Scott Bogman | Tue, Jun 4th 2024, 5:52am EDT

Fantasy Football IDP Draft Strategy, Rankings & Tiers (2024)

Draft strategy for individual defensive players (IDP) leagues depends wholly on the number of IDPs, how they score (tackles vs. big plays), how the IDPs score compared to the offensive players and what positions we are required to fill. Let’s dive into fantasy football draft strategy, advice, and rankings for IDP leagues.

Fantasy Football IDP Draft Strategy

3/4 IDPs

If there are only three to four players, there will likely be one at each position and then one Flex if there’s a fourth. We can wait until very late if there are only three to four. The defensive line (DL) is the thinnest, but there’s more than enough to go around, and the waiver wire will be filled with options on a week-to-week basis, so the draft spots are less critical. The Flex player should be a linebacker (LB) or defensive back (DB) — the deepest positions.

6/7 IDPs

Now we’re getting somewhere. We need a little strategy here because we are getting to the point where depth will matter. The IDPs will still be behind the offensive players here, even if they score close to the same because the IDP positions are deeper. This part where depth will affect us is mainly the DL, but possibly some depth at LB. I’ll get more into the depth in the positional primers.

11 IDP Starters

We have to start considering position depth and making a plan with this depth. The DL needs to be attacked early. It’s the highest rotated position and guys that stay on the field are more challenging to find when the top 48 are starters and possibly 60 are on rosters. There are more LBs to pick from than DL, but the cliff is steep because the LBs typically stay on the field. The DBs are still deep, even if we split them into safety (S) and cornerbacks (CB). Safeties are more important to get than CBs, but there’s a ton of crossover at the positions.

Positional Qualifications

Positions can widen depending on the platform you choose to play on. The most significant issue in positions is usually among DLs. Players like T.J. Watt, Micah Parsons, Khalil Mack and Matthew Judon are only LBs in some formats. This can be fixed by flipping to EDGE’ but that adds another layer if your league only wants the three positions of DL, LB and DB. Some formats will allow you to customize and some won’t, so ensure your league qualifications match your draft list to avoid a draft day mistake. Check out my 2024 IDP Draft Rankings.

Fantasy Football IDP Draft Rankings

Top 50 Overall

Rank	Player	POS	Team	GP	Tk	TkS	TkA	Sk	FF	FR	Int	PD
1	Foyesade Oluokun	LB	JAX	17	173	111	62	2.5	1	3	1	6
2	Zaire Franklin	LB	IND	16	179	107	72	1.5	2	0	0	6
3	Bobby Wagner	LB	WAS	17	183	96	87	3.5	0	1	0	3
4	Roquan Smith	LB	BAL	16	158	84	74	1.5	1	0	1	8
5	Fred Warner	LB	SF	17	132	82	50	2.5	4	0	4	11
6	T.J. Watt	LB	PIT	17	68	48	20	19	4	3	1	8
7	Maxx Crosby	DL	LV	17	90	55	35	14.5	2	1	0	2
8	Bobby Okereke	DL	NYG	17	149	92	57	2.5	4	0	2	10
9	Ernest Jones	LB	LAR	15	145	74	71	4.5	0	0	0	6
10	Myles Garrett	DL	CLE	16	42	33	9	14	4	1	0	3
11	Danielle Hunter	DL	HOU	17	83	54	29	16.5	4	0	0	2
12	Josh Allen	DL	JAX	17	66	43	23	17.5	2	0	1	1
13	Aidan Hutchinson	DL	DET	17	51	36	15	11.5	3	2	1	7
14	Brian Burns	DL	NYG	16	50	32	18	8	1	1	0	2
15	Terrel Bernard	LB	BUF	17	143	84	59	6.5	0	3	3	5
16	Alex Highsmith	DL	PIT	17	57	34	23	7	2	0	2	3
17	Will Anderson Jr.	DL	HOU	15	45	29	16	7	0	0	0	1
18	C.J. Mosley	LB	NYJ	17	152	81	71	0.5	2	1	1	7
19	Patrick Queen	LB	PIT	17	133	84	49	3.5	1	1	1	6
20	Robert Spillane	LB	LV	17	148	82	66	3.5	1	1	3	4
21	Quincy Williams	LB	NYJ	17	139	95	44	2	2	1	1	10
22	Micah Parsons	LB	DAL	17	64	36	28	14	1	1	0	2
23	Montez Sweat	DL	CHI	17	57	38	19	12.5	3	0	0	4
24	Jonathan Greenard	DL	MIN	15	52	36	16	12.5	1	0	0	2
25	Nick Bosa	DL	SF	17	53	34	19	10.5	2	1	0	4
26	Lavonte David	LB	TB	15	134	86	48	4.5	1	0	0	5
27	T.J. Edwards	LB	CHI	17	155	91	64	2.5	1	2	3	7
28	Antoine Winfield	DB	TB	17	122	76	46	6	6	4	3	12
29	Kyle Hamilton	DB	BAL	15	81	63	18	3	1	0	4	13
30	Derwin James	DB	LAC	16	125	86	39	2	0	2	1	7
31	Trey Hendrickson	DL	CIN	17	43	28	15	17.5	3	0	0	3
32	Christian Wilkins	DL	LV	17	65	38	27	9	1	2	0	2
33	Alex Singleton	LB	DEN	17	177	106	71	2	0	2	0	4
34	Logan Wilson	LB	CIN	17	135	78	57	1	3	0	4	9
35	Tremaine Edmunds	LB	CHI	15	113	69	44	0	1	1	4	7
36	Jaquan Brisker	DB	CHI	15	105	66	39	1	2	1	1	9
37	Jessie Bates	DB	ATL	17	132	89	43	0	3	0	6	11
38	Xavier McKinney	DB	GB	17	116	78	38	0.5	1	2	3	11
39	Julian Love	DB	SEA	17	123	85	38	0	2	1	4	10
40	Derrick Brown	DL	CAR	17	103	57	46	2	0	0	1	6
41	DeForest Buckner	DL	IND	17	81	45	36	8	2	1	0	7
42	Kayvon Thibodeaux	DL	NYG	17	50	26	24	11.5	3	1	0	4
43	Quay Walker	LB	GB	14	118	59	59	2.5	0	0	1	3
44	Nick Bolton	LB	KC	8	60	38	22	0	0	0	1	3
45	Josey Jewell	LB	CAR	16	108	60	48	3	2	3	0	3
46	Jordan Hicks	LB	CLE	13	107	61	46	1	1	2	1	5
47	Frankie Luvu	LB	WAS	17	125	66	59	5.5	2	0	0	5
48	Minkah Fitzpatrick	DB	PIT	10	64	43	21	0	0	0	0	3
49	Budda Baker	DB	ARI	12	87	58	29	0	0	0	0	0
50	Azeez Al-Shaair	LB	HOU	17	163	84	79	2	0	1	0	4

I’m not big on overall lists because I think they devolve too quickly to matter, but as you can see from mine, I have 16 LBs and 11 DLs before my first DB. Antoine Winfield is better than my ranking, but I only have 10 DBs in my top 50. I don’t have to be the first to the cupboard for IDPs, but I prioritize DL and firmly believe I can’t let myself fall behind in the LB arms race. Flex spots are almost always LBs, but if depth is concerning, DB is the lake with endless fish. I think understanding the positional depth is more important for IDP because not every draft will be as chalky as offense-only drafts, as scoring isn’t as uniform for IDP. As long as you stay on top of positional runs and understand when to wait, you’ll have no problem putting together a solid defensive side of the ball.

Fantasy Football IDP Draft Strategy: DL Primer

The most rotated players in football are DLs, and that can make it tricky to rely on big performances on a week-to-week basis from even the highest-ranked players at the position. The rankings I have are for Tackle-Based scoring. I still want the DL that gets the most sacks because a good game can turn the tide of your matchup. Sacks have also been increasing recently, making more DL viable options weekly. By adding one game to the season, the total number of players with 10+ sacks went from 10 in 2020 to 17 in 21, followed by 19 in 22 and 24 last season.

Players With 10+ Sacks	DL AVG 10+ PPG	DL AVG 7.5+ PPG
2020 – 10	8	26
2021 – 17	11	33
2022 – 19	14	42
2023 – 24	11	42

Total Sacks

Year	Sacks	Sacks/Week
2023	1,410	83
2022	1,297	72
2021	1,229	72
2020	1,135	71

Many factors contribute to the increased sack totals, including rules being shifted toward passing, offensive line (OL) injuries due to the extra game, Sam Howell never getting rid of the ball and many more. I did find it interesting that with so many more sacks in 2023, we had fewer 10+ fantasy points per game (PPG)) scorers and the same amount of 7.5+ PPG scorers. I thought it was probably due to the increased rotation, but surprisingly, there wasn’t as much growth as expected.

1,000 Snaps	750+ Snaps	500+ Snaps
2023 – 2	46	131
2022 – 1	43	128
2021 – 1	42	132
2020 – 2	34	124

I take from this that there are usually 10-ish dependable DLs; after that, there’s a big tier of DLs. That’s how I see it myself, and I’ll break down the tiers below.

Tier 1

T.J. Watt, Maxx Crosby, Myles Garrett, Danielle Hunter, Josh Allen, Aidan Hutchinson, Brian Burns, Micah Parsons, Alex Highsmith, Will Anderson, Montez Sweat, Jonathan Greenard, Nick Bosa

Player	Team	GP	Tk	TkS	TkA	Sk	FF	FR	Int	PD
T.J. Watt	PIT	17	68	48	20	19	4	3	1	8
Maxx Crosby	LV	17	90	55	35	14.5	2	1	0	2
Myles Garrett	CLE	16	42	33	9	14	4	1	0	3
Danielle Hunter	HOU	17	83	54	29	16.5	4	0	0	2
Josh Allen	JAX	17	66	43	23	17.5	2	0	1	1
Aidan Hutchinson	DET	17	51	36	15	11.5	3	2	1	7
Brian Burns	NYG	16	50	32	18	8	1	1	0	2
Alex Highsmith	PIT	17	57	34	23	7	2	0	2	3
Will Anderson Jr.	HOU	15	45	29	16	7	0	0	0	1
Montez Sweat	CHI	17	57	38	19	12.5	3	0	0	4
Jonathan Greenard	MIN	15	52	36	16	12.5	1	0	0	2
Nick Bosa	SF	17	53	34	19	10.5	2	1	0	4

I want two of the players from my first tier as my starters, and luckily, there are enough to go around this season. I’m not higher on Crosby according to rankings because he’s at the tippy top, but with the Raiders adding Christian Wilkins and kicking Tyree Wilson inside, I think this could be his best season. Burns and Hunter had a large separation in scoring last season, but I feel Hunter might come back to the pack a little after finishing as the DL1. Burns has a better crew around him in New York to help boost his production. Sweat performed way better with Washington (12.5 PPG) than Chicago (8.2 PPG), but with the offensive additions for Chicago, I think there will be more opportunities to take down the QB. Bosa is higher on most lists, but the missed tackle percentage, his higher pass-rush win rate with fewer sacks and the loss of Arik Armstead gives me pause. Greenard might only have one season of big production, but I believe he will produce again, as the Vikings had the highest blitz percentage and added Dallas Turner to the line.

Tier 2

Trey Hendrickson, Christian Wilkins, Derrick Brown, DeForest Buckner, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Carl Granderson, Zach Sieler

Player	Team	GP	Tk	TkS	TkA	Sk	FF	FR	Int	PD
Trey Hendrickson	CIN	17	43	28	15	17.5	3	0	0	3
Christian Wilkins	LV	17	65	38	27	9	1	2	0	2
Derrick Brown	CAR	17	103	57	46	2	0	0	1	6
DeForest Buckner	IND	17	81	45	36	8	2	1	0	7
Kayvon Thibodeaux	NYG	17	50	26	24	11.5	3	1	0	4
Carl Granderson	NO	17	78	44	34	8.5	1	1	0	1
Zach Sieler	MIA	17	63	32	31	10	1	2	1	4

The numbers showed us before that we should probably see a deeper list for Tier 2. The separator from two to three is just a touch of trustability. Hendrickson is perhaps the man with the most variables, but the 17.5 sacks from last season are too good to pass up. I’m a buyer on the breakouts we saw from Thibodeaux and Granderson in 2023, and I believe there could be more room for productivity. The defensive tackles (DT) here all had high tackle totals last season. Brown is the only player on this list who won’t get sacks, but he’s also the only DL with over 100 tackles last season. These guys are dependable.

Tier 3

Jonathon Cooper, Jermaine Johnson, George Karlaftis, Boye Mafe, Quinnen Williams, Ed Oliver, Christian Barmore, Jeffery Simmons, Justin Madubuike, Malcolm Koonce, Sam Hubbard, Kwity Paye, Greg Rousseau, D.J. Wonnum

Player	Team	GP	Tk	TkS	TkA	Sk	FF	FR	Int	PD
Jon Cooper	DEN	17	72	44	28	8.5	1	2	1	2
Jermaine Johnson	NYJ	17	55	36	19	7.5	1	1	1	7
George Karlaftis	KC	16	47	29	18	10.5	1	0	0	3
Boye Mafe	SEA	16	52	35	17	9	1	2	0	6
Quinnen Williams	NYJ	17	62	39	23	5.5	1	1	1	3
Ed Oliver	BUF	16	51	34	17	9.5	1	0	1	3
Christian Barmore	NE	17	64	39	25	8.5	1	0	0	6
Jeffery Simmons	TEN	12	44	30	14	5.5	1	1	0	1
Justin Madubuike	BAL	17	56	38	18	13	2	0	0	0
Malcolm Koonce	LV	17	43	32	11	8	3	0	0	0
Sam Hubbard	CIN	15	58	38	20	6	0	2	0	0
Kwity Paye	IND	16	52	31	21	8.5	2	2	0	0
Gregory Rousseau	BUF	16	42	30	12	5	1	1	0	4
D.J. Wonnum	CAR	15	62	33	29	8	0	1	0	6

This group makes it ok to wait if you miss drafting two from Tier 1. The Tier 2 players are safer, but I expect this group to be around the same scoring range. Seven of the eight EDGE rushers in this group (Cooper, Johnson, Karlaftis, Mafe, Koonce Paye, Rousseau, Wonnum) are 26 or younger and have had at least 7.5 sacks. I expect them to be in the neighborhood of 55-65 tackles. Hubbard doesn’t have a ton of upside, but he’s still on the right side of 30, playing on a strong OL and behind an offense that can put up points. The five DTs have a blueprint similar to those in Tier 2 but have small nitpicks. For Oliver, Barmore and Madubuike, my worry is repeating their breakout season. Williams took a step back in 2023 but is still the best of the bunch, and Simmons is coming off an injury. This tier is still very good, but the consistency and range of outcomes are slightly wider.

Tier 4

DeMarcus Lawrence, Jadeveon Clowney, Travon Walker, Chris Jones, Laiatu Latu, Jared Verse, Dallas Turner, Joey Bosa, Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb, Leonard Williams, Dexter Lawrence, Kobie Turner, Derrick Barnes

Player	Team	GP	Tk	TkS	TkA	Sk	FF	FR	Int	PD
DeMarcus Lawrence	DAL	17	50	29	21	4	1	0	0	6
Jadeveon Clowney	CAR	17	43	24	19	9.5	2	1	0	5
Travon Walker	JAX	17	52	27	25	10	0	1	0	2
Chris Jones	KC	16	30	20	10	10.5	0	0	0	4
Laiatu Latu	IND	12	49	28	21	13	2	0	2	2
Jared Verse	LAR	13	41	23	18	9	1	1	0	3
Dallas Turner	MIN	14	53	28	25	10	2	0	0	1
Joey Bosa	LAC	9	20	14	6	6.5	1	1	0	1
Jaelan Phillips	MIA	8	43	28	15	6.5	0	0	1	2
Bradley Chubb	MIA	16	73	45	28	11	6	2	0	2
Leonard Williams ,	SEA	18	62	37	25	5.5	0	0	0	2
Dexter Lawrence	NYG	16	53	32	21	4.5	0	0	0	2
Kobie Turner	LAR	17	57	29	28	9	0	0	0	2
Derrick Barnes	DET	16	81	42	39	1	1	0	0	0

I don’t want to pick out of this group for a starter. We get into some very wide variables here. Lawrence and Clowney are aging and coming off a down season, but their Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades are still high, so I expect a bit of a bounce-back season. Bosa, Phillips and Chubb have the highest ceiling but are coming off big-time injuries. Jones, Williams, Larence and Turner are all very good players who will provide some big games but are better real players than fantasy players. Barnes is a tweener who mainly plays LB, but Jack Campbell will push for more snaps this season. The rookies — Latu, Verse and Turner — are decent gambles but playing time is promised to none. These guys will likely be matchup-dependent during the season, but there’s enough there to like any of them as bench players.

More Upside plays

Chop Robinson, Yaya Diaby, Dorance Armstrong, Bryce Huff, Will McDonald, Harrison Phillips, Byron Young, A.J. Epenesa, Chris Braswell, Calijah Kancey, Lukas Van Ness, Adisa Isaac, Austin Booker, Bralen Trice, Byron Murphy

Player	Team	GP	Tk	TkS	TkA	Sk	FF	FR	Int	PD
Chop Robinson	MIA	10	15	12	3	4	2	1	0	1
Yaya Diaby	TB	17	38	25	13	7.5	1	2	0	0
Dorance Armstrong	WAS	17	38	20	18	7.5	0	0	0	1
Bryce Huff	PHI	17	29	19	10	10	0	0	0	1
Will McDonald	NYJ	15	14	9	5	3	1	1	0	0
Harrison Phillips	MIN	17	92	44	48	3	0	0	0	2
Byron Young	LAR	17	61	42	19	8	2	1	0	0
A.J. Epenesa	BUF	15	20	9	11	6.5	1	1	2	8
Chris Braswell	TB	14	42	16	26	8	3	0	1	1
Calijah Kancey	TB	14	26	19	7	4	0	0	0	1
Lukas Van Ness	GB	17	32	24	8	4	0	0	0	1
Adisa Isaac	BAL	13	37	23	14	7.5	1	1	0	0
Austin Booker	CHI	12	56	40	16	8	2	0	0	1
Bralen Trice	ATL	15	49	30	19	7	1	1	0	2
Byron Murphy	SEA	14	29	13	16	5	0	0	0	0

Fantasy Football IDP Draft Strategy: LB Primer

There’s way less to break down among the LBs than the DL. This position is the most dependable IDP asset because they pile up tackles. Sixteen LBs had over 1,000 snaps last season, and 52 averaged 10+ PPG. The LB position is an arms race, but because of the lack of rotation, there’s a much larger drop-off in production when we move beyond the top 60-ish LBs that are getting the majority of their team’s LB snaps. We don’t even need the LBs to be the most talented because a tackle at the line and a tackle seven yards downfield all count the same for fantasy.

Tier 1

Foyesade Oluokun, Zaire Franklin, Bobby Wagner, Roquan Smith, Fred Warner, T.J. Watt, Bobby Okereke, Ernest Jones, Terrel Bernard, C.J. Mosley

Player	Team	GP	Tk	TkS	TkA	Sk	FF	FR	Int	PD
Foyesade Oluokun	JAX	17	173	111	62	2.5	1	3	1	6
Zaire Franklin	IND	16	179	107	72	1.5	2	0	0	6
Bobby Wagner	WAS	17	183	96	87	3.5	0	1	0	3
Roquan Smith	BAL	16	158	84	74	1.5	1	0	1	8
Fred Warner	SF	17	132	82	50	2.5	4	0	4	11
T.J. Watt	PIT	17	68	48	20	19	4	3	1	8
Bobby Okereke	NYG	17	149	92	57	2.5	4	0	2	10
Ernest Jones	LAR	15	145	74	71	4.5	0	0	0	6
Terrel Bernard	BUF	17	143	84	59	6.5	0	3	3	5
C.J. Mosley	NYJ	17	152	81	71	0.5	2	1	1	7

We don’t have to get the LBs with the most talent, but they are the most dependable! Oluokun has been the top scoring LB the past two seasons, Smith was top-five in PPG from 2019-22, Wagner has been one of the best LBs since entering the NFL in 2012, and Mosley since 2014. Franklin has assembled two monster seasons since getting the snaps with the Colts (LB6 and LB4 overall). Warner might have to do even more this season while Dre Greenlaw is down, which could mean some monster totals early. The Giants didn’t add a free agent LB or draft one next to Okereke, but they improved the DL, which could open things up for him. Jones and Bernard had breakout seasons in 23, and I’m buying on them. Watt might only qualify at LB, but the sack totals put him in Tier 1, although he will be more hit or miss than the rest, depending on getting to the quarterback. To me, this is the can’t-miss group of LBs

Tier 2

Patrick Queen, Robert Spillane, Quincy Williams, Micah Parsons, Lavonte David, T.J. Edwards, Alex Singleton, Logan Wilson, Tremaine Edmunds, Quay Walker, Nick Bolton, Josey Jewell, Jordan Hicks, Frankie Luvu, Azeez Al-Shaair, Eric Kendricks, Devin White

Player	Team	GP	Tk	TkS	TkA	Sk	FF	FR	Int	PD
Patrick Queen	PIT	17	133	84	49	3.5	1	1	1	6
Robert Spillane	LV	17	148	82	66	3.5	1	1	3	4
Quincy Williams	NYJ	17	139	95	44	2	2	1	1	10
Micah Parsons	DAL	17	64	36	28	14	1	1	0	2
Lavonte David	TB	15	134	86	48	4.5	1	0	0	5
T.J. Edwards	CHI	17	155	91	64	2.5	1	2	3	7
Alex Singleton	DEN	17	177	106	71	2	0	2	0	4
Logan Wilson	CIN	17	135	78	57	1	3	0	4	9
Tremaine Edmunds	CHI	15	113	69	44	0	1	1	4	7
Quay Walker	GB	14	118	59	59	2.5	0	0	1	3
Nick Bolton	KC	8	60	38	22	0	0	0	1	3
Josey Jewell	CAR	16	108	60	48	3	2	3	0	3
Jordan Hicks	CLE	13	107	61	46	1	1	2	1	5
Frankie Luvu	WAS	17	125	66	59	5.5	2	0	0	5
Azeez Al-Shaair	HOU	17	163	84	79	2	0	1	0	4
Eric Kendricks	DAL	15	117	79	38	3.5	1	0	0	6
Devin White	PHI	14	83	49	34	2.5	0	0	2	6

This is the tier I’ll wait for and take the one (or more) that falls. Tier 2 also allows us to reach for that second DL first because we know that LB2 is extremely deep. David, Williams, Edwards and Singleton averaged 14.5+ points. That was the line for LB1 production in 12-man leagues last season. The rest of the LBs in Tier 2 are 100% snap guys, meaning I expect them to play 100% of the snaps in most of their games. Jewell wasn’t that guy in Denver, but he will be in Carolina. Queen, Hicks, Luvu, Al-Shaair, Kendricks and White are all in new places and are taking over as the LB1 in most cases.

Luvu is the only one in this group who isn’t taking the first LB spot on their new team (Bobby Wagner is), but Luvu belongs here because the Commanders desperately need pass-rush help. Luvu led all LBs in PFF’s pass-rush grade last season. Spillane, Wilson and Edmunds are all coming off LB2 seasons, and I expect more of the same. Bolton dealt with ankle, wrist and abdomen issues last season but was the overall LB5 in 2022. Walker can be one of the best LBs in the league, but this is a make-or-break season, and new Rookie LB Edgerrin Cooper is breathing down his neck. There’s a lot of stability in Tier 2.

Tier 3

Kyzir White, Troy Andersen, Kenneth Murray, Jordyn Brooks, Devin Lloyd, Edgerrin Cooper, Kaden Elliss, Blake Cashman, Alex Anzalone, Ja’Whaun Bentley, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Christian Harris, Jerome Baker

Player	Team	GP	Tk	TkS	TkA	Sk	FF	FR	Int	PD
Kyzir White	ARI	11	90	53	37	2	0	0	1	3
Troy Andersen	ATL	2	19	7	12	0.5	0	0	0	0
Kenneth Murray	TEN	15	107	79	28	3	0	0	1	4
Jordyn Brooks	MIA	16	111	62	49	4.5	1	1	1	4
Devin Lloyd	JAX	15	127	75	52	0	0	2	0	7
Edgerrin Cooper	GB	12	84	45	39	8	2	1	0	2
Kaden Elliss	ATL	17	122	82	40	4	0	0	0	3
Blake Cashman	MIN	14	106	56	50	2	0	1	1	5
Alex Anzalone	DET	16	129	85	44	3	0	1	0	6
Ja’Whaun Bentley	NE	16	114	55	59	4.5	1	0	0	3
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah	CLE	16	101	72	29	3.5	1	0	2	6
Christian Harris	HOU	16	101	65	36	2	1	0	0	7
Jerome Baker	SEA	13	78	51	27	1.5	0	0	2	3

Tier 3 is where we start seeing the better LB2s and the LB1s with some questions. Andersen was the industry’s favorite sleeper last season. Andersen is now coming off a torn pec, and Nate Landman played well while replacing him, but Andersen still has enormous upside. Baker has no competition moving to Seattle but hasn’t participated in organized team activities (OTA) and isn’t expected to until training camp. Murray, Brooks and Cashman are all on the move to new teams but are taking over the LB1 spot for the Titans, Dolphins, and Vikings.

I was ready to write off Anzalone after the Lions drafted Jack Campbell last season, but he responded by putting up his best season. Bentley is the last true LB1 in this tier but lacks exciting upside. He’s here if you have already taken risks and need a high-floor type of player. Cooper is the opposite of Bentley; he’s a rookie who has to earn the job, but he could rise to an LB1 in Green Bay if Walker doesn’t take the next step. Owusu-Koramoah was 16th in PPG last season for the Browns but will have to contend with Jordan Hicks for tackles now. Lloyd and Harris have shown flashes of brilliance but are behind veterans on their teams, which caps their upside unless there’s an injury. Elliss is a dart I like because I believe he’ll be used a lot like Ernest Jones was in Raheem Morris’ defense, but nothing is guaranteed with a new coaching staff. This tier is still very talented with what I call the ‘yeah-buts’ after you talk them up.

Tier 4

Ivan Pace, Demario Davis, Micah McFadden, Divine Deablo, Germaine Pratt, E.J. Speed, Willie Gay, Tyrel Dodson, Jahlani Tavai, David Long, Matt Milano, Pete Werner, Junior Colson, Jack Campbell, Khalil Mack, Cody Barton, Matthew Judon, Trenton Simpson, Denzel Perryman, Harold Landry, Drue Tranquill

Player	Team	GP	Tk	TkS	TkA	Sk	FF	FR	Int	PD
Ivan Pace	MIN	17	102	63	39	2.5	1	1	1	2
Demario Davis	NO	17	121	74	47	6.5	1	1	0	4
Micah McFadden	NYG	16	101	63	38	1	0	4	1	5
Divine Deablo	LV	15	106	65	41	1	0	1	0	2
Germaine Pratt	CIN	17	118	63	55	2	2	0	2	3
E.J. Speed	IND	16	102	78	24	1	3	0	0	4
Willie Gay	NO	16	58	44	14	1	1	3	1	4
Tyrel Dodson	SEA	17	74	57	17	2.5	1	1	0	2
Jahlani Tavai	NE	17	110	65	45	1	2	0	2	5
David Long	MIA	17	113	64	49	1	1	0	0	1
Matt Milano	BUF	5	30	18	12	0	1	0	2	2
Pete Werner	NO	16	93	60	33	0.5	0	2	1	1
Junior Colson	LAC	15	95	51	44	0	0	0	0	2
Jack Campbell	DET	17	95	52	43	2	0	0	0	1
Khalil Mack	LAC	17	74	57	17	17	5	0	0	10
Cody Barton	DEN	13	121	67	54	0	0	1	1	1
Matthew Judon	NE	4	13	10	3	4	0	0	0	0
Trenton Simpson	BAL	15	13	10	3	1	0	1	0	0
Denzel Perryman	LAC	12	76	45	31	0.5	0	0	0	3
Harold Landry	TEN	17	69	45	24	10.5	0	0	0	0
Drue Tranquill	KC	16	79	54	25	4.5	2	0	0	1

This is the last group I want to pull from, and we have many of the same types of LB2s capped by LB1s. I would file most of this group in that category; injuries can boost them, but these are mainly bench LBs and matchup-dependent. Colson is a great shot on a rookie. He comes in with familiarity of the system and will likely call plays. Campbell is a pure upside play because Anzalone and Barnes played so well last season, and playing time can go many different ways in Detroit. Mack had an awesome 2023, but 45% of his points came in three games. I think we’ll see him return to Earth harshly. The price rises swiftly for EDGE Rushers like Mack, Judon and Landry, if they qualify at DL, but consistency keeps them low if they do not. Dodson and Simpson are upside plays stepping into their first full-time starting jobs. The remaining LBs will play on most snaps and have the ability to have a nice spike week.

Playing Time Hopefuls

Leo Chenal, Nate Landman, Payton Wilson, Cedric Gray, DeMarvion Overshown, Dorian Williams, Chad Muma, JD Bertrand

Player	Team	GP	Tk	TkS	TkA	Sk	FF	FR	Int	PD
Leo Chenal	KC	17	65	40	25	3	0	0	0	1
Nate Landman	ATL	16	110	66	44	2	3	0	1	3
Payton Wilson	PIT	12	138	69	69	6	1	2	3	6
Cedric Gray	TEN	12	121	64	57	5	2	2	1	4
DeMarvion Overshown	DAL	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Dorian Williams	BUF	17	40	25	15	0	0	0	0	1
Chad Muma	JAX	17	15	8	7	0	0	0	0	2
JD Bertrand	ATL	12	76	41	35	2.5	1	0	0	5

Fantasy Football IDP Draft Strategy: DB Primer

Wait, wait, wait. That should be the thought process when we are drafting DBs. There are so many DBs as most teams have gone to another DB on the field over a third LB. Thirty-three DBs played 1,000+ snaps and 103 played 750+. The DB position provided only 39 10+ PPG averages, but over 110 averaged 7.5+. With scoring going so deep, we can make bigger tiers and wait longer to invest during drafts.

I usually have two DLs and two LBs before my first DB unless I scoop an insane deal on one. That has happened more often recently in my experience. It’s not enough to be commonplace, but you could end up in a game of DB chicken. Some leagues will split S and CB, which can add a layer of difficulty, but I would prioritize S and let CB fall. If your league is big-play scoring, S and CB are closer to even. Safety had more tackles and sacks, but CBs led big in defensive touchdowns, pass break ups (PBU), and tackles for loss (TFL). In general, we want to prioritize strong safety (SS), free safety (FS) and CB — in that order.

Tier 1

Antoine Winfield, Kyle Hamilton, Derwin James, Jaquan Brisker, Jessie Bates, Xavier McKinney, Julian Love, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Budda Baker

Player	Team	GP	Tk	TkS	TkA	Sk	Int	FF	FR	PD
Antoine Winfield	TB	17	122	76	46	6	3	6	4	12
Kyle Hamilton	BAL	15	81	63	18	3	4	1	0	13
Derwin James	LAC	16	125	86	39	2	1	0	2	7
Jaquan Brisker	CHI	15	105	66	39	1	1	2	1	9
Jessie Bates	ATL	17	132	89	43	0	6	3	0	11
Xavier McKinney	GB	17	116	78	38	0.5	3	1	2	11
Julian Love	SEA	17	123	85	38	0	4	2	1	10
Minkah Fitzpatrick	PIT	10	64	43	21	0	0	0	0	3
Budda Baker	ARI	12	87	58	29	0	0	0	0	0

This is a deep tier to start. If I were to break it up, I might put Winfield by himself in a tier and have the other eight in Tier 2. Winfield had career-highs in tackles, sacks, interceptions, forced fumbles, fumbles recovered and pass break ups. Winfield could be in line for more tackles with the experience of Devin White gone in front of him. James, Baker and Bates have all been inside the top three DB average scoring. Love joins James, Baker and Bates in having 120+ tackles in this tier. Hamilton had three sacks and four picks in his first season as a full-time starter, and there is still much room for growth. I love McKinney going to Green Bay, playing with an offense that scores points will allow him to go after the ball more. The same can be said about division mate Brisker, with the Bears’ offense looking dangerous. Fitzpatrick gutted through injuries last season to a disappointing finish on injured reserve (IR) but still offers every avenue to scoring, from tackles to big plays. These are the DBs I have the most trust in.

Tier 2

Kyle Dugger, Brian Branch, Kamren Curl, Julian Blackmon, Kevin Byard, Camryn Bynum, Reed Blankenship, Kenny Moore, Devon Witherspoon, Nate Hobbs, Josh Metellus, Jevon Holland

Player	Team	GP	Tk	TkS	TkA	Sk	Int	FF	FR	PD
Kyle Dugger	NE	17	109	71	38	1.5	2	1	0	7
Brian Branch	DET	15	74	50	24	1	3	1	0	13
Kamren Curl	LAR	16	115	74	41	1	0	1	1	5
Julian Blackmon	IND	15	88	65	23	0	4	0	2	8
Kevin Byard	CHI	16	122	80	42	0	1	0	1	3
Camryn Bynum	MIN	17	137	94	43	0.5	2	3	0	9
Reed Blankenship	PHI	15	113	79	34	0	3	0	1	11
Kenny Moore	IND	16	93	68	25	1.5	3	0	0	6
Devon Witherspoon	SEA	14	79	56	23	3	1	1	0	16
Nate Hobbs	LV	13	86	59	27	1	1	1	0	7
Josh Metellus	MIN	17	116	78	38	2.5	1	4	1	5
Jevon Holland	MIA	12	74	52	22	0	1	3	1	4

So many from this group are likely to reach 100+ tackles. Dugger, Curl, Byard, Bynum, Blankenship and Metellus made that mark last season. Moore, Witherspoon and Hobbs are the only CBs I trust starting over some still-really dependable safeties in the next tier. I trust these CBs because they will tackle and can make plays on the ball. Branch and Holland represent the playmakers of this group; they can both tackle and will go after the ball and make a big play to produce a spike week.

Tier 3

Jalen Pitre, Justin Reid, Jalen Thompson, Grant Delpit, Jordan Poyer, Donovan Wilson, Tyler Nubin, Jordan Whitehead, Jeremy Chinn, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Alohi Gilman, Tyrique Stevenson, Trent McDuffie, Paulson Adebo, Harrison Smith, Jabrill Peppers, Trevon Moehrig, Kerby Joseph, Taron Johnson, DaRon Bland, Julius Brents, Rayshawn Jenkins, Jimmie Ward, Geno Stone, Tyrann Mathieu, Talanoa Hufanga

Player	Team	GP	Tk	TkS	TkA	Sk	Int	FF	FR	PD
Jalen Pitre	HOU	15	84	58	26	0	0	1	1	5
Justin Reid	KC	16	95	74	21	3	1	1	0	7
Jalen Thompson	ARI	15	78	59	19	1	4	1	0	9
Grant Delpit	CLE	13	80	63	17	1.5	1	0	1	3
Jordan Poyer	MIA	16	101	67	34	1	0	0	0	4
Donovan Wilson	DAL	15	88	55	33	0	2	1	2	3
Tyler Nubin	NYG	12	53	34	19	1	5	1	1	4
Jordan Whitehead	TB	17	97	65	32	0.5	4	0	0	9
Jeremy Chinn	WAS	12	30	18	12	1	0	0	0	1
Chauncey Gardner-Johnson	PHI	3	17	16	1	0	1	0	0	3
Alohi Gilman	LAC	14	73	49	24	0	2	3	2	10
Tyrique Stevenson	CHI	16	86	65	21	0	4	1	0	16
Trent McDuffie	KC	16	80	60	20	3	0	5	0	7
Paulson Adebo	NO	15	76	60	16	0	4	2	2	18
Harrison Smith	MIN	17	93	60	33	3	0	3	0	3
Jabrill Peppers	NE	15	78	52	26	1	2	1	1	8
Trevon Moehrig	LV	17	83	65	18	2	3	0	0	8
Kerby Joseph	DET	15	82	69	13	0	4	0	0	11
Taron Johnson	BUF	17	98	72	26	1	0	3	1	8
DaRon Bland	DAL	17	69	53	16	0	9	0	0	15
Julius Brents	IND	9	43	30	13	0	1	1	1	6
Rayshawn Jenkins	SEA	17	101	66	35	1	2	0	0	9
Jimmie Ward	HOU	10	50	33	17	0	1	1	0	3
Geno Stone	CIN	17	68	44	24	0	7	0	0	9
Tyrann Mathieu	NO	17	75	50	25	0	4	0	0	9
Talanoa Hufanga	SF	10	52	39	13	0	3	0	0	3

This tier is the difference-maker for the entire position; it allows us to wait for DB and draft the other positions first. Pitre is a perfect example of Tier 3 and DBs in general. Pitre led all DBs in scoring in 2022; a new coach and staff came into Houston, and he dropped to the 50s in total and average scoring in 2023. Bland was a DB1 last season, but nine interceptions don’t seem repeatable. We also had Adebo, Gardner-Johnson, Delpit and Reid score in the DB2 range on average, with Reid, Jenkins, and Johnson as DB2s in total scoring. If we look back to 2022, Delpit and Wilson checked in as DB1s in total scoring. Flipping back to 2021, we can count Smith, Poyer, Thompson and Chinn as DB1s in total scoring. Nubin is a rookie stud who should come in and take over McKinney’s spot in New York. Nubin has DB1 upside.

Whitehead, McDuffie and Stone are looking to build off career-best scoring seasons in 2023, and I like their chances to improve. Stevenson and Brents had very solid rookie seasons and can move toward the trusted CBs I have in Tier 2 with another solid showing. When I see them involved in training camp, Joseph and Hufanga will jump into Tier 2, if they are truly ready and back to full speed. Ward and Mathieu are crusty vets who offer a solid floor for this tier. Big-time upside is available throughout this tier, but expectations should spike weeks with a lower floor than the previous tiers, making this one a little less stable but still reliable and very deep.

Upside DBs

Cole Bishop, Trevon Diggs, Christian Gonzalez, Derek Stingley, Terrion Arnold, Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Max Melton, Mike Sainristil, Deonte Banks, Dax Hill, Javon Bullard

Player	Team	GP	Tk	TkS	TkA	Sk	Int	FF	FR	PD
Cole Bishop	BUF	11	60	35	25	3	2	1	2	4
Trevon Diggs	DAL	2	4	4	0	0	1	1	0	3
Christian Gonzalez	NE	4	17	14	3	1	1	0	0	3
Derek Stingley	HOU	11	39	28	11	0	5	0	0	13
Terrion Arnold	DET	14	63	40	23	1	5	1	0	12
Quinyon Mitchell	PHI	13	42	32	9	0	1	0	0	18
Cooper DeJean	PHI	10	41	26	15	0	2	0	0	5
Max Melton	ARI	12	32	21	11	1	3	1	0	6
Mike Sainristil	WAS	15	44	26	18	1	6	2	0	6
Deonte Banks	NYG	15	64	53	11	0	2	0	0	11
Dax Hill	CIN	17	110	72	38	1.5	2	0	0	11
Javon Bullard	GB	12	56	39	17	0	2	0	0	5

High Floor CBs

Deommodore Lenoir, Darius Slay, Roger McCreary, Jalen Ramsey, Rasul Douglas, Cam Taylor-Britt, Kendall Fuller, Benjamin St-Juste, Alontae Taylor, Mike Hilton, Byron Murphy

Player	Team	GP	Tk	TkS	TkA	Sk	Int	FF	FR	PD
Deommodore Lenoir	SF	17	84	58	26	0	3	0	0	10
Darius Slay	PHI	12	57	48	9	0	2	0	0	14
Roger McCreary	TEN	15	86	62	24	2	1	1	0	6
Jalen Ramsey	MIA	10	22	18	4	0	3	0	0	5
Rasul Douglas	BUF	16	61	47	14	1	5	0	3	14
Cam Taylor-Britt	CIN	12	50	40	10	0	4	1	0	11
Kendall Fuller	MIA	15	79	55	24	0	2	0	2	9
Benjamin St-Juste	WAS	16	67	52	15	1	1	2	0	17
Alontae Taylor	NO	17	75	56	19	1	2	1	0	14
Mike Hilton	CIN	17	84	64	20	2	2	0	1	8
Byron Murphy	MIN	14	57	43	14	0	3	1	1	13

High Snap% Safeties

Xavier Woods, Jordan Fuller, Marcus Epps, Chuck Clark, DeShon Elliott, Antonio Johnson, Amani Hooker, Brandon Jones, Malik Hooker, Darrick Forrest, Ji’Ayir Brown

Player	Team	GP	Tk	TkS	TkA	Sk	Int	FF	FR	PD
Xavier Woods	CAR	14	61	39	22	0	2	0	1	7
Jordan Fuller	CAR	17	94	61	33	0	3	3	0	8
Marcus Epps	LV	17	66	41	25	0	0	1	1	3
Chuck Clark	NYJ	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
DeShon Elliott	PIT	15	82	53	29	0	1	0	1	7
Antonio Johnson	JAX	13	17	13	4	1	2	1	0	3
Amani Hooker	TEN	13	85	69	16	0	1	0	1	7
Brandon Jones	DEN	16	48	36	12	0	2	1	1	4
Malik Hooker	DAL	16	50	27	23	0	1	1	1	3
Darrick Forrest	WAS	5	29	18	11	0	0	0	0	0
Ji’Ayir Brown	SF	15	35	22	13	0	2	0	0	4

NFL

MLB

NBA

NHL

Fantasy Football IDP Draft Strategy, Rankings & Tiers (2024)