Get Defensive: Enhance Your Fantasy Season With IDPs

IDP vs. Team DF/ST   The Steelers and Giants DF/ST were ranked #1 and #2 by most fantasy analysts coming into the 2009 season, but they disappointed their owners, as injuries and poor play changed the fortunes of their seasons.  Other team defenses, such as the Titans, Ravens, Panthers, and Cowboys all failed to produce on a consistent basis.  With the Saints, 49ers, Cardinals, and Packers, all becoming viable options in 2009, savvy owners have been using the DF/ST with the best match-ups, and picking up several options off the waiver wire throughout the season.  Here's the deal, DF/ST and Kickers are pretty much the same, they shouldn't be drafted until the last two rounds of your draft.  In an IDP league, instead of drafting a team DF/ST, each member in your league drafts Individual Defensive Players, which will consist of Line Backers, Defensive Backs, and Defensive Lineman.  In a typical IDP draft, an owner will draft 3 LBs, 3 DBs, and 2 DL.

Positions  Line Backers- Just like RBs in standard scoring formats, LBs rule the roost.  Just like a workhorse RB, MLB in a 4-3 scheme have the most value, especially in tackle-heavy formats.  Examples:  Patrick Willis and Jon Beason.  If your league rewards big-plays more (sacks, INTs, ect.) than OLB in a 3-4 scheme could be what you are looking for.  Examples:  Lamar Woodley and James Harrison.  Defensvie Lineman- Just like TEs back in the day, there are the top tier and then the rest. There a handful of studs (Jared Allen, Justin Tuck, Trent Cole), and then a major drop-off at the position.  When looking for a DL, look for a guy who racks up sacks as well as tackles. Beware of DL that play on 3-4 teams, as they usually do all the dirty work, so the LBs can get all the glory.  Defensvie Backs- Just  like WRs, there are plenty of options, but instead of drafting studs (shutdown corners), and you want guys who get the opportunities.  Drafting Andre Johnson = smart.  Drafting Darrell Revis = not smart.

Draft Strategy   Everybody tells you this, but it is worth repeating: Know your league's scoring system, especially with IDP leagues. There are all sorts of differences between scoring systems for tackles, sacks, and turnovers.  That said, owners in this format must strive to balance their rosters to fulfill both sides of the ball, offense and defense.  Much like Fantasy Baseball, where owners must fill hitting and pitching positions.    Draft 2 Stud LBs   Getting 2 top LBs should be a priority in IDP leagues, especially if there is a run of say…WRs in the 6th or 7th round.  Grabbing a top LB in the middle of a WR or RB run, will enable you to solidify the most important IDP position, while starting your own LB run.  This will allow those offensive skill position players to fall to later rounds.   Grab a Top DL   Getting one of the top 3 DL, because the DL pool is so light.  Years ago, grabbing Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates was a must, as it was them…and then the rest.  DL are the TEs of IDP leagues.  Grabbing Jared Allen or Trent Cole before the run of DL starts will give you an advantage over other owners that have to start a lesser player.  DL don't emerge on the waiver wire as LBs and DBs do, so drafting a top option could be a strategy that you may want to implement.   Wait on a DB   DBs is the deepest position in IDP leagues.  There are always players that emerge from out of nowhere, as the DB position changes from year to year.  Bernard Pollard was cut by the Chiefs 5 days before the season started, but ended up one of the best DBs in fantasy, playing for the Texans.  Don't draft a shut corner.  Darrell Revis is the best cover corner in the NFL, which is even more amazing with the rules of the NFL completely tailored to the offense.  The fact is, he doesn't get targeted enough to make a big impact in IDP leagues, as he falls into the 25-30 range of DBs.

Bottom Line Taking a team DF is a crapshoot, and a cop out for fantasy owners.  How hard is it to replace your fantasy defense week to week...you can look at the schedule and think to yourself…"Who's playing the Rams this week?"  It's inevitable that someone in your league will grab the Jets defense in the 8th or 9th round this season, and start a run on defenses as owners panic trying to grab a "top ten" unit.  You know better.  Grabbing "sleeper" WRs or "handcuff" RBs in those rounds is what savvy owners do.  Why not get people more involved in the hobby we all love, and add an IDP scoring format. If your league doesn't have IDP positions, it's time to enhance your fantasy experience.  Drafting  DL, LBs, and DBs does not take that much longer at draft time, exce pt for "that guy" that takes 8 minutes to decide on Kevin Boss as his second TE (true story).  If you have die-hards in your fantasy leagues, it's time to get out of the team DF/ST rut, and get down with IDP.  Who doesn't want an even better experience in their fantasy football leagues?  In essence, fantasy football owners will have a better understanding of the game we love, and give them more to root for than just the just the offensive side of the ball. Tommy Rowan is the co-founder and writer for fantasyfanplay.com   For all your daily and up to the minute fantasy football news, insights, and analysis follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and dominate your draft with the Fantasy Fan Play Iphone/Ipad App.