Before I start, I'm assuming your league is fairly similar to most others I've been in which are roughly:
1 point per tackle
3 points per sack
3 points per INT
7 points per defensive TD
The first thing I want to put out there is that if they are close to this scale, the bigger tacklers are the best scorers and the most consistent from week to week.
If we do the math, a guy with 100 tackles and 1 INT and 1 sack would score 106 fantasy points over the course of a season whereas a guy with 40 tackles and 15 sacks would score 85 points and a guy with 50 tackles and 8 INTs would score 74 points.
Top tackling linebackers are always the best bets for IDP leagues just for the mere fact you can count on them for 5-9 tackles almost every game.
That being said, I'll get to the individual rankings in a little bit. I want to take some time to finish the QB rankings before I get too sidetracked. If you are drafting immediately, take a look at the top tacklers from last season and you should have a good basis for who to look at in IDP leagues.
1 point per tackle
3 points per sack
3 points per INT
7 points per defensive TD
The first thing I want to put out there is that if they are close to this scale, the bigger tacklers are the best scorers and the most consistent from week to week.
If we do the math, a guy with 100 tackles and 1 INT and 1 sack would score 106 fantasy points over the course of a season whereas a guy with 40 tackles and 15 sacks would score 85 points and a guy with 50 tackles and 8 INTs would score 74 points.
Top tackling linebackers are always the best bets for IDP leagues just for the mere fact you can count on them for 5-9 tackles almost every game.
That being said, I'll get to the individual rankings in a little bit. I want to take some time to finish the QB rankings before I get too sidetracked. If you are drafting immediately, take a look at the top tacklers from last season and you should have a good basis for who to look at in IDP leagues.
Demeco Ryans
Keith Bulluck
Shawn Merriman
Lance Briggs
Nick Barnett
Brian Urlacher
Bart Scott
Antonio Pierce
Adrian Wilson
Aaron Kampman
AJ Hawk
Zach Thomas
Demarcus Ware
Champ Bailey
Ray Lewis
Wilt Witherspoon
Kirk Morrison
Julius Peppers
London Fletcher
Roughly in that order. I might have missed a guy or two but that's a good list to start out. Never take a defensive player too early but try and get 3 of the top 10 on this list in the later rounds and you'll have a great boost each and every week.
Keith Bulluck
Shawn Merriman
Lance Briggs
Nick Barnett
Brian Urlacher
Bart Scott
Antonio Pierce
Adrian Wilson
Aaron Kampman
AJ Hawk
Zach Thomas
Demarcus Ware
Champ Bailey
Ray Lewis
Wilt Witherspoon
Kirk Morrison
Julius Peppers
London Fletcher
Roughly in that order. I might have missed a guy or two but that's a good list to start out. Never take a defensive player too early but try and get 3 of the top 10 on this list in the later rounds and you'll have a great boost each and every week.
A lesser man's Shawn Merriman but I would not put him in the top 30 fantasy players at IDP. His tackle numbers aren't there to make him consistent and I don't see 20 sack potential out of him like Merriman. He should be a solid fantasy contributor and is a decent pick in the last round or two of a draft if you want to wait on a defensive player, which isn't a horrible idea if you have one more defensive spot to fill. He won't be as consistent but should be top 50. Somewhere in between 30 and 50 is where I'd place him.
What do you guys think about Shaun Phillips linebacker from the Chargers...last season he had 44 solo tackles, 21 assts, 4 ff, and 11.5 sacks. All of this in missing 3 games do to injury. Do you think with the amount of attention being placed on Merriman that Phillips is deserving of a starting spot? I know his solo tackles were a little low but if he can get to 70 solo tackles, 13 sacks, I think he could be a nice addition to any idp defense. Any thoughts?
