How To Win An IDP League
July 9, 2008 at 7:30 am | Article by Paul Hickey |
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If you’re not playing fantasy football with individual defensive players, you’re missing out. IDP leagues add more players to the mix, increasing the overall competition level. If a stacked offensive team has a few holes on defense, it can be vulnerable against a team with a bang-up D that may be struggling on offense due to injury problems. IDPs give the margin of error some breathing room, as more factors need to be taken into account – like who ranks higher on draft boards – Marc Bulger or Brian Urlacher?
Some IDP formats require one or two defensive starters, while others have multiple starters at defensive line, linebacker and defensive back. Some award points for tackles only, and others award large amounts of points for game changing plays like sacks, interceptions, forced fumbles and fumble recoveries.
There’s a lot to consider when playing in a league where Adrian Wilson might be more valuable than Donovan McNabb. Don’t let it intimidate you – use the following tips to compete in the world of individual defensive players.
When To Start Drafting IDPs – The biggest dilemma among owners is when to start drafting defensive players. Consistent offensive scorers are much harder to come by than consistent defensive scorers. Fill out your offensive lineup and then some before drafting defense. Don’t get temped when competitors start making runs on guys in the fourth round. Wait it out – trust me. Many owners will stretch and draft Ray Lewis very early, when equally productive guys like Kirk Morrison or E.J. Henderson are available several rounds later.
I’ve seen many owners draft guys like Dunta Robinson early, only to have productive sleepers like Darrelle Revis emerge later in the season…the damage is two-fold, because they also missed an opportunity to get a solid RB or WR.
Even though Nick Barnett and London Fletcher-Baker may start flying off draft boards, don’t start drafting your IDPs until you’ve filled out your offensive starting line-up AND have at least three back-up RBs and WRs. In most leagues this would mean waiting until the 10th round. THAT’S FINE. It’s much easier to find a sleeper LB off the waiver wire during any week of the year, than it is to grab an RB or WR. There’s only one exception, which segues perfectly to the next tip.
Defensive Ends Win Championships – Defensive line is like the RB of the defense. A good defensive lineman is very hard to come by in fantasy football. Most IDP leagues require two starters at defensive line, linebacker and defensive back. In leagues like this, it’s hard to find a suitable competitor for the DL spots in your line-up after Mario Williams, Jared Allen, Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora and Aaron Kampman are off the board. These guys are players to consider taking before the 10th round, because their production will be hard to match. The drop-off between the top 5-10 DL and the rest of the bunch is astonishingly greater than at any other position. Typically, ends produce more than tackles, due to their ability to rack up a higher amount of sacks, forced fumbles and fumble recoveries – which most leagues award big points for. Don’t worry if you miss out on one of the aforementioned ends, as guys like Trent Cole, Robert Mathis, Tamba Hali, Kyle Vanden Bosch, and in special cases, Terrell Suggs and Jason Taylor, will be available later on.
Position/Formation Changes – If you’re wondering why I said “in special cases, Terrell Suggs and Jason Taylor,” it’s because in some leagues, Suggs is scored as a DE, but he really plays outside linebacker – which brings me to my next point. Position changes – and formation changes – have a huge impact on IDP performance. Suggs produces like an outside linebacker because he plays with his hands off the ground, but since he’s scored as a DE, he ranks in the top 10 at his position. The same goes for Taylor – who is soon to be turned an OLB in Miami under Tony Sparano and Bill Parcells. This means if they’re scored as OLBs, they’ll rank near the bottom half of LBs, instead of near the top half of DEs. A few pass rushing `backers in 3-4 sets can be fantasy-worthy, but many owners elect to stay away from them because they live and die by the big play. Shawne Merriman, DeMarcus Ware, Adalius Thomas and Kamerion Wimbley are guys that could get to the QB enough to warrant a starting spot in IDP leagues.
A 3-4 or a 4-3 alignment can have a huge impact on a linebacker’s fantasy value. In 2005, Jonathan Vilma was fantasy’s highest scoring defensive player, racking up 128 solo tackles and assisting on 45 additional take downs, resulting in the assumption that the second-year stud would be a top fantasy IDP for years to come. Then, Eric Mangini decided to realign the Jets D from a 4-3 – where Vilma had been playing the middle – to a 3-4 alignment. Vilma went from being the defense’s primary playmaker, to just another inside linebacker in a team scheme, and his production plummeted. Owners who weren’t privy to the switch, or simply ignored the impact it could have, were crying by mid-season. Now that Vilma is back in a 4-3 set in New Orleans, look for him to jump back onto the IDP radar. I’m not saying that inside linebackers in a 3-4 scheme can’t be fantasy worthy – look at Vilma’s replacement in New York, Davis Harris, and last year’s rookie sensation Patrick Willis – but the specific position that a linebacker plays can make all the difference his statistical outcome. It’ll be interesting to see how Zach Thomas, who played MLB in a 4-3 in Miami his entire career, adjusts to playing an inside spot in Dallas’ 3-4.
In 2004, Houston’s Jamie Sharper was a top five IDP in all formats. In 2005, he moved to the Seahawks, and most fantasy owners were positive that he’d continue to be a top defensive fantasy player. There was one factor not to be overlooked though – his move from the middle to the strong side. Middle linebacker is the prime playmaking spot on defense. Any `backer who makes the move to the middle sees a value increase, while any `backer who makes a move from the middle, sees a decrease. Sharper didn’t just move from the middle – he moved to the strong side. SLBs are rarely fantasy-worthy. They’re the defensive equivalent of the fullback. Derrick Johnson is making a similar jump this year, as he moves to the strong side in Kansas City. Weak side linebacker is the second-best LB spot, as guys like A.J. Hawk, Lance Briggs, Julian Peterson and Derrick Brooks can make an impact, but for the most part – look to the middle to get the most production.
Consistency – Whether an owner prefers a playmaking OLB or a tackle-happy MLB, there are plusses and minuses either way. A team with consistent offensive production can take a risk and invest in a Merriman/Ware combo, knowing they could turn in sub-par performances if they don’t get to the QB…but of course, they reap the benefits of multi-sack performances quite often. Squads that have boom or bust offensive players, or simply like knowing they’re guaranteed 8-10 tackles from each linebacker, should look for something like an Antonio Pierce/Nick Barnett combo.
Another issue of preference is choosing safeties or cornerbacks when filling out your defensive backfield. Like MLBs, safeties have a tendency to produce more consistently, due to their ability to stuff the run. Corners are more risky and harder to prognosticate, because the best corners might not always score the most fantasy points. CBs that lock down their receivers prevent QBs from throwing in their direction, thus decreasing interception and tackle opportunities. CBs that get beat sometimes end up being more fantasy-worthy because they have more tackle opportunities after their man catches the rock. Backwards, I know.
If you’re league doesn’t include IDPs, you’re literally missing out on half the fun. To build a winner, draft a few guys that are in positions to notch several tackles in a game. Supplement them with a few defenders that make their living either getting to the QB or picking off passes. Put together a nice mix, and follow the NFL’s defensive trends. As more and more teams continue to switch to 3-4 defenses, consistent DEs and LBs will be harder to come by. Snatch a great DE early if you’re itching to pick defense before round 10. Grab sleeper linebackers and D-backs later after garnering solid offensive depth. Remember that defensive gems can be found on the waiver wire all year long.
This article was published in last year’s Athlon Grogan’s Fantasy Football Analyst Magazine but has been updated for you for 2008. Check out the 2008 Athlon Grogan’s Fantasy Football Analyst Magazine on newsstands now. For more great IDP strategy and insight, sign up for No-Offseason.com’s Ultimate Strategist Package now!
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