAL), Daryl Smith (JAX), David Harris (NYJ), David Hawthorne (SEA), Clay Matthews (GB)
Defensive Backs:
1. TJ Ward (CLE) – As a rookie he totaled insane 120+ total tackles (95 solo); expect a slight decline in tackles, but uptick in passes defended and INT’s as he should have a better feel for NFL passing attacks.
2. Charles Woodson (GB) – The Pack’s do-it-all corner; he’ll get you the INT’s and PD’s you expect from your DB, while racking up more tackles than most and getting the occasional sack.
3. Eric Berry (KC) – Another 2nd year safety that should take a big leap forward in production; could break 100 total tackles, 13+ PD’s, and 5 INT’s.
4. Michael Griffin (TEN) – Just what you want from a DB, lots of tackles and lots of PD’s
5. Eric Weddle (SD) – Guy sniffs out the ball carrier like few other DB’s; expect something between ’08 and ’10 stats and you’ll walk away a happy drafter at seasons end.
6. Quintin Mikell (STL) – Really like his move to STL; will step in and get the 90+ total tackles he’d been getting in Philly.
7. Donte Whitner (SF) – Sorry, not paying for last years ludicrous 140 total tackles; SF has much better front seven so he won’t be needed to play in the box as often to help with run D, but 90+ total tackles still reasonable.
8. Roman Harper (NO) – Teams will be playing catch up most of the season with the Saints and Harper will pick up a lot of garbage time tackles because of it, just don’t expect too many picks.
9. Brent Grimes (ATL) – Has improved each year in the league; something between ’09 and ’10 is his floor, so about 75 tackles, 15 PD’s, and 5 INT’s.
10. Troy Polamalu (PIT) – Don’t think any safety plays at the line of scrimmage more than Troy; expect career norm’s of 70+ tackles, 5-6 INT’s and 10+ PD’s
11. Patrick Peterson (ARI) – With the Greg Toler’s season-ending injury, the rookie will often be lining up against the other teams WR1; expect a lot of targets from QB’s giving Peterson ample opportunities for tackles, PD’s/INT’s.
12. Deangelo Hall (WAS) – I’m going the extra mile to not pay market value on Hall this year; compared to his career norm’s, last season was definitely the outlier so expect major regression back to about 60 total tackles, 13 PD’s and 6 INT’s. His one saving grace is his ability to take a INT or fumble recovery back for a TD.
13. Kerry Rhodes (ARI) – Could pick up some extra tackles taking care of Peterson’s guy when the rook gets beat; return to the 80-90 total tackle range very possible
14. Tramon Williams (GB) – Maybe the most consistent guy on this list (just not quite as productive) as his #’s from the past 3 seasons are almost identical to each other; expect more of the same: 55 total tackles, 15 PD’s and 5 INT’s.
15. Devin McCourty (NE) – Never quite sure what to expect from any DB in his second year under Belichick, but hell, if he can just duplicate what he did last year he’ll be a top DB for fantasy.
Bubble: Bernard Pollard (BAL), Alterraun Verner (TEN), Cortland Finnegan (TEN), Joe Haden (CLE), Patrick Chung (NE), Charles Tillman (CHI), Michael Huff (OAK), Ed Reed (BAL)
Defensive Lineman:
1. Mario Williams (HOU) – This one is easy, he’s this years Marques Colston, only on the defensive side. He plays LB in real life, but is eligible at DL in Yahoo!. You’ll get more sacks than a typical LB, and more tackles than a DL. He’s James Harrison, only you can put him at DL and he won’t get suspended.
2. Justin Tuck (NYG) – You can bank on him for 60+ total tackles and double-digit sacks; one of the best at strip-sacking there is.
3. Julius Peppers (CHI) – Return to double-digit sacks almost a guarantee; unreal at timing his jump to swat passes at the line of scrimmage when he doesn’t get to the QB.
4. Trent Cole (PHI) – Track record of above-average tackle totals for DL along with 10+ sacks; improved partners on D-line will take blockers attention away from him and improved backfield in Philly will give him more time to take advantage.
5. Jared Allen (MIN) – Lost lots of help on D-line in Minny (see Chad Greenway for reminder) will cause much more attention than he already normally gets; But still top 5 DL based on his own talent and hustle.
6. Ndamukong Suh (DET) – It’s rare that a defensive tackle makes a top DL list since they are usually just space eaters, but Suh is an exception; exceptionally quick, and brutishly strong making an improvement on last year not only possible, but probable.
7. Justin Smith (SF) – Played all 16 games 9 straight seasons; will get you 70+ total tackles and 7-10 sacks.
8. Osi Umenyiora (NYG) – Recovery from knee injury obvious concern, but should miss minimal regular season action; when on the field he is just as good as Tuck at the strip-sack; clear injury discount and should be taken advantage of
9. Elvis Dumervil (DEN) – Full year removed from a season-ending injury last preseason; looks great in camp and should come close to ’09 totals (49 total tackles, 17 sacks).
10. Jason Babin (PHI) – Skeptical of last years breakout as he’s no spring chicken, been in league 7 years and never posted more than 5 sacks until last year. That being said love the team context as every passing play could be a race to the QB between him and Trent Cole.
11. Charles Johnson (CAR) – Don’t pay for career year, he got paid in offseason and has no help on D-line or secondary; still, you could do worse at DL.
12. James Hall (STL) – Yet another breakout from last year; better supporting cast than Charles Johnson, but not as talented.
13. John Abraham (ATL) – You know what you’re getting here, about 40 tackles and 10 sacks; solid, consistent, but not top flight anymore.
14. Kyle Williams (BUF) – Don’t laugh just yet, hear me out; good bet for 50-60+ total tackles and about 4 sacks. He’s outscored fan favorites Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis 2 years in a row, don’t knock the Buff!.
15. Darnell Dockett (ARI) – He’ll get you 45+ total tackles and 5-6 sacks; if you waited this long to take a DL, you’re not gonna find much better.
Bubble: Haloti Ngata (BAL), Robert Mathis (IND), Glenn Dorsey (KC), Matt Shaughnessy (OAK), Albert Haynesworth (NE)
A couple notes to end this thing. First, I know I probably left out your “no-brainer,” but remember this is for FANTASY purposes, not necessarily who I would take were I starting a real franchise. Second, these rankings (more specifically the defensive backs) are not for leagues that count kick/punt return yardage. If that were the case than Manning would be much higher, as would Tramon Williams and Patrick Peterson. Feel free to comment or berate as you deem necessary.