Fantasy football individual defensive player (IDP) leagues aren’t for everyone, but if a new experience is in your 2020 wheelhouse (because, why not?), having a few sleepers in your back pocket is a great place to start.
IDP leagues tend to work counterintuitively, especially in the secondary. Star defensive backs, like Marcus Peters or Stephon Gilmore, don’t get thrown at enough to rack up the necessary counting stats to matter. Identifying players that will get picked on by offensive coordinators is a good place to start, and understanding matchups is imperative, particularly once we start setting lineups.
Fantasy football IDP player rankings
Defensive linemen | Linebackers | Defensive backs
Fantasy football defensive linemen
Matt Ioannidis, Washington Football Team: Averaging eight sacks over the past two seasons, Ioannidis quietly has posted steady numbers for gamers. He finally played in all 16 contests in 2019 and dramatically improved against the run. He’s trending in the right direction at 26 years old in his fifth season, and the coaching change in the offseason brings in two of the better defensive minds in Jack Del Rio and Ron Rivera. Ioannidis is surrounded by first-round picks and isn’t likely to be a technical starter, which isn’t particularly meaningful in 2020 with a heavier than usual rotation expected as the team transitions to a 4-3. He will be most valuable in run-heavy matchups.
Davon Godchaux, Miami Dolphins: Trajectory matters, and the 25-year-old Godchaux enters his fourth year after consecutive seasons of growth across the board. He is capable of playing nose tackle and lining up as a traditional five-technique in 4-3 fronts. Miami will bounce between 3-4 and 4-3 alignments in effort to maximize its personnel vs. the matchups, much like we saw New England do under Miami’s coach Brian Flores. While Godchaux’s game is mostly built around being a big-bodied run-stuffer, he’s not incapable of getting to the quarterback on occasion.
Alton Robinson, Seattle Seahawks: The rookie entered training camp up to 277 pounds from his 259-pound playing weight in 2019 at at Syracuse. He has been thoroughly impressive in camp, flashing quickness for his size (4.6 speed) and improved power. Robinson racked up 19 sacks in 35 NCAA games. The Seahawks desperately need a defensive edge presence, and Pete Carroll is no stranger to throwing rookies into the fire. Rasheem Green and L.J. Collier shouldn’t feel safe right now. At a minimum, Robinson will be rotated in frequently as long as the other two are holding up their end of the deal.
Fantasy football linebackers
Nick Kwiatkoski, Las Vegas Raiders: The former Chicago Bear as an opportunity to step up his game in Las Vegas after honing his craft in and out of the starting lineup in Chicago over the past four seasons. Kwiatkoski hasn’t exactly been a fantasy stud to date, averaging no more than 5.9 fantasy points a game in any season. The 2019 campaign illustrated his versatility as he logged 76 combined stops, 3.0 sacks, four passes defensed, an INT and a forced fumble. In the desert, he will play cleanup along side fellow newcomer Corey Littleton behind an up-and-coming defensive line.
Christian Kirksey, Green Bay Packers: A 2014 third-rounder, Kirksey began to showcase his skills in 2015 for the Cleveland Browns. By the end of 2017, he was a fantasy stud who contributed in five categories. He was on pace for another quality season in 2018 before missing nine games after suffering multiple injuries. He was limited two only two contests last year thanks to a pectoral tear. Kirksey moved on to Green Bay and has a fine forecast in a strong defense that helped the departed Blake Martinez punish ball-carriers for the past few seasons. There’s definite risk of another injury, and in his age-28 season, Kirksey is a worthwhile gamble for an LB3 with upside.
Jerome Baker, Miami Dolphins: Just 23 years old entering Year 3, Baker’s on-field leap from his rookie to sophomore season was promising but not so meteoric that expecting another leap is asking for too much. A look at his per-game results, Baker didn’t post more than 9.5 fantasy points in any of his first eight games. He flipped the switch in Week 10 and posted double figures in four of his final eight appearances. Baker briefly was on the reserve/COVID-19 list and has been activated. Miami’s overall defensive efforts will improve in the second year of Flores’ tenure, and Baker will be at the center of it.
Fantasy football defensive backs
Johnathan Abram, Las Vegas Raiders:
One of a trio of 2019 first-round picks by the Raiders, Abram missed effectively the entire year with a shoulder injury. He’s an aggressive tackler and as fierce as they come, but his ball skills could use some refinement, so understand what you’re getting. He plays on volume 11 at all times, and the Raiders will find creative ways to get him into the offensive backfield to disrupt plays. Abram is a fine investment as a No. 2 defensive back.
Ronnie Harrison, Jacksonville Jaguars: The third-year Alabama product took a major step forward in 2019 and spread his talents across the spectrum of stats. The 6-foot-3 enforcer can play in the box and is not a total slouch in coverage, recording three interceptions in 28 NFL games. He has a trio of sacks to his credit, as well. Durability could be an issue for this No. 3 defensive back target.
Bradley McDougald, New York Jets: Remarkably consistent, McDougald has averaged at least 5.6 fantasy points per game in four of his last five seasons. He has been a steady tackler and offers a hint of bonus action in coverage. The trade of Jamal Adams brought McDougald to New York, and there is a serious hole to be filled from a fantasy perspective. Gamers won’t get a special player, but the consolation is a weekly No. 2 lineup candidate without fail.
Khari Willis, Indianapolis Colts: As a rookie, in 14 games, Willis racked up 71 total stops playing playing half the snaps of the rests of the players in the top 15. He has another year of mastering the system under his belt, and Indy as a whole should be much better on both sides of the ball. There is a limited ceiling here, especially when it comes to any stat outside of tackles, since Willis is far more of a box-oriented defender than a proper pass defender.
Fantasy football IDP deeper sleepers
DL Ifeadi Odenigbo, Minnesota Vikings: The loss of Everson Griffen in free agency gives Odenigbo a legit shot at reaching double-digit sacks against single attention opposite Danielle Hunter.
DL/LB Chase Winovich, New England Patriots: New England lost so many key defensive contributors after last season. Winovich has been a monster in training camp and is poised to capitalize on a strong rookie season.
LB Ja’Whaun Bentley, New England Patriots: After learning behind several standout linebackers, Bentley gets his chance to shine on the heels of a personnel exodus. Opportunity is the mother of inventions … and fantasy sleepers.
LB Duke Riley, Philadelphia Eagles: Running with the starters, Riley gets a chance to show off his athleticism in a division that will feature plenty of running game.
DB Marquise Blair, Seattle Seahawks: Blair’s versatility will give him a chance to make plays. The second-year defender has stood out in practice and appears locked into the “big nickel” role.
DB Karl Joseph, Cleveland Browns: The season-ending Achilles tear suffered by rookie Grant Delpit, in addition to the significant loss of LB Mack Wilson, improve his odds of success. Joseph’s biggest enemy is a lack of durability.
DB Duron Harmon, Detroit Lions: The former Patriot heads to a familiar defense in Detroit, which is invaluable in this offseason. Harmon brings ball skills and range to a defense that will be consistently tested.
