Individual defensive player (IDP) fantasy football leagues are not for everyone, but make no mistake, IDP leagues have loyal devotees. Adding defensive linemen, linebackers, and defensive backs to your player pool requires more draft strategy, more rankings, and more sleepers, but isn't that what we all love about fantasy football anyway?
Need one more reason to appreciate IDP? There's more scoring! What's not to like?
Most fantasy owners are already aware of the star IDPs (T.J. Watt, Derwin James, Roquan Smith, etc.), but when you play in an individual defensive player league, you need to know defensive schemes just as much as you need to know individual players. (More on that in a bit.)
Whether you're an IDP pro or you're playing for the first time in 2023, Fantasy Alarm's experts are here to help with a complete guide to everything IDP.
For even more expert help, check out Fantasy Alarm's 2023 Fantasy Football Draft Guide and Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet. It's your one-stop-shop for a successful draft.
Fantasy Football IDP Tips 2023
Defensive schemes
If a team employs three defensive linemen (i.e. a 3-4 scheme), then you should target their outside linebackers. The OLBs on a 3-4 defense are more likely to pick up sacks, as the linemen generally just clog the running lanes and rarely rush the QB. Inside linebackers and defensive linemen in a 3-4 defense will get tackles and little else. Of course, in a tackle-heavy IDP league, this can also prove valuable, but we'll talk more about scoring systems later.
A 4-3 defense provides more IDP value with its middle linebacker and defensive ends. The DE (or Edge) spot will provide sacks, while the middle linebacker will rack up tackles. Also, in a 4-3 scheme, all three linebacker spots should produce points, as there is less spreading around of tackles, INTs, and passes defended among the three 'backers.
Usually, you want to target your IDPs from 4-3 teams, as the points will flow more consistently. A 3-4 defense should provide decent stats from the weak-side 'backer, but DLs will mostly just produce tackles. A simple way of finding out whether a team runs a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme is to look at its depth chart and count how many LBs and DLs are projected to start.
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Linebackers
Linebackers are cornerstones in IDP leagues. Tackles, INTs, fumbles, fumble returns, passes defended (PD) -- you name it, linebackers do it (although any IDP can cause or recover a fumble). Even with that said, you don’t necessarily need to target linebackers first, as there are plenty that can provide points (like QBs or even WRs in non-IDP leagues).
If you have the opportunity to nab a top-tier LB with your first IDP pick, you should take advantage. If you can get two stud 'backers, take them without hesitation. However, if the rest of your leagues has drafted their initial IDPs early, you can be patient and mine for some mid-round value picks.
Here’s why it's essential to know what type of defensive scheme a team employs. Even more important, you want to fill your roster with "three-down" 'backers. It only makes sense that the more time a player spends on the field, the more likely he is to produce fantasy points.
Here's a seemingly counterintuitive piece of advice: Seek out 'backers on bad teams, as they usually get more opportunities for tackles.
Defensive Backs
If you aren't required to use both cornerbacks and safeties on your IDP roster, always go for safeties. Generally, safeties provide more tackles on a weekly basis. INTs can be plenty valuable, but they are consistently inconsistent.
Here's another seemingly counterintuitive note: A shutdown corner is usually a middling IDP pick because quarterbacks generally avoid throwing to the WR that the shutdown CB is covering. Rookie corners often have more value. Quarterbacks will test them often until he proves he can cover NFL wide receivers. As such, you will get more points for tackles and potentially PDs and INTs.
Defensive Linemen
When looking for defensive linemen, you'll want to draft DEs as opposed to DTs. Defensive ends will be better sources of sacks and tackles, although there are a few DTs that provide value. That said, unless your league requires a DT, avoid them altogether.
If all the top-tier 'backers have been selected when you start to draft your IDPs, then go for a top-tier DE. Remember, look for a defensive end that starts in a 4-3 scheme. Target at least one of the top-seven DEs, as the drop-off after the first tier is significant.
Rookies
Rookie defensive players often have IDP value as soon as Week 1. As we pointed out earlier, rookie CBs will rack up points because they’ll be targeted more. The learning curve for IDPs is not as steep as some of the skill positions, and you can often find significant value from rookie starters.
Rookies do cause more roster management, though, especially later in the season. The "rookie wall" is a real thing, so have alternatives in mind down the stretch.
Whether you’re playing in a Dynasty, Best Ball, Standard, or other league format, Fantasy Alarm has you covered with its extensive range of expert content. Become the sharpest player at your draft with their 2023 Fantasy Football Draft Guide, or save yourself hours of research with the Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet. Check them out at FantasyAlarm.com.
What's the best fantasy football IDP scoring format?
Ideally, your IDPs will provide point totals that are nearly equivalent to your key offensive players. A good 'backer usually provides 10-15 points a week, which is a typical baseline for your top WRs and RBs in PPR leagues.
Default IDP settings usually aren't ideal. If you can set your own scoring, you should make interceptions, sacks, forced fumbles, and blocked kicks worth more than fumbles recovered (generally a result of luck) or passes defended. Reversing possession and stopping momentum almost always have greater impacts than making a tackle or knocking down a pass. Likewise, sacks are more consequential than other types of tackles.
Here's recommended scoring values for what is best described as a "hybrid" IDP system:
- Assisted Tackle: 1/2 point
- Solo Tackle (or Total Tackles): 1 point
- Sack: 4 points
- INT: 6 points
- Pass Defended: 3 points
- Forced Fumble: 4 points
- Recovered Fumble: 2 points
- Safety: 2 points
- Blocked FG/PAT/Punt: 6 points
- Defensive TDs: 6 points
The best IDP leagues use six-to-eight defensive slots. The normal setup is two DLs, two LBs, two DBs, and possibly two flex defensive players. You could also nix the dedicated DL slots and instead have more flex IDP positions.
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Fantasy Football IDP Strategy 2023
When to start drafting IDPs
Once you know your IDP settings and have some targets (see the rankings below), it’s time to start drafting! Don't get too excited, though -- you should have all of your offensive starters before you start selecting IDPs. You should also grab a few backups first, too, especially at WR and RB. Don’t be in a hurry to draft defensive players, regardless of what other owners in your league are doing.
You might miss out on the top-tier LBs, but typically, high-quality DLs and DBs will be available. With the exception of 2-QB and superflex leagues, you should fill all your IDP starting spots before you return to selecting backup offensive players (other than the initial two or three backups mentioned above). Here's a general rule: A top-tier IDP is a 10th-round draft pick.
Nick Bolton, Micah Parsons, and Jalen Pitre can be great players for your team, but there are plenty of other good-to-great defensive players who can carry you from week to week. It's similar to the decision to draft a stud QB or use a committee approach. Both strategies can work, so long as you adjust during the season to take advantage of matchups and effectively work the waiver wire.
When drafting IDP, position scarcity matters but not at the expense of building depth. For example, if your league uses DT as a required position, the pool thins out quickly after the top few options. That’s still not a reason to take a defensive tackle before taking a top-20 linebacker, though. The point difference between the No. 1 DT and the No. 10 DT will not matter most weeks, but the No. 20 LB might provide enough tackles to win some close matchups.
Of course, you have to adapt to your specific draft. If an offensive bargain falls to you in the later rounds, take advantage.
Hopefully, this goes without saying, but all IDP starters should be drafted before your kicker, and if your league uses a team D/ST in addition to IDPs, you should wait on that position, too.
Final IDP Draft Strategy Thoughts
Consistency is the key to success in IDP leagues. Middle linebackers and defensive ends in 4-3 schemes, outside linebackers in 3-4 schemes, and safeties over cornerbacks provide the most consistency. All other stat categories, with the possible exception of sacks, are too unpredictable to really project.
You'll need to work the waiver wire. Injuries and matchups will dictate who you start at most positions most weeks. All DBs – especially corners – are inconsistent, so plan on streaming them throughout the year and focusing on them less during your draft.
Unless you have an absolute IDP stud, don’t worry about dropping him during his bye week. It's unlikely that anyone will pick him up that week, so you should be able to get him back. Even if another team snags him, it’s likely that another top IDP will be dropped due to bye weeks and you can pick him up. You can also just play matchups.
Always check if your league rewards return yards. If so, look for IDPs that return kicks, too. That's a great way to get points without worrying about tackles, passes defended, or INTs.
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Fantasy Football IDP Rankings 2023
These rankings will be updated until Week 1, so check back for the latest player movement.
Fantasy Football LB Rankings 2023
Rank Player Team
1 Foyesade Oluokun JAC
2 Roquan Smith BAL
3 Nick Bolton KC
4 C.J. Mosley NYJ
5 Fred Warner SF
6 Devin White TB
7 Zaire Franklin IND
8 Matt Milano BUF
9 Shaquille Leonard IND
10 Logan Wilson CIN
11 Eric Kendricks LAC
12 Jordan Hicks MIN
13 Ernest Jones LA
14 Bobby Wagner SEA
15 De'Vondre Campbell GB
16 Isaiah Simmons ARI
17 Josey Jewell DEN
18 Patrick Queen BAL
19 Bobby Okereke NYG
20 Frankie Luvu CAR
21 Dre Greenlaw SF
22 Quay Walker GB
23 Cole Holcomb PIT
24 Lavonte David TB
25 Tremaine Edmunds CHI
26 Azeez Al-Shaair TEN
27 Divine Deablo LV
28 Pete Werner NO
29 Demario Davis NO
30 Jack Campbell DET
Fantasy Football DL Rankings 2023
Rank Player Team
1 T.J. Watt PIT
2 Micah Parsons DAL
3 Maxx Crosby LV
4 Nick Bosa SF
5 Myles Garrett CLE
6 Haason Reddick PHI
7 Brian Burns CAR
8 Aidan Hutchinson DET
9 Kayvon Thibodeaux NYG
10 Matthew Judon NE
11 Danielle Hunter MIN
12 Cameron Heyward PIT
13 DeForest Buckner IND
14 Jaelan Phillips MIA
15 Alex Highsmith PIT
16 Christian Wilkins MIA
17 Chris Jones KC
18 Uchenna Nwosu SEA
19 Greg Rousseau BUF
20 Quinnen Williams NYJ
21 Harold Landry TEN
22 Josh Allen JAC
23 Aaron Donald LA
24 Sam Hubbard CIN
25 Josh Sweat PHI
26 Jeffery Simmons TEN
27 Cameron Jordan NO
28 Za'Darius Smith CLE
29 Daron Payne WAS
30 Jonathan Allen WAS
Fantasy Football DB Rankings 2023
Rank Player Team
1 Derwin James LAC
2 L'Jarius Sneed KC
3 Jalen Pitre HOU
4 Minkah Fitzpatrick PIT
5 Kevin Byard TEN
6 Budda Baker ARI
7 Talanoa Hufanga SF
8 Kyle Hamilton BAL
9 Jordan Poyer BUF
10 Justin Simmons DEN
11 Rasul Douglas GB
12 Sauce Gardner NYJ
13 Marlon Humphrey BAL
14 Jalen Ramsey MIA
15 Antoine Winfield TB
16 C.J. Gardner-Johnson DET
17 Harrison Smith MIN
18 Riq Woolen SEA
19 Grant Delpit CLE
20 Kyle Dugger NE
21 Jaquan Brisker CHI
22 Kenny Moore IND
23 Trevon Diggs DAL
24 Rayshawn Jenkins JAC
25 Jeremy Chinn CAR
26 Eddie Jackson CHI
27 Jevon Holland MIA
28 Carlton Davis TB
29 Tyson Campbell JAC
30 Martin Emerson CLE
