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by: Dan Gilles
Did you know that the very first Fantasy Football league ever run drafted
individual defensive players?
It's true. The very first fantasy league, which had its draft way back in
1965, didn't draft a team defense. Check out the story in this year's
Fantasy Football Pro Forecast magazine. So, if it was good enough for the
originators of the game that millions all over the world now play and that
we hold so dear each and every fall, why isn't drafting IDPs good enough for
you?
I don't know where in time that the trend suddenly went from IDPs to the
"team defense" concept. All I know is that when I first got started playing
fantasy football back in 1996, my league was an IDP league -- and rankings
for IDPs were NOWHERE to be found.
Finally, it seems the trend is going away from the team concept and back to
the original formula of IDPs, and I'm all for it. Drafting IDPs adds another
dimension to your draft that you never believed existed. How boring is it to
simply draft "Oakland," when you can take Ray Lewis, or Brian Urlacher, or
Jason Taylor, or Michael Strahan, or any other stud on defense.
If you are in a league that is switching to the IDP format for the first
time, or if you are joining an IDP league for the very first time, here are
a few pointers for you to follow:
1. Don't take a defensive player in the first round. Or, for that matter,
don't take one in the first five rounds. The only way you can get away with
this is if you are in a keeper league, and top-notch offensive guys are
dwindling down pretty quick. However, in a re-draft league, avoid IDPs like
the plague for the first 6-7 rounds. I was in a league where a guy took
Junior Seau with his second overall pick, prompting a lot of snickers and a
draft day story that never gets old. Don't be that guy.
2. A good time to go defense is after you've already got your offensive
starters in place. Also, you may want to lock up at least a backup RB and WR
before you look to the defense. Backup QBs will be there very late, along
with backup TEs and those "sleeper" RBs and WRs that you want to stun
everyone with. Now is the time to snag a Ray Lewis or an Urlacher -- a guy
that is guaranteed points every single week and has the tendency to post
huge games thanks to big tackle numbers and simply being a playmaker.
3. Going defense over your kicker isn't a bad idea. Sure, kicker's score.
But if his name isn't Gramatica, Akers or Janikowski, then why worry?
Kickers are all the same after that, and they will be there late. If the
choice is Brian Urlacher or Adam Vinatieri, I go Urlacher in a heartbeat.
4. Going with the "big names" isn't always your best bet. Charles Woodson is
one of the top-rated cornerbacks in the NFL right now. However, he may not
be a great fantasy football player. Keep in mind that teams tend to throw
away from the stud corners, so the chances of him getting an interception or
a lot of tackles are slim. That's why guys like Woodson are so low-rated on
the IDP board. Most rankings are based on leagues that count points for
tackles. If your league only credits interceptions, fumble recoveries and
sacks, then Woodson could move up on your board.
5. The best position to fill is the linebacker spot. You'll notice that the
first IDPs I always talk about are Urlacher and Lewis. That's because they
are the best. Especially in a league that credits tackles, linebackers are
the guys that post the big tackle numbers. Zach Thomas and London Fletcher
are also guys that will post good numbers. A guy like LaVar Arrington, who
not only posts big tackle numbers but is also a threat to rush the QB, is a
high LB on many draft boards. The best playmakers are at the LB spot, and
getting at least two of them will guarantee you nice points from your 'D.'
6. Avoid defensive tackles and cornerbacks. Defensive tackles (unless your
name is Warren Sapp) have the tendency to simply clog up the holes for the
linebackers and defensive ends to make the plays. They rarely ever rush the
QB. Cornerbacks, traditionally, aren't big tacklers. Unless you get a guy
that makes a lot of interceptions (which is very difficult to predict), stay
away from the CBs. Fill your defensive back position with safeties, and save
the big-name CB as a late round "steal" to store on your bench and use ss
potential trade bait for some sucker who thinks that big names are the best
names.
7. Dual threat players are a plus. Having defensive players that also play
offense doesn't happen very often in this day and age, but it's what made
Deion Sanders a hot commodity a few years ago in the IDP format. Sanders was
a shut-down CB who played a little WR and also ran back kicks, and was a
threat to score every single time he touched the ball. Remember the name
Champ Bailey when it comes to a player like Deion. Having a good corner who
also return kicks (Deltha O'Neal) is nice to have, especially if your
scoring system credits ALL scores for players, no matter on what side of the
ball it is.
8. Fill your offensive positions before you fill your defensive positions.
If you're sitting there in the 16th round needing a backup RB, QB and WR and
also needing backups at your three defensive positions, go back to drafting
offense. The defensive guys at this stage are, like kickers, a dime a dozen.
There may be a potential sleeper out there worth snagging, but chances are
they will be there when you get into the 20th round and lower.
9. Remember the rookies. On offense, rookies don't tend to make an impact
right out of the gate. On defense, however, rookies tend to get playing time
right off the bat. And, because there isn't a lot of scouting done on the
guy at the pro level, these rookies can come in and have great game
immediately. Remember Jevon Kearse's rookie year? How about Brian Urlacher's,
or Julius Pepper's rookie season last year? Keep an eye on guys like Terrell
Suggs, Troy Polamalu, Terance Newman and DeWayne Robertson as your draft
winds down. One of these guys could be a potential stud this year, and a
keeper if your league allows protected players.
10. Have fun with your draft. It's always better to be prepared, but
remember that Fantasy Football is exactly what it is -- not real. It's
Dungeons and Dragons with a ball. Those who take this game too seriously are
the guys who get burned out very quickly. It's always good to be the guy
winning the pot (I've won a few myself, and I'd like to win several more),
but if the money is all that matters to you, then get out now. Regardless of
what format you play in or what scoring system or how many teams you have or
how expensive your league is, if you can't have fun playing fantasy football
while still playing to win, then it's time to take up yardwork on Sunday's.
Well, I hope that these tidbits help you as you prepare for your league's
respective drafts this month. IDPs shouldn't scare you. In fact, embrace the
concept. IDPs mean a longer draft, which means more beer to drink and more
time to spend away from the significant other and with the fellas, shooting
the bull and sharing some laughs. And, what's wrong with that?
Happy Football!
Dan is a professional sportswriter for the Lorain (OH) Morning Journal and
has played in several fantasy football leagues over the past seven years. He
also watches professional wrestling religiously and has a weekly wrestling
column in the paper. Write to him at
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