IDP Sleepers: Travon Walker, Brian Branch, Christian Harris (Fantasy Football)

Below is a look at five sleepers to draft in Individual Defensive Player (IDP) leagues.

IDP Sleepers (Fantasy Football)

Brian Branch (DB – DET)

FantasyPros’ IDP rankings have Brian Branch at DB21. With how his rookie season went, it’s a more than fair spot on the rankings for him. However, there’s a strong chance he outplays that ranking. Especially if he’s healthy.

Bucs get Brian Branch later in the game on the hard count but on this one. He makes a great read and timed this one perfectly for the TFL. Special player as a rookie for the Lions defense. #AllGrit pic.twitter.com/1lhEAxWJjB

— Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) January 24, 2024

As someone who helps cover the team and talks with those close to the day-to-day in Allen Park, there are extremely high expectations for Branch. He started the 2023 season red-hot with over 20 tackles, four pass deflections and a pick-six. Overall, he finished with 159 fantasy points with 13 pass deflections and three interceptions. Look for Branch to take another step forward and be a key playmaker for the Lions’ defense.

Blake Cashman (LB – MIN)

Blake Cashman is ranked at LB41. Not a bad place but I think that’s setting the bar low for Cashman and what the Vikings have planned for him. After all, he agreed to a three-year deal worth $25.5 million. That may not make him the highest-paid defender in the game but it certainly makes him a key part of the Vikings’ defense.

Cashman finished last season with 166.3 fantasy points and is coming off his first-ever 100+ tackle season. Add in the two sacks, five pass deflections and interception and Cashman becomes that much more valuable. He’s projected to start in the middle of Brian Flores’ defense in Minnesota. If healthy, expect Cashman to outplay his current ranking.

Christian Harris (LB – HOU)

With Blake Cashman moving on from Houston to Minnesota, the Texans brought in Azeez Al-Shaair to replace him and most importantly, reunite him with DeMeco Ryans. While I’d expect that to be a very productive move for the Texans’ defense, I would be prepared for Christian Harris to take another step forward as the WILL linebacker in the Texans’ defense.

Last season, Harris had 163 fantasy points and he’s projected to get 162 points this season. If you look from Week 9 through the end of last season, Harris had double-digit point totals in every single game but two. In the two games he didn’t, he had played in fewer than 65% of the defensive snaps. To help further my point on Harris taking another step forward in the Texans’ defense, he played more than 90% of the defensive snaps in the final five games of the season and had his best point totals in the 2023 season.

Another Pick-6 for the Texans. This time Christian Harris takes it to the house: NBC announcers: “Houston, you have no problem.” Blowout in progress at NRG Stadium!
pic.twitter.com/PAiOEIYQoS

— Mark Berman (@MarkBerman_) January 13, 2024

We’ve seen continued growth year over year for Harris. I’d expect even more growth as he heads into his third season with the Texans. Last season, Harris finished with 101 tackles, two sacks, seven tackles for loss and seven pass breakups. Lastly, his performances in the playoffs were some of the best football we’d seen from him. In two playoff games, he had 15 total tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack and a pick-six. I’d draft Harris with expectations of playing him weekly.

Travon Walker (DL – JAX)

While I wasn’t the highest on Travon Walker when he was coming out of Georgia, he took a step forward for the Jaguars in 2023. He finished the season with 52 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. Most importantly, he finished last season on fire with three double-digit fantasy performances in his last four games. This included one sack or more in each of those games.

Travon Walker with a quiet 9 sacks so far this season. (PFF has him with 10) ….Steadily progressing. pic.twitter.com/AH3YzK20SR

— Fitz (@LaurieFitzptrck) January 1, 2024

From 2022 to 2023, we’ve seen Walker increase his fantasy points total from 93.3 points to 131.3 points. Listed as the 71st defensive lineman in FantasyPros’ IDP rankings, I’d expect Walker to finish much higher than that ranking. You may be able to hold off on drafting Walker until much later. With how he’s improved every season, though, I wouldn’t hold off too long.