While it is most common for fantasy leagues to include a team defense for scoring purposes, independent defensive player leagues have been on the rise recently.
These leagues are for those who are fans of defensive players. You love when defensive end who gets to the quarterback rather than the quarterback himself. You like the cornerback tasked with stopping that star wide receiver.
I have broken up the IDP rankings into three categories: Defensive Linemen, Linebackers, Defensive Backs. These categories reflect the typical IDP settings and how most IDP leagues
IDP scoring varies widely and each league typically has their own set of rules. The rankings are based on the following rules:
Solo Tackle: 1.5 Points
Assisted Tackle: .5 Points
Sack: 2 Points
Tackle for Loss: 1 Point
Forced Fumble: 1 Point
Fumble Recovery: 2 Points
Interception: 2 Points
Safety: 2 Points
Defensive Touchdown: 6 Points
Your IDP league scoring may vary but I believe these categories cover all the bases for a traditional IDP league with traditional IDP scoring.
2017 IDP Rankings
Defensive Line Rankings
| Rank | Player |
|---|---|
| 1. | Khalil Mack, OAK |
| 2. | Joey Bosa, LAC |
| 3. | J.J. Watt, HOU |
| 4. | Aaron Donald, LAR |
| 5. | Olivier Vernon, NYG |
| 6. | Vic Beasley Jr., ATL |
| 7. | Jadeveon Clowney, HOU |
| 8. | Cameron Jordan, NO |
| 9. | Jason Pierre-Paul, NYG |
| 10. | Calais Campbell, JAX |
| 11. | Danielle Hunter, MIN |
| 12. | Lorenzo Alexander, BUF |
| 13. | Carlos Dunlap, CIN |
| 14. | Michael Bennett, SEA |
| 15. | Brandon Graham, PHI |
| 16. | Leonard Williams, NYJ |
| 17. | Trey Flowers, NE |
| 18. | Sheldon Richardson, NYJ |
| 19. | Ndamukong Suh, MIA |
| 20. | Cliff Avril, SEA |
| 21. | DeForest Buckner, SF |
| 22. | Ezekiel Ansah, DET |
| 23. | Muhammad Wilkerson, NYJ |
| 24. | Everson Griffen, MIN |
| 25. | Ryan Kerrigan, WAS |
| 26. | Cameron Wake, MIA |
| 27. | Frank Clark, SEA |
| 28. | Marcell Dareus, BUF |
| 29. | Myles Garrett, CLE |
| 30. | Fletcher Cox, PHI |
| 31. | Kawann Short, CAR |
| 32. | Derrick Morgan, TEN |
| 33. | Robert Ayers, TB |
| 34. | Gerald McCoy, TB |
| 35. | Jurrell Casey, TEN |
| 36. | Damon Harrison, NYG |
| 37. | Linval Joseph, MIN |
| 38. | Akiem Hicks, CHI |
| 39. | Robert Quinn, LAR |
| 40. | Brandon Williams, BAL |
| 41. | Cameron Heyward, PIT |
| 42. | William Hayes, MIA |
| 43. | Jerry Hughes, BUF |
| 44. | Ahmad Brooks, SF |
| 45. | Geno Atkins, CIN |
| 46. | Derek Wolfe, DEN |
| 47. | Mario Edwards Jr., OAK |
| 48. | DeMarcus Lawrence, DAL |
| 49. | Chris Baker, TB |
| 50. | William Gholston, TB |
| 51. | Stephon Tuitt, PIT |
| 52. | Kyle Williams, BUF |
| 53. | Timmy Jernigan, PHI |
| 54. | Mike Daniels, GB |
| 55. | Derek Barnett, PHI |
| 56. | Solomon Thomas, SF |
| 57. | Corey Liuget, LAC |
| 58. | Noah Spence, TB |
| 59. | Kony Ealy, NE |
| 60. | Takkarist McKinley, ATL |
Linebacker Rankings
| Rank | Linebackers |
|---|---|
| 1. | Luke Kuechly, CAR |
| 2. | Bobby Wagner, SEA |
| 3. | Kwon Alexander |
| 4. | C.J. Mosley, BAL |
| 5. | NaVorro Bowman, SF |
| 6. | Ryan Shazier, PIT |
| 7. | Sean Lee, DAL |
| 8. | Alec Ogletree, LAR |
| 9. | Telvin Smith, JAX |
| 10. | Bernardrick McKinney, HOU |
| 11. | Jamie Collins, CLE |
| 12. | Eric Kendricks, MIN |
| 13. | Deion Jones, ATL |
| 14. | Denzel Perryman, LAC |
| 15. | K.J. Wright, SEA |
| 16. | Deone Bucannon, ARI |
| 17. | Von Miller, DEN |
| 18. | Derrick Johnson, KC |
| 19. | Christian Kirksey, CLE |
| 20. | Justin Houston, KC |
| 21. | Jerrell Freeman, CHI |
| 22. | Jatavis Brown, LAC |
| 23. | Zach Brown, WAS |
| 24. | Lavonte David, TB |
| 25. | Nigel Bradham, PHI |
| 26. | Reggie Ragland, BUF |
| 27. | Lawrence Timmons, MIA |
| 28. | Kiko Alonso, PHI |
| 29. | Thomas Davis, CAR |
| 30. | Vince Williams, PIT |
| 31. | Mark Barron, LAR |
| 32. | Chandler Jones, ARI |
| 33. | Jarrad Davis, DET |
| 34. | Paul Posluszny, JAX |
| 35. | Melvin Ingram, LAC |
| 36. | Danny Trevathan, CHI |
| 37. | Tahir Whitehead, DET |
| 38. | Myles Jack, JAX |
| 39. | Karlos Dansby, ARI |
| 40. | Stephone Anthony, NO |
| 41. | Reuben Foster, SF |
| 42. | Jonathan Casillas, NYG |
| 43. | Dont'a Hightower, NE |
| 44. | Mason Foster, WAS |
| 45. | Jake Ryan, GB |
| 46. | Ben Heeney, OAK |
| 47. | Darron Lee, NYJ |
| 48. | Avery Williamson, TEN |
| 49. | Whitney Mercilus, HOU |
| 50. | James Harrison, PIT |
| 51. | John Simon, IND |
| 52. | Anthony Barr, MIN |
| 53. | Markus Golden, ARI |
| 54. | Kevin Minter, CIN |
| 55. | Shaq Thompson, CAR |
| 56. | Bud Dupree, PIT |
| 57. | Will Compton, WAS |
| 58. | Demario Davis, NYJ |
| 59. | David Harris, NE |
| 60. | Brandon Marshall, DEN |
Defensive Back Rankings
| Rank | Defensive Backs |
|---|---|
| 1. | Landon Collins, NYG |
| 2. | Harrison Smith, MIN |
| 3. | Tony Jefferson, BAL |
| 4. | Kam Chancellor, SEA |
| 5. | Reshad Jones, MIA |
| 6. | Keanu Neal, ATL |
| 7. | Malcolm Jenkins, PHI |
| 8. | Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix, GB |
| 9. | Jonathan Cyprien, JAX |
| 10. | Eric Weddle, BAL |
| 11. | Kenny Vaccaro, NO |
| 12. | Barry Church, JAX |
| 13. | Tyrann Mathieu, ARI |
| 14. | Earl Thomas, SEA |
| 15. | Eric Berry, KC |
| 16. | Morgan Burnett, GB |
| 17. | Karl Joseph, OAK |
| 18. | Kurt Coleman, CAR |
| 19. | Chris Conte, TB |
| 20. | Marcus Peters, KC |
| 21. | Ron Parker, KC |
| 22. | Reggie Nelson, OAK |
| 23. | Logan Ryan, TEN |
| 24. | Eric Reid, SF |
| 25. | Antoine Bethea, ARI |
| 26. | T.J. Ward, DEN |
| 27. | Patrick Peterson, ARI |
| 28. | Jahleel Addae, LAC |
| 29. | Tavon Wilson, DET |
| 30. | Casey Hayward, LAC |
| 31. | Su'a Cravens, WAS |
| 32. | Clayton Geathers, IND |
| 33. | Byron Jones, DAL |
| 34. | Vonn Bell, NO |
| 35. | Mike Mitchell, PIT |
| 36. | Jamal Adams, NYJ |
| 37. | Bashaud Breeland, WAS |
| 38. | Mike Adams, CAR |
| 39. | Jalen Ramsey, JAX |
| 40. | A.J. Bouye, JAX |
| 41. | Devin McCourty, NE |
| 42. | Janoris Jenkins, NYG |
| 43. | Richard Sherman, SEA |
| 44. | Jaquiski Tartt, SF |
| 45. | Bradley McDougald, SEA |
| 46. | Jason Verrett, LAC |
| 47. | T.J. McDonald, MIA |
| 48. | Sean Davis, PIT |
| 49. | Rodney McCleod, PHI |
| 50. | Jordan Poyer, BUF |
| 51. | Micah Hyde, BUF |
| 52. | Josh Norman, WAS |
| 53. | Desmond Trufant, ATL |
| 54. | Glover Quin, DET |
| 55. | Malik Hooker, IND |
| 56. | Shawn Williams, CIN |
| 57. | Xavier Rhodes, MIN |
| 58. | Ronald Darby, BUF |
| 59. | Chris Harris, DEN |
| 60. | Quintin Demps, CHI |
Notes
When I was doing these rankings there was one player I continually moved up in my rankings, and that was Kwon Alexander. I envision a big year for Alexander as he grows into a defensive leader for the Buccaneers and ascends into the upper echelon of Linebackers.
Tony Jefferson is another player who is relatively high in my rankings. Jefferson was a beast with the Cardinals last season and I think he will be the same with the Ravens this season. I predict that Jefferson will play closer to the box this season, giving him more tackles and the possibility of sacks. Jefferson reminds me a lot of Landon Collins.
Danielle Hunter at 11 may surprise a lot of people, but Hunter really came on for the Vikings the past season and I think he will continue to improve in 2017.
| 2017 Fantasy Football Draft Kit |
| Positional Rankings | Sleepers | Busts | Player Analysis | Strategy | Preseason Analysis | Mock Drafts | Tools |
If you’re looking for a place to mock draft or need help with drafting in general, check out the FantasyPros Draft Wizard. This is a terrific tool and combined with SoCalledFantasyExperts you’re on your way to dominating your league.
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