A Breakdown of IDP Rankings (Sack Heavy)

This article is intended to build on the overall IDP rankings that were featured in the 2013 FakePigskin Draft Guide, which can be had for FREE by simply signing up to our weekly newsletter email on the homepage. I’ll list my top 50 at Defensive Linemen, Linebackers and Defensive Backs, showing sub-positions where necessary. These rankings are based on sack heavy scoring, a description of which can be found in my  Breaking Down an IDP Scoring System article.

Defensive Linemen

Defensive linemen, split into Ends (DE) and Tackles (DT) should be considered as the Wide-Receiver of IDP, as their stats can be very erratic. It’s difficult to find consistent DLs in fantasy, but those who can get behind the line often and disrupt play can have excellent weeks, especially if they can get to the QB. If your league regards DL as one position (like NFL.com) then usually a DE will outscore a DT, though DTs are more consistent. This explains why so many DE’s are present in my top 50 DLs below:

 

1. Watt, JJ DE HOU	26. Suh, Ndamokung DT DET
2. Wake, Cameron DE MIA	27. Quinn, Robert DE STL
3. Allen, Jared DE MIN	28. Liuget, Corey DE SD
4. Ware, Demarcus DE DAL	29. Jordan, Dion DE MIA
5. Johnson, Charles DE CAR	30. Bennett,Michael DT TB
6. Pierre-Paul, Jason DE NYG	31. Umenyiora, Osi DE NYG
7. Campbell, Calais DE ARI	32. Idonije, Israel DE CHI
8. Hardy, Greg DE CAR	33. Jones, Chandler DE NE
9. Peppers, Julius DE CHI	34. Melton, Henry DT CHI
10. Atkins, Geno DT CIN	35. Richardson, Sheldon DE NYJ
11. Spencer, Anthony DE DAL	36. Ngata, Haloti DT BAL
12. Williams, Mario DE BUF	37. Smith, Justin DE SF
13. Abraham, John DE ARI	38. Mincey, Jeremy DE JAC
14. Johnson, Michael DE CIN	39. Ansah, Ezekiel DE DET
15. Phillips, Shaun DE SD	40. Biermann, Kroy DE ATL
16. Morgan, Derrick DE TEN	41. Babineaux, Jonathan DT ATL
17. Long, Chris DE STL	42. Jones, Datone DE GB
18. Clemons, Chris DE SEA	43. Smith, Antonio DE HOU
19. Ninkovich, Rob DE NE	44. Robison, Brian DE MIN
20. Dunlap, Carlos DE CIN	45. Dareus, Marcell DT BUF
21. Wilkerson, Muhammad DE NYJ	46. Wolfe, Derek DE DEN
22. Avril, Cliff DE SEA	47. Vernon, Olivier DE MIA
23. Jordan, Cameron DE NO	48. Wooton, Corey DE CHI
24. Babin, Jason DE JAC	49. Fairley, Nick DT DET
25. Houston, Lamarr DE OAK	50. Wimbley, Kamerion DE TEN

 

It’s no surprise that Watt is at the top of the list which makes him the undisputed #1 IDP player this year (in both scoring formats). That being said, don’t overpay for him. Although he’s got the best shot to win the first Deacon Jones award as sack leader, Watt will not reproduce what he did last year. Some guys like Campbell and Hardy are better value picks in my opinion. Atkins is the clear #1 DT this year after he scored 150% of the next guys points last year. Don’t just go for the names you know like Suh and Wilfork (though Suh is due a big year), as they aren’t always as good in fake football as in the real world.

 

Linebacker

Linebacker is full of two types of fantasy players: Sack masters and tackle monsters. For this reason it’s important to try and get a combination of the two to ensure a balanced LB group. There is a premium on Sack masters however and they should be the targets of your first few LBs barring a few exceptions.

 

1. Smith, Aldon LB SF	26. Freeman, Jerrell LB IND
2. Laurinaitis, James LB STL	27. Brown, Arthur LB WAS
3. Timmons, Lawrence LB PIT	28. Dunbar, Jo-Lonn LB STL
4. Bowman, Navorro LB SF	29. Ellerbe, Danell LB BAL
5. Woodyard, Wesley LB DEN	30. Beason, Jon LB CAR
6. Matthews, Clay LB GB	31. Dansby, Karlos LB MIA
7. Kuechly, Luke LB CAR	32. Briggs, Lance LB CHI
8. David, Lavonte LB TB	33. Kerrigan, Ryan LB WAS
9. Wagner, Bobby LB SEA	34. Alonso, Kiko LB BUF
10. Willis, Patrick LB SF	35. Harrison, James LB PIT
11. Lee, Sean LB DAL	36. Smith, D.J. LB GB
12. Greenway, Chad LB MIN	37. Wheeler, Philip LB OAK
13. Houston, Justin LB KC	38. Harris, David LB NYJ
14. Miller, Von LB DEN	39. Hali, Tamba LB KC
15. Washington, Daryl LB ARI	40. Kruger, Paul LB CLE
16. Brown, Zach LB TEN	41. Ogletree, Alec LB STL
17. Dumervil, Elvis LB DEN	42. Allen, Russell LB JAC
18. Suggs, Terrell LB BAL	43. Ayers, Akeem LB TEN
19. Jackson, D’Qwell LB CLE	44. Blackburn, Chase LB CAR
20. Mayo, Jerod LB NE	45. Ryans, DeMeco LB PHI
21. Johnson, Derrick LB KC	46. Foster, Mason LB TB
22. Weatherspoon, Sean LB ATL	47. Foote, Larry LB PIT
23. Te’o, Manti LB SD	48. Brooks, Ahmad LB SF
24. Fletcher, London LB WAS	49. Hawk, AJ LB GB
25. Orakpo, Brian LB WAS	50. Wright, KJ LB SEA

 

Miller would be atop this list if it weren’t for his potential ban, and if it does get overturned you can put him above Smith. Here you can see the premium of LBs who can get 10 sacks or more in a season with Timmons at #3 (he may not make the top 50 in tackle heavy leagues). This is why its important to know your scoring system. There is a great bunch of tackle monsters in the top 20, but Laurinaitis, Bowman, Kuechly and Willis are all guys who will almost certainly get over 120 tackles this year and can be trusted to get you 8-12 points almost every single week. Guys like Aldon Smith, Clay Matthews and Elvis Dumervil are less consistent, but can single-handedly win match-ups any one week. Last year Aldon Smith scored 59.50 points for me in his demolition of Chicago QB Jason Campbell, which helped give me over 200 points that week. If you’re starting 3 or more LBs each week I’d try and get one of these guys as they can put you over the edge any one week.

 

Defensive Back

DBs are the enigma of IDP football. No scoring system exists that fully utilises them in fantasy football as the best DBs do very little statistically. However to exclude them would be foolish. The best general advice to give regarding Defensive Backs is not to draft them early. I would draft my first DB in the 20-24^th round of a 30 round draft, unless one of the top guys were there. Even then it can pay to take a 5^th LB or a 4^th DE before you stockpiled on DBs. Secondly, don’t confuse real NFL talent with fantasy value. The best Cornerbacks are avoided by opposing QBs and as such their opportunity is restricted. Don’t get Revis early, and be wary of guys who’ve just had a huge year – they likely wont repeat it in terms of fantasy production.

 

1. Finnegan, Cortland CB STL	26. Pollard, Bernard S TEN
2. Tillman, Charles CB CHI	27. Griffin, Michael S TEN
3. Weddle, Eric S SD	28. Berry, Eric S KC
4. McCourty, Jason CB TEN	29. Wright, Major S CHI
5. Peterson, Patrick CB ARI	30. Verner, Alterraun S TEN
6. Jones, Reshad S MIA	31. Dennard, Alfonzo CB NE
7. Burnett, Morgan S GB	32. Williams, Cary CB PHI
8. Jennings,Tim CB CHI	33. Wilson, Josh CB WAS
9. Harper, Roman S NO	34. Branch, Tyvon S OAK
10. Cox, Derek CB JAC	35. Polamalu,Troy S PIT
11. Sherman, Richard CB SEA	36. Reed, Ed S HOU
12. Moore, William S ATL	37. Porter, Tracy CB DEN
13. Smith, Harrison S MIN	38. Huff, Michael S BAL
14. Landry, LaRon S NYJ	39. Marshall, Richard CB MIA
15. Hall, DeAngelo CB WAS	40. Young, Usama S CLE
16. McCourty, Devin S NE	41. Samuel, Asante CB ATL
17. Davis, Vontae CB IND	42. Butler, Darius CB IND
18. Jenkins, Janoris CB DAL	43. Elam, Matt S BAL
19. Barron, Mark S TB	44. Thomas, Earl S SEA
20. Nelson, Reggie S CIN	45. Robinson, Dunta CB ATL
21. Vaccaro, Kenny S NO	46. Revis, Darelle CB TB
22. DeCoud, Thomas S ATL	47. Jenkins, Malcolm S NO
23. Hayward, Casey CB GB	48. Reid, Eric S SF
24. Banks, Johnthan CB TB	49. Goldson, Dashon S TB
25. Harris, Chris CB DEN	50. Woodson, Charles S OAK

The top guys in this list offer some consistency, which is very difficult to find at DB. Finnegan has been a consistent performer the last few years and should continue to be a lock for a top 10 CB this year. Other guys like Weddle are also known for being a top 10 DB in the last few years. This sounds like poor value from a top ranked S or CB but it’s the nature of the position and exactly why you shouldn’t draft them early. Later in the ranking we find guys who play for teams in pass-heavy divisions. A DB who is facing Drew Brees and Matt Ryan twice a season (See Bucs or Panthers) is going to have increased opportunity to get tackles on WRs, pass defenses and even the odd interception. If you’re struggling to find a name you recognise late in a draft, find a player for a team in a pass-heavy division (NFC North is another) and draft a starting S or CB. This seems a crude way to pick your players but again it just reflects how poorly the position is represented in fantasy – this is the best way to combat DBs in your fantasy league.

 

 

Any further IDP questions and you can get in touch on twitter @FFMattLane. Thanks for reading!