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As promised in the IDP Breakdown in the Fantasy Alarm Draft Guide, here is the first of our weekly updated IDP rankings. The three categories-DL, LB, DB-are expanded to include the 50 top IDP players based on current projections. Within each category, the defensive players are designated at their primary position, although depending on the platform hosting your league, some of the players will qualify at two positions (e.g., Olivier Vernon qualifies at both LB and DE on Yahoo), so study your league settings well to get a leg up on your competition.
The rankings are based on the following scoring system:
Solo Tackle (or Total Tackles) 1 point
Assisted tackle 1/2 point
Sack 4 points
Interception 6 points
Pass defended 1 point
Fumble forced 4 point
Fumble recovered 2 points
Safety 2 points
Blocked FG/PAT/Punt 6 points
All defensive TDs 6 points
As promised in the Draft Guide, there is the potential for revised rankings to be prepared, based on your specific league scoring system, if you send me the particulars in an email. You need to track down this writer’s contact information somewhere else on the site, as there should be an effort expended to receive the reward.
Below are the top 50 DL/LB/DBs per current projections, and these will be updated weekly until the regular season kicks off:
Good luck and godspeed in all your fantasy efforts.
Player News
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports Saints hosted free agent CB Asante Samuel for a visit Monday.
Samuel, fresh off offseason neck surgery, visited with the Saints Monday as he pursues his next playing opportunity. He has clear connection to the franchise after they hired Brandon Staley to fill their defensive coordinator position, for whom Samuel played under with the Chargers. Fowler adds that Samuel has another doctor visit scheduled for early July, during which time he hopes to gain clearance to resume football activities.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Packers met with WR Jayden Reed’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, to clarify his status with the team.
The meeting comes after the Packers selected a wide receiver in the first round for the first time since 2002 in this year’s draft. ESPN’s Adam Schefter added that the team emphasized Reed’s status as the top option at wide receiver after the selection of Matthew Golden and Savion Williams. “Green Bay’s top receiver” means far less for fantasy than it does in other places around the league considering Reed led the team with just 62.6% of the team’s offensive snaps played in 2024.
Saints signed QB Hunter Dekkers.
Dekkers spent three seasons with the Cyclones of Iowa State before stepping away from football following an indictment surrounding charges related to sports gambling. He then played his final collegiate season at Iowa Western before being invited to Saints camp. Dekkers spent his redshirt season backing up Brock Purdy at Iowa State.
Seahawks signed No. 18 overall pick OG Grey Zabel to a four-year contract.
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Zabel’s deal is worth a guaranteed $18.471 million. The former North Dakota State guard will be tasked with bolstering a Seahawks line that ranked 26th in PFF pass blocking grades and 24th in run blocking grades. The Seahawks didn’t do much to address their offensive line this offseason, with Zabel being the biggest addition to date. The FCS stud showed out at this year’s senior bowl, and brings high expectations into his rookie season after dominating at the college ranks.
Free agent WR Gabe Davis is visiting the 49ers on Monday.
It’s the first known interest we’ve seen of Davis, who was released by the Jaguars last week with a failed physical designation. The 49ers will likely be without Brandon Aiyuk to start the season, and the idea of adding another veteran to the room is appealing. Kyle Shanahan can turn a lot of football players into something fantasy-interesting, but Davis might be a step beyond even his schemes.
Falcons released WR Phillip Dorsett.
What was your favorite moment of Dorsett’s three-month run on a reserve/future contract with the Falcons? Was it when the signing was announced, or was it when the release happened? Dorsett will try to bounce to another team as wideout depth as he enters his age-32 season. He did not play NFL snaps last year and was only targeted three times by the Broncos in 2023.