Week 15 IDP Rankings for Fantasy Football (2024) - Defense Positional Rankings for LB, DL, DB

As the fantasy playoffs start in full, now is a time to educate those too young to remember a scoring system called “rotisserie." It's a system still used in fantasy baseball and basketball, but some may not know it was once applied to fantasy football. Today, it appears to be a relic largely used in […]

IDP Waiver Wire Pickups and Streamers for Week 15 (2024)

There’ll be scary ghost stories haunting Chiefs opponents. And Jameis Winston making angels out in the snow. And tales of the glories of fantasy playoffs long, long ago. It’s the most wonderful time of the year -- no more byes. There are four weeks to decide NFL playoff berths and fantasy championships. To help you […]

IDP Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em for Week 14 - Streamers, Fades, Matchups for Defensive Players

As we witness the "Super Bowl Hangover" claim another victim in the San Francisco 49ers, an interesting myth is circulating in the media. This myth centers on the idea that San Francisco is not to blame for this problem, that fantasy managers could not have planned for it, and that San Fran's misfortune is a […]

Week 14 IDP Rankings for Fantasy Football (2024) - Defense Positional Rankings for LB, DL, DB

As we have hinted at in several articles this year, the 2024 season seems to be the hardest proof yet that the NFL doesn't care much about fair and balanced scheduling or its fantasy fans. While millions of people watch the NFL primarily for fantasy purposes, the schedule is often bad for us. Worse, it […]

IDP Waiver Wire Pickups and Streamers for Week 14 (2024)

In Week 13, we saw a revenge game for Seattle’s Leonard Williams against the New York Jets; Chargers rookie Tarheeb Still humiliating an old man in Atlanta, as he accounted for two of Kirk Cousins’ four interceptions; and T.J. Watt doing his part to help the Steelers defeat the Bengals, with two sacks and a […]

IDP Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em for Week 13 - Streamers, Fades, Matchups for Defensive Players

Thanksgiving is the most self-explanatory holiday in existence. Its very purpose is in the title. You are giving thanks, hence Thanksgiving. However, there is a small side effect that comes with the smorgasbord of Thursday football gifted to us on our nation’s day of gorging. This side effect has a sneaky impact on the NFL […]

Week 13 IDP Rankings for Fantasy Football (2024) - Defense Positional Rankings for LB, DL, DB

Every NFL season has what you might call a "turning point." By that, we mean there comes a time in the season when you don’t just see which teams are contenders, but which ones check out. Some teams are so lost that their players lose interest, infighting stirs, and the occasional front office will openly […]

IDP Waiver Wire Pickups and Streamers for Week 13 (2024)

Are you one of the fantasy managers who plays in a league whose playoffs begin in Week 13 or Week 14? Did you complain to your manager that teams are on bye in Week 14? Don’t complain. Read this column instead. In Week 12, I had to suffer through sack leader Trey Hendrickson sitting on […]

IDP Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em for Week 12 - Streamers, Fades, Matchups for Defensive Players

Week 12 is one of the more significant bye weeks of the season, with Week 14 its primary rival in terms of volume and fantasy playoff impact. What arguably makes Week 14 worse than this week's bye is that some fantasy leagues still start their playoffs in Week 14, rendering key players unavailable when you […]

Week 12 IDP Rankings for Fantasy Football (2024) - Defense Positional Rankings for LB, DL, DB

Week 12 is an appropriate time for fantasy and NFL general managers to take stock. Is their team a real contender, a pretender, or are you comfortably in the basement? Those in the basement of dynasties may be looking to tank for better picks, while those in redraft leagues may still want to win enough […]

IDP Waiver Wire Pickups and Streamers for Week 12 (2024)

Kwity Paye came up big in the Indianapolis Colts’ comeback win over the New York Jets in Week 11, making seven tackles, two sacks, and forcing a fumble. With their second straight loss, the Jets fell to 3-8, tied for last place in the AFC East and in position to draft a QB. Alas, there […]

IDP Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em for Week 11 - Streamers, Fades, Matchups for Defensive Players

Peer pressure is a severe problem for many fantasy football managers and analysts. No matter how many times I tell myself and others to trust your gut, it's next to impossible not to be swayed by the opinions of people you trust or those who evaluate players full-time. As I've documented, it happened to me […]

Week 11 IDP Rankings for Fantasy Football (2024) - Defense Positional Rankings for LB, DL, DB

At the outset of every season, I warn fantasy fans and rankers alike not to overvalue the preseason strength of schedule rankings. Those ratings rely largely on player and unit performance from the previous year, which is not always consistent. Whether it's player migration, age, coaching changes, or all of the above, you will see […]

IDP Waiver Wire Pickups and Streamers for Week 11 (2024)

The usual names are absent from the leaderboard for sacks. T.J. Watt, who led the league in sacks in two of the past three seasons, is only No. 12 this season. Maxx Crosby is tied with Watt with 6.5 sacks. Nick Bosa is barely hanging onto the top twenty with just 5.5 sacks in 2024. […]

IDP Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em for Week 10 - Streamers, Fades, Matchups for Defensive Players

How should injuries impact IDP rankings? It’s an interesting issue and a harder question to answer for defensive players than it is for offensive ones. You see, the media is far more interested in reporting on high-profile positions like pass-catchers, quarterbacks, and running backs. As a result, it’s far easier to find practice reports and […]

Week 10 IDP Rankings for Fantasy Football (2024) - Defense Positional Rankings for LB, DL, DB

One persistent issue that constantly influences our IDP rankings and streamer advice is, “Are you in a deep or shallow league?” The idea of deep vs. shallow is a concept that routinely impacts our IDP advice. A majority of IDP leagues are not so deep that you’d ever start Stephon Gilmore… but how do we […]

IDP Waiver Wire Pickups and Streamers for Week 10 (2024)

Welcome back RotoBallers to another edition of our IDP waiver wire pickups and streamers. We’ve got a big IDP waiver wire article for Week 10. I have highlighted 21 players at linebacker, defensive lineman, and defensive back who will fill holes on your team over the second half of the season and carry you into […]

IDP Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em for Week 9 - Streamers, Fades, Matchups for Defensive Players

Week 9 is yet another unique bye-week scenario for fantasy managers. Specifically, it creates a tough spot for IDP managers who roster some of the top talent at the DL and LB positions. Despite the NFL only resting two teams this week, we lose significant defensive assets from two of the league’s best squads. On […]

Week 9 IDP Rankings for Fantasy Football (2024) - Defense Positional Rankings for LB, DL, DB

What exactly is a struggling NFL player? Is it a player whose statistics are rough, or is it one whose film leaves you scratching your head? When Brock Purdy leads his receivers too much or misses multiple open receivers but finishes with a win and a QBR of 75.5 … is he struggling? When Josh […]

IDP Waiver Wire Pickups and Streamers for Week 9 (2024)

T.J. Watt showed on Monday Night Football what an individual defensive player (IDP) can do for you. Making seven tackles and two sacks, including a strip sack that killed a late fourth-quarter Giants drive, Watt helped many fantasy managers come from behind to win. I can’t guarantee you’ll get the same kind of production from […]

IDP Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em for Week 8 - Streamers, Fades, Matchups for Defensive Players

Week 8 marks an odd time in the NFL schedule. It is a period after several teams have had their bye weeks, yet it’s a time before many others do. Despite that, Week 8 is the eye of the storm. It’s a rare moment where no NFL team is on bye … for some reason. […]

Week 8 IDP Rankings for Fantasy Football (2024) - Defense Positional Rankings for LB, DL, DB

For those expecting Haason Reddick to immediately return to his former IDP glory now that his contract is resolved, be cautious. Remember, he hasn’t ever practiced with the Jets and hasn’t been conditioning with them, either. These are concerning facts, which are aggravated by the struggles of other players who have held out in recent […]

IDP Waiver Wire Pickups and Streamers for Week 8 (2024)

Fantasy football managers who hate bye weeks, rejoice. There are no teams on bye in Week 8! Still, you must look to the waiver wire to add replacements for injured players and pick up some ascending stars who can help your team. Here are 11 linebackers, defensive linemen, and defensive backs to add for Week […]

IDP Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em for Week 7 - Streamers, Fades, Matchups for Defensive Players

As we state at the beginning of each weekly IDP Rankings article, those rankings are based upon a common scoring format we dub “IDP Standard Scoring.” It's a system geared towards balancing each defensive position equally. LBs and box safeties can profit from tackles, while big play machines can make up the difference with turnovers […]

Week 7 IDP Rankings for Fantasy Football (2024) - Defense Positional Rankings for LB, DL, DB

You cannot overstate the impact of Aidan Hutchinson's injury. Through six games, Hutchinson was fantasy's DL3 in fantasy points per game, but his on-field impact was even greater. He was the hands-down Defensive Player of the Year through six weeks. The former Wolverine leads the NFL in sacks and pass rush win rate, and he […]

IDP Waiver Wire Pickups and Streamers for Week 7 (2024)

Headed into Week 7, fantasy IDP managers are reeling from injuries that occurred this past weekend. Injured defensive stars include Cardinals LB Kyzir White, Falcons S Justin Simmons, Broncos CB Patrick Surtain II, and Commanders DLs Dorance Armstrong and Jonathan Allen. The biggest hit will be to managers starting Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson, who looks […]

IDP Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em for Week 6 - Streamers, Fades, Matchups for Defensive Players

In our IDP Rankings column this week, we considered one factor that can cloud the reading of fantasy rankings. Namely, we addressed how rankings can rob some fans of the nuisances they may need in specific leagues or situations. For example, if you're a team in need of a solid floor, sometimes going with a […]

Week 6 IDP Rankings for Fantasy Football (2024) - Defense Positional Rankings for LB, DL, DB

One thing you must always ask yourself, any time you have a difficult lineup choice, is what you need this week. Is it upside or floor? This concept is discussed ad nauseum on fantasy podcasts and is boilerplate among the well-indoctrinated. That said, it's not always a concept that is clear or obvious when looking […]

2025 NFL Mock Draft Predictions: Still-Too-Early Edition

Hey, fantasy football fans and draft junkies! We're already a month into the 2024 NFL season and you’re here because, like me, you can't get enough of mock drafts. And even though we're months away from locking in a final draft order and nailing down player rankings, it’s the perfect time to get a leg […]

IDP Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em for Week 5 - Streamers, Fades, Matchups for Defensive Players

  "It was so close!" A phrase well-known to sports fans and the fantasy community. It means the inches between a run becoming touchdown or a fumble. It’s the penalty that undoes a game-breaking throw or tackle. It is the 0.01 points that separate your fantasy team from victory or defeat. Sometimes, the close misses […]