11Alive's Fantasy Football Blog

I’m in one IDP league, and it’s a doozy. While you pick a team defense in most leagues, in this league you pick an entire defense — ten defensive starters. It adds a whole new angle to drafting.

You’d think so, anyway.

Drafting out of the fourth position, and with Peyton Manning as my keeper, I didn’t draft a defensive player until the 11th round or so — Justin Tuck, DE-NYG — and then didn’t draft any more defenders until I was satisfied with my offensive players. Unless your IDP league rewards defensive play with overly-heavy scoring, don’t waste a high draft position on an IDP. There are just too many good defenders.

My defensive squad:

DB: Chris Gamble (CAR), Troy Polamalu (PIT), Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (ARZ), Quintin Mikell (PHI)
LB: Curtis Lofton (ATL), Ernie Sims (DET)
DL: Justin Tuck (NYG), Ray Edwards (MIN)
DL/LB: Terrell Suggs (BAL), Mathias Kiwanuka (NYG)

Notice what I did with those last two guys: they can play in two different positions. That means I had the option to draft more DL (defensive lineman) or LB (linebacker) players. I couldn’t find any DB/LBs (defensive back) — I think they call those safeties.

Like with a regular draft, you can’t get superstars at every position. The guys I picked highest were, in order, Tuck, Polamalu, and Suggs — one at each position.

You probably won’t be in many leagues like this. However, there are tricks to drafting good value at IDP:

1. Don’t break the seal. You should never be the first person to draft an IDP. There’ll always be an offensive player worth more.
2. Don’t be a lemming. Just because everyone else is drafting IDPs doesn’t mean you should. There are more than 750 defensive players in the NFL, and probably only 12 teams in your league. That’s a pretty good ratio. You won’t possibly need to pick your IDP before the 12th round, and you can probably get a good one even later than that. You do want to pick him before you pick your kicker, though.
3. Know who to pick. Do a little research: know who’s on good teams and who’s on bad teams, but beyond that, know if a team has a better rushing defense versus passing defense. Drafting Tuck and Suggs is good because the Giants and Ravens have good rushing defenses. If your team rewards more for interceptions, pick a guy on a good passing defense. And remember, teams that suck on offense make a lot of defensive plays, so you could make your bones on tackles if they’re rewarded highly enough (for example, one point per).
4. Don’t be afraid to swap your IDP mid-season. Like I said, more than 750 defensive players.
5. Don’t carry a backup IDP. If you really like your IDP, then when he goes on bye grab another one. But don’t waste a roster spot on a backup.
6. Don’t try to package a trade with an IDP. No one will care. If you’re trying to get Matt Forte and you’re offering Steve Smith (CAR) and Ray Lewis, you’re only offering Steve Smith.
7. Pay attention to defenders who play on offense and special teams. The year that Mike Vrabel caught all those TD passes, I had him as my IDP (in a single-IDP league). When Devin Hester was a CB/KR, he was great for IDP. And on that note, my final tip:
8. If your league rewards for special-teams play, your IDP should be a kick returner. Self-explanatory.

IDP leagues can be really interesting, and they add a cool wrinkle to fantasy football. Just don’t overvalue your IDP.