The basics of drafting in IDP fantasy football leagues

The folks here at Fade the Noise have assembled an impressive array of talent. Whether it’s for season-long or DFS fantasy football, some of the industry’s best and brightest have joined the FTN team in an effort to guide you to glory.

The plan was to offer the same sort of high-end quality IDP coverage as well. But all the good IDP writers were otherwise occupied — so they got me instead.

Just call me Plan B. OK, actually it’s more like Plan W, but you get the gist.

In the weeks to come, I’ll be breaking down each of the major positions in IDP leagues, spotlighting some undervalued players to target on draft day and overvalued guys best left alone — all that good stuff. During the season, there will be tips and tidbits galore to help you navigate the weekly gauntlet successfully.

Oh, and there will be rankings. Because rankings are good. (In short order, my IDP rankings will appear on that page. For now, scroll to the bottom to get my initial balanced scoring IDP ranks.

In this inaugural edition of this column though, we’re going to look at the single biggest pitfall in IDP drafts and try to answer the question asked most often by people as they cast off the shackles of oppression that are boring team defenses in favor of the added strategy and excitement of individual defensive players.

Know your scoring

One would think it would go without saying that IDP managers should take some time to acclimate themselves to a particular league’s scoring prior to the draft. Just as in standard fantasy football leagues, there are innumerable scoring variations in IDP leagues. But every year, teams get torpedoed before Week 1 even gets here because drafters don’t bother to scope the scoring.

In IDP leagues, there are three basic types of scoring, all based on how valuable big plays like sacks and interceptions are relative to solo tackles.

The majority of IDP leagues are “tackle-heavy,” which means that the ratio of big-play scoring to tackles is 3-to-1 or less. In a tackle-heavy league, it’s all about high-volume “tackle vacuum” linebackers and safeties. Pass-rushing 3-4 linebackers take a big hit in value, and unless the league requires cornerbacks, all but a few are waiver wire fodder.

If the ratio of big-play scoring to tackles is 4-to-1 or more, the league is “big-play heavy.” In that flip side of the IDP coin, those same pass-rushing linebackers and ball-hawking corners that aren’t worth jack in tackle-heavy formats get a big boost. Tackle producers are still going to be the most consistent IDP options, but having a sack artist or three can make for some big weeks.

Finally, if the ratio of big-play scoring to tackles is between 3-to-1 and 4-to-1, the IDP scoring is considered “balanced.” Just as the name indicates, finding a balance between the consistency of high-tackle options and the upside of big-play guys is the key to success in that format.

Then there are the equally important matters of how deep the defensive lineup is and how those IDPs score relative to their offensive counterparts. Both play a huge part in developing a winning draft strategy.

If your IDP league starts just a single IDP (or one at each position), then regardless of how many fantasy points the top IDPs pile up, there’s no point in drafting defense early. There are just too many productive IDPs available late to burn a pick that could be better spent on offense.

Conversely, if your IDP league starts a full defensive lineup of 11 players that includes defensive tackles and cornerbacks, then it pays to be more aggressive when targeting defensive players. Winning your fantasy draft is all about scoring an edge at as many positions as possible. And in IDP leagues that deep, there are edges to be had by getting after it defensively.

Most IDP leagues fall somewhere in between. A fairly standard IDP setup features two defensive linemen, two defensive backs, two or three linebackers and a “flex” spot. In that sort of setup, how the IDPs score relative to offensive players becomes that much more important.

If Indianapolis Colts LB Darius Leonard (the consensus No. 1 IDP in 2020) only scores on par with a WR4, then he and all the IDPs behind him drop down draft boards. If the defensive scoring is meaty and Leonard slots among the top 30 players overall, that’s another story.

That brings us to the $64 question — the query most often asked in regard to IDP draft strategy (especially by newcomers to the format).

When should you start drafting IDPs?

The easy answer to that question is there is no easy answer to that question. Given all the possible permutations of lineup size and scoring, there’s no set time IDPs should come off the board. If you only start a few IDPs and/or the scoring is light, then the word of the day is patience — wait and wait some more before looking to the defense.

If the defensive lineup and/or scoring is stacked, loaded and/or otherwise chockablock (double word score!), you can expect the big names to come off the board early. I’m taking part in a slow draft right now in just such a deep league. The first IDP left the board in Round 2.

In a standard 2 DL/3 LB/2 DB/FLEX IDP league that awards 1.5 points (or so) for a solo stop and 4 points (or so) for a big play, the high-end IDPs like Leonard will generally start coming off the board somewhere between Round 4 and Round 6. Even then, that’s not cast in stone — it only takes one drafter to start the ball rolling.

If all that doesn’t seem especially helpful, we’ll finish off this debut column with a tip that is — you don’t have to be a pace-setter with IDPs to have a winning draft. If you’re unsure of when defensive players will start coming off the board and are leery of reaching, let someone else take the lead.

Once the first few elite IDPs are taken, there will almost always be a short lull — followed by the first real run on defensive players. Get in on that run, and you should be fine.

Of course, by the time we’re finished over the next few weeks, you’ll be ready to get aggressive. To attack your IDP draft. To cut through the noise.

Assuming, that is, that I don’t get fired in the interim.

Balanced scoring IDP rankings for 2020

Defensive linemen

1. Danielle Hunter, DE, MIN

2. Myles Garrett, DE, CLE

3. Aaron Donald, DT, LAR

4. Joey Bosa, DE, LAC

5. Cameron Jordan, DE, NOS

6. Nick Bosa, DE, SFO

7. J.J. Watt, DE, HOU

8. Chase Young, DE, WAS

9. Sam Hubbard, DE, CIN

10. Maxx Crosby, DE, LVR

11. Cameron Heyward, DE, PIT

12. Yannick Ngakoue, DE, JAX

13. Calais Campbell, DE, BAL

14. Brian Burns, DE, CAR

15. Carlos Dunlap, DE, CIN

16. Chris Jones, DT, KCC

17. Justin Houston, DE, IND

18. Frank Clark, DE, KCC

19. Josh Allen, DE, JAX

20. Dante Fowler, DE, ATL

21. DeForest Buckner, DT, IND

22. Arik Armstead, DE, SFO

23. Demarcus Lawrence, DE, DAL

24. Akiem Hicks, DE, CHI

25. Melvin Ingram, DE, LAC

26. Trey Flowers, DE, DET

27. Jonathan Allen, DT, WAS

28. Jurrell Casey, DE, DEN

29. Brandon Graham, DE, PHI

30. Dee Ford, DE, SFO

31. Derek Barnett, DE, PHI

32. Sheldon Richardson, DT, CLE

33. Geno Atkins, DT, CIN

34. Marcus Davenport, DE, NOS

35. Ryan Kerrigan, DE, WAS

36. Bruce Irvin, DE, SEA

37. Javon Kinlaw, DT, SF

38. Clelin Ferrell, DE. LVR

39. Mario Addison, DE, BUF

40. Kenny Clark, DT, GBP

41. Grady Jarrett, DT, ATL

42. Montez Sweat, DE, WAS

43. Stephen Weatherly, DE, CAR

44. Ed Oliver, DT, BUF

45. Linval Joseph, DT, LAC

46. Olivier Vernon, DE, CLE

47. Stephon Tuitt, DE, PIT

48. Jarran Reed, DT, SEA

49. Shaq Lawson, DE, MIA

50. Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, CAR

Linebackers

1. Darius Leonard, OLB, IND

2. Bobby Wagner, ILB, SEA

3. Blake Martinez, ILB, NYG

4. Cory Littleton, ILB, LVR

5. Jaylon Smith, ILB, DAL

6. Joe Schobert, ILB, JAX

7. Devin White, ILB, TBB

8. Fred Warner, ILB, SFO

9.  C.J. Mosley, ILB, NYJ

10. Roquan Smith, ILB, CHI

11. Jordan Hicks, ILB, ARZ

12. Leighton Vander Esch, OLB, DAL

13. Lavonte David, OLB, TBB

14. Zach Cunningham, ILB, HOU

15. Shaq Thompson, ILB, CAR

16. Devin Bush, ILB, PIT

17. Deion Jones, ILB, ATL

18. Demario Davis, OLB, NOS

19. Jayon Brown, ILB, TEN

20. Christian Kirksey, ILB, GBP

21. Patrick Queen, ILB, BAL

22. Tremaine Edmunds, ILB, BUF

23. Isaiah Simmons, ILB, ARZ

24. Eric Kendricks, ILB, MIN

25. T.J. Watt, OLB, PIT

26. Todd Davis, ILB, DEN

27. Danny Trevathan, ILB, CHI

28. Khalil Mack, OLB, CKI

29. Kenneth Murray, ILB, LAC

30. Alexander Johnson, ILB,

31. Nick Kwiatkoski, OLB, LVR

32. Jarrad Davis, ILB, DET

33. Myles Jack, OLB, JAX

34. Chandler Jones, OLB, ARZ

35. Kwon Alexander, OLB, SFO

36. Tahir Whitehead, ILB, CAR

37. Rashaan Evans, ILB, TEN

38. Jamie Collins, OLB, DET

39. Thomas Davis, ILB, WAS

40. Germaine Pratt, OLB, CIN

41. Matt Milano, OLB, BUF

42. Jerome Baker, OLB, MIA

43. Logan Wilson, ILB, CIN

44. Sione Takitaki, ILB, CLE

45. K.J. Wright, OLB, SEA

46. Shaquil Barrett, OLB, TBB

47. Von Miller, OLB, DEN

48. Za'Darius Smith, OLB, GBP

49. Avery Williamson, ILB, NYJ

50. Benardrick McKinney, ILB, HOU

Defensive backs

1. Jamal Adams, S, NYJ

2. John Johnson, S, LAR

3. Derwin James, S, LAC

4. Landon Collins, S, WAS

5. Budda Baker, S, ARZ

6. Jordan Poyer, S, BUF

7. Keanu Neal, S, ATL

8. Jessie Bates III, S, CIN

9. Tracy Walker, S, DET

10. Malcolm Jenkins, S, NOS

11. Jabrill Peppers, S, NYG

12. Taylor Rapp, S, LAR

13. Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, PIT

14. Justin Simmons, S, DEN

15. Harrison Smith, S, MIN

16. Tyrann Mathieu, S, KCC

17. Kevin Byard, S, TEN

18. Johnathan Abram, S, LVR

19. Vonn Bell, S, CIN

20. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, DAL

21. Karl Joseph, S, CLE

22. Terrell Edmunds, S, PIT

23. Justin Reid, S, HOU

24. Xavier McKinney, S, NYG

25. Damarious Randall, S, LVR

26. Bradley McDougald, S, SEA

27. Kareem Jackson, S, DEN

28. Chuck Clark, S, BAL

29. Eddie Jackson, S, CHI

30. Adrian Amos, S, GBP

31. Kyle Fuller, CB, CHI

32. Ronnie Harrison, S, JAX

33. Sean Davis, S, WAS

34. Shawn Williams, S, CIN

35. Justin Evans, S, TBB

36. Khari Willis, S, IND

37. Jeremy Chinn, S, CAR

38. Tre Flowers, CB, SEA

39. Marshon Lattimore, CB, NOS

40. Quandre Diggs, S, SEA

41. Jaquiski Tartt, S, SFO

42. Kenny Moore II, CB, IND

43. James Bradberry, CB, NYG

44. Antoine Winfield Jr., S, TBB

45. Micah Hyde, S, BUF

46. Marcus Peters, CB, BAL

47. Jalen Mills, S, PHI

48. Donte Jackson, CB, CAR

49. Jeff Okudah, CB, DET

50. Grant Delpit, S, CLE