Individual Defensive Player (IDP) leagues are right behind point per reception (PPR) leagues as the fastest growing format in fantasy football. IDP leagues feature anywhere from 1-11 startable defensive players, as opposed to team defenses, giving fantasy owners another area to dissect stats and analyze matchups.
IDP leagues also allow owners to really separate themselves from "also-rans" via the draft. If you draft smart (simply put, don’t reach for defensive players), then during the season, you can concentrate on waiver wire pickups for your defense as opposed to both offense and defense like so many do. Here are my early preseason 2009 IDP rankings. These rankings should help you in your draft, to help you keep tabs on when it’s okay to draft certain players and still get value for them. I’ve separated my top 10 into two tiers.
LINEBACKERS
TIER ONE: The guys you take to the bank. They'll be there for you (injuries notwithstanding). However, PLEASE realize that, as with the top of any other fantasy position) you are NOT going to get great value. So with these guys I would just go into my draft assuming that I won’t be getting one. With Fantasy Football Trader on your side, you'll be finding value further down the rankings.
1. Patrick Willis, SF
Willis' production took a dip from his fantastic rookie season, but still ranked in the top five for points scored. Fast, smart and strong enough to do it all, and age has reached perfection. Was one of the top two individual defensive players selected last year, and is a lock to be selected as one of the top two defensive players selected this year, so it will be next to impossible to get value for him.
2. Barrett Ruud, TB
Ruud doesn't have the flashy name of Willis or the big play ability of Harrison and Ware. But what Ruud does offer is “forget about it” consistency. Ruud had only game last year where he failed to score five fantasy points or more, matched by only D'Qwell Jackson of the Browns. Chances are that he'll be the last of the tier one linebackers drafted. But after his second consecutive season of 100 plus tackles, Ruud won’t be so unknown heading into next year as he was this year.
3. DeMarcus Ware, DAL
I'm not sure there is a bigger “big play” guy on the defensive side of the ball than DeMarcus Ware. Ware is a matchup problem for everyone, and it showed last year, as he had at least one sack in 14 games. However, as the pass rushing outside linebacker (OLB), upside is somewhat limited as it will be hard to duplicate 20+ sacks on a consistent basis. But at only 26 years old, Ware is now just entering his prime, so 15-18 sacks for the next few years is not out of the question. That should be enough to keep him in the top five at the linebacker position so as long as he continues to pile up respectable tackle numbers.
4. Jon Beason, CAR
Beason is a more athletic version of Barrett Ruud, and as the middle linebacker (MLB) in the Panthers' defense, Beason could easily vault to the top of this list next year. Beason led the NFL in solo tackles last year, and could do the same in 2009. Not a pass rusher, so big plays (sacks) will be limited, although he could snag a couple interceptions every year.
5. DeMeco Ryans, HOU
Ryans started off last season with two monster games, but was very inconsistent thereafter. Ryans did battle through a couple nagging injuries, but should be at full strength heading into next season. Will only be 25 on opening day 2009, so he's a prime candidate to bounce back to top-five status.
TIER TWO: Tier two cats are guys that are very likely to produce as much as tier one guys, but you won’t have to pay nearly as much for. Where you would have to sacrifice good offensive depth to nab a tier 1 guy, chances are that you can get these a round or two later (and sometimes more), allowing you to shore up your offensive skill positions depth.
Last year in one of my “expert” leagues, Patrick Willis went in the fifth round, while I was able to get my third RB (Kevin Smith). The next round I was able to get my third WR in Roddy White, while others took DeMeco Ryans and David Harris. Later on (15th round) I drafted my first defensive player, Barrett Ruud. Checkmate friend. Kids, this is what separates who dominates and who just donates.
6. Jon Vilma, NO
What a difference a year can make. In 2007 Vilma, then with the New York Jets, struggled with not only injuries, but a change in defensive schemes as the Jets moved from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 defense. In the process, Vilma lost his job and was traded to the New Orleans Saints. Recovering quicker than anticipated, and back to his normal 4-3 middle linebacker role, Vilma bounced back in a huge way in 2008, tallying 132 total tackles. As a 4-3 middle linebacker, big plays will be minimal, but solo tackles should offset that. Vilma will be two years removed from his 2007 leg injury next year, and at only 27 years old, he has a few more productive years yet.
7. Jerod Mayo, NE
This rookie continued the trend of rookie linebackers making a big impact, following in the same path DeMeco Ryans and Patrick Willis in the years before him. Very athletic, at 6-1 and 240 pounds, Mayo had 100 solo tackles in his rookie campaign. He didn't have any bonus plays this year (sacks/interceptions), but potential is there for at least a few bonus plays a year. Of the guys listed in tier 2, Mayo possesses the highest upside.
8. D'Qwell Jackson, CLE
In last year's DraftKit, I said that while NO ONE would dare draft him high, Jackson was a prime candidate to get over 120 tackles. Jackson finished the season with 154 combined tackles, leading the NFL. This year, Jackson will likely be among the first couple defensive players selected, but he'll be hard pressed to match last year's totals, so buyer beware. Draft Jackson with the goal of 120 tackles, and not 154 tackles again.
9. James Harrison, PIT
If it hadn't been for the crazy fourth quarter, Harrison could have been a candidate for Super Bowl MVP, considering he caused a 10-14 point swing at the end of the first half with his 100 yard interception returned for a touchdown. But make no mistake; Harrison is first and foremost a terror rushing the quarterback, as his 16 sacks in 2008 attest. Major negative is that he does turn 31 this year. Of the tier two linebackers, Harrison has the least amount of upside and could see his value drop next year if he is unable to keep up his unusually high number of tackles for a pass-rushing outside linebacker.
10. Karlos Dansby, ARI
Dansby is one of the most balanced linebackers in the game, in the sense that he is equally productive at every aspect. Last year, in addition to 119 total tackles, Dansby also contributed four sacks and two interceptions, which gives him a nice combination of consistency and big play potential.
Others that are more than ready to tackle someone out of the top two tiers next year include: Chad Greenway, Ernie Sims, Paul Posluszny, David Harris and DJ Williams.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
TIER ONE: Tier one studs are the guys you take it to the bank; they will be there for you (injuries notwithstanding). These guys will bring you about 10-12 sacks but the thing to remember is that there isn’t enough of a cushion between the top tier and middle tier to warrant drafting these guys unless tremendous value presents itself. Here is another thing to consider when drafting defensive linemen. Always go for the guy who plays in a 4-3 defense as opposed to a 3-4 defense. Linemen in 3-4 systems are there to plug holes, allowing the linebackers to make plays. Very rarely do they make a big contribution on the stat sheet.
1. Jared Allen, MIN
The gold standard at the defensive lineman spot, Allen is about the closest thing you can have to being a “lock” at this position. Allen followed up his 15.5 sack season of 2007 with another 15 sacks last year, but when you consider that he battled through a few lingering injuries to his shoulder, you can say that last year was more impressive. Only 26, Allen is still on the good side of his prime years, and will once again threaten the 20 sack mark in 2009.
2. Justin Tuck, NYG
Tuck was the highest scoring defensive lineman from 2008, as he showed he could be a factor from defensive end or inside at the tackle spot. Tuck has a great combination of size and speed, and last year he notched 13 sacks while improving his tackle numbers ever so slightly. With Osi Umenyiora expected back from an injury-shortened 2008, it remains to be seen what the Giants plan to do with Tuck, as Mathias Kiwanuka seems better suited to defensive end as opposed to linebacker. If the Giants keep Tuck at defensive tackle full time, give Tuck a down tick in ranking, but if he continues to rotate along the line, expect more of the same in 2009.
3. Mario Williams, HOU
Williams continued to be regular, steady contributor last year, posting 12 sacks to go along with an acceptable 53 combined tackles. A very athletic defensive end, Williams is more gifted than Jared Allen, but doesn’t carry Allen’s demeanor on the field. If he could develop that fierceness a bit more, he would be unstoppable. As is, still a top five pick for defensive linemen.
4. Terrell Suggs, BAL
Suggs continued his extremely consistent career in 2008, with 65 combined tackles, 8 sacks and 2 interceptions with two touchdowns thrown in for good measure. With his designation as a defensive lineman (in previous years, he had also been designated as a linebacker, greatly diminishing his value), Suggs continues to be one of the safer bets when it comes to the defensive line position. Even if Ray Lewis leaves, Suggs should maintain constant production.
5. Julius Peppers, CAR
Peppers might be the most athletically gifted defensive lineman in these rankings, but until last year, had been one of the most frustrating to figure out. Last year, Peppers finally put it all together and finished with 14.5 sacks to go along with a respectable 51 combined tackles. If you look at his career numbers, he usually follows up seasons like last year with a subpar season, so buyer beware here. The riskiest of the tier one players.
TIER TWO: Defensive linemen tier two cats are guys that will give you acceptable production, depending on the type of team you have. I’ll get more into this in a future article that describes draft strategies regarding IDP leagues, but for now, just know that some of these players are going to be the “hare”, and others on this tier are going to be the “turtle”. Except in the end, they will more or less “tie”, so it’s a matter of finding the right fit for your team.
6. Trent Cole, PHI
If you are going to succeed on the defensive line you need to be either an athletic freak, or possess an endless motor. Cole possesses a good combination of both. While Cole saw his sack numbers drop from 12 to 9 last year, he more than made up for it by increasing his tackles from 69 combined tackles in 2007 to 77 combined tackles. Personally, that’s a trade off I can live with. I’ll take my 5 tackles a game with a sack every other game and move onto the next position. You should too.
7. John Abraham, ATL
Abraham had a great year, recording a career high in sacks, with 16.5. But look closely at the numbers, and you will see Abraham was very much a “boom or bust” guy. He had three different games where he had three sacks or more. That’s “Awesome” with a capital A. But… he also had six games where he not only had no sacks, but two or less tackles. Simply put, he is the kind of guy you roll the dice with if you are outmatched on offense and need a potentially explosive week from someone on your defense. But if your offense is solid, look for a guy with more consistent tackle numbers.
8. Albert Haynesworth, TEN
When talking about a guy who can give you consistent tackle numbers, this is the breed of cat I’m talking about. A monster of a man at 6’6 and 320 pounds, Haynesworth simply does what he wants to do in the trenches. Haynesworth is one of the few guys who can handle double teams and still make a play. Haynesworth was extremely consistent last year, with 10 games with 3 tackles and/or a sack. At just 28 years of age, Haynesworth should be a force for a few more years yet.
9. Gaines Adams, TB
One of my breakout candidates for this year, Adams improved his numbers last year, increasing his sacks from 4.5 in 2007 to 6.5 in 2008. Adams also nabbed a couple interceptions and took one back for a touchdown. While that may not happen again anytime soon, Adams is poised to break through in 2009 and is a good candidate to approach 10 sacks while increasing his tackle numbers yet again. He has the best opportunity to go unnoticed in your draft, so he would be a great value pick in the final couple of rounds.
10. Aaron Kampman, GB
A lunch pail guy in every sense of the word, Kampman brings the heat on every single play. He has been extremely consistent with his tackle numbers, averaging over three tackles a game for the past five years. His sack totals have been steadily declining the last couple years, but he still gets to the quarterback enough to warrant a top 10 ranking. He will be 30 next year, so again, don’t waste a high draft pick on him.
Others that could be ready to sack someone out of the top two tiers this year include: Justin Smith, Osi Umenyiora, Kevin Williams, Tamba Hali and Alex Brown.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Let me just say that defensive backs are far and away the LEAST important position come draft day (I’m not counting “idiot” kickers as a position. You got a problem with that, go talk to Peyton Manning). On the real, defense backs stats fluctuate greatly from year to year. A big reason for that is because interceptions are fools gold when looking at stats. There is very little consistency in those numbers from year to year, so do not make the mistake of drafting a guy based solely on number of interceptions. In a nutshell, I have three thoughts when it comes to defensive backs.
1. Draft them late (If others draft DBs early, then wait to draft yours right before your kicker)
2. Look for guys who can provide consistent tackle numbers from year to year.
3. Don’t be afraid to drop your drafted guys throughout the season. There are ALWAYS viable starting defensive backs available on the waiver wire. ALWAYS. ALWAYS.
These rankings should assist you in your draft, to keep tabs on when it’s okay to draft certain players and still get “value” for them. I’ve separated my top 10 into two tiers.
TIER ONE: Tier one studs are in name only. These will be the guys that you have no business drafting unless everyone else is as fantasy savvy as you and waits to draft defensive backs in the last couple rounds too. There will likely be no value whatsoever with drafting any of these guys.
1. Eric Weddle, SD
You will notice a lot of the players I have selected are safeties. Simply put, that’s because safeties are more likely to be involved in more plays. The very position dictates they read and react more than cornerbacks, who are often locked in to one particular player. Weddle leads the list of defensive backs because he is a willing tackler, as his 127 combined tackles suggests. Weddle only had one interception in 2008, but he is a safe pick, as he is not dependent on making big plays to accumulate consistent numbers.
2. Oshiomogho Atogwe, STL
The coolest sounding name this side of TJ Houshmandzadeh, Atogwe was one of the few bright spots for the St. Louis Rams last year, with a career high 85 tackles and a very respectable five interceptions. Atogwe is in the prime of his career at 28 years of age opening kickoff 2009, so he is poised to remain highly productive for the next few years.
3. Antoine Winfield, MIN
One of the most willing cornerback tacklers in the game, Winfield continues to put up solid numbers year in and year out. Last year he delivered 95 combined tackles along with a couple interceptions and sacks for good measure. Winfield does turn 32 before the start of the 2009 season, so he carries a bit of risk with him moving forward. However his body of work dictates his position in the top five and someone will draft him as such. That’s okay, there will be better value later in the draft.
4. Gibril Wilson, OAK
Gibril Wilson had been a steady performer for the Giants prior to coming to the Raiders last year, averaging 103 combined tackles in the three years prior. But coming to the Raiders gave Gibril even more tackling opportunities, and he delivered big-time, putting up 129 combined tackles. Wilson is a tackling machine, and while he may not put up big interception numbers, has shown that he is a consistent producer to warrant a top 10 ranking.
5. Michael Griffin, TEN
Griffin stepped his game up in 2008, improving his numbers across the board, including seven interceptions, giving him 10 picks in his first two years. Griffin does have the versatility to play any of the defensive back positions, but free safety seems to be the best fit from a fantasy point of view, as it allows him to take advantage of his ball hawking skills. Age is an added bonus, as he just turned 24 years old.
TIER TWO: defensive back tier two cats are guys that I really like, and if you are lucky, just might slip through the cracks. Granted, only one guy will probably slip if you are drafting defensive backs according to my guidelines, but you will know you will have gotten crazy value immediately.
6. Erik Coleman, ATL
Coleman resurfaced as a legitimate fantasy football player with the Atlanta Falcons in 2008, notching 95 combined tackles with three interceptions. Deceptively young, Coleman will only be 27 years old next year as he starts his sixth NFL season. Coleman should be able to anchor the Falcons defensive backfield for the next few years and he can do the same for your fantasy football team if he were to slip through the cracks come draft day 2009.
7. Nick Collins, GB
Collins is a solid free safety that, like Griffin, is able to combine a respectable amount of interceptions (seven) with an acceptable amount of tackles (72 combined) that gives him enough total production to be a consistent scorer for the next few years. The Packers have two other young safeties on their roster in Atari Bigby and Aaron Rouse, but both of those guys seem better suited to the strong safety position, so Collins should be safe next year. Be sure to keep an eye on this throughout the offseason.
8. Yeremiah Bell, MIA
Bell had a breakout year for the Dolphins in 2008, posting 120 combined tackles, and only had two games where he had less than five. The exact definition of "steady" production. And as rule No. 1 goes, Bell went undrafted in many leagues, including one of my “expert” leagues last year, giving credence to my rule No. 3. Unfortunately, Bell will be turning 31 shortly, so his time at the top will be short-lived. But he should still be a solid contributor to your team this year.
9. Antrel Rolle, ARI
Very few lists of top position players would be fair or complete without at least one former Miami Hurricane. This former Hurricane barely cracked the top 20 defensive backs last year, but that was because he transitioned full time to the safety position. Once he got settled in after a slow start, Rolle was very productive, setting a new career high with 89 combined tackles. With an entire season of playing safety under his belt, I expect Rolle to be a top 10 scoring safety this year, with a slight increase in interceptions.
10. Brandon Meriweather, NE
Meriweather gets the nod here for his versatility and upside. He can play any of the defensive back positions in a pinch, and along with linebacker Jerod Mayo, will be the key playmakers for the Patriots defense. Meriweather had four interceptions last year, so he has a nose for the ball, and if he can improve his tackle numbers ever so slightly (remember he started last season on the bench); he should be able to rack up enough tackles to make the top 10. Excellent value should be available for Meriweather on draft day.
Others that are more than ready to sack someone out of the top two tiers next year include: Quintin Mikell, Cortland Finnegan, Charles Tillman, Chris Gamble and Josh Wilson.
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