2019 Fantasy Football IDP rankings, draft strategy, tips

We all know offense rules in fantasy football. Sure, you have a defense/special teams in your lineup every week, but all you're looking at is points allowed, turnovers, sacks and the occasional D/ST touchdown. As those who drafted the Jaguars early last season know, last year's results don't necessarily carry over for team defenses, making preseason rankings and sleeper picks a giant question mark on your cheat sheet. However, in Individual Defensive Player leagues (IDP), rankings and draft strategy tips are becoming more important and more sought after.

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IDP leagues aren't for everyone -- but they should be. Every league I've set up has an IDP component, which creates more scoring opportunities (always a plus) and more strategy. For those unfamiliar with this format, it's not just about defense. You still draft your normal set of offensive players (quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, kicker), but you also take defensive linemen, linebackers, and defensive backs, thus opening up a whole group of players who matter. You already know about defensive studs like Khalil Mack, Lavonte David. and Landon Collins, but when you play in IDP leagues, you find yourself really watching for things like defensive scheme, giving you even more football to enjoy!

MORE: Fantasy Alarm 2019 Fantasy Football Draft Guide

Fantasy Football IDP Tips

Defensive Schemes

When it comes to scheme, you're usually looking for whether a team uses 4-3 or 3-4 front. In a 3-4 scheme where a team us three DLs, you'll want to target their outside linebackers, as they're more likely to get sacks while the DLs usually just clog up running lanes. D-linemen and inside linebackers in a 3-4 scheme will rack up tackles but little else. Tackles have value, but usually not as much depending on your scoring system (more on that later). 

Defensive ends and middle linebackers in 4-3 schemes will provide a ton of IDP value. Defensive ends rack up sacks while middle linebackers rack up tackles. All the linebackers in a 4-3 defense have value, as tackles, interceptions and passes defended tend to be more evenly spread out. For the most part, you generally want to look at 4-3 defenses for your IDP players. The points are more bankable from week-to-week.

2019 PPR RANKINGS:
Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | Top 200

Defensive Linemen

When targeting d-linemen, look for defensive ends, not defensive tackles. Ends get more sacks and will still get tackles. Some DTs can provide both, but unless your league has a specific DT spot, you can generally ignore DTs. If the best LBs are gone when it's time to start draft defensive players, pivot toward the top DEs (from a 4-3 scheme, of course), who will likely still be available. Getting at least one of the top-seven DEs will go a long way, as the dropoff after the top tier is noticeable.

Linebackers

Linebackers are what it's all about in IDP leagues. They provide the most chances for points in all the various categories (tackles, INTs, fumbles caused/returned, passes defended). However, it's worth noting that LB is kind of like QB -- it's so deep that you don't necessarily need to an LB early. The best of the best are worth high picks, but if they're gone before you make a move, you can wait and still get good value. Again, knowledge of scheme is essential to picking your LBs, and getting "three-down LBs" is key (for obvious reasons). Also, don't be afraid to grab linebackers on bad teams, as they generally receive more opportunities to rack up tackles.

2019 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide Receiver | Tight End | D/ST | Kicker | Top 200

Defensive Backs

If you there isn't a dedicated "cornerback" spot in your IDP lineup, always opt for safeties as your defensive backs. Safeties provide much more consistent tackle numbers per their roles. Even if your league emphasizes INTs, you should know those vary wildly from week-to-week and year-to-year.

This might run contrary to your instincts, but a "shutdown corner" doesn't have much IDP value. Quarterbacks simply avoid passing to whatever receiver he is covering. Take Xavier Rhodes and Casey Hayward -- both great real-life football players but lousy fantasy IDP players. Perhaps surprisingly, rookie CBs make for better IDP picks. Quarterbacks will test him (and give him tackle, passed-defended, and INT opportunities) until he proves he can get the job done. But, agian, safeties provide the most consistent value at DB, and you should target them over corners when possible.

Rookies

First-year defensive players frequently make a fantasy impact right away -- something you usually only see with RBs on the offensive side. We already explained why rookie CBs can have added value, and rookie linemen and linebackers generally don't have as steep of a learning curve as players at other positions. Early-round picks in real life will get opportunities right away, making them solid sleepers. This year, lTampa first-rounder Devin White (ILB) and Oakland's Johnathan Abraham (S) are potential late-round IDP picks to click.

MORE: Fantasy Alarm's Ultimate Cheat Sheet

IDP Fantasy Football Draft Strategy

Draft Timing

Perhaps the biggest question those in IDP leagues -- especially those new to IDP leagues -- have is when you should start drafting defensive players. Generally, you should wait until after you have your starters on offense -- and probably at least two or three backup RBs/WRs. There's no need to grab defensive players early, regardless of whether others are jumping in. You might miss out on some top-tier LBs, but you will still be able to get studs at other positions. Except in two-QB or SuperFLEX leagues, you should fill in your IDP starting spots before grabbing the rest of your offensive backups, but like all draft advice, it depends on what's happening in your particular draft. If an offensive bargain falls, take advantage. No matter how highly you may have an IDP player ranked on your cheat sheet, you shouldn't reach for him over a starter or great offensive value.

Here's another point of reference: A tier-one IDP player is generally a 10th-round selection. Obviously, all of your IDP selections should be taken before a kicker (it's not that much different from standard fantasy leagues), and if your league has team D/ST spot, most wait on that spot, too.

Scoring Setup

IDP scoring should be similar to offensive scoring. A good LB can usually provide 10-15 points per week -- or about what you would want for your RBs and WRs. Many IDP leagues just go with recommended settings, but if you have any input in the setup, I suggest you value IDP stats differently. For example, interceptions, sacks, forced fumbles and blocked kicks should be more valuable than fumbles recovered (a lucky occurrence) or passes defended. Those first types of plays change possession or stop momentum and have a greater impact than a simple tackle or breaking up a pass. Sacks are more important than a regular tackle, and thus should be assigned more points in an IDP scoring system. Here is a recommended set of scoring values:

Solo Tackle (or Total Tackles): 1 point
Assisted Tackle: 0.5 points
Sack: 4 points
INT: 6 points
Pass defended: 1 point
Forced Fumble: 4 points
Recovered Fumble: 2 points
Safety: 2 points
Blocked FG/PAT/Punt: 6 points
All Defensive TDs: 6 points

Most good IDP leagues will have six-to-eight defensive spots. Typically, you'll see two LBs, two DLs, two DBs and perhaps two FLEX positions. Some leagues take out the DL positions and go with four FLEX spots. There are only so many worthwhile DLs, so why not open things up to more guys from other, higher-scoring positions? 

Final Thoughts

Consistency is key both in standard fantasy leagues and IDP leagues That means drafting for tackles in the form of MLBs and DEs in 4-3 schemes, OLBs in a 3-4 scheme, and safeties over corners. All the other categories, with the possible exception of sacks, are too unpredictable to project when drafting.

The waiver wire is just as important in IDP leagues as it is in standard leagues. Especially with defensive backs, don't worry too much if you miss out on your top targets. All DBs, especially CBs, are inconsistent. Use that to your advantage by grabbing in-season rising stars to replace the underperforming and injured guys taking up space on your roster.

Unless you have an stud IDP, don't worry about dropping him during his bye week. It's likely you will be able to pick him back up the following week. Even if you can't get him back, some other top IDP will be available at some point.mThere are plenty of good IDPs on the waiver wire every week thanks to matchups, if nothing else.

Fantasy Football 2019 IDP Rankings

As with all fantasy rankings, our top-25 DLs, LBs, and DBs are subjective. Please note that these rankings will undoubtedly change we get closer to the season and get a better idea as to how teams are designing their defensive schemes and using their personnel. 

LINEBACKERS

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

DEFENSIVE BACKS