Welcome back, IDPers. We’ve arrived at the crown jewel of any IDP article series: the IDP sleepers. Back in the day, a sleeper meant a player who came out of left field and surprised everyone, except for those of us in the know, by significantly outperforming the average draft position. So I want first to clarify that’s not what this IDP sleepers list is.
Oh, how rude of me. I’m Matt De Lima; forgive my manners. Seven people know me as the No. 3 2023 in-season IDP ranked by FantasyPros criteria. It’s no big deal; I just wanted to let you know I’m about 18% more knowledgeable than a random guy on the street. In addition to these IDP sleepers, you should also check out my IDP busts and IDP position rankings for defensive linemen, linebackers, and defensive backs, which were updated on Monday, August 26. I also recommend my IDP Draft Strategy article.
Enough about me! I got off track. An IDP sleeper is a player that just outperforms their average draft position. The optional piece is the “unknown” element. I can’t pretend to know who you know, who I know. It doesn’t matter. Since fantasy football managers are growing sharper every year, we’re targeting undervalued players rather than trying to predict usage. Are you with me? Then, let’s get on with the show.
IDP Sleepers 2024 Fantasy Football
One final bit of introduction before explaining my IDP sleepers: I want to encourage the IDP league commissioners and fantasy football managers out there to advocate for bigger IDP starting lineups. I’ve been in the advice game for a long time, and there’s nothing more puzzling to me than an IDP league with only one or two IDP starters. I mean, really?
Out of 12 teams and two IDP starters per team, that’s just 24 players across all three position groups. Of course, your league should be fun and interesting to you, but I would just argue that what’s fun and interesting is what is challenging. The point I’m getting to here is if you’re in such a small league, this article is not for you. These sleepers are probably best served left on the waiver wire. Use my position rankings above and pick from the top 10 LB, top 5 DL and top 5 DB. That should cover it.
For my deeper league IDP brethren, let’s proceed. Sleepers are listed in order of my ranking.
IDP Sleepers: Defensive Linemen
- Zach Sieler, DT, Miami Dolphins
- Christian Barmore, DT, New England Patriots
- Harrison Phillips, DT, Minnesota Vikings
- Jarran Reed, DT, Seattle Seahawks
- Bryan Bresee, DT, New Orleans Saints
- Larry Ogunjobi, DT, Pittsburgh Steelers
When I’m scoping out IDP sleepers, I want consistency in tackles in defensive linemen. Even in edge rushers, you have to have tackles every week. Big point swings are sexy, and when a guy puts up a huge three-sack performance, it’s great. But what will kill you is the lows.
The common denominator of all these defensive tackles is that they are known commodities to old IDP heads. They’ve been reliable off the waiver wire in a pinch or a low-end DT1 for most of their careers.
- George Karlaftis III, EDGE, Kansas City Chiefs
- Dorance Armstrong Jr., EDGE, Washington Commanders
- Andrew Van Ginkel, EDGE, Minnesota Vikings
- Boye Mafe, EDGE, Seattle Seahawks
- Jonathon Cooper, EDGE, Denver Broncos
- Byron Young, EDGE, Los Angeles Rams
- Odafe Oweh, EDGE, Baltimore Ravens
- Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, New York Giants
Sacks are the great difference maker. Tackles keep you afloat, but sacks win championships.
AVG should be a better-known player. His versatility is off the charts, and Brian Flores had him in Miami, so they brought him over for good reason.
Karlaftis, Armstrong and Mafe are all players who’ve been bubbling to varying degrees, simmering, and getting a little better every year. Armstrong is one of my favorite sleepers, as he has been toiling behind Micah Parsons for a couple of years and putting up good sack totals despite not getting a ton of playing time.
Cooper is super underrated, and it might just be a product of playing for the Broncos, who haven’t been very good.
IDP Sleepers: Linebackers
- E.J. Speed, Indianapolis Colts
- Jordyn Brooks, Miami Dolphins
- Blake Cashman, Minnesota Vikings
- Christian Harris, Houston Texans
- Omar Speights, Los Angeles Rams
- Trenton Simpson, Baltimore Ravens
- Divine Deablo, Las Vegas Raiders
- Isaiah McDuffie, Green Bay Packers
- Daiyan Henley, Los Angeles Chargers
- Zach Baun, Philadelphia Eagles
- Drue Tranquill, Kansas City Chiefs
- Elandon Roberts, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Mack Wilson Sr., Arizona Cardinals
- DeMarvion Overshown, Dallas Cowboys
What you want in IDP sleepers at linebacker is volume. First and foremost, they need nearly 100% snaps weekly.
In fantasy football, it’s often discussed how targets open up when wide receivers leave. You’ve probably read about all the targets available to guys like Ladd McConkey and Joshua Palmer because Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Austin Ekeler are gone. The same rule can apply to IDP and tackles.
With Patrick Queen gone, the tackles have to go somewhere. How about his replacement, Trenton Simpson?
One IDP sleeper first brought to my attention by a commenter some months ago is Mack Wilson Sr. I’m still unsure what to make of Arizona’s defensive coordinator, Nick Rallis. Among Arizona’s linebackers, Kyzir White gobbled up most of the tackles, but Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson have capped what their LBs can accomplish. I’m anticipating a slight shift that could make Wilson better.
I’m down on Quay Walker this year, who should be finally coming into his own, but when general managers make moves, I listen. The Packers drafted two linebackers in the first three rounds. Isaiah McDuffie is first in line, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Edgerrin Cooper was also heavily involved.
Blake Cashman is wearing the green dot in Minnesota, which is a surprise since most of us assumed it’d be Ivan Pace. For whatever reason, drafters still wildly underrate Deablo. Finally, I’ve been banging the drum for Overshown. I love his speed and downhill play style. I believe Mike Zimmer will agree with me.
Nick Bolton is the stud LB on the Kansas City Chiefs, but Tranquill is a solid, swarming player who should beat his ADP.
I’ve been waiting for Junior Colson to grab a Chargers’ starting job, but it may not come until later. For now, the guy in this defense is Daiyan Henley!
IDP Sleepers: Defensive Backs
- Christian Gonzalez, CB, New England Patriots
- Kyler Gordon, CB, Chicago Bears
- D.J. Reed, CB, New York Jets
- Keisean Nixon, CB, Green Bay Packers
- Brandon Stephens, CB, Baltimore Ravens
The secret to IDP sleepers among defensive backs is a hard truth: They have to be good, but not that good. Elite cornerbacks don’t get thrown at. Many of the top corners are nickel corners tasked with covering the short areas of the field and trading off what would’ve been linebacker duties in years past.
This Ravens defense is going to be nasty. Stephens is far from a weak link, but there’s nowhere else to go when facing Baltimore. A similar line of thinking with D.J. Reed, who plays opposite Sauce Gardner and Kyler Gordon across from Jaylen Johnson. Defenses will have to throw their way, leading to lots of fantasy point opportunities.
Nixon is just one of those players that was been picked on a lot last year, so he has big tackle potential that isn’t reflected in his ADP.
Christian Gonzalez is already well on his way to being elite, yet his ADP doesn’t show it.
- Rayshawn Jenkins, S, Seattle Seahawks
- Taylor Rapp, S, Buffalo Bills
- Tyler Nubin, S, New York Giants
- Chuck Clark, S, New York Jets
- Ifeatu Melifonwu, S, Detroit Lions
- Quan Martin, S, Washington Commanders
- Xavier Woods, S, Carolina Panthers
I love strong safeties on so-so defenses. That is not to say that every team listed here has a so-so defense. But it’s a theme nonetheless.
There are also several strong safeties that drafters are woefully rating. I suppose it’s not the most glamorous position.
Rapp has huge potential with Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde gone. Woods, Jenkins and Melifonwu are all bangers. With the Giants playing on their heels every week, I expect lots of garbage time runs where Nubin will gobble up tackles.
Chuck Clark is a vet tasked to play a more hybrid safety/linebacker role.
Quan Martin is a young, promising player who emerged in the second half of last season. He is a real vocal leader, and Commanders fans will come to love this young man.
Got a beef with Matt’s 2024 IDP Sleepers? 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.