The first thing you’ve got to understand is that busts are a little bit more delicate of a subject on the IDP side. Oh, hi, by the way, I’m Matt De Lima, the No. 3 2023 in-season IDP ranker going by FantasyPros criteria. In addition to my IDP busts, you should also check out my IDP position rankings for defensive linemen, linebackers, and defensive backs.
Getting back on track, what’s important to remember about IDP busts is that if a guy is playing middle linebacker and he’s getting snaps, it’s basically impossible for him to be a bust. He may underwhelm, but over the course of a season, offenses are going to run up the middle and a warm body could still manage to be a LB15 by playing every snap. So we’re not so much talking about players who will play poorly as much as we’re talking about players who may not be in line for the role we all presume he will have. Are you with me?
IDP Busts 2024 Fantasy Football
Before sharing my IDP busts, I wanted to quickly explain how I diagnose the position. Often, bust arguments are focused on talent or ability. By its nature, defense doesn’t quite work that way. A great defense or defender is someone who plays well within their system.
For example, Luke Kuechly wasn’t the fastest or strongest linebacker, but he was one of the best in his ability to diagnose a play. So instead of focusing on measurables, which are important, it’s best to try to find the players who aren’t getting properly rated by the analysts, the rankers, the media, and so on. We’re looking for overvalued or overdrafted players. Or players who may be great “IRL” but don’t produce for fantasy managers.
IDP Busts: Defensive Linemen
- Dexter Lawrence, DT, New York Giants
- Quinnen Williams, DT, New York Jets
- Justin Madubuike, DT, Baltimore Ravens
The tricky thing about defensive tackles is that some are so good that they’re fantasy-irrelevant. This trio will see so many double-teams that the production follows those around them. Lawrence and Williams are thought of as two of the top interior linemen in the game.
On average, they finished 2023 well outside the top 12 among defensive tackles in fantasy points per game. Lawrence (DT22) and Williams (DT14) fared better in 2022, but their real-life prowess far outpaced their fantasy production.
Madubuike came out of left field last year. I’m not sure that he can replicate his 2023 numbers. Anytime an IDP has a slow start to his career and then breaks out, I show cautious optimism. Sure, maybe the breakout is for real, but I’m not willing to pay that cost on draft day. I prefer the post-hype season, so maybe I’ll circle back in 2025.
- Joey Bosa, DE, Los Angeles Chargers
- Haason Reddick, DE, New York Jets
- Preston Smith, DE, Green Bay Packers
- Trey Hendrickson, DE, Cincinnati Bengals
Reddick is coming off a career year, but I don’t appreciate his game, as he doesn’t get a ton of tackles. And while sacks and TFLs are the breadwinners for EDGE, it’s the tackles that make an IDP consistent and dependable over the course of a season.
This is the underlying issue with this group. Most of them are a bit one-dimensional. Bosa is probably the most well-rounded player in this group, but he’s struggling with injuries and spending the other half of the season recovering from them. I’m also showing that I’m a bit ageist here as all these guys are veterans. I tend to lean towards EDGE, who are 26 to 29.
IDP Busts: Linebackers
- Patrick Queen, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Quincy Williams, New York Jets
- Eric Kendricks, Dallas Cowboys
- Frankie Luvu, Washington Commanders
- Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Cleveland Browns
I believe Luvu and Owusu-Koramoah are at risk of less-than-ideal snap counts as they may come off the field a lot.
Kendricks is a bust because he will eventually lose playing time to one of the Cowboys’ backups like Damien Wilson or Marist Liufau.
Williams has been the beneficiary of C.J. Mosley not playing a ton, and I don’t believe the Jets can sustain two really productive linebackers.
Queen is the biggest name here, and I’ve saved him for last so I could write a little more about him. The first-round pick out of the 2020 NFL Draft, Queen has been really solid for most of his career. The 2023 season was his best, but it’s not like he was that much better. He got more media attention, it seems. In 2023, he was the LB17 and he held the same rank in 2022.
My concern is that the Steelers defense doesn’t quite funnel the tackles to the linebackers the way Baltimore does. Remember, both Roquan Smith and Queen racked up tons of tackles last year. Some schemes just work out that way, but I don’t believe in Pittsburgh’s defense to support Queen’s 2024 ranking.
IDP Busts: Defensive Backs
- Trevon Diggs, CB, Dallas Cowboys
- DaRon Bland, CB, Dallas Cowboys
- Kam Curl, S, Los Angeles Rams
- Reed Blankenship, S, Philadelphia Eagles
- Jalen Pitre, S, Houston Texans
No, I don’t have anything against the Cowboys or their cornerbacks. But I avoid corners relying heavily on turnovers to score their points. Bland led the league in INTs last year, and Diggs did the year before. Making a name for yourself in this way gets a lot of attention, but big play production among defensive backs is rarely duplicated.
I worry that Curl will suffer from a scheme shift in Los Angeles. Their other safety, John Johnson, is also well-known for his play in the box. That versatility serves them well and could limit their chances to play like an extra linebacker.
Blankenship was a big waiver wire add early in 2023 after a strong preseason. The DB I prefer is C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who missed most of last season. Plus, factor in the drafting of Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, this secondary could be a heavy rotation.
Lastly, how the mighty have fallen. Pitre (and, to a lesser extent, Chicago’s JaQuan Brisker) were breakouts a couple of years back, but he’s since come back to Earth. His ADP has leveled off, and he may be worth a flier choice as your DB3. Pitre’s days as a no-brainer plug-and-play IDP are long gone, though.
Got a beef with Matt’s 2024 IDP Busts? Drop some knowledge in the comments below and then make sure to check out our 2024 Fantasy Football Draft Kit for more great rankings and analysis.