For some people, starting eight, nine or 10 players just isn't enough. Sometimes you need to start at least 15. For those people, defensive players are part of the league game plan and part of the enjoyment of Fantasy Football.
When you are asked to start individual defensive players (IDPs), the game becomes a bit more challenging. You must focus on both sides of the line of scrimmage and all players around the league, not just the customary quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers and tight ends. Everything from draft strategies to waiver claims become complicated.
Using IDPs isn't for everybody but it's becoming increasingly popular. Some leagues have added one or two defenders to their starting lineup requirements as a way to "test" whether or not they should be bigger parts of rosters. Other leagues have already decided that IDPs is more fun and ask owners to use eleven of them -- that's on top of a deep starting lineup.
Picking good IDPs is lot like picking good offensive players: Get guys who are around the ball. Ball-hawking defensive backs and playmakers in the front seven are always desirable Fantasy options because they're racking up stats by making tackles, registering sacks, forcing fumbles, deflecting or intercepting passes and scoring touchdowns. The only exception, and it's a weird one, are stud cornerbacks who don't get thrown at as much.
Like yardage for typical Fantasy players, tackles are the primary stat to use to judge IDPs. Most leagues that use defenders rely on both solo and assisted tackles to give points, with the other defensive stats boosting totals. You might see all tackles count for one point; passes defensed, forced fumbles and recoveries count for two; sacks and interceptions count for three; and touchdowns count for six. Obviously, because a good defender will make anywhere from 90 to 150 total tackles in a season versus a handful of other stats, tackles are king.
We're going to provide you a rank list for IDPs (good through the start of training camp), but a sharp Fantasy owner should always keep an eye on the waiver wire for rising talent. That's the key to success with defenders. Just like offensive players, defenders will come out of nowhere to post big stats and be helpful options to your team. Win the battle of uncovering waiver-wire gems, and you'll be on your way to IDP-league success.
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| Defensive linemen | Linebackers | Defensive backs | |
| 1 | Jared Allen | Patrick Willis | Roman Harper |
| 2 | Jason Pierre-Paul | James Laurinaitis | Tyvon Branch |
| 3 | Kamerion Wimbley | Curtis Lofton | Yeremiah Bell |
| 4 | Julius Peppers | D'Qwell Jackson | Morgan Burnett |
| 5 | Trent Cole | Derrick Johnson | Eric Weddle |
| 6 | Jason Babin | London Fletcher | Charles Woodson |
| 7 | Cameron Wake | DeMarcus Ware | Mark Barron |
| 8 | Justin Smith | Karlos Dansby | Jairus Byrd |
| 9 | Adrian Clayborn | Chad Greenway | Antoine Bethea |
| 10 | Calais Campbell | Sean Weatherspoon | Charles Tillman |
| 11 | Charles Johnson | Pat Angerer | Kam Chancellor |
| 12 | Justin Tuck | Stephen Tulloch | Antrel Rolle |
| 13 | Jeremy Mincey | Brian Cushing | Bernard Pollard |
| 14 | Jabaal Sheard | Sean Lee | Eric Berry |
| 15 | Haloti Ngata | James Harrison | Quintin Mikell |
| 16 | Mario Williams | Desmond Bishop | Dawan Landry |
| 17 | Chris Clemons | NaVorro Bowman | George Wilson |
| 18 | Cliff Avril | James Anderson | Earl Thomas |
| 19 | Ahtyba Rubin | Daryl Washington | Devin McCourty |
| 20 | Elvis Dumervil | Lance Briggs | Dashon Goldson |
| 21 | Kyle Williams | Lawrence Timmons | DeAngelo Hall |
| 22 | Matt Shaughnessy | DeMeco Ryans | Malcolm Jenkins |
| 23 | Shea McClellin | Von Miller | Brandon Flowers |
| 24 | Andre Branch | Brian Urlacher | Tramon Williams |
| 25 | Chris Long | Ray Lewis | Reggie Nelson |
| 26 | Israel Idonije | Donald Butler | Steve Gregory |
| 27 | Osi Umenyiora | David Harris | Joe Haden |
| 28 | John Abraham | Tamba Hali | Brandon Carr |
| 29 | Kyle Vanden Bosch | Akeem Dent | Gerald Sensabaugh |
| 30 | J.J. Watt | Daryl Smith | Kenny Phillips |
| 31 | Ndamukong Suh | Mason Foster | Richard Marshall |
| 32 | Darnell Dockett | Colin McCarthy | Morris Claiborne |
| 33 | Brian Robison | Paul Posluszny | Jason McCourty |
| 34 | Geno Atkins | Luke Kuechly | Darian Stewart |
| 35 | James Hall | Perry Riley | T.J. Ward |
| 36 | Mark Anderson | David Hawthorne | Harrison Smith |
| 37 | Derrick Morgan | Clay Matthews | Ryan Clark |
| 38 | Trevor Scott | Bobby Wagner | Troy Polamalu |
| 39 | Richard Seymour | Jon Beason | Michael Griffin |
| 40 | Marcell Dareus | LaMarr Woodley | Patrick Peterson |
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