As a football fan, stumbling upon dynasty IDP fantasy football has been an exhilarating journey. In almost any social circle you’ve been a part of, you can avoid uncomfortable conversations about politics or education by finding someone who plays fantasy football. Fantasy football is the most thrilling way for most of us to talk about the NFL with our friends and keep the competitive juices flowing well after our athletic years have passed us by.
In most circles, fantasy football is seen as an offensive-dominant game, and for the most part, it is. However, if I told you that incorporating IDP (Individual Defensive Players) could take the game you love to the next level, would that interest you? The common misconception when it comes to IDP leagues is that it is too much work or too much to learn. But fear not, when IDP leagues became more popular in the early 2000s, finding those rankings was increasingly complex. That is not the case anymore; nearly all your major websites carry IDP ranking sets or IDP content, as the format has grown rapidly over the last 15+ years.
That said, the Dynasty Nerds team is growing with the evolution of IDP fantasy football. While many have a basic knowledge of the format, this article is to interest those who may still be on the fence about joining an IDP league. I’ve played IDP fantasy football for over 15 years. The strongest championship roster I’ve managed ran the table by going undefeated after Aaron Donald and Chandler Jones scored more than most of my offensive players on a weekly basis..
IDP Fantasy Football Basics
My first experience with IDP was minimal compared to the game now. Most will say that if you’re interested in IDP, you should start small and incorporate fewer than 5 IDP spots in your league. On the contrary, if you attempt to make the jump, you should be prepared to attack it head-on. I recommend making this mirror the game you love to watch on Sundays and having rosters built of 22 starters, with 11 of those being IDP.
One of the biggest complaints expressed by non-IDP fantasy players is that no standard has been established for this format, and that is somehow perceived negatively. Not adhering to a standard format should be something dynasty managers welcome with open arms. Leagues like the Scott Fish Bowl are incorporating IDP scoring for the first time. The format flexibilities that IDP offers are what keep fantasy football exciting on both sides of the ball for every NFL game
IDP Fantasy Football Positions
IDP fantasy football consists of the five prominent positions. Most first-time IDP leagues will modify it to DL (includes DT and EDGE), LB, and DB (includes CB and S), which can help keep it less complex.
DT: This includes interior defenders generally familiar with playing gap discipline football. They are on the front line for stopping the run game and can contribute as pass rushers. The key stats to focus on at this position are tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, and quarterback hits. This position usually requires a premium scoring setting to boost its fantasy impact for IDP fantasy football.
EDGE: This includes 3-4 outside linebackers and outside primary pass rushers who play with their hands on the ground. They specialize in providing pressure on opposing quarterbacks and creating negative plays in the backfield. The key stats will be sacks, forced fumbles, and quarterback hits for scoring purposes. Some of the most recognizable players to even the casual football fan who play this position: T.J. Watt, Micah Parsons, etc.
LB: The most intriguing position in IDP fantasy football is linebacker. The most demanding position as that they are asked to rush the passer, defend the run, and play coverage on any given snap. This position is the highest scoring among your dynasty roster due to the high number of tackles. As you can see here, 22 players at the position finished with 120 tackles or more last season.
CB: The cornerback position doesn’t carry significant value in IDP leagues unless your starting lineups require it. The position can be inconsistent with tackling, and interceptions can be incredibly hard to predict. Unlike other positions on defense, CB is one where the better you are, the more likely offenses will avoid you. Unfortunately, some of the best NFL cornerbacks are not impactful defensive performers in IDP fantasy leagues.
S: The safety position has evolved into one of the most versatile roles in football. Safeties must be the last line of defense. They are asked to play man-to-man coverage, and support near the line of scrimmage as run defenders. This versatility can significantly boost them in IDP leagues as they are the second-highest volume tacklers next to the linebacker position. The key stats to focus on would be tackles and pass breakups. Consistent play at the safety position can significantly boost your dynasty rosters, making it a position worth exploring.
IDP Nerds Preferred IDP Scoring
| Position | Tackles | Assists | Sacks | TFL | QB Hits | Pass Breakups |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DL | 3.5 | 1.75 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| LB | 2.25 | 1.13 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| DB | 2.5 | 1.25 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Experimenting with league scoring is a key aspect of IDP fantasy football. Adjusting the scoring to match the offensive side can help keep your league fresh and prevent players from focusing on one strategy year after year. The above scoring is a favorite among many—including myself—and is a good starting point for newer players to the IDP format.
Startup Draft Strategies
The most common question I receive is where to start taking IDP in a startup draft. Again, nothing is standard, but this also applies to your dynasty SuperFlex and TE-premium formats. It is up to you and how you prefer to build your team. To provide a balanced roster, you typically target these players no later than round six. In the coming weeks at Dynasty Nerds, I will provide a combined mixed IDP and offensive ranking list, giving players a great idea of tier-based drafting, including offensive and defensive players. The key rules to always consider when drafting in IDP leagues:
- Volume is King – You wouldn’t spend high draft capital on a player in a startup who only plays 50% of the snaps on offense, right? The same rules apply for IDP leagues. You want the players who play the highest snap counts. Dynasty managers should preferably look at the linebackers and defensive backs who play 100% of the snaps.
- Age Factor – I treat defensive players like the quarterback position on the offensive side. Yes, having young, productive players and having them for the length of their careers is ideal. However, things change so fast that a player could be a young LB1 and, within a few seasons, find himself looking for a new team like Devin White in 2020. Don’t be as married to the age factor as you would for a wide receiver.
- Points Per Game – This is one of the most common strategies and can keep you rostering a competitive IDP dynasty roster yearly. Don’t be afraid to pay the price to acquire a player who consistently delivers fantasy output. Most IDP managers do not value veteran defensive players very highly. You can obtain these players significantly cheaper than an offensive skill player who produces at the same rate.
Lastly, waivers, trades, and rookie drafts are the best value you will get on most defensive players in your leagues. It’s tempting to spend high draft capital on players selected in the early rounds of the NFL draft. Knowing your starting lineup requirements and scoring settings can make all the difference in the world. This will help you when trying to assemble an outstanding defensive roster. The added value of IDP to your dynasty league gives you more flexibility with trades, regardless of whether you’re building for the future or trying to assemble a highly competitive roster for one to two years.
Where Do I Start
I’ve found it more challenging to see enough buy-in to convert a long-running dynasty league to IDP. If you gain interest and find enough leaguemates to approve the vote, all the power to you. I’ve seen in these scenarios that, regardless of how many people are on board, you will have a few stragglers who are very against it.
Hopefully, after sharing this article, they will be more open to it. I’ve found that those leagues tend to push the non-interested managers into being replaced in a few years. I would rather have managers committed to the format to help get the most out of the experience. Participating in your first-ever dynasty startup with IDP can be a fun challenge, particularly if most of the league comprises first-time players.
Dynasty Nerds has a great relationship with Sleeper, which hosts free leagues and allows customized scoring for your league. This is a great way to get started, and you can use their great mock draft option to run a few rounds of practice to provide an example to your league of how the draft can play out. I would be set on your roster size, starting position requirements, and scoring before you create your league.
In league group chats, creating polls on these topics is the easiest way to allow others to be involved and limit negative feedback after the draft starts. In my experience, you do not want anyone playing in a dynasty league who doesn’t enjoy it, and creating an open forum for league settings can be the easiest way to make sure you weed out anyone who doesn’t want to be there before the league begins. Last but not least, don’t overcomplicate things. Make it easy for you and your leaguemates to learn together and find playing in this format fun instead of overly challenging.
Final Thoughts
The word niche is always thrown out when IDP is discussed among players who only play in offensive formats. IDP dynasty fantasy football is continuing to grow, and as the Dynasty Nerds IDP Director, I aim to see more people play in an IDP fantasy football league this year. I hope this article helps change the narrative on some of the most common issues people have when they are asked to join an IDP league.
It can be gratifying to participate in an IDP league and get the most realistic feel of being the General Manager of a football team. The emphasis on defensive fantasy football will continue to grow, and I would love for you all to consider participating in this format. The value of IDP content provided by highly talented people in the community is at an all-time high, and I look forward to continuing to do that for the IDP Nerds.
