Instead of one team defence, you start real defenders: the linebacker making the tackle, the edge rusher getting the sack, the safety picking off the pass. Twice the players to know, and twice the edge for anyone who does the homework.
An IDP league adds defensive starting spots to a normal lineup. A common set-up is 2 DL, 2 or 3 LB and 2 or 3 DB, sometimes with an IDP flex that takes any of them. Some leagues keep a team defence as well; most drop it.
Defenders score from their own box score: tackles, sacks, tackles for loss, interceptions, pass breakups, forced fumbles, recoveries and touchdowns. That means two things matter more than talent alone.
A defender can only score while he's on the field. Every-down players who stay on for passing downs are worth far more than rotational pass rushers or base-defence linebackers who come off in nickel.
Check snap shareWatch for nickel rolesTackle totals repeat year to year. Sacks swing a lot, and interceptions swing wildly. Pay for the steady stat, and treat big-play numbers from last season as partly luck.
Tackles repeatINTs regressA defence stuck on the field for 70 plays makes more tackles than one that gets off it in 55. Defenders on teams with weak offences, or that face lots of runs, pile up volume.
Defensive snaps per gameOpponent run rateCheck how your platform lists players. The same edge rusher can be DL on one site and LB on another, and that can make him a cheat code or useless. Look at your league's position labels before you rank anyone.
IDP scoring isn't standardised, so the same player can be a first-round defender in one league and waiver fodder in another. Almost every league falls into one of three styles.
| Style | What it looks like | Who wins | Who loses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tackle-heavy | Solo tackles 1.5 or more, assists 0.75, sacks around 3 | Every-down linebackers, box safeties | Pass-rush specialists, cover corners |
| Balanced | Solo 1, assist 0.5, sack 4, INT 6, pass breakup 1.5 | Linebackers still lead; elite edge rushers close the gap | Low-snap rotational players |
| Big-play | Solo 0.5–1, sack 5 or more, INT 6–8, forced fumble 4–5 | Elite edge rushers, ball-hawking safeties and corners | Tackle-only linebackers |
Put in your league's scoring to see which kind of defender it rewards. The bars use a typical top-12 season for each type of player, so they show the shape of your scoring rather than predict anyone.
Typical seasons used: every-down LB 85 solo, 50 assists, 9 TFL, 3 sacks. Elite edge 35 solo, 15 TFL, 12 sacks, 3 forced fumbles. Box safety 75 solo, 2 INTs, 8 breakups. Cover corner 55 solo, 3 INTs, 14 breakups. Interior DL 30 solo, 6 sacks.
Best in tackle-heavy and balanced leagues
Every-down linebackers are the most reliable scorers in IDP, and there are only about 15 to 20 of them in a season. Lock in two before they're gone, then fill DL and DB later where the drop-off is gentler.
Best when IDP scores less than offence, or starting spots are few
In many leagues a top running back outscores any defender by a mile, and the gap between the 5th and 25th linebacker is small. Build a strong offence first and take defenders in a run from the middle rounds.
Best in sack-heavy and big-play leagues
When a sack is worth as much as a touchdown catch, elite pass rushers become weekly difference-makers. Pay up for the top edge rushers early and accept that their weeks go up and down.
Best with deep benches and active waiver wires
DB and DL scoring depends heavily on the opponent. Draft a core of two or three trusted defenders and rotate the rest each week from waivers.
Works in any league, if you do the maths
Rank defenders by how much they beat the last starter at their position, not by total points. If the 24th DB scores nearly as much as the 6th, DBs are cheap. If the 12th linebacker is far behind the 3rd, linebackers are where the value is.
An every-down linebacker in his early 20s can give you five or more good years. They're the safest long-term buys in IDP.
Pass rushers usually hit their best in their mid to late 20s. Buy them a year early and sell before the decline shows up in the box score.
Rookie cornerbacks often score straight away because offences test them. Rookie linebackers can need a year to earn passing-down snaps, so draft for year two.
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Read your scoring settings before ranking anyone | Use generic IDP rankings that ignore your scoring |
| Check each player's position label on your platform | Assume an edge rusher is DL everywhere |
| Pay for snap share and tackle volume | Chase last year's interception total |
| Grab a second LB before the run starts | Draft a defender in the first rounds unless scoring is extreme |
| Keep a waiver eye on new starters after injuries | Leave a bench spot clogged with a rotational player |