J.J. Watt Houston TexansWe are into the second week of preseason games at this point. Drafts have taken place in some leagues, although most leagues are scheduled to draft over the next few weeks prior to the regular season kickoff on Thursday, September 10, 2015. Thus, it is time to get your cheat sheets in order, and prepare for what is usually the best part of the fantasy season, the draft.  I am therefore presenting a fresh set of rankings, and will go deeper into the rankings than I normally would for a twelve team league, just in case further injuries or depth chart adjustments are forthcoming.

I have also decided to compile a set of rankings based on what we in IDP circles refer to as “big play” leagues, where more emphasis is placed on sacks and take away plays, such as interceptions and fumble recoveries. Note, though, that my “normal” IDP rankings generally give extra credit for interceptions since I consider that play to be a huge momentum changer. The big play rankings are contained in the second set of tables below, with the rankings based on my “normal” IDP settings contained in the first grouping. Those “normal” IDP settings are as follows:

    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

Alternatively, the “big play” IDP settings are as follows:

    Solo Tackle (or Total Tackles) 1 point

    Assisted tackle 1/2 point

    Sack 6 points

    Interception 6 points

    Pass defended 2 point

    Fumble forced 6 point

    Fumble recovered 3points

    Safety 2 points

    Blocked FG/PAT/Punt 6 points

    All defensive TDs 6 points

The following three tables are the top 36 IDP at linebacker, defensive lineman and defensive back:Derrick Johnson Kansas City Chiefs

Ranking

Linebacker

POS

Team/Bye

  1.  

Justin Houston

OLB

KC/9

  1.  

Derrick Johnson

ILB

KC/9

  1.  

Clay Matthews

OLB

GB/7

  1.  

Lavonte David

OLB

TB/6

  1.  

DeAndre Levy

OLB

DET/9

  1.  

C.J. Mosley

ILB

BAL/9

  1.  

Paul Posluszny

ILB

JAX/8

  1.  

Kiko Alonso

ILB

PHI/8

  1.  

Alec Ogletree

OLB

STL/6

  1.  

Von Miller

OLB

DEN/7

  1.  

Mychal Kendricks

ILB

PHI/8

  1.  

Sean Lee

ILB

DAL/6

  1.  

Luke Kuechly

ILB

CAR/5

  1.  

Jamie Collins

OLB

NE/4

  1.  

Bobby Wagner

ILB

SEA/9

  1.  

Jelani Jenkins

OLB

MIA/5

  1.  

Ryan Kerrigan

OLB

WAS/8

  1.  

Sam Barrington

ILB

GB/7

  1.  

NaVorro Bowman

ILB

SF/10

  1.  

James Laurinaitis

ILB

STL/6

  1.  

Brandon Graham

OLB

PHI/8

  1.  

Keenan Robinson

ILB

WAS/8

  1.  

Sio Moore

OLB

OAK/6

  1.  

Brian Cushing

ILB

HOU/9

  1.  

Danny Trevathan

OLB

DEN/7

  1.  

Shea McClellin

OLB

CHI/7

  1.  

Lawrence Timmons

ILB

PIT/11

  1.  

Anthony Barr

OLB

MIN/5

  1.  

Zach Brown

OLB

TEN/4

  1.  

Kwon Alexander

OLB

TB/6

  1.  

Julius Peppers

OLB

GB/7

  1.  

Nigel Bradham

OLB

BUF/8

  1.  

Preston Brown

ILB

BUF/8

  1.  

Anthony Hitchens

OLB

DAL/6

  1.  

Brandon Marshall

OLB

DEN/7

  1.  

Curtis Lofton

ILB

OAK/6

Robert Quinn St. Louis Rams

Ranking

Defensive Linesman

POS

Tm

  1.  

J.J. Watt

DE

HOU/9

  1.  

Robert Quinn

DE

STL/6

  1.  

Mario Williams

DE

BUF/8

  1.  

Cameron Wake

DE

MIA/5

  1.  

Chandler Jones

DE

NE/4

  1.  

Carlos Dunlap

DE

CIN/7

  1.  

Khalil Mack

DE

OAK/6

  1.  

Rob Ninkovich

DE

NE/4

  1.  

Everson Griffen

DE

MIN/5

  1.  

Charles Johnson

DE

CAR/5

  1.  

Greg Hardy

DE

DAL/6

  1.  

Ezekiel Ansah

DE

DET/9

  1.  

Ndamukong Suh

DT

MIA/5

  1.  

Jerry Hughes

DE

BUF/8

  1.  

Calais Campbell

DE

ARI/9

  1.  

Aaron Donald

DT

STL/6

  1.  

Cameron Jordan

DE

NO/11

  1.  

Gerald McCoy

DT

TB/6

  1.  

Olivier Vernon

DE

MIA/5

  1.  

Jacquies Smith

DE

TB/6

  1.  

Chris Long

DE

STL/6

  1.  

Marcell Dareus

DT

BUF/8

  1.  

Vic Beasley

DE

ATL/10

  1.  

Demarcus Lawrence

DE

DAL/6

  1.  

Fletcher Cox

DE

PHI/8

  1.  

Chris Clemons

DE

JAX/8

  1.  

Corey Liuget

DE

SD/10

  1.  

Geno Atkins

DT

CIN/7

  1.  

Michael Johnson

DE

CIN/7

  1.  

Justin Tuck

DE

OAK/6

  1.  

Frank Alexander

DE

CAR/5

  1.  

Robert Ayers

DE

NYG/11

  1.  

Muhammad Wilkerson

DE

NYJ/5

  1.  

Clinton McDonald

DT

TB/6

  1.  

Andre Branch

DE

JAX/8

  1.  

Cameron Heyward

DE

PIT/11

Harrison Smith Minnesota Vikings

Ranking

Defensive Back

POS

Tm

  1.  

Harrison Smith

S

MIN/5

  1.  

Bradley Roby

CB

DEN/7

  1.  

Kyle Fuller

CB

CHI/7

  1.  

Jason McCourty

CB

TEN/4

  1.  

Leodis McKelvin

CB

BUF/8

  1.  

Johnathan Joseph

CB

HOU/9

  1.  

Reshad Jones

S

MIA/5

  1.  

Prince Amukamara

CB

NYG/11

  1.  

William Moore

S

ATL/10

  1.  

Trumaine Johnson

CB

STL/6

  1.  

James Ihedigbo

S

DET/9

  1.  

Eric Weddle

S

SD/10

  1.  

Charles Woodson

S

OAK/6

  1.  

Brent Grimes

CB

MIA/5

  1.  

Casey Hayward

CB

GB/7

  1.  

Charles Tillman

CB

CAR/5

  1.  

Antoine Bethea

S

SF/10

  1.  

Malcolm Jenkins

S

PHI/8

  1.  

Aqib Talib

CB

DEN/7

  1.  

Tyrann Mathieu

S

ARI/9

  1.  

Joe Haden

CB

CLE/11

  1.  

Michael Griffin

S

TEN/4

  1.  

DeAngelo Hall

CB

WAS/8

  1.  

Richard Sherman

CB

SEA/9

  1.  

Tashaun Gipson

S

CLE/11

  1.  

Cary Williams

CB

SEA/9

  1.  

Malcolm Butler

CB

NE/4

  1.  

Antrel Rolle

S

CHI/7

  1.  

Kareem Jackson

CB

HOU/9

  1.  

Deone Bucannon

S

ARI/9

  1.  

Mike Adams

S

IND/10

  1.  

Desmond Trufant

CB

ATL/10

  1.  

Alterraun Verner

CB

TB/6

  1.  

Glover Quin

S

DET/9

  1.  

Morgan Burnett

S

GB/7

  1.  

Barry Church

S

DAL/6

Clay Matthews Green Bay PackersThose are the standard IDP rankings. I went three deep at each position, although most IDP leagues generally only go two deep per team at LB, DL and DB. Of course, you may play in an IDP-only league, and then the tables set forth above and below will not adequately address your draft needs. I am happy to assist you in developing your own rankings, based on your league’s settings. You can contact me at my e-mail address listed at the bottom of this post, and request a set of personalized rankings. I need to know how points are assigned and how many IDP spots your league uses in the starting lineup. Also, make certain to put “IDP rankings” in the subject line to help me locate your message among the many I receive daily.

Here are the top 36 "big play" IDP at linebacker, defensive linesman and defensive back:

Ranking

Big Play Linebacker

POS

Tm

  1.  

Justin Houston

OLB

KC/9

  1.  

Clay Matthews

OLB

GB/7

  1.  

Von Miller

OLB

DEN/7

  1.  

Derrick Johnson

ILB

KC/9

  1.  

Ryan Kerrigan

OLB

WAS/8

  1.  

Lavonte David

OLB

TB/6

  1.  

DeAndre Levy

OLB

DET/9

  1.  

C.J. Mosley

ILB

BAL/9

  1.  

Brandon Graham

OLB

PHI/8

  1.  

Paul Posluszny

ILB

JAX/8

  1.  

Kiko Alonso

ILB

PHI/8

  1.  

Mychal Kendricks

ILB

PHI/8

  1.  

Alec Ogletree

OLB

STL/6

  1.  

Jamie Collins

OLB

NE/4

  1.  

Julius Peppers

OLB

GB/7

  1.  

Luke Kuechly

ILB

CAR/5

  1.  

Elvis Dumervil

OLB

BAL/9

  1.  

Sean Lee

ILB

DAL/6

  1.  

Jelani Jenkins

OLB

MIA/5

  1.  

Bobby Wagner

ILB

SEA/9

  1.  

Sam Barrington

ILB

GB/7

  1.  

Sio Moore

OLB

OAK/6

  1.  

Anthony Barr

OLB

MIN/5

  1.  

NaVorro Bowman

ILB

SF/10

  1.  

James Laurinaitis

ILB

STL/6

  1.  

Shea McClellin

OLB

CHI/7

  1.  

Connor Barwin

OLB

PHI/8

  1.  

Melvin Ingram

OLB

SD/10

  1.  

Jarvis Jones

OLB

PIT/11

  1.  

Keenan Robinson

ILB

WAS/8

  1.  

Danny Trevathan

OLB

DEN/7

  1.  

Brian Cushing

ILB

HOU/9

  1.  

Paul Kruger

OLB

CLE/11

  1.  

Lawrence Timmons

ILB

PIT/11

  1.  

Terrell Suggs

OLB

BAL/9

  1.  

Zach Brown

OLB

TEN/4

Ndamukon Suh Detroit Lions

Ranking

Big Play Defensive Linesman

POS

Tm

  1.  

J.J. Watt

DE

HOU/9

  1.  

Robert Quinn

DE

STL/6

  1.  

Cameron Wake

DE

MIA/5

  1.  

Mario Williams

DE

BUF/8

  1.  

Chandler Jones

DE

NE/4

  1.  

Carlos Dunlap

DE

CIN/7

  1.  

Khalil Mack

DE

OAK/6

  1.  

Charles Johnson

DE

CAR/5

  1.  

Greg Hardy

DE

DAL/6

  1.  

Everson Griffen

DE

MIN/5

  1.  

Rob Ninkovich

DE

NE/4

  1.  

Ezekiel Ansah

DE

DET/9

  1.  

Ndamukong Suh

DT

MIA/5

  1.  

Jerry Hughes

DE

BUF/8

  1.  

Cameron Jordan

DE

NO/11

  1.  

Gerald McCoy

DT

TB/6

  1.  

Jacquies Smith

DE

TB/6

  1.  

Calais Campbell

DE

ARI/9

  1.  

Aaron Donald

DT

STL/6

  1.  

Chris Long

DE

STL/6

  1.  

Olivier Vernon

DE

MIA/5

  1.  

Marcell Dareus

DT

BUF/8

  1.  

Vic Beasley

DE

ATL/10

  1.  

Demarcus Lawrence

DE

DAL/6

  1.  

Geno Atkins

DT

CIN/7

  1.  

Chris Clemons

DE

JAX/8

  1.  

Michael Johnson

DE

CIN/7

  1.  

Justin Tuck

DE

OAK/6

  1.  

Fletcher Cox

DE

PHI/8

  1.  

Corey Liuget

DE

SD/10

  1.  

Frank Alexander

DE

CAR/5

  1.  

Muhammad Wilkerson

DE

NYJ/5

  1.  

Cameron Heyward

DE

PIT/11

  1.  

Andre Branch

DE

JAX/8

  1.  

Robert Ayers

DE

NYG/11

  1.  

Vinny Curry

DE

PHI/8

Charles Woodson Oakland Raiders

Ranking

Big Play Defensive Back

POS

Tm

  1.  

Bradley Roby

CB

DEN/7

  1.  

Kyle Fuller

CB

CHI/7

  1.  

Leodis McKelvin

CB

BUF/8

  1.  

Harrison Smith

S

MIN/5

  1.  

Jason McCourty

CB

TEN/4

  1.  

Johnathan Joseph

CB

HOU/9

  1.  

Prince Amukamara

CB

NYG/11

  1.  

Trumaine Johnson

CB

STL/6

  1.  

James Ihedigbo

S

DET/9

  1.  

Reshad Jones

S

MIA/5

  1.  

William Moore

S

ATL/10

  1.  

Brent Grimes

CB

MIA/5

  1.  

Charles Tillman

CB

CAR/5

  1.  

Casey Hayward

CB

GB/7

  1.  

Charles Woodson

S

OAK/6

  1.  

Joe Haden

CB

CLE/11

  1.  

Aqib Talib

CB

DEN/7

  1.  

Eric Weddle

S

SD/10

  1.  

Malcolm Jenkins

S

PHI/8

  1.  

DeAngelo Hall

CB

WAS/8

  1.  

Antoine Bethea

S

SF/10

  1.  

Michael Griffin

S

TEN/4

  1.  

Cary Williams

CB

SEA/9

  1.  

Malcolm Butler

CB

NE/4

  1.  

Richard Sherman

CB

SEA/9

  1.  

Desmond Trufant

CB

ATL/10

  1.  

Tyrann Mathieu

S

ARI/9

  1.  

Kareem Jackson

CB

HOU/9

  1.  

Patrick Peterson

CB

ARI/9

  1.  

Tashaun Gipson

S

CLE/11

  1.  

D.J. Hayden

CB

OAK/6

  1.  

Alterraun Verner

CB

TB/6

  1.  

Lardarius Webb

CB

BAL/9

  1.  

Chris Harris

CB

DEN/7

  1.  

Glover Quin

S

DET/9

  1.  

Antrel Rolle

S

CHI/7

You will notice that there is not a huge amount of difference in how the top players for each position are ranked. Obviously, the top IDPs at linebacker, defensive end and defensive back are generally consistent, as talent tends to rise to the top, no matter what system is employed to assign points. One huge takeaway from the rankings is just how few defensive tackles end up in either table. If your league employs a distinction between DT and DE, my advice is to target a top DT early on in your IDP draftings rounds, as the talent dries up quickly. Not that I would suggest you make a DT your top overall IDP draft pick, just be ready for the run. And please do not start drafting your IDP until you have filled your starting offense, with the exception of a team defense and kicker. Once you have your primary QB, RBs, WRs and TE, however, you need to start looking to fill your top IDP slots.

I also know that I continually preach that linebackers are the gold standard among IDP, but you can also reload at LB during the season a lot easier than you are able to recover from losing a top DL, and to a lesser extent, a DB. Match ups, injuries and breakout performances frequently take place among linebackers during the season, and I would suggest that you read my weekly IDP Reports here on the site to help you adjust as the season goes forward. I will be profiling those IDP that are rising, as well as highlighting those that are not performing up to expectations on a weekly basis. I also cover significant injuries in my weekly article.

Should you have questions regarding fantasy football, especially IDP, you can reach me at ia@fantasyalarm.com to continue the discussion.