As plans begin to firm up for the beginning of the 2020 NFL season, it seems a fine time to review the rankings for IDP to assist fantasy general managers in putting together their squads. Although this space typically uses a hybrid approach to ranking IDP, for this exercise it has been determined to proceed with a more “standard” ranking approach. It is not tackle-heavy, nor big-play oriented either, but assigns the following point system:

Tackles: 1 point

Assisted Tackles: .5 points

Sacks: 2 points

Fumbles Forced: 2 points

Passes Deflected/Defensed: 1 point

Interceptions: 3 points

Touchdowns: 6 points

Now, realize, your settings may not mimic these, and I am doubting that they do. I have played in numerous IDP leagues over the seasons, and cannot recall any one league having the exact same scoring system as any other, even among those that I have set up and act as commissioner for, too. The idea here is to find some middle ground where a general sense of how IDPs fit into the general scheme of fantasy football point production.

With all that in mind, below are four tables. The first contains the top 150 IDP for any position, based on current projections. Following that, are tables setting forth the top 50 LBs, DLs and DBs based on those same projections. What’s that? Yep, you caught me, I added an additional LB, just because there is so little separation under this point allocation system between the final two players listed, outside linebackers Kyle Van Noy and Jatavis Brown that it only seemed fair and just to expand the table one row.

Overall Top 150 IDP

Rank

Name

POS

Tm

1

Darius Leonard

OLB

IND/7

2

Bobby Wagner

ILB

SEA/6

3

Joe Schobert

ILB

JAX/7

4

Blake Martinez

ILB

NYG/11

5

Fred Warner

ILB

SF/11

6

Cory Littleton

ILB

LV/6

7

Zach Cunningham

ILB

HOU/8

8

Jayon Brown

ILB

TEN/7

9

C.J. Mosley

ILB

NYJ/11

10

Jaylon Smith

ILB

DAL/10

11

Christian Kirk sey

OLB

GB/5

12

Isaiah Simmons

ILB

ARI/8

13

Devin Bush

ILB

PIT/8

14

Shaq Thompson

ILB

CAR/13

15

Jordan Hicks

ILB

ARI/8

16

Leighton Vander Esch

OLB

DAL/10

17

Jerome Baker

OLB

MIA/11

18

Devin White

ILB

TB/13

19

Rashaan Evans

ILB

TEN/7

20

Lavonte David

ILB

TB/13

21

Patrick Queen

ILB

BAL/8

22

Budda Baker

S

ARI/8

23

Roquan Smith

ILB

CHI/11

24

Danny Trevathan

ILB

CHI/11

25

Tremaine Edmunds

ILB

BUF/11

26

Todd Davis

ILB

DEN/8

27

Deion Jones

ILB

ATL/10

28

A.J. Johnson

ILB

DEN/8

29

John Johnson III

S

LAR/9

30

Eric Kendricks

ILB

MIN/7

31

Derwin James

S

LAC/10

32

Logan Wilson

ILB

CIN/9

33

Keanu Neal

S

ATL/10

34

Landon Collins

S

WAS/8

35

Kenneth Murray

OLB

LAC/10

36

Jamal Adams

S

NYJ/11

37

Bobby Okereke

ILB

IND/7

38

Nick Kwiatkoski

ILB

LV/6

39

Jamie Collins Sr

OLB

DET/5

40

Jordan Poyer

S

BUF/11

41

Micah Kiser

ILB

LAR/9

42

Mack Wilson

ILB

CLE/9

43

Germaine Pratt

OLB

CIN/9

44

Willie Gay Jr

ILB

KC/10

45

Harrison Smith

S

MIN/7

46

Malik Harrison

ILB

BAL/8

47

Minkah Fitzpatrick

S

PIT/8

48

Matt Milano

OLB

BUF/11

49

T.J. Watt

OLB

PIT/8

50

Dre Greenlaw

OLB

SF/11

51

Adrian Amos

S

GB/5

52

Sione Takitaki

ILB

CLE/9

53

Tahir Whitehead

OLB

CAR/13

54

Malcolm Jenkins

S

NO/6

55

Ronnie Harrison

S

JAX/7

56

Jabrill Peppers

S

NYG/11

57

Justin Simmons

S

DEN/8

58

Vince Williams

ILB

PIT/8

59

Jahlani Tavai

ILB

DET/5

60

Demario Davis

OLB

NO/6

61

Tyrann Mathieu

S

KC/10

62

Tracy Walker

S

DET/5

63

James Burgess Jr

ILB

NYJ/11

64

Taylor Rapp

S

LAR/9

65

Xavier McKinney

S

NYG/11

66

Kevin Byard

S

TEN/7

67

Jordyn Brooks

ILB

SEA/6

68

Justin Reid

S

HOU/8

69

Tre Flowers

CB

SEA/6

70

Kenny Young

ILB

LAR/9

71

Kyle Van Noy

OLB

MIA/11

72

Jatavis Brown

OLB

PHI/9

73

Bradley McDougald

S

SEA/6

74

Terrell Edmunds

S

PIT/8

75

Ryan Connelly

ILB

NYG/11

76

Shawn Williams

S

CIN/9

77

Myles Jack

ILB

JAX/7

78

Will Harris

S

DET/5

79

Kareem Jackson

S

DEN/8

80

Sean Davis

S

WAS/8

81

Damarious Randall

S

LV/6

82

Jessie Bates III

S

CIN/9

83

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix

S

DAL/10

84

Dont'a Hightower

OLB

NE/6

85

Khari Willis

S

IND/7

86

Grant Delpit

S

CLE/9

87

Jeremy Chinn

S

CAR/13

88

Johnathan Abram

S

LV/6

89

Drue Tranquill

ILB

LAC/10

90

Chandler Jones

OLB

ARI/8

91

Danielle Hunter

DE

MIN/7

92

Donte Jackson

CB

CAR/13

93

Anthony Harris

S

MIN/7

94

Jalen Mills

CB

PHI/9

95

Antoine Winfield Jr

S

TB/13

96

Quandre Diggs

S

SEA/6

97

Vonn Bell

S

CIN/9

98

Eddie Jackson

S

CHI/11

99

Foye Oluokun

OLB

ATL/10

100

Benardrick McKinney

ILB

HOU/8

101

James Bradberry

CB

NYG/11

102

Marcus Peters

CB

BAL/8

103

BranDon Jones

S

MIA/11

104

Kyle Fuller

CB

CHI/11

105

Ja'Whaun Bentley

ILB

NE/6

106

Chuck Clark

S

BAL/8

107

Kendall Fuller

CB

WAS/8

108

Janoris Jenkins

CB

NO/6

109

Duke Riley

OLB

PHI/9

110

Darnell Savage

S

GB/5

111

Carlton Davis

CB

TB/13

112

Kenny Moore II

CB

IND/7

113

Juan Thornhill

S

KC/10

114

Anthony Barr

OLB

MIN/7

115

Reuben Foster

ILB

WAS/8

116

Anthony Hitchens

ILB

KC/10

117

Jaire Alexander

CB

GB/5

118

Za'Darius Smith

OLB

GB/5

119

Joey Bosa

DE

LAC/10

120

Bobby McCain

S

MIA/11

121

Khalil Mack

OLB

CHI/11

122

Kevin King

CB

GB/5

123

Tre Boston

S

CAR/13

124

Jon Bostic

ILB

WAS/8

125

Jarrod Wilson

S

JAX/7

126

J.J. Watt

DE

HOU/8

127

Myles Garrett

DE

CLE/9

128

Sean Murphy-Bunting

CB

TB/13

129

Byron Murphy

CB

ARI/8

130

Von Miller

OLB

DEN/8

131

Adoree' Jackson

CB

TEN/7

132

Joe Haden

CB

PIT/8

133

Ronald Darby

CB

WAS/8

134

Denzel Ward

CB

CLE/9

135

Malcolm Butler

CB

TEN/7

136

Cameron Heyward

DE

PIT/8

137

Karl Joseph

S

CLE/9

138

Devon Kennard

OLB

ARI/8

139

Bradley Chubb

OLB

DEN/8

140

TreDavious White

CB

BUF/11

141

Sam Hubbard

DE

CIN/9

142

Shaquil Barrett

OLB

TB/13

143

Nick Bosa

DE

SF/11

144

Charvarius Ward

CB

KC/10

145

Justin Evans

S

TB/13

146

Shaquill Griffin

CB

SEA/6

147

Maxx Crosby

DE

LV/6

148

Marlon Humphrey

CB

BAL/8

149

Bud Dupree

OLB

PIT/8

150

Matt Judon

OLB

BAL/8

 

Defensive Linesmen

Rank

Name

POS

Team/Bye

1

Danielle Hunter

DE

MIN/7

2

Myles Garrett

DE

CLE/9

3

J.J. Watt

DE

HOU/8

4

Cameron Jordan

DE

NO/6

5

Nick Bosa

DE

SF/11

6

Maxx Crosby

DE

LV/6

7

Aaron Donald

DE

LAR/9

8

Joey Bosa

DE

LAC/10

9

Carlos Dunlap

DE

CIN/9

10

Josh Allen

DE

JAX/7

11

Sam Hubbard

DE

CIN/9

12

DeForest Buckner

DT

IND/7

13

Chris Jones

DT

KC/10

14

Cameron Heyward

DE

PIT/8

15

Justin Houston

DE

IND/7

16

Jason Pierre-Paul

DE

TB/13

17

Dante Fowler Jr

DE

ATL/10

18

Frank Clark

DE

KC/10

19

Demarcus Lawrence

DE

DAL/10

20

Arik Armstead

DE

SF/11

21

Ryan Kerrigan

DE

WAS/8

22

Akiem Hicks

DE

CHI/11

23

Chase Young

DE

WAS/8

24

Trey Flowers

DE

DET/5

25

Melvin Ingram III

DE

LAC/10

26

Ifeadi Odenigbo

DE

MIN/7

27

Brandon Graham

DE

PHI/9

28

Aldon Smith

DE

DAL/10

29

Calais Campbell

DE

BAL/8

30

Clelin Ferrell

DE

LV/6

31

Mario Addison

DE

BUF/11

32

Kenny Clark

DT

GB/5

33

Jonathan Allen

DT

WAS/8

34

Derek Barnett

DE

PHI/9

35

Grady Jarrett

DT

ATL/10

36

Marcus Davenport

DE

NO/6

37

Geno Atkins

DT

CIN/9

38

Everson Griffen

DE

DAL/10

39

Jarran Reed

DT

SEA/6

40

Sheldon Richardson

DT

CLE/9

41

Larry Ogunjobi

DT

CLE/9

42

Jurrell Casey

DE

DEN/8

43

Fletcher Cox

DT

PHI/9

44

Bruce Irvin

DE

SEA/6

45

Yetur Gross-Matos

DE

CAR/13

46

Olivier Vernon

DE

CLE/9

47

Shelby Harris

DE

DEN/8

48

Chase Winovich

DE

NE/6

49

Brian Burns

DE

CAR/13

50

Jeffery Simmons

DE

TEN/7

 

Linebackers

Rank

Name

POS

Team/Bye

1

Darius Leonard

OLB

IND/7

2

Cory Littleton

ILB

LV/6

3

Fred Warner

ILB

SF/11

4

Joe Schobert

ILB

JAX/7

5

Bobby Wagner

ILB

SEA/6

6

T.J. Watt

OLB

PIT/8

7

Devin Bush

ILB

PIT/8

8

Jayon Brown

ILB

TEN/7

9

Blake Martinez

ILB

NYG/11

10

Devin White

ILB

TB/13

11

Jordan Hicks

ILB

ARI/8

12

Jaylon Smith

ILB

DAL/10

13

Christian Kirk sey

OLB

GB/5

14

Leighton Vander Esch

OLB

DAL/10

15

Zach Cunningham

ILB

HOU/8

16

Tremaine Edmunds

ILB

BUF/11

17

Eric Kendricks

ILB

MIN/7

18

Shaq Thompson

ILB

CAR/13

19

Jerome Baker

OLB

MIA/11

20

Patrick Queen

ILB

BAL/8

21

Lavonte David

ILB

TB/13

22

Rashaan Evans

ILB

TEN/7

23

Chandler Jones

OLB

ARI/8

24

Roquan Smith

ILB

CHI/11

25

Jamie Collins Sr

OLB

DET/5

26

Isaiah Simmons

ILB

ARI/8

27

Deion Jones

ILB

ATL/10

28

Demario Davis

OLB

NO/6

29

Danny Trevathan

ILB

CHI/11

30

Todd Davis

ILB

DEN/8

31

Shaquil Barrett

OLB

TB/13

32

Matt Milano

OLB

BUF/11

33

Germaine Pratt

OLB

CIN/9

34

A.J. Johnson

ILB

DEN/8

35

Kwon Alexander

ILB

SF/11

36

Micah Kiser

ILB

LAR/9

37

K.J. Wright

OLB

SEA/6

38

Khalil Mack

OLB

CHI/11

39

Ja'Whaun Bentley

ILB

NE/6

40

Foye Oluokun

OLB

ATL/10

41

Logan Wilson

ILB

CIN/9

42

Kyle Van Noy

OLB

MIA/11

43

Sione Takitaki

ILB

CLE/9

44

Kenneth Murray

OLB

LAC/10

45

Za'Darius Smith

OLB

GB/5

46

Malik Harrison

ILB

BAL/8

47

Tahir Whitehead

OLB

CAR/13

48

Bobby Okereke

ILB

IND/7

49

Von Miller

OLB

DEN/8

50

Kenny Young

ILB

LAR/9

 

Defensive Backs

Rank

Name

POS

Team/Bye

1

Derwin James

S

LAC/10

2

Minkah Fitzpatrick

S

PIT/8

3

Harrison Smith

S

MIN/7

4

John Johnson III

S

LAR/9

5

Budda Baker

S

ARI/8

6

Keanu Neal

S

ATL/10

7

Jamal Adams

S

SEA/6

8

Marcus Peters

CB

BAL/8

9

Carlton Davis

CB

TB/13

10

Tyrann Mathieu

S

KC/10

11

Jordan Poyer

S

BUF/11

12

Kevin Byard

S

TEN/7

13

Landon Collins

S

WAS/8

14

Malcolm Jenkins

S

NO/6

15

Jaire Alexander

CB

GB/5

16

Justin Simmons

S

DEN/8

17

Anthony Harris

S

MIN/7

18

Janoris Jenkins

CB

NO/6

19

Kyle Fuller

CB

CHI/11

20

Marlon Humphrey

CB

BAL/8

21

Tre Flowers

CB

SEA/6

22

Eddie Jackson

S

CHI/11

23

Ronnie Harrison

S

JAX/7

24

Justin Reid

S

HOU/8

25

Kevin King

CB

GB/5

26

TreDavious White

CB

BUF/11

27

Jabrill Peppers

S

NYG/11

28

Jessie Bates III

S

CIN/9

29

Donte Jackson

CB

CAR/13

30

Charvarius Ward

CB

KC/10

31

Adrian Phillips

S

NE/6

32

James Bradberry

CB

NYG/11

33

Quandre Diggs

S

SEA/6

34

Bradley McDougald

S

NYJ/11

35

Taylor Rapp

S

LAR/9

36

Adrian Amos

S

GB/5

37

Tracy Walker

S

DET/5

38

Damarious Randall

S

LV/6

39

Denzel Ward

CB

CLE/9

40

Sean Murphy-Bunting

CB

TB/13

41

Joe Haden

CB

PIT/8

42

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix

S

DAL/10

43

Kareem Jackson

S

DEN/8

44

Xavier McKinney

S

NYG/11

45

Vonn Bell

S

CIN/9

46

Johnathan Abram

S

LV/6

47

Sean Davis

S

WAS/8

48

Malcolm Butler

CB

TEN/7

49

Chuck Clark

S

BAL/8

50

Will Harris

S

DET/5

Take a gander at the first table above. Note that when it is written on this site in general IDP articles that linebackers are golden in IDP leagues, that is certainly indicated, as 33 of the top 40 IDP are LBs, with a sprinkling of seven safeties towards the end of that grouping. Overall, there are a mere eight DL among this collection of defensive stars, all defensive ends. Cornerbacks start to infiltrate the ranks at #69, in the form of Seattle’s Tre Flowers .

Note also that while LBs predominate the early rankings, there are 70 DBs in the entire first table. The majority of these are safeties, with cornerbacks waiting in the wings and making their presence known towards the end of the rankings.

Keys to take from this:

  1. There are plenty of top-notch LBs available, although Darius Leonard stands out in a tier by himself, no matter what scoring system is employed;
  2. Prominent DLs are rare, so grab them early if you want the position to make a difference in your IDP league(s);
  3. If your league is not one that mandates use of cornerbacks, your best choices among the top DBs resides in the land of safeties; and
  4. In mandatory DT leagues, it would behoove you to grab the good ones early as there are not a ton in the top two thirds of the DLs listed above.

As ever, godspeed and best of luck in your fantasy endeavors. If you have any questions regarding IDP, or fantasy football in general, you can send an inquiry to ia@fantasyalarm.com for a personalized suggestion (or two, if the spirit moves). And as a special service to the readers of the IDP Report, should that standard scoring scheme leave something to be desired, if you ask nicely, there is always a possibility that a customized set of IDP rankings could find its way to you. You have the key to ask a few lines above.