Fantasy Football Strategy

Strategy: IDP Rising Stars

November 15, 2007 @ 14:06:42

By Kenneth Humphrey
Edited by Herija C. Green

Last year we did an article on Individual Defensive Player (IDP) leagues. For the uninitiated, IDP leagues require owners to play a defensive player or two, instead of entire defensive teams. This is where the incredibly descriptive name comes from. Points are usually generated through tackles, sacks, interceptions and fumble recoveries. The article generated enough interest to run a sequel for the 2007 season.

Thus, we'll profile some defensive players that are not yet household names. In accordance with that, you won't see the normal league leaders like New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan or second-year breakout stud Houston Texans linebacker DeMeco Ryans. Those guys are known quantities and likely already taken.

We'll spotlight players from all three levels of defense that project to be solid pickups as you roll into the second half of the season.

It All Starts Up Front

New York Jets defensive end Kenyon Coleman - In one of the stranger twists of fate, the Jets have three players featured in this report, yet can't seem to stop anyone on the playing field. Ah irony, such a cruel mistress. Coleman was leading all defensive linemen with 51 total tackles coming out of Week 9, and then he had his Bye. He has one sack to go with it. The Jets may be queued up for a top five draft pick, but not because of Coleman.

Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Darnell Dockett - With 8.0 sacks, Darnell is tied for fourth place in the NFL. That is already more than his previous three years combined, so double-digit sacks totals seem inevitable. Along with that he has 39 tackles and two forced fumbles, on track for career bests. As a bonus the remainder of Arizona's schedule includes punchless teams like the San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons and St. Louis Rams (although this last game occurs in Week 17, when many leagues are done.)

New York Giants defensive end Justin Tuck - Lost in the glare of players like Strahan and fellow defensive end Osi Umenyiora is the performance of Tuck. With 35 tackles, 7.0 sacks and a forced fumble, he is the forgotten cog on that line.

Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Trent Cole - Disclaimer: We featured Cole in this spot on last year's report as a breakout player, but this year we REALLY mean it. With 48 tackles and 9.0 sacks, along with a couple of forced fumbles, Cole is making us look psychic. In Week 11 he goes against the team in shambles that is your Miami Dolphins.

Denver Broncos defensive end Elvis Dumervil - In his second year Dumervil is denying the scouting reports that declared him too short to play at the pro level. Last year: 8.5 sacks. Through Week 10 this year: 8.0 sacks. Granted, his tackle numbers are low in comparison to many of the other players featured here at just 21 for the year so far. He is a “pick your spot” player, with an upcoming game against the Kansas City Chiefs, a team that allowed five sacks in Week 9.

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Darryl Tapp - Like Dumervil, Tapp is another second-year player whose tackle count is out of proportion to his sack count. Through Week 9, Tapp has earned just 24 tackles to pair with his 5.5 sacks. Tack on two forced fumbles and an interception and this Seahawk looks ready to fly. What makes Tapp an attractive IDP pickup is his schedule. The offensively challenged teams of the Chicago Bears and St. Louis are on tap over the next two weeks. He could make some hay over this stretch.

In the Middle is Where the Meat Is

San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker Patrick Willis - A realistic candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year, Willis is justifying his draft position with 88 tackles on the year, a number that just happens to be first in the league. Do the math. In a league that awards a point per tackle he's gaining you an average of nine points each week. A forced fumble and 0.5 sacks are icing on this left coast cake. With offensively challenged teams coming along over the next month like St. Louis (the entire division is feasting on these guys), the Carolina Panthers and Minnesota Vikings, Willis could top 150 tackles on the year.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers middle linebacker Barrett Ruud - Not to be left out of the picture is Ruud, Mr. No. 3 on the tackles list. He has 79 in total, an interception and three forced fumbles, two of which he recovered. This third-year player is shaping up to be the heir apparent to the linebacker legacy in Tampa Bay. After a Week 10 Bye, Ruud has Atlanta, whose offensive deficiencies are well-documented and the Washington Redskins, a team struggling to pass the ball. This opens up interception opportunities for an opportunistic linebacker.

Buffalo Bills middle linebacker Angelo Crowell - On a team decimated by injury, it almost defaults to Crowell to be the leading tackler. But saying that would detract from the year this guy is having. His 78 tackles rank him fifth in the league. Throw in a sack, a forced fumble and an interception and Crowell is on pace to have his best year since 2005 when he logged 119 tackles, 3.0 sacks and two picks. Division opponent Miami is still on the docket twice this year, something that should have defensive players licking their chops.

Pittsburgh Steelers weakside linebacker James Harrison - After his performance against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 9, Harrison may no longer fly under the radar. He's currently at 57 tackles, 6.5 sacks and six forced fumbles, easily besting his previous four years by a large margin. In Weeks 11 and 12 he faces the New York Jets and Miami, followed in Week 13 by a Cincinnati Bengals team struggling to run the ball.

San Diego Chargers weakside linebacker Shaun Phillips - Okay, so maybe the big fat zero Phillips posted on the tackle board in Week 9 against the Vikings rookie standout running back Adrian Peterson (knee) doesn't tell the full story. Take a look at the last couple of years. Phillips has improved his stats each and every year. So far in 2007, he has 32 tackles (25 of them solo), 5.5 sacks, a pick and two forced fumbles. Playing in the 3-4 defense of San Diego gives him plenty of opportunity to load up the stats. Playing in a suspect AFC West gives him teams ready to help him out.

New York Jets inside linebacker David Harris - Man, has it been a great year for first and second-year defensive players? Harris could possibly be the most unknown of the defensive sleepers. But that's what playing on the Jets will get you. He has 66 tackles on the year and a sack but get this. A Week 8 tilt against division rival Buffalo gave him the chance to add 17 tackles, solo and assists, to his stat sheet. Then, in Week 9, against Washington, Harris logged 20 solo tackles. Twenty! That, my friends, is a monster. Imagine what he's thinking for the Week 13 scrum down in Miami.

The Last Line of Defense

Indianapolis Colts cornerback Marlin Jackson - This just in: Another Colts player fell to injury in the time it took you to read this. Thankfully it wasn't Jackson. Tied for fourth in the league among defensive backs for tackles, Jackson has 60 on the year, with three passes defensed, an interception and a forced fumble. That's versatility right there. Even better, Jackson looks to be coming up against some teams struggling at the quarterback position, namely Kansas City, Atlanta and Oakland. This should provide him the opportunity to rack up some solid points.

New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis - Another Jets player, another rookie. Revis is eighth in the league for tackles at the defensive back position with 57. An interception, a forced fumble and 10 passes defensed round out the list. Do you think he and Harris are salivating for that Miami game yet? Especially now that rookie quarterback John Beck is the starter?

Cleveland Browns cornerback Leigh Bodden - A favorite of certain web sites that do heavy statistical analyses, Bodden may finally be gaining mainstream recognition and deservedly so. At 53 tackles, eight passes defensed and four interceptions on the year, he provides a stabilizing force for the Browns secondary.

Green Bay Packers safety Atari Bigby - Cheeseheads may lament Bigby's modest coverage skills, but in an IDP world, he is top tier. His 59 tackles place him fifth among secondary players. Combined with four passes defensed, an interception and three forced fumbles, he is a true up and comer.

Carolina Panthers safety Chris Harris - Carolina may be scouring the NFL retirement ledger for someone to stand under center, but in Harris they have a future player. He has 53 tackles so far, on pace to shatter his previous best of 58 with the Bears. An interception and five forced fumbles throw some sugar on top. A Week 13 game bringing the offensively-crippled 49ers to town should be noted for its potential to Harris.

Summary

The strategy in IDP leagues is a little more aggressive when it comes to moving players around. Owners play matchups more in these leagues than any other. Because of the sheer number of defensive players, there will usually be a highly-rated linebacker or defensive end sitting in free agency. Pick them up to gain those few extra points, drop them when a better matchup presents itself.

With this report, you can be one step ahead of other owners in knowing what players are making some noise that everyone else has yet to hear.