2020 IDP Rankings And Preview
Wait! Before you click that back button and click on one of our other incredible articles, hear me out. You have tons of fun playing fantasy football with offensive players; however, there is an entire new horizon out there on the defensive side of the football. That’s where my 2020 IDP season preview and rankings comes in.
IDP stands for individual defensive player, and this allows us to dive deeper than team defense. We get the opportunity to play general manager even more with added strategy and players to choose from. Typical scoring for IDP leagues sees roughly 1 point per tackle, 3-4 points per sack and interception, and additional points for things such as passes defensed, forced fumbles, and tackles for loss.
Strategy for IDP selections usually stem from two schools of thought: players guaranteed to record a ton of tackles (high-floor) or players guaranteed to have chances at sacks and interceptions (high-risk, high-reward).
For the 2020 NFL season, I’ve combed through previous year data, pondered the future in my crystal ball, and I’ve come up with my IDP rankings at each position group. As the resident YardsPer Fantasy IDP expert, these 2020 rankings should be taken as gospel and shouldn’t be questioned.
Defensive Line
12. Grady Jarrett – One of the best pass-rushing DT in the game. Will give you 6+ sacks and 50 tackles with upside for more sacks.
11. Chris Jones – Risky, high upside pick here. Has the potential for double digit sacks and is one of the best lineman in the game.
10. Sam Hubbard – Slowly growing into a household name, Hubbard has the ability to provide sacks and tackles with consistency.
9. Carlos Dunlap – One of the more consistent edge players in the NFL, Dunlap has tallied at least 7.5 sacks in 7 straight seasons and tallied 50+ tackles in 4 of those. Consistent performer every year.
8. Josh Allen – Split edge snaps with Calais Campbell and Yannick Ngakoue in 2019 and STILL managed to put up 10.5 sacks. With Campbell gone and Ngakoue’s contract uncertainty, fire up Josh Allen as a high upside sack machine.
7. Myles Garrett – Only played ten games in 2019 and still managed double digit sacks and tackles for loss. A machine when on the field.
6. Demarcus Lawrence – Lawrence dropped off statistically in 2019, but averaged double digit sacks, over 60 tackles, and two top-six finishes. Lawrence should bounce back as Dallas will be in the lead for most of their games.
5. Cameron Jordan – Showed the world what he could really do in 2019 with 15.5 sacks and almost 60 tackles. Jordan hardly ever comes off the field, and will provide a high floor and high ceiling.
Draft and never worry Tier
4. Nick Bosa – Top ten in QB hits and top five in tackles for loss in 2019. Combine that with a ceiling to improve past nine sacks in 2020, and you’ve got a bona fide stud on your hands.
3. Joey Bosa – An absolute machine. One of the best DE in the game. High sack upside and high tackle upside. All-around stud. Both Bosas will be IDP studs for years.
2. Danielle Hunter – Hunter gets the nod over Bosa simply due to higher sack upside. Hunter is a freaky athlete who could potentially hit 20 sacks in a season.
1. Aaron Donald – Yeah, who else would it be? An all-time great player, Donald will give you plenty of sacks, tackles for loss, and you’ll never have to worry about your defensive line spot. Also, he trains with knives. How cool is that?
Linebackers
12. Shaq Barrett – “How can you have the 2019 sack leader at LB12??” Simple. I’m not counting on him repeating his 19.5 sacks. His 2019 production was 5.5 sacks higher than his previous 4 years COMBINED. He has high upside, but he’s very risky.
11. Jaylon Smith – With the sixth-most tackles in 2019, Smith showed out. He even has the upside to add a few sacks along the way.
10. Lavonte David – David played the highest percentage of defensive snaps in the NFL in 2019. The more time you spend on the field, the more time you spend piling up tackles.
9. Fred Warner – Great athlete on a great defense. Will fly around the field, put up roughly 120 tackles, and even force some turnovers.
8. Jordan Hicks – It’s tough to predict how new arrivals will play. For Hicks, he sky-rocketed past expectations by putting up 150 tackles and 11 for loss. Hicks should continue to produce high tackles numbers.
7. Cory Littleton – Littleton will be the best player on Las Vegas’ defense. They won’t be good, and he’ll have plenty of opportunities to wreak havoc.
6. Demario Davis – Primary linebacker for a team that will put up plenty of points? Davis played 93-percent of snaps in 2019, and will continue to be relied upon as the lead linebacker in New Orleans. The last player in the high floor tier.
High Upside Sack Tier
5. Chandler Jones – Perennially one of the best linebackers in the game, Jones has put up double digit sacks in each of his past five seasons. In the top five at this position, I’m going for high upside.
4. TJ Watt – It only took three years, but Watt has grown into one of the best pass rushers in the game. He followed up his breakout 2018 with a 14.5 sack performance in 2019. He’s also adept at forcing turnovers. Truly a box score stuffer, Watt is a high upside play in IDP leagues.
Extremely Consistent Tackle Machines
3. Blake Martinez – Three seasons in a row of 144+ tackles. Nothing else to say. Changing teams but is the top option in New York and arguably their new best defender.
2. Darius Leonard – Leonard’s 2019 was shortened by injury, but still managed to rank 17th in tackles in 2019. In this top tier of players, I’m looking for the utmost consistency and Leonard is absolutely that.
1. Bobby Wagner – Averaging 9.5 tackles per game over the past 4 seasons. Awarded an all-pro selection each of the last four seasons. One of the best in the game.
Defensive Backs
12. Taylor Rapp – Rapp is one of only 22 defensive backs to tally 100 tackles in their rookie season. He’s in elite company with guys like Landon Collins, Jessie Bates, Keanu Neal, Kerry Rhodes, Donte Whitner, Derwin James, Harrison Smith, and Jonathan Cyprien. Rapp is on the rise.
11. Tracy Walker – A rising player, Walker will get plenty of tackle opportunities and also will tally many passes defensed. If the interceptions start coming, Walker will provide way more upside.
10. Kevin Byard – Byard is one of the best safeties in football, but the production just isn’t elite. He’s yet to tally 100 tackles in a season, but he’s close. The ball production is what puts Byard on this list, as he’s a ball hawk all over the field.
9. Shawn Williams – Williams will give you a high floor with back-to-back 100 tackle seasons and has the opportunity to give you ball production.
8. Jessie Bates – Bates is extremely consistent. In his two seasons, he’s tallied over 100 tackles, 3 interceptions, and at least 7 passes defensed both years.
7. Jamal Adams – Might be a bit low, but Adams is playing behind one of the best LB corps in all of football. How many opportunities will he have to make tackles? If the Seahawks are smart, they’ll send him on many designed blitzes to show off his playmaking.
6. Terrell Edmunds – Playing strong safety on one of the best defenses in the NFL will provide plenty of playmaking opportunities for Edmunds. He will get a ton of tackles, and if the ball production comes in 2020, Edmunds will break out and become an IDP staple.
2020 Offensive Line Rankings
5. Jordan Poyer – Since arriving in Buffalo, Poyer improved immensely. Tallying at least 95 tackles in his 3 seasons in Buffalo, Poyer has also added a total of 11 interceptions. His ball production has dropped the past two years, but if those regress back to his 2017 numbers, Poyer will be a steal.
4. Justin Simmons – Might be a bit high, but Simmons broke out in 2019. He tallied more passes defensed in 2019 than his previous three years combined! He had a career high in interceptions, as well. Simmons is rising.
3. Landon Collins – Collins is incredibly consistent. When playing 15 or more games, he’s average over 100 tackles every single year. One of the best safeties in the NFL.
2. Derwin James – Derwin’s season was ended early in 2019, but he showed off in his rookie season with over 100 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 13 passes defensed. Might be the best young safety in the game.
1. Budda Baker – One of my absolute favorite players in the NFL, Baker is a straight baller. Led the league with 104 solo tackles in 2020. With the fast paced Cardinals offense, Baker will get plenty of opportunities to make tackles.
