Adding an Extra Layer: Playing in an IDP League

Participating in an Individual Defensive Player (IDP) league introduces a new level of excitement to fantasy football. It might not appeal to everyone, but if you’re interested in the defensive aspects of the game, bringing defensive players into your lineup could be a great fit.

Understanding how to incorporate these players into your roster is crucial. Typically, IDP leagues only provide a few IDP slots, with most going to offensive players. It’s essential to clarify how many scoring and starting positions are available. Essentially, the more scoring potential and starting slots for IDPs you have, the more defensive players you’ll want to draft.

In the average IDP league, you might find around 3-4 starting slots, usually covering defensive line (DL), linebacker (LB), and defensive back (DB). However, deeper leagues expand these positions and add more starting slots, making things a bit more complex.

You can’t solely depend on weekly sacks or interceptions; a consistent flow of tackles is generally more reliable. This usually means selecting top DLs and LBs first. Personally, I tend to prioritize DLs because they can be harder to find later, followed by LBs.

Know Who’s Important

The linebacker wearing a green dot on his helmet is a key player; he acts as the defensive leader and communicates alignment to the rest of the team.

Positioning Defensive Backs

Safeties tend to rack up more tackles, while cornerbacks often secure more interceptions. Predicting tackles week-to-week is usually easier, so it’s wise to choose a safer route. Even if you have slots reserved for cornerbacks only, you can still find available players throughout the season, allowing you to be a bit more patient.

Take a player like Hunter, who qualifies as both a WR and CB. If placed in a CB slot, he scores points as both a receiver and a corner, acting almost like a free spot. If you have a DB slot, Hunter is still a strong option, though it’s important to consider that this doesn’t separate him from top safeties.

Defensive schemes and playing time can be quite fluid, so being ready to capitalize on players who offer exemptions can significantly boost your numbers. The best time to analyze this is usually after the first week or two when playing time becomes clearer. If your league includes IDP slots, there can be plenty of strong players available on the exemption wire every week, so keep an eye out.