2023 Fantasy Football: IDP Rankings

I love fantasy football. There is only one aspect of our hobby that frustrates me: Defensive players are not prominent and many fantasy footballers might not be able to name 20 NFL defenders…It is a shame and one of the reasons for the IDP Rankings you will find a bit further down the page.

In the Seventies, defensive stars dominated the NFL, and diehard fans memorized all 11 of their favorite team’s defenders. As a lifelong Broncos fan, I can still name every player on the ‘77 Orange Crush Defense.

Joe Greene, Jack Lambert, Randy White, Jack Youngblood, Alan Page, Harvey Martin, and Willie Brown were household names for football fanatics like myself. The great team defensive units also had memorable nicknames—Steel Curtain (Pittsburgh), Doomsday (Dallas), Gritz Blitz (Atlanta), and No Name (Miami). It was an incredible era for sure.

In the last decade, the Legion of Boom and No Fly Zone shut down opponents’ passing games and led their teams to Super Bowl Championships. The history of the game cannot be written without the defensive side of the pigskin. Unfortunately, our hobby mainly focuses on only one side of the line of scrimmage. If you love the game like myself, it is time to participate in an IDP league.

What!? Your fantasy football league wasn’t hosted on Fantrax last season!? Once you see how Fantrax stacks up to the competition, we think you’ll be singing a different tune this season.

Playing in an IDP League

When I first played fantasy football in 1989, our league used only team defense for scoring and never even thought about defensive players. Around the turn of the century, I first heard of IDP formats but did not join one until 2006. Ever since I have managed at least one IDP league each season. And I really enjoy the format.

Do not be intimidated by IDP leagues or the format, just jump into one this season. I would recommend playing with six IDP players in the starting lineup: two defensive linemen, two linebackers, and two defensive backs. It is a manageable lineup with plenty of action on the waiver wire each week.

If you want to join a hardcore IDP league like myself, I play in a giant 12-team, 11-starter IDP league. We must start one defensive tackle, one defensive end, one defensive lineman, four linebackers, two cornerbacks, and two safeties. It is also a Dynasty league, and we draft rookies every year to add to our rosters.

There are so many great ways to engage in the IDP format that you do not have to become a fantasy football diehard like myself to kick off your obsession. Take it slow if you want to get your feet wet this season.

John Laub’s IDP Guys

Ernest Jones, Rams
Xavier McKinney, Giants
Josey Jewell, Broncos
Zaven Collins, Cardinals
Christian Wilkins, Dolphins

Joe Goodwin’s IDP Guys

Jaquan Brisker, Bears
Nakobe Dean, Eagles
Devin Lloyd, Jaguars
Kayvon Thibodeaux, Giants
Quinnen Williams, Jets

Twitterverse on Fire!

Let’s look at some IDP players before training camps open: Who Ya Got at linebacker?

Ernest Jones, Rams: 28%
Frank Luvu, Panthers: 17%
Zaire Franklin, Colts: 18%
Jack Campbell, Lions: 37%

“Ernest Jones, baby! I haven’t stashed him for 2 years for nothing.” @benkain7

“For me, it’s Ernest Jones. Unless someone else comes in, he is easily the Rams’ No. 1 LB. Zaire Franklin was a very close second followed by Frank Luvu than Jack Campbell. I love the long-term potential of Campbell, but I need to see it from him first.” @cusumano_sal

“Other than Ernest Jones, I’m not sure I would call the others a sleeper.” @Justice_2318

Let’s look at some IDP players before training camps open: Who Ya Got at Defensive Back?

Jimmie Ward, Texans: 8%
C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Lions: 68%
Nate Hobbs, Raiders: 8%
Ryan Neal, Buccaneers:16%

“I voted for C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Opponents are gonna pass a lot to keep up with the Lions. He’ll get lots of opportunities.” @SezWho?

Suggested IDP Scoring

I have outlined the basic IDP scoring rules for beginners below and ranked over 150 defensive players by position: defensive linemen, linebackers, and defensive backs for IDP fanatics, and first-timers, jumping into a league.

IDP scoring used for these rankings:

Tackles = 1 point

Assisted Tackles = ½ point

Fumbles Recovered = 2 points

Sacks = 2 points

Passes Defended = 1 point

Interceptions = 4 points

Touchdowns = 6 points

2023 IDP Rankings

I asked Fantrax Teammate Joe Goodwin to join me in ranking IDP players by position and overall.

Rnk	Player	Team	Laub	Goodwin
1	Roquan Smith	Ravens	2	1
2	Foyesade Oluokun	Jaguars	1	2
3	Nick Bolton	Chiefs	6	4
4	Bobby Okereke	Giants	7	5
6	Micah Parsons	Cowboys	13	3
7	Derwin James	Chargers	4	13
8	Fred Warner	49ers	3	15
9	T.J. Watt	Steelers	14	8
10	Devin White	Buccaneers	17	7
11	Nick Bosa	49ers	8	18
12	Logan Wilson	Bengals	15	11
13	Zaire Franklin	Colts	16	12
14	Maxx Crosby	Raiders	11	17
15	Budda Baker	Cardinals	5	25
16	Myles Garrett	Browns	18	16
17	Frankie Luvu	Panthers	25	9
18	Minkah Fitzpatrick	Steelers	9	28
19	Cole Holcomb	Steelers	28	10
20	Jalen Pitre	Texans	10	33
21	Tremaine Edmunds	Bears	22	29
22	De'Vondre Campbell	Packers	24	27
23	Hasason Reddick	Eagles	38	14
24	Shaquille Leonard	Colts	32	24
25	Bobby Wagner	Seahawks	45	11
26	Antoine Winfield	Buccaneers	20	38
27	Dre Greenlaw	49ers	41	20
28	Brian Burns	Panthers	30	32
29	Talanoa Hufanga	49ers	26	37
30	Joey Bosa	Chargers	19	48
31	C.J. Mosley	Jets	36	31
32	Pete Werner	Saints	47	22
33	Kyle Dugger	Patriots	23	46
34	L'Jarius Sneed	Chiefs	29	45
35	Aidan Hutchinson	Lions	35	39
36	T.J. Edwards	Bears	52	23
37	Jeremy Chin	Panthers	33	42
38	Josey Jewell	Broncos	21	60
39	Alex Highsmith	Steelers	42	40
40	Jaquan Brisker	Bears	43	43
41	Christian Wilkins	Dolphins	37	49
42	Kamren Curl	Commanders	39	55
43	Quinnen Williams	Jets	48	50
44	Jordyn Brooks	Seahawks	77	21
45	Aaron Donald	Rams	34	65
46	Nakobe Dean	Eagles	76	26
47	Eddie Jackson	Bears	27	75
48	Jalen Ramsey	Dolphins	51	54
49	Eric Kendricks	Chargers	75	30
50	Rayshawn Jenkins	Jaguars	31	76
51	Quay Walker	Packers	72	35
52	Jordan Poyer	Bills	61	47
53	Kyle Hamilton	Ravens	58	52
54	Divine Deablo	Raiders	40	70
55	Ernest Jones	Rams	54	57
56	Zaven Collins	Cardinals	68	44
57	Travon Walker	Jaguars	73	41
58	Shaq Thompson	Buccaneers	81	34
59	Kayvon Thibodeaux	Giants	65	51
60	Matt Milano	Bills	50	67
61	Christian Harris	Texans	82	36
62	Richie Grant	Falcons	46	73
63	Justin Simmons	Broncos	64	59
64	DeShon Elliot	Dolphins	67	58
65	Jonathan Allen	Commanders	49	77
66	Jamal Adams	Seahawks	78	53
67	C.J. Gardner-Johnson	Lions	44	89
68	Deforest Buckner	Colts	71	63
69	Danielle Hunter	Vikings	70	64
70	Alex Singleton	Broncos	62	72
71	Xavier McKinney	Giants	55	80
72	Matthew Judon	Patriots	53	82
73	Chris Jones	Chiefs	56	79
74	DeMarcus Lawrence	Cowboys	57	81
75	Devin Lloyd	Jaguars	84	56
76	Vonn Bell	Panthers	79	62
77	Donovan Wilson	Cowboys	63	78
78	Will Anderson	Texans	74	68
79	Jack Campbell	Lions	59	85
80	Harold Landry	Titans	60	84
81	Jalen Thompson	Cardinals	80	66
82	Kyzir White	Cardinals	87	61
83	Julian Love	Seahawks	85	63
84	Jerome Baker	Dolphins	66	86
85	Josh Sweat	Eagles	83	71
86	Chase Young	Commanders	86	69
87	Uchenna Nwosu	Seahawks	69	87
88	Troy Anderson	Falcons	88	74

Rnk	Player	Team	Laub	Goodwin
1	Micah Parsons	Cowboys	3	1
2	T.J. Watt	Steelers	4	2
3	Maxx Crosby	Raiders	2	4
4	Nick Bosa	49ers	1	6
5	Myles Garrett	Browns	5	5
6	Hasason Reddick	Eagles	11	3
7	Joey Bosa	Chargers	6	9
8	Brian Burns	Panthers	7	7
9	Aidan Hutchinson	Lions	9	8
10	Christian Wilkins	Dolphins	10	12
11	Quinnen Williams	Jets	13	10
12	Deforest Buckner	Colts	20	11
13	Chris Jones	Chiefs	15	19
14	Aaron Donald	Rams	8	13
15	Danielle Hunter	Vikings	19	16
16	Zaven Collins	Cardinals	18	17
17	Kayvon Thibodeaux	Giants	17	20
18	Alex Highsmith	Steelers	12	26
19	DeMarcus Lawrence	Cowboys	16	25
20	Will Anderson	Texans	28	14
21	Matthew Judon	Patriots	14	30
22	Jonathan Allen	Commanders	26	23
23	George Karlaftis	Chiefs	33	18
24	Josh Sweat	Eagles	32	21
25	Chase Young	Commanders	39	15
26	Josh Allen	Jaguars	25	29
27	Dexter Lawrence	Giants	27	31
28	Cameron Jordan	Saints	24	34
29	Travon Walker	Jaguars	22	38
30	Kwity Payne	Colts	29	32
31	Jaelan Phillips	Dolphins	35	27
32	Daron Payne	Commanders	37	28
33	Cameron Hayward	Steelers	30	37
34	Harold Landry	Titans	23	47
35	Uchenna Nwosu	Seahawks	21	49
36	Javon Hargrave	49ers	49	22
37	Jeffery Simmons	Titans	47	24
38	Montez Sweat	Commanders	42	33
39	Azeez Ojulari	Giants	40	35
40	Sam Hubbard	Bengals	31	44
41	Greg Rousseau	Bills	38	39
42	Zach Allen	Broncos	44	41
43	Myles Murphy	Bengals	51	36
44	Za'Darius Smith	Browns	34	53
45	Rashan Gary	Packers	43	46
46	Leonard Williams	Giants	41	50
47	Tyree Wilson	Raiders	52	40
48	Lukas Van Ness	Packers	48	45
49	Tre Hendrickson	Bengals	36	57
50	Khalil Mack	Chargers	46	48
51	Jalen Carter	Eagles	53	42
52	Shaq Barrett	Buccaneers	45	51
53	Grady Jarrett	Falcons	54	43
54	Bradley Chubb	Dolphins	50	52
55	Jermaine Johnson	Jets	55	54
56	Darrell Taylor	Seahawks	56	55
57	Arnold Ebiketie	Falcons	57	56
58	Nolan Smith	Eagles	58	58

Rnk	Player	Team	Laub	Goodwin
1	Roquan Smith	Ravens	2	1
2	Foyesade Oluokun	Jaguars	1	2
3	Nick Bolton	Chiefs	5	3
4	Bobby Okereke	Giants	4	5
5	Devin White	Buccaneers	8	4
6	Logan Wilson	Bengals	6	6
7	Zaire Franklin	Colts	7	7
8	Fred Warner	49ers	3	15
9	Cole Holcomb	Steelers	12	8
10	Tremaine Edmunds	Bears	10	10
11	Bobby Wagner	Seahawks	17	9
12	C.J. Mosley	Jets	14	12
13	Dre Greenlaw	49ers	16	14
14	Shaquille Leonard	Colts	13	18
15	De'Vondre Campbell	Packers	11	20
16	T.J. Edwards	Bears	20	13
17	Pete Werner	Saints	18	16
18	Isaiah Simmons	Cardinals	31	11
19	Josey Jewell	Broncos	9	33
20	Nakobe Dean	Eagles	26	18
21	Eric Kendricks	Chargers	25	22
22	Alex Singleton	Broncos	23	25
23	Quay Walker	Packers	24	26
24	Divine Diablo	Raiders	15	37
25	Matt Milano	Bills	19	36
26	Patrick Queen	Ravens	33	23
27	Ernest Jones	Rams	21	35
28	Jordyn Brooks	Seahawks	36	21
29	Shaq Thompson	Panthers	32	25
30	Christian Harris	Texans	34	24
31	Zaven Collins	Cardinals	35	28
32	Jack Campbell	Lions	22	41
33	David Long	Dolphins	39	27
34	Demario Davis	Saints	27	43
35	Jordan Hicks	Vikings	29	44
36	Lavonte David	Buccaneers	28	49
37	Devin Lloyd	Jaguars	49	29
38	Jerome Baker	Dolphins	30	48
39	Justin Simmons	Titans	50	32
40	Christian Harris	Texans	48	38
41	Troy Anderson	Falcons	47	39
42	Jamin Davis	Commanders	40	46
43	Kyzir White	Cardinals	54	34
44	J. Owusu-Koramoah	Browns	44	45
45	Quincy Williams	Jets	38	51
46	Azeez Al-Shaair	Titans	37	52
47	Cody Barton	Commanders	52	40
48	Willie Gay	Chiefs	41	53
49	Christian Kirksey	Texans	53	42
50	Mykal Walker	Falcons	42	54
51	Malcolm Rodriguez	Lions	51	47
52	Denzel Perryman	Texans	43	55
53	Leighton Vander Esch	Cowboys	45	56
54	Tuli Tuipulotu	Chargers	46	57
55	Brian Asamoah	Vikings	55	55
56	Nicholas Murrow	Eagles	56	56
57	Cody Barton	Commanders	57	57
58	Alex Anzalone	Lions	58	58
59	Frankie Luvu	Panthers	59	59

Rnk	Player	Team	Laub	Goodwin
1	Derwin James	Chargers	1	1
2	Budda Baker	Cardinals	2	2
3	Minkah Fitzpatrick	Steelers	3	3
4	Jalen Pitre	Texans	4	4
5	Antoine Winfield	Buccaneers	5	6
6	Talanoa Hufanga	49ers	7	5
7	Kyle Dugger	Patriots	6	10
8	Jeremy Chin	Panthers	10	8
9	L'Jarius Sneed	Chiefs	8	11
10	Jaquan Brisker	Bears	12	7
11	Jordan Poyer	Bills	13	9
12	Kyle Hamilton	Ravens	19	7
13	Kamren Curl	Commanders	11	16
14	Jalen Ramsey	Dolphins	17	13
15	Justin Simmons	Broncos	16	15
16	Rayshawn Jenkins	Jaguars	9	26
17	Julian Love	Seahawks	24	12
18	Jamal Adams	Seahawks	26	14
19	Vonn Bell	Panthers	25	17
20	Donovan Wilson	Cowboys	14	29
21	Xavier McKinney	Giants	18	25
22	Richie Grant	Falcons	23	20
23	DeShon Elliot	Dolphins	30	18
24	Jalen Thompson	Cardinals	28	21
25	Kevin Byard	Titans	22	28
26	Jessie Bates	Falcons	34	24
27	Tracy Walker, III	Lions	41	19
28	C.J. Gardner-Johnson	Lions	15	50
29	Dax Hill	Bengals	33	34
30	Jordan Fuller	Rams	37	31
31	Tyrann Mathieu	Saints	46	23
32	Jayron Kearse	Cowboys	38	33
33	Divine Deablo	Raiders	20	52
34	Eddie Jackson	Bears	21	51
35	Harrison Smith	Vikings	31	41
36	Marcus Williams	Ravens	29	46
37	Darrick Forrest	Commanders	36	41
38	Grant Delpit	Browns	40	37
39	Lewis Cine	Vikings	49	30
40	Nate Hobbs	Raiders	27	53
41	Jevon Holland	Dolphins	54	27
42	Sauce Gardner	Jets	52	32
43	Jimmie Ward	Texans	32	54
44	Kenny Moore, II	Colts	35	55
45	Amani Hooker	Titans	47	44
46	Tariq Woolen	Seahawks	55	39
47	Ryan Neal	Buccaneers	39	56
48	Joey Porter	Steelers	56	42
49	Mike Edwards	Chiefs	57	43
50	Jordan Whitehead	Jets	43	58
51	Trevon Diggs	Cowboys	58	44
52	Charvarius Ward	49ers	44	59
53	Marcus Maye	Saints	42	62
54	Kerby Joseph	Lions	63	41
55	Rasul Douglas	Packers	45	60
56	Quandre Diggs	Seahawks	59	47
57	Sydney Brown	Eagles	60	48
58	Chuck Clark	Jets	48	61
59	Christian Gonzalez	Patriots	61	50
60	Micah Hyde	Bills	50	63
61	Justin Reid	Chiefs	51	64
62	A.J. Terrell	Falcons	53	65
63	Jordan Battle	Bengals	62	62

Enjoy my fellow IDP diehards! If you liked these IDP Rankings make sure to check out the rest of the 2023 Fantrax Fantasy Football Draft Kit!

2023 Fantasy Football Draft Kit