Final FronTiers–Individual Defensive Players (IDPs)

By Winsto (08/30/2022—Updated 09/02/2022)

There is some solid depth at IDP this season, but there are a few players who could have outstanding years. 

For those of you who play in IDP leagues that have specific roster spots for Defensive Linemen (DL), Linebackers (LB), and Defensive Backs (DB), the rankings below are color coded by position.

 

 

To recap, the following tiers/rankings are based on the scoring system to the right:

  • 1 point——-Tackle (solo)
  • 0.5 points–Tackle (assist)
  • 3 points—–Sack
  • 3 points—–Interception
  • 1 point——-Pass defensed
  • 2 points—–Forced fumble
  • 2 points—–Fumble recovery
  • 2 points—–Safety
  • 2 points—–Blocked kick
  • 2 points—–Extra point returned
  • 6 points—–Defensive touchdown

Tier 1–The Elite

  • Jordyn Brooks, Sea (LB-1)

 

Brooks is all alone here.  Unlike some of the other high scoring fantasy IDPs from last year, there is no new player addition on his defense that could realistically cut into his tackle totals.  And, the fact that Seattle’s defense will probably struggle to get off the field should also help.

 

Tier 2–The Upper Echelon

  • Roquan Smith, Chi (LB-2)
  • Foyesade Oluokun, Jax (LB-3)

 

Assuming Smith does not get traded, he should be the staple of Chicago’s defense, but I would not be shocked if he was part of a trade before the trade deadline.   Oluokun led the league in total tackles last year, and Jacksonville’s defense should be on the field for a good portion of the game.  The only concern here is that Jacksonville will also have 1st round pick Devin Lloyd on the field, who could take some tackles away from Oluokun. 

Tier 2–The Consistent

  • Cole Holcomb, Was (LB-4)
  • Bobby Wagner, LAR (LB-5)
  • Blake Martinez, NYG (LB-6) (updated 9/1/2022–Martinez was released by NYG in an unexpected move, so drop him in your ranks)
  • C. J. Mosley, NYJ (LB-7)

 

Here we find players who are fairly consistent week in and week out in getting tackles.  Holcomb has been rock steady in Washington.  Wagner has proven consistent over the last several years, and the assumption here is that will continue, despite switching teams.  Martinez missed most of last year, so do not overlook him.  After recovering from injury, Mosley had a very productive year last year.  I do not see why he cannot repeat that.

Tier 2–The Risky Upside

  • Mica Parsons, Dal (LB-8)
  • T. J. Watt, Pit (LB-9 / DL-1 depending on your league)
  • Nick Bolton, KC (LB-10)

 

There is risk here but also reward.  How Dallas uses Parsons will affect his fantasy production, as they used him to rush the quarterback in passing situations very frequently last year.  Based on Dallas’s current defensive line construction, I am expecting much of the same this year.  Yes, he was able to get 13 sacks, but that came at the expense of his tackle production.  If he can replicate last year’s statistics, then he is a solid pick.  If not, however, there is a lower floor here.  T. J. Watt had a tremendous year (22 sacks) last season, and he did this while missing two games.  However, Watt is mostly an edge rusher, so there is much less consistency with him; Watt is even more reliant on sacks for fantasy points than Parsons.  Could he duplicate what he did last year?  Maybe, but his floor is very low.  I truly believe much of the fantasy community is sleeping on Bolton.  Playing just 56% last season, Bolton was still able to accumulate 112 total tackles, and this season, it actually appears that Bolton will be Kansas City’s three-down linebacker on defense.  If he can stay on the field for nickel and dime packages, which reports out of training camp suggests he will, he has as much of a ceiling as Parsons and Watt and a higher floor.

Tier 3–The Rock Solid

  • De’Vondre Campbell, GB (LB-11)
  • Derwin James, LAC (DB-1)
  • Fred Warner, SF (LB-12)
  • Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Cle (LB-13)
  • Shaquille Leonard, Ind (LB-14)

 

Campbell “should” provide steady production, but 1st round pick Quay Walker may take away some of his tackle opportunities.  Our first defensive back appears here with James.  Warner has been fairly steady the last few years, but he seems to be playing at his ceiling.  Owusu-Koramoah appears primed to finish as a top-10 IDP; the only thing that may prevent this from happening is whether or not the coaching staff will make him a full time player.  In his first year (2018), Leonard was one of the top IDP scorers, but since then, he has not quite been able to duplicate that success.  He is still very solid, however.

 

Tier 4–The Solid

  • David Long, TN (LB-16)
  • Logan Wilson, Cin (LB-17)
  • Josey Jewell, Den (LB-18)
  • Jerome Baker, Mia (LB-19)
  • Divine Deablo, LV (LB-20)
 
 
Long could be undervalued here, as he is primed to run Tennessee’s defense and stay on the field for all three downs.  Wilson, Jewell, and Baker are solid, but their ceilings may be limited.  I like Deablo, a converted safety in his second year who has flashed at the end of last season.  The issue, however, is he will be playing along side Perryman, who had a very solid tackle total last year.  I do “think” that Deablo will outproduce Perryman this season, as he should be more involved in passing downs.  Deablo may have the highest ceiling of this group but also the lowest floor.
 

Tier 5–The Questions Begin

  • Deion Jones, Atl (LB-15) (updated 9/1/2022–Jones was placed on IR, so move him down
  • Kevin Byard (DB-2)
  • Christian Kirksey, Hou (LB-21)
  • Jamal Adams (DB-3)
  • T. J. Edwards, Phi (LB-22)
  • Eric Kendricks, Min (LB-23)
  • Devin White, TB (LB-24)
  • Kyzir White, Ph (LB-25)
  • Isaiah Simmons, Ari (LB-26)
  • Bobby Okereke, Ind (LB-27)
  • Aaron Donald, LAR (DL-2)
  • Tae Crowder, NYG (LB-28) (update 9/1/2022–With the release of Martinez, it looks like Crowder should have a big year.  He moves up to the top of Tier 4)
  • Myles Jack, Pit (LB-29)
  • Patrick Queen, Bal (LB-30)
  • Jordan Hicks, Min (LB-31)
  • Shaq Thompson, Car (LB-32)
  • Alex Anzalone, Det (LB-33)
  • Minkah Fitzpatrick, Pit (DB-4)
  • Denzel Perryman, LV (LB-34)
  • Zaven Collins, Ari (LB-35)
  • Kenny Moore, Ind (DB-5)
  • Antoine Winfield Jr., TB (DB-6)
  • Jalen Thompson, Ari (DB-7)
  • Jordan Poyer, Buf (DB-8)
  • Jeremy Chinn, Car (DB-9)
  • Harrison Smith, Min (DB-10)
  • Budda Baker, Ari (DB-11)
  • Devin Bush, Pit (LB-36)
  • Demario Davis, NO (LB-37)
  • Cody Barton, Sea (LB-38)
  • Micah Hyde, Buf (DB-12)
  • Tracy Walker, Det (DB-13)
  • Johnathan Abram, LV (DB-14)
  • Dre Greenlaw, SF (LB-39)
  • Myles Garrett, Cle (DL-3)
  • Lavonte David, TB (LB-40)
  • Willie Gay, KC (LB-41)
  • Taylor Rapp, LAR (DB-15)
  • Tremaine Edmunds, Buf (LB-42)
  • Justin Simmons, Den (DB-16)
  • Nick Bosa, SF (DL-4)
  • Quandre Diggs, Sea (DB-17)
  • Josh Allen, Jax (DL-5)
  • Harold Landry, Ten (DL-6) (Update 9/2/2022–Landry suffered a torn ACL is now out for the season)
 

I think there is a substantial gap between Tier 4 and Tier 5.  This is also the area where you really start considering defensive backs and linemen rather the remaining linebackers.  Questions surround these players. The linebackers here are going to deal with at least one of the following issues:  legitimate tackle competition on his team, potential loss of playing time for some third down packages, or possible diminished skills.  The defensive backs and linemen here can provide solid fantasy points overall, but there will be less consistency on a week to week basis.

 

Tier 6–The Sack Specialists

  • Joey Bosa, LAC (DL-7)
  • Shaquil Barrett, TB (DL-8)
  • Cameron Hayward, Pit (DL-9)
  • Robert Quinn, Chi (DL-10)
  • Maxx Crosby, LV (DL-11)
  • Haason Reddick, Phi (DL-12)
  • Cameron Jordan, NO (DL-13)
  • Jeffrey Simmons, Ten (DL-14)
  • Leonard Williams, NYG (DL-15)
  • Chandler Jones, LV (DL-16)

 

This group can contribute points, but there is inconsistency here, as they will be heavily reliant on sacks.

 

Tier 7–the Youngsters with Upside

  • Devin Lloyd, Jax (LB43)
  • Quay Walker, GB (LB44)
  • Jonas Griffith, Den (LB45)
  • Jamin Davis, Wsh (LB46)
  • Travon Walker, Jax (DL-17)
  • Aidan Hutchinson, Det (DL-18)

 

There could be some sleepers here with big upside if certain things happen, but there is a very low floor.