2024 Fantasy Football: IDP Rankings

I have to admit that there is only one aspect of our fantasy football hobby that frustrates me, and that is that IDP is not more popular with the masses. It is embarrassing that many fantasy footballers might not be able to name 20 NFL defenders. True NFL fans know the importance of defensive stars and their impact on winning Super Bowls. For those of you who already appreciate defense, my 2024 IDP rankings should come in handy.

How much has the NFL changed over the course of my lifetime? In 1971 and 1986, DT Alan Page, Vikings, and LB Lawrence Tayler, Giants were named NFL MVP. Shockingly, kicker Mark Mosley, Washington captured the NFL MVP in 1982…let me repeat, a kicker.

What!? Your fantasy football league wasn’t hosted on Fantrax last season!? Once you see how Fantrax stacks up to the competition, we think you’ll be singing a different tune in the 2024 season.

A Hall of Famer, Page dominated opponents in the 1970s for the Purple People Eaters, being named All-Pro five times and Pro Bowler nine times. Looking at Page’s stats, it is nearly impossible to gauge his impact from a fantasy perspective: The league did not count sacks until 1982 and tackles were not an official statistic until 1994. He logged three fumble recoveries as the only official statistic of the season in his profile. Wow! Pro Football Reference does credit Page with nine sacks based on research of play-by-play results and game film. NFL diehards like myself watch the film to truly appreciate the Defensive Tackle’s impact on the field.

In 1986, I will never forget the Giants’ Super Bowl Championship, and living in Connecticut, I had a front-row seat to Taylor’s brilliance on the gridiron. The New York wrecking ball is a Hall of Famer after earning All-Pro eight times and Pro Bowl invites 10 times. In his MVP campaign, he led the league in sacks with 20.5. There is no record of tackles but anyone who watched Taylor can vividly remember him hunting down ball carriers from the backside and bringing them to the ground with a thud. Also, Washington coach Joe Gibbs credited his two-tight end formation with the reality that he must block and slow down Taylor, who literally changed the game from the outside linebacker position.

There is not much to be said in regard to Mosley’s MVP award. A kicker who missed more extra points (3) than field goals (1) might be the strangest number in the history of the NFL. How could QB Dan Fouts not win the award? During the strike season, Fouts led the Chargers to a 6-3 record and paced the league in passing with 2,883 yards (320.3 ypg.). He also tossed 17 touchdowns and averaged 8.7 yards per attempt, ruling the NFL in both categories. The only plausible explanation for Mosley capturing the award over Fouts is that the majority of voters swallowed the winning-only matters Kool-Aid, and Washington posted an 8-1 mark.

Having played IDP since 2006, I have had the joy of watching and rooting for some of the best defenders in the NFL on my fantasy rosters, drafting S Bob Sanders, Colts (2007), DB Charles Woodson, Packers (2009) and DT Aaron Donald (2017) to name a few. In the past two seasons, I grabbed LB Roquan Smith, Ravens and DB Derwin James, Chargers to anchor my IDP rosters. If you love the NFL like me, it is time to participate in an IDP league.

Playing in an IDP League

When I first played fantasy football in 1989, our league only used team defense for scoring and never even thought about defensive players. Around the turn of the century, I first heard of IDP formats but did not join one right away. Ever since 2006, I have managed at least one IDP league each season and really enjoy the format.

There are so many great ways to engage in IDP that readers do not have to become a fantasy football diehard to kick off their obsession. I recommend playing with six IDP players in the starting lineup: two defensive linemen, two linebackers, and two defensive backs. It is a manageable lineup with plenty of action on the waiver wire each week.

If readers want to join a challenging format, they can try an 11-team IDP league, starting with three defensive linemen, four linebackers, two corners, and two safeties. Whichever format a reader chooses, do not be intimidated. It will be well worth it…trust me.

John Laub’s IDP Guys

DB Kamren Curl, Rams
LB Quay Walker, Packers
DB Julian Love, Seahawks
DL Alex Highsmith, Steelers
LB Jack Campbell, Lions

Michael Pagano’s IDP Guys

LB Drue Tranquill, Chiefs
LB Tuli Tuipulotu, Chargers
LB DeMarvion Overshown, Cowboys
LB David Ojabo, Ravens
DL Bryce Huff, Eagles

Twitterverse on Fire!

Let’s look at some IDP battles before training camps open:

Who Ya Got at linebacker among the quartet?

Devin White, Eagles: 19%
Frankie Luvu, Commanders: 28%
Jack Campbell, Lions: 33%
Jordyn Brooks, Dolphins: 20%

Who Ya Got at Defensive Back among the following four players?

Kamren Curl, Rams: 38%
Von Bell, Bengals: 4%
Jevon Holland, Dolphins: 31%
Kyle Dugger, Ravens: 27%

Who Ya Got among the quartet of rookie defenders in IDP leagues?

DL Jared Verse, Rams: 22%
LB Junior Colson, Chargers: 27%
S Tyler Nubin, Giants: 17%
LB Dallas Turner, Vikings: 34%

A Suggested IDP Scoring Format:

Tackles = 1 point

Assisted Tackles = ½ point

Fumbles Recovered = 2 points

Sacks = 2 points

Passes Defended = 1 point

Interceptions = 4 points

Touchdowns = 6 points

IDP Rankings for 2024 Fantasy Football

Michael Pagano joined me in compiling these IDP rankings. We rank Top 100 Overall and 178 defenders by position: defensive linemen (DL), linebackers (LB) and defensive backs (DB). Enjoy my fellow IDP diehards!

Rnk	Pos.	Player	Team	Laub	Pagano
1	LB	Foyesade Oluokun	Jaguars	2	1
2	LB	T.J. Edwards	Bears	4	3
3	LB	Roquan Smith	Ravens	1	7
4	DL	Maxx Crosby	Raiders	5	4
5	LB	Bobby Okereke	Giants	8	2
6	LB	Zaire Franklin	Colts	3	9
7	DL	T.J. Watt	Steelers	10	5
8	LB	Ernest Jones IV	Rams	12	6
9	LB	Fred Warner	49ers	13	11
10	LB	Terrel Bernard	Bills	11	14
11	DB	Antoine Winfield Jr.	Buccaneers	17	8
12	DL	Micah Parsons	Cowboys	16	10
13	LB	Nick Bolton	Chiefs	9	18
14	DB	Derwin James Jr.	Chargers	7	21
15	DL	Myles Garrett	Browns	6	24
16	DL	Danielle Hunter	Texans	14	16
17	LB	Alex Singleton	Broncos	15	15
18	DB	Kyle Hamilton	Ravens	21	12
19	LB	Azeez Al-Shaair	Texans	27	17
20	LB	Bobby Wagner	Commanders	25	20
21	LB	Quincy Williams	Jets	33	13
22	DL	Aidan Hutchinson	Lions	18	29
23	DL	Nick Bosa	49ers	20	31
24	DL	Josh Allen	Jaguars	24	32
25	LB	Patrick Queen	Steelers	38	19
26	LB	C.J. Mosley	Jets	22	36
27	LB	Logan Wilson	Bengals	30	28
28	LB	Robert Spillane	Raiders	32	26
29	LB	Quay Walker	Packers	34	25
30	DB	Jaquan Brisker	Bears	19	41
31	LB	Lavonte David	Buccaneers	26	34
32	DB	Jessie Bates III	Falcons	40	22
33	DB	Camryn Bynum	Vikings	28	35
34	LB	Devin Lloyd	Jaguars	47	23
35	LB	Tremaine Edmunds	Bears	45	27
36	DB	Minkah Fitzpatrick	Steelers	23	57
37	LB	Jordyn Brooks	Dolphins	43	39
38	DB	Kenny Moore II	Colts	31	52
39	DL	Jaelan Phillips	Dolphins	37	49
40	LB	Frankie Luvu	Commanders	58	30
41	LB	Dre Greenlaw	49ers	35	55
42	DB	Budda Baker	Cardinals	29	62
43	DL	Will Anderson Jr.	Texans	39	56
44	DL	DeForest Buckner	Colts	41	58
45	LB	Eric Kendricks	Cowboys	55	45
46	LB	J. Owusu-Koramoah	Browns	67	33
47	LB	Kyzir White	Cardinals	63	40
48	DB	Brian Branch	Lions	56	50
49	DB	Julian Love	Seahawks	53	54
50	DB	Xavier McKinney	Packers	65	42
51	LB	Demario Davis	Saints	70	38
52	DL	Kayvon Thibodeaux	Giants	50	60
53	LB	Jordan Hicks	Browns	64	48
54	LB	Alex Anzalone	Lions	68	44
55	DB	Jalen Pitre	Texans	36	79
56	DB	Kyle Dugger	Patriots	51	65
57	LB	E.J. Speed	Colts	71	47
58	DB	Reed Blankenship	Eagles	73	46
59	LB	Matt Milano	Bills	52	68
60	DB	Jalen Thompson	Cardinals	42	84
61	DB	Kevin Byard III	Bears	44	83
62	DL	Brian Burns	Giants	66	73
63	LB	Kenneth Murray Jr.	Titans	90	51
64	DL	Montez Sweat	Bears	81	61
65	DL	Christian Wilkins	Raiders	46	101
66	DB	Devon Witherspoon	Seahawks	104	43
67	DL	Jonathan Greenard	Vikings	78	70
68	DB	Kamren Curl	Rams	62	87
69	DL	Trey Hendrickson	Bengals	77	72
70	DB	Jordan Poyer	Dolphins	48	102
71	LB	Kaden Elliss	Falcons	98	53
72	LB	Jose Jewell	Panthers	54	98
73	DB	Josh Metellus	Vikings	115	37
74	DB	Rayshawn Jenkins	Seahawks	49	104
75	DL	Chris Jones	Chiefs	72	81
76	DB	Jevon Holland	Dolphins	84	69
77	LB	Devin White	Eagles	61	94
78	LB	Ivan Pace Jr.	Vikings	80	75
79	LB	Germaine Pratt	Bengals	87	71
80	LB	Micah McFadden	Giants	99	59
81	DB	Amani Hooker	Titans	96	63
82	DL	Khalil Mack	Chargers	97	64
83	DB	C.J. Gardner-Johnson	Eagles	75	88
84	DL	Quinnen Williams	Jets	57	107
85	LB	Dallas Turner	Vikings	59	106
86	DL	Sam Hubbard	Bengals	60	109
87	LB	Jack Campbell	Lions	74	95
88	LB	Troy Andersen	Falcons	103	66
89	LB	Cody Barton	Broncos	105	67
90	LB	Pete Werner	Saints	83	90
91	LB	Ja'Whaun Bentley	Patriots	82	93
92	DB	Rasul Douglas	Bills	69	108
93	DB	Justin Reid	Chiefs	101	77
94	LB	Alex Highsmith	Steelers	109	74
95	LB	Tuli Tuipulotu	Chargers	88	97
96	LB	Christian Harris	Texans	95	91
97	DB	Grant Delpit	Browns	106	80
98	LB	Nakobe Dean	Eagles	110	76
99	DB	Harrison Smith	Vikings	76	111
100	LB	David Long, Jr.	Dolphins	79	110
101	LB	Blake Cashman	Vikings	111	78
102	DL	Jonathon Cooper	Broncos	89	103
103	DB	DaRon Bland	Cowboys	108	85
104	LB	Harold Landry III	Titans	112	82
105	DB	Talanoa Hufanga	49ers	107	89
106	DB	Richie Grant	Falcons	85	112
107	DL	Cameron Hayward	Steelers	92	105
108	LB	DIrvine Diablo	Raiders	86	114
109	DB	L'Jarius Sneed	Titans	102	100
110	DL	Justin Madubuike	Ravens	117	86
111	LB	Shaq Thompson	Panthers	91	113
112	DB	Trent McDuffie	Chiefs	113	92
113	DB	Julian Blackmon	Colts	93	115
114	DL	Zach Sieler	Dolphins	94	116
115	DB	Charvarius Ward	49ers	116	96
116	LB	Drue Tranquill	Chiefs	114	99
117	DB	Desmond Elliot	Steelers	100	116

Rnk	Player	Team	Laub	Pagano
1	Foyesade Oluokun	Jaguars	2	1
2	Roquan Smith	Ravens	1	5
3	T.J. Edwards	Bears	4	3
4	Bobby Okereke	Giants	5	2
5	Zaire Franklin	Colts	3	6
6	Ernest Jones IV	Rams	7	4
7	Fred Warner	49ers	9	7
8	Terrel Bernard	Bills	8	9
9	Nick Bolton	Chiefs	6	12
10	Alex Singleton	Broncos	10	10
11	Azeez Al-Shaair	Texans	13	11
12	Quincy Williams	Jets	17	8
13	Bobby Wagner	Commanders	12	14
14	Quay Walker	Packers	15	16
15	Patrick Queen	Steelers	19	13
16	C.J. Mosley	Jets	11	23
17	Logan Wilson	Bengals	16	19
18	Robert Spillane	Raiders	18	17
19	Lavonte David	Buccaneers	14	22
20	Devin Lloyd	Jaguars	23	15
21	Tremaine Edmunds	Bears	22	18
22	Jordyn Brooks	Dolphins	21	25
23	Frankie Luvu	Commanders	27	20
24	Dre Greenlaw	49ers	20	33
25	Eric Kendricks	Cowboys	26	28
26	Kyzir White	Cardinals	29	26
27	J. Owusu-Koramoah	Browns	35	21
28	Demario Davis	Saints	36	24
29	Jordan Hicks	Browns	31	30
30	E.J. Speed	Colts	32	29
31	Alex Anzalone	Lions	34	27
32	Matt Milano	Bills	24	38
33	Kenneth Murray Jr.	Titans	33	31
34	Jose Jewell	Panthers	25	51
35	Devin White	Eagles	30	48
36	Ivan Pace Jr.	Vikings	39	41
37	Kaden Elliss	Falcons	49	32
38	Germaine Pratt	Bengals	44	39
39	Micah McFadden	Giants	50	34
40	Dallas Turner	Vikings	28	58
41	Jack Campbell	Lions	37	49
42	Pete Werner	Saints	41	45
43	Ja'Whaun Bentley	Patriots	40	47
44	Troy Andersen	Falcons	51	36
45	Cody Barton	Broncos	52	37
46	Christian Harris	Texans	47	46
47	Alex Highsmith	Steelers	54	40
48	Tuli Tuipulotu	Chargers	45	50
49	David Long, Jr.	Dolphins	38	58
50	Edgerrin Cooper	Packers	42	55
51	Nakobe Dean	Eagles	55	42
52	Blake Cashman	Vikings	56	43
53	Harold Landry III	Titans	57	44
54	Shaq Thompson	Panthers	46	57
55	DIrvine Diablo	Raiders	43	65
56	Drue Tranquill	Chiefs	58	52
57	Eric Kendricks	Cowboys	48	64
58	Junior Colson	Chargers	53	67

Rnk	Player	Team	Laub	Pagano
1	Maxx Crosby	Raiders	1	1
2	Myles Garrett	Browns	2	3
3	Danielle Hunter	Texans	4	2
4	T.J. Watt	Steelers	3	4
5	Micah Parsons	Cowboys	5	5
6	Aidan Hutchinson	Lions	6	6
7	Nick Bosa	49ers	7	7
8	Josh Allen	Jaguars	8	8
9	Will Anderson Jr.	Texans	9	10
10	Jaelan Phillips	Dolphins	10	9
11	DeForest Buckner	Colts	11	11
12	Kayvon Thibodeaux	Giants	13	12
13	Brian Burns	Giants	16	16
14	Trey Hendrickson	Bengals	18	15
15	Jonathan Greenard	Vikings	19	14
16	Montez Sweat	Bears	20	13
17	Chris Jones	Chiefs	17	17
18	Jonathon Cooper	Broncos	21	19
19	Christian Wilkins	Raiders	12	29
20	Sam Hubbard	Bengals	15	28
21	Zach Sieler	Dolphins	23	21
22	Quinnen Williams	Jets	14	31
23	Justin Madubuike	Ravens	27	18
24	Carl Granderson	Saints	28	20
25	Boye Mafe	Seahawks	25	24
26	Joey Bosa	Chargers	26	25
27	Derrick Brown	Panthers	32	22
28	George Karlaftis III	Chiefs	31	26
29	D.J. Wonnum	Panthers	34	23
30	Jermaine Johnson II	Jets	29	33
31	Haason Reddick	Jets	35	27
32	Greg Rousseau	Bills	30	36
33	Ed Oliver	Bills	36	30
34	Jeffery Simmons	Titans	37	32
35	Cameron Hayward	Steelers	22	51
36	Dexter Lawrence II	Giants	24	52
37	Tuli Tuipulotu	Chargers	42	34
38	Khalil Mack	Chargers	40	37
39	Christian Barmore	Patriots	39	39
40	Charles Omenihu	Chiefs	44	35
41	Malcolm Koonce	Raiders	45	40
42	Kwity Paye	Colts	49	38
43	Laiatu Latu	Colts	33	55
44	Josh Sweat	Eagles	41	47
45	Daron Payne	Commanders	47	43
46	Jadeveon Clowney	Panthers	50	41
47	Travon Walker	Jaguars	48	45
48	Denico Autry	Texans	51	42
49	Jared Verse	Rams	38	57
50	Michael Hoecht	Rams	52	44
51	Chop Robinson	Dolphins	43	58
52	Kobie Turner	Rams	55	46
53	Leonard Williams	Seahawks	56	48
54	Darius Robinson	Cardinals	46	59
55	Jordan Davis	Eagles	57	49
56	Jonathan Allen	Commanders	53	54
57	Dayo Odeyingbo	Colts	54	53
58	Jalen Carter	Eagles	58	50
59	Byron Murphy II	Seahawks	59	56

Rnk	Player	Team	Laub	Pagano
1	Antoine Winfield Jr.	Buccaneers	2	1
2	Derwin James Jr.	Chargers	1	3
3	Kyle Hamilton	Ravens	4	2
4	Jaquan Brisker	Bears	3	7
5	Camryn Bynum	Vikings	6	5
6	Jessie Bates III	Falcons	10	4
7	Minkah Fitzpatrick	Steelers	5	14
8	Kenny Moore II	Colts	8	12
9	Budda Baker	Cardinals	7	15
10	Xavier McKinney	Packers	19	8
11	Brian Branch	Lions	17	11
12	Jalen Pitre	Texans	9	20
13	Julian Love	Seahawks	16	13
14	Reed Blankenship	Eagles	21	10
15	Kyle Dugger	Patriots	15	17
16	Jalen Thompson	Cardinals	11	23
17	Kevin Byard III	Bears	12	22
18	Devon Witherspoon	Seahawks	32	9
19	Jevon Holland	Dolphins	24	18
20	Julian Blackmon	Colts	26	16
21	Kamren Curl	Rams	18	25
22	Rayshawn Jenkins	Seahawks	14	31
23	C.J. Gardner-Johnson	Eagles	22	26
24	Justin Reid	Chiefs	31	19
25	Josh Metellus	Vikings	49	6
26	Talanoa Hufanga	49ers	30	27
27	Jordan Poyer	Dolphins	13	47
28	Rasul Douglas	Bills	20	40
29	Grant Delpit	Browns	40	21
30	DaRon Bland	Cowboys	42	24
31	Tyrique Stevenson	Bears	33	34
32	Kerby Joseph	Lions	35	37
33	Jordan Whitehead	Buccaneers	36	36
34	Trent McDuffie	Chiefs	45	28
35	Amani Hooker	Titans	27	48
36	Charvarius Ward	49ers	47	29
37	Harrison Smith	Vikings	23	54
38	Richie Grant	Falcons	25	53
39	Dax Hill	Bengals	41	38
40	L'Jarius Snead	Titans	29	51
41	Paulson Adebo	Saints	50	30
42	Donovan Wilson	Cowboys	34	49
43	Trevon Diggs	Cowboys	51	33
44	Jeremy Chinn	Commanders	44	41
45	Desmond Elliot	Steelers	28	60
46	Mike Hilton	Bengals	56	32
47	Vonn Bell	Bengals	38	52
48	Roger McCreary	Titans	52	39
49	Nate Hobbs	Raiders	57	35
50	Jabrill Peppers	Patriots	43	50
51	Xavier Woods	Panthers	37	57
52	Chuck Clark	Jets	39	58
53	Kendall Fuller	Panthers	53	46
54	Jason Pinnock	Giants	58	42
55	Tyler Nubian	Giants	46	55
56	Geno Stone	Bengals	59	43
57	Cole Bishop	Bills	48	56
58	Brandon Jones	Broncos	60	44
59	Cam Taylor-Britt	Bengals	61	45
60	Terror Arnold	Lions	55	59
61	Quinton Mitchell	Eagles	54	61

If you enjoyed these IDP rankings, make sure to check out the rest of our 2024 Fantasy Football Draft Kit for more great rankings and analysis.

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2024 Fantasy Football Draft Kit