A common barrier preventing fantasy football gamers from playing in IDP leagues is uncertainty about how to value defensive players relative to the offensive players they already know. Consider this a strategy guide for the optimal approach to drafting IDP leagues, with summarized reasoning and walkthroughs throughout a typical 30-round 2026 draft.

This walkthrough combines consensus average draft position (ADP) from FantasyPros with my own combined IDP rankings. This guide will highlight a path to building the ideal 2026 roster by leveraging the best values in the typical ADP and identifying the best ranges to target specific IDP positions.

Scoring is standard on offense and Big-3 Scoring for IDP.

Roster requirements are as follows:

Be sure to check out our 2026 IDP positional rankings:

DEFENSIVE BACKS | LINEBACKERS | DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

COMBINED IDP RANKINGS | 2026 IDP PROJECTIONS

Rounds 1 - 4

The first important thing to note when drafting a combined offense + IDP roster is that you still typically want to target offense early and often to get a starting lineup together there first, as the stars on offense will be the first to be drafted by the rest of your league. Fantasy drafters are typically more well-versed on the offensive side of the ball, though at the same time, their scoring and projections are often much more stable and trustworthy to bet on, regardless of league scoring.

Personally, I’m looking at running back and/or wide receiver first, to ensure I have at least a few true difference-makers at the top of my draft that I’ll be able to leave locked into lineups every week. When you have this many more positions to consider, an underrated aspect of team-building and management is having those locked-in starters that you don’t have to think about each week.

Through the first four rounds, there’s also typically still many quarterbacks and tight ends to wait on, so getting running back and wide receiver at the top is going to be the general consensus. And for IDP managers who want a true elite difference maker in the EDGE spot, it could make sense (dependent on scoring) to make the end of Round 4 the first real range to look at those elite players, but not mandatory by any means.

Ideal starting lineup through the first four rounds:

• QB: 0-1

• RB: 1-3

• WR: 1-3

• TE: 0-1

• ED: 0-1

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This page combines all defensive positions into one set of 2026 redraft IDP rankings, allowing you to compare linebackers, defensive linemen, and defensive backs through a single lens while identifying positional tiers and draft value pockets. Rankings and tiers will be updated throughout the offseason and preseason as depth charts evolve, injuries occur, and projected usage becomes clearer.

This page is just a full table of combined positional rankings, but to view detailed written analysis and tiers for each IDP position, be sure to check out the articles linked below.

Be sure to check out our 2026 IDP positional rankings:

DEFENSIVE BACKS | LINEBACKERS | DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

Also, check out our 2026 IDP Projections

• Rankings are based on Big 3 Scoring settings, explained here.

• This list assumes true position designations (DT, EDGE LB, CB, S) for players (e.g., outside linebackers are considered “edge defenders” to reflect real NFL value).

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A major key to winning fantasy football leagues is accurate, detailed projections that help identify the true difference-makers and potential regression risks in IDP. These 2026 IDP projections break down expected production across every defensive position, designed with meticulous attention to detail to ensure accuracy and to allow each individual player to have their own unique data attached to those projections.

Knowing how important IDP projections are, and how serious our IDP gamers tend to be, The IDP Show 2026 IDP projections promise to be the most exhaustive and accurate in existence. With nearly 900 IDPs accounted for, each with unique data attached to inform their projections, these rankings include an unprecedented level of detail. This removes any bias that other projections tend to have beyond projected playing time and separates them from actual rankings, which are more personal preference-based.

Below are just some of the key data points built into each IDP’s projection:

• Expected Sacks data

• Past production history

• Built-in natural/realistic regression (positive & negative)

• Team-level scheme data for expected tackle rates

• Alignment/deployment projections based on each team’s projected scheme

• Schedule-based game flow projections for pass vs run splits

• Projections are using Big-3 Scoring settings, which you can find here.

And for rookies, who don’t have past NFL data to pull from, we’re using The IDP Show’s rookie prospect model to pull multiple realistic comparables from there, using those comparables’ combined average data to help project our Year 1 IDPs.

CUSTOM SCORING PROJECTIONS

We’ve also created a custom scoring projections sheet just for you! This sheet will allow you to enter your own league scoring, and the sheet will automatically update snap shares for you, as I do on my end, to keep it up to date.

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The defensive back position is the deepest in all of fantasy football, creating significant year-to-year instability in production, with big plays like interceptions often swaying results. Since interceptions are impossible to predict, it’s up to us as IDP managers to understand and target the production we know is more stable and predictable for IDP. This often means safeties that line up closer to the line of scrimmage and cornerbacks who get most of their work in the slot. If we can nail the base tackle production for these DBs and let the positive variance gods do their thing in allowing big plays to hit on top, that’s all the recipe we need to get a win at the position. These rankings/tiers are designed to help identify who these top targets are, in order to give us as many possible hits at the position without having to worry about spending too much to acquire them in drafts.

Utilizing these tiered rankings will be key to maximizing value throughout your 2026 IDP fantasy drafts this offseason, whether you’re in big-play, balanced, or tackle-heavy scoring formats.

Be sure to check out the other 2026 IDP positional rankings:

LINEBACKERS | DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

Tier 1: Travis Hunter & Friends

Most of these defensive backs will cost more than I’m typically comfortable paying in IDP drafts to acquire; however, I’ve also included some names who could deliver similarly, but won’t cost nearly as much in drafts.

There’s a legitimate argument for Travis Hunter to be in a tier of his own, and technically, he is, because of his unique deployment and cheat-code potential. But for leagues where he doesn’t have a cornerback designation, or isn’t scoring both offensive and defensive points, he’s not going to carry nearly as much value. Obviously, Hunter’s dual usage isn’t guaranteed, and the amount in which he is getting that usage week to week is likely to vary, but in fantasy football, where we should absolutely be targeting upside, capitalizing on production from both sides of the ball with one player that we can potentially plug into a DB starting slot is a risk worth taking. For those who don’t believe in the Lisan Al-Gaib of IDP, I get it, and you can just ignore this ranking and keep moving along. But for those who believe even a little, then don’t hesitate to treat him as your highly-drafted DB1 and let him take you to the promised land.

Kyle Hamilton and Nick Emmanwori are going to be drafted early in IDP drafts; there’s just no way around that. And if you want to acquire the top two best projections for elite safety production as tacklers with big-play ability, then you’re going to have to pay up to get them. The usage, efficiency, and big-play upside for Hamilton and Emmanwori are nearly identical as far as I’m concerned, so order them however you want. Just know the follies of investing too early at a position where others can produce similarly, and it might cost you passing up on more valuable IDPs/positions to be one of the first drafters to target a defensive back.

It’s worth noting that, as inconsistent as the DB position tends to be, Derwin James has regularly bucked that trend as one of the most effective high-end producers every single year. He’s finished no worse than S6 in each of the past five seasons, and he’s done so every year of his career when he’s played more than four games. Again, it’s a level of elite consistency that is truly unique for the position, and it’s why we should appreciate James for the IDP Hall of Famer that he is, and will be when his career is all said and done. He’s still going strong, though, and we can continue to bask in his greatness…as long as we’re willing to pay up for it.

Nick Cross has delivered elite production over the last two seasons, finishing as the overall S3 in 2024 and S1 in 2025, doing so under two different defensive coordinators. Now, heading into 2026, Cross joins a new team and will once again be expected to deliver elite production in a new defensive system. Luckily for Cross, this will be the third consecutive season that he should get one of the league’s more ideal IDP safety deployments within that system. Considering Cross has operated as at least a 90th percentile Tackles versus Expected scorer over the last two seasons, there’s reason to believe he can maintain his elite production stepping into another box-heavy role in Washington.

Budda Baker, Jeremy Chinn, and Quentin Lake are as close to consistent (after Derwin James) as there’s been at the position, with all three players proving to be highly effective when given the opportunity, outside of 2023, which was unkind to all three safeties. Over the past two seasons, and beyond for Baker and Chinn, they’ve been able to deliver top-20 IDP production for the position, either overall or in points per game. While that doesn’t sound like a high bar to set, when we’re looking at a position with such a weak year-to-year correlation in IDP scoring, these three names are about as safe as it gets.

Tykee Smith had a breakout year in 2025, finishing as the overall S2 thanks to elite tackling, evidenced by his 97th percentile finish in Tackles versus Expected, which came from his ideal deployment in Tampa Bay’s defense. Overtaking even Antoine Winfield Jr. as the preferred IDP option on the team, Smith’s projection for 2026 remains elite, and if he can continue to deliver similarly to his 2025, he’ll be a locked-in weekly option for the position.

Chamarri Conner is one of the new names to consider as a plug-and-play IDP safety/DB, coming off a really strong season where he finished as the overall S12. Conner’s usage in Kansas City saw him play mostly in the slot (38%) and box (40%), and while he may not get as much usage in the slot this year, he still projects for heavy usage around the line of scrimmage. Given his solid 76th percentile performance in Tackles versus Expected last year, even with an ideal deployment, I’d fully expect him to return similar value in 2026.

Along with Conner, Kevin Winston Jr. is going to come with the most affordable ADP from Tier 1, making him an ideal target in drafts, and someone that I’d hope readers and subscribers to The IDP Show will end up with a lot of shares. Winston only appeared in 10 games as a rookie, playing a full-time role in just four of them. In those four games, he delivered 29 total tackles, four tackles for loss, three QB hits, a sack, and two pass breakups. This was good for 15.3 points per game in Big 3 scoring, which is obviously a small sample size, but would have been good for DB1 in that regard. We’re getting a new coaching staff in Tennessee, which includes Gus Bradley as defensive coordinator. If you’re familiar with Bradley’s scheme over the years, you’ll know that he has typically deployed a very heavy rate of single-high safety looks, which allows the safety to line up closer to the line of scrimmage and thrive for IDP. Winston is the prime candidate for that usage right now, and considering how encouraging he looked as a rookie, that’s potential that I don’t want to miss out on.

Lastly, Brian Branch is tentatively in this tier until we receive further updates on his recovery from a torn Achilles sustained in December. If Branch is able to start Week 1, then we can expect him to produce how he’s always done, which has been that of a top-five player at his position. If he’s unable to go, then he’ll sadly fall down the ranks, so be sure to check back in for updates.

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The linebacker position typically serves as the backbone of IDP production, ensuring that fantasy managers can get solid floors on a weekly basis, with the potential to find true difference-makers. The position is filled with volume-driven producers, and there’s nothing wrong with that. However, the true advantage lies in identifying high-end impact players who can deliver even more with their opportunities, which often separates a true LB1 candidate from the rest of the pack.

Utilizing these tiered rankings will be key to maximizing value throughout your 2026 IDP fantasy drafts this offseason, whether you’re in big-play, balanced, or tackle-heavy scoring formats.

Be sure to check out the other 2026 IDP positional rankings:

DEFENSIVE BACKS | DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

Tier 1: LB1 Betting Favorites

Everyone is going to have their personal favorites for LB1 this season, and for me, the six linebackers in this first tier have the best shot of getting there, thanks to being proven elite tacklers at the position, and once again set for locked-in every-down roles in 2026.

Starting with the obvious names at the top, Jack Campbell and Carson Schwesinger, however you want to order them heading into this season, much like with the dynasty rankings, you can’t really go wrong. Both players put up dominant numbers in Tackles versus Expected in 2025, resulting in top-five IDP finishes for the position. Campbell finally got a full-time role this past season, and after showing the LB1 IDP potential of what he could be in small doses in previous seasons, he finally had the chance to deliver on that, with the expectation that he’ll continue to do so this season and beyond.

Schwesinger wasted no time in delivering on his IDP potential, immediately hitting the ground running as a rookie, finishing 94th percentile in Tackles versus Expected, LB5 for IDP, and the eventual Defensive Rookie of the Year. Heading into Year 2, expectations are significantly higher for Schwesinger, as evidenced by this ranking, but given his talent, IDP managers shouldn’t have any major concerns about him failing to return LB1 value.

Roquan Smith is the only linebacker to not finish below the 90th percentile in Tackles versus Expected every year since 2021. He is the poster boy for consistency at the linebacker position, and as safe a bet for an LB1 finish as you can find heading into 2026. Smith missed a couple of games in 2025, which kept him from reaching that LB1 mark, but, like every player, injuries are unavoidable. If we’re projecting an ideal world with no missed time, I’m not betting against Smith delivering top-12 production once again.

Speaking of an ideal world where players won’t miss time…getting a full season of Blake Cashman for IDP would be fantastic. Unfortunately, Cashman has missed a minimum of three games during the fantasy season in each of the past three years since he’s taken on a starting role. What’s frustrating about that missed time, specifically over the last two seasons in Minnesota, is that Cashman has been LB5 and LB6 in points per game in 2024 and 2025, respectively. I’m hitching my horse to a wagon with a wobbly wheel, but I have confidence that said wheel will keep us rolling for at least one more season.

Jordyn Brooks is nearly impossible to keep out of this tier after the 2025 season he just had, finishing as the overall LB1 for IDP by a comfortable margin, and dominating the Tackles versus Expected metric once again. Even with some expected regression in a new defensive scheme, and assuming he’s still on the team this season in the final year of his contract, it’s difficult to imagine anything less than a top-12 finish for the former first-round pick. Brooks will more than likely get drafted anywhere in this top-six linebacker range, and regardless of where you take him, he remains a strong bet to make heading into 2026.

Lastly, Nick Bolton is coming off a resurgent 2025 season where he seemingly returned to his Year 1 and Year 2 form, and after a couple of quieter seasons in a row, my confidence in Bolton as an LB1 has been renewed. This is, after all, a player who, outside of one year (2024), has finished no worse than 85th percentile in Tackles versus Expected, with two of those years resulting in 99th percentile marks, and last year finishing 93rd percentile. The evidence around Bolton as an elite tackler is strong, and it helped him finish as the overall LB6 in 2025. A similar outlook for 2026 is well within his range of possibilities.

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The defensive line position tends to be one of the biggest difference-makers in IDP fantasy football, with sack production often separating the championship contenders from the rest of the field. Heading into the 2026 season, we’ll look to identify the elite pass rushers, the strong tackle floors, and the potential sleepers and breakout candidates who could end up being the best values in redraft leagues.

Utilizing these tiered rankings will be key to maximizing value throughout your 2026 IDP fantasy drafts this offseason, whether you’re in big-play, balanced, or tackle-heavy scoring formats.

Be sure to check out the other 2026 IDP positional rankings:

DEFENSIVE BACKS | LINEBACKERS

Tier 1: The Sinister Six

The elite edge defenders are very familiar faces to IDP managers, and regardless of which one you choose to join your squad, there’s plenty of reason to believe that they will continue to produce at that expected elite level.

Myles Garrett is going to be the clear favorite to be drafted as IDP1 this season after breaking the NFL sack record in 2025 and pacing the rest of the competition in IDP scoring as a result. And after just getting traded to the Los Angeles Rams(!), it’s getting increasingly more difficult to argue his spot at the top of the ranks. Considering the elite pass rusher that Garrett has been for his entire NFL career, showing no real signs of slowing down, and now joining a better defensive line to create more disruption, with a better secondary to allow more time to get to the passer, and just a better overall team to get a shot to rush the passer more, another 20-plus-sack season is within his range of outcomes again. Originally, when I published these rankings while Garrett was still on the Browns, I had him as ED3, trying to be realistic about his outcome this year, but for all the reasons I laid out, joining the Rams makes him that much more dangerous as a pass rusher.

Aidan Hutchinson gets the nod as ED2 for me this year as a pass rusher still in his prime and now two years removed from a gruesome leg injury that cost him most of the 2024 season. In his first year back from injury in 2025, Hutchinson showed no noticeable signs of decline, earning top-five grades from PFF both overall (91.8) and as a pass rusher (92.1). This resulted in him leading his position in defensive snaps (1,005), finishing as a top-6 IDP, and regaining his place atop the Expected Sacks leaderboard for the year. Improved health and positive regression as a tackler alone should be enough to catapult Hutchinson into a top scorer for his position once again this year, and considering where he’s at in his career, there’s even room to grow in the sack column as well.

Much like with the dynasty rankings, Will Anderson Jr. and Hutchinson are neck and neck near the top, with very little separating the two. I’d have no quarrels about IDP managers choosing Anderson over Hutchinson, since I don’t think you can go wrong with either in this situation. Both are coming off ED1 seasons, are guaranteed high-end playing time, and have proven to be among the best pass rushers in the NFL, creating elite ceilings for both. Helping Anderson’s case is that he proved to be a better tackler than Hutchinson in 2025, earning a 97th percentile mark in Tackles versus Expected (+11.8), showing he could do more with his opportunities to create a potentially better production floor.

I can pretty much guarantee that Nick Bosa will be drafted later than his current ED4 ranking, largely because he is coming off another ACL injury that cost him all but two full games in 2025. And what a glorious two full games they were, as he averaged top-five IDP production for his position, but alas, it was short-lived. With essentially a full year to recover, Bosa is on track to return in time for training camp and ideally pick up where he left off. Now, there’s going to be some injury-tendency baked into his ADP, and potentially his production at the start of the year, but Bosa has been one of the more resilient players in his career, typically proving more than capable of bouncing back without missing a step. That’ll be the hope here for an elite pass rusher and really strong tackler at the position, where IDP managers may end up getting him at a value with his current ADP sitting at ED7.

Speaking of elite producers, Maxx Crosby has been an IDP machine in recent years, delivering top-tier sack production and high-end tackle numbers. While he’s been a little more banged up as of late, you can all but guarantee that when he’s active on gameday, we’re looking at 95-plus percent of defensive snaps to work with. Even with a slight dip in pass-rushing metrics over the past two seasons, he’s still a top threat to get to the passer, and combined with unprecedented playing time for the position, he’ll be locked into this top tier for at least another season.

Lastly, T.J. Watt rounds out the rest of Tier 1, and much like Crosby, we have seen a dip in underlying pass-rush metrics for Watt over these past couple of seasons, most notably delivering just a 75.5 pass-rush grade in 2025, which ranked outside the top-25 at his position, and far from his norm. However, like Crosby, Watt hasn’t stopped delivering elite IDP production when he’s on the field. In 2025, despite missing three games, he averaged 14.3 points per game — good for ED6 in that regard. If Watt is healthy, he has just as high a ceiling as any player in this tier, and when we’re looking for that upside to win fantasy championships, Watt remains in the conversation for another year.

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We’re almost in June, and drafts are starting. We’re beginning to see some interesting ADP and how drafters are valuing defenders this year.

There were a few double-takes that made me raise my eyebrow like The Rock.

In this first pass of ADP, here’s who I think is being over-valued and under-valued as we head into the summer.

Overvalued

ED T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers

• ADP: 6.0 (ED5)

I will not have any Watt this season, and I think the decline is beginning. He’s dealt with various injuries over the last few seasons. While he played all 17 games in 2023-24, he missed three last season, and, most importantly, his pressure metrics have been declining.

He’s two years removed from generating a 15.6% pressure in 2023, but over his last two seasons, he’s barely registered 10%. Over the last two, he’s produced a 9.7% pressure rate; however, he’s still converting at 17%. But as pressure eases, the pressure-to-sack conversion is tough to sustain; it dipped to 15.3% in 2025.

His win rate has also dipped below elite; last year, he posted a 15.7% win rate despite a 0.87-second pass-rush burst.

I’m not buying Watt at a top-5 EDGE price with all these red flags waving in my face.

ED Abdul Carter, New York Giants

• ADP: 12.8 (ED10)

All of you are ready to crown Abdul Carter as a top-10 EDGE, and while I’m here for a potential breakout year, I’m not ready to pay a premium.

Carter’s pressure rate was just below the elite level at 13%; however, he really picked up momentum and burst through the rookie wall, generating a 19.7% pressure rate over the last 5 games while producing a 12.5% conversion rate. I mean, he did produce 3.5 sacks over those five weeks of the season, so his owners certainly aren’t complaining.

However, you’re drafting Carter among the elite, and I get it, you’re buying the upside and ceiling. Not sure I’m ready to crown him and take him over someone like Danielle Hunter (same ADP) or Jared Verse.

His underlying metrics and 84.5 PFF pass rush grade certainly indicate a breakout on the horizon, but I'm not sure I’m going to pay the price.

ED Andrew Van Ginkel, Minnesota Vikings

• ADP: 19.0 (ED15)

Andrew Van Ginkel is coming off his first injury-plagued season and missed five games, which led to his lowest pass rush snaps since 2022 (173).

Van Ginkel’s production and fantasy points have been boosted from big plays, which, for me, are unsustainable to rely on. In 2024, Van Ginkel had two interceptions, both of which were returned for scores. He finished with a 5.4% big play rate. Last season, before injury, he was 6.5%, thanks to a career-high 10 defended passes.

I also think his pressure-to-sack conversion rate is due for regression. Over the last two seasons, he’s converted 17.5% of his pressures to sacks.

I’ll wait a few picks for Dallas Turner, or even another round for Laiatu Latu.

ED Micah Parsons, Green Bay Packers (ADP 8.3; EDGE8)

• ADP: 8.3 (ED8)

I love Micah Parsons and everything he brings to a defense. But how many games will that be in 2026?

Word around the Green Bay locker room is that he could land on the PUP list ahead of training camp, and it’s expected that he could miss the start of the season.

Parsons tore his ACL in mid-December, so these late-season ACL injuries are usually no bueno, no matter how hard someone works in their rehab. Parsons had the surgery a few weeks after he suffered the injury.

I don’t want my DL1 to miss any games, let alone a quarter of the season. There’s no doubt his metrics are elite, but how much rust will there be once he returns?

I can’t go Parsons over someone like Nik Bonitto or Jared Verse.

LB Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers

• ADP: 19.6 (LB3)

I love Fred Warner and everything he does on defense. He’s one of the best off-ball linebackers in the NFL, and his absence was noticeable.

From a fantasy standpoint, he’s finished among the top-10 twice in the last four seasons, but has never finished among the elite (top-3). Now, he was on his way to one of his better fantasy seasons as he was the LB6 through the first five weeks.

He has been a consistent tackler, producing 130+ tackles over four straight seasons until last season, with a career tackle rate of 12.9%.

He’s coming off a severe leg injury, and even though he was ready to go in the playoffs, we’ll still need to see how he responds once the season starts. He’s being drafted among the top 20 IDPs and is the LB3. I love Warner, and if I miss out on him at that price, I’m good with Blake Cashman, Roquan Smith, or Nick Bolton as my LB1.

Undervalued

ED Jaelan Phillips, Carolina Panthers

• ADP: 40.2 (ED21)

The Panthers are building a strong front four. They added Jaelan Phillips to go along with up-and-comer Nic Scourton and Derrick Brown.

Phillips’ pressure metrics with both Miami and Philadelphia were elite, generating a 17.7% pressure rate and 24.8% win rate between the two stops. The pressure-to-sack conversion wasn’t great (6.6%), but he’s due for some positive regression in that category.

Vic Fangio’s scheme allowed him to generate pressure; he just didn’t finish. Phillips should benefit from simulated pressure and more one-on-ones, and he himself said he needs to work on finishing, turning disruption into production.

I think Phillips has double-digit sack upside and is a strong value as the EDGE21.

LB Patrick Queen, Pittsburgh Steelers

• ADP: 86.0 (LB37)

Call me crazy, but I think Patrick Queen is in for a career year in tackles.

After seeing what Patrick Graham’s defense did for Devin White last season, that’s now the same scheme Queen operates in. Queen and White are similar off-ball LBs; they struggle in coverage and run defense but will benefit from volume.

Graham’s scheme will create holes and gaps for his linebackers to attack and make tackles. Here’s one such play from last season on a tackle made by Devin White:

White also finished with his highest TFL output since 2020 with 11. Queen’s career-high in tackles is 133 in 2023, and I think that’s achievable. I’m higher on Queen, I’d imagine, than the consensus, as I have him as my LB12. He has a career 11.3% tackle rate, but if he can nudge that up to 12%-13%, he’ll achieve those tackle numbers.

S Chamarri Conner, Kansas City Chiefs

• ADP: 171.1 (S29)

Apparently, 2026 IDP drafters have no confidence in Chamarri Conner.

I don’t think his production was a fluke, and over 50% of his tackle production came from the line of scrimmage. Conner played 83% of his snaps near the line and had a 40% box rate.

Conner was an efficient tackler, and even if his deep tackles decline, he’s in a position to make tackles from anywhere on the field, evidenced by his 11.4% tackle rate. An elite number for a defensive back.

Now, would more big plays help strengthen the argument? Sure. His big play rate was just 1.6%.

That being said, Conner finished as the DB15 in Big-3 scoring, and he’s currently being drafted as the DB29. I don’t anticipate Conner’s role and usage changing, so if I can get him as a DB3/4, and he can return DB2 value, sign me up for that.

ED Greg Rousseau, Buffalo Bills

• ADP: 53.1 (ED26)

I think Gregory Rousseau is going to thrive in Jim Leonhard’s defense.

Leonhard is emphasizing aggressiveness up front and making an impact in the opposition’s backfield.

Rousseau has the length and versatility to excel in the scheme, as he can play with his hand in the dirt or stand up in their base. He might be asked to drop into coverage occasionally; his primary responsibility will be to get to the QB. Rousseau revealed he played through injuries, including a knee issue in 2025.

It still didn’t hinder him from finishing as their best defensive player, and he was a force over the last three weeks of the regular season and playoffs, generating a 19.9% pressure rate with 9 QB hits and 5 sacks. He also produced a 22.6% win rate. He seemed to play better as he got healthier.

He’ll need to improve his 11.1% pressure-to-sack rate, and he was a step or two away from a sack, as he had 18 QB hits. Hopefully, he’ll improve his finishing off his pressures.

I like the value I’m getting at his current ADP.

ED Chop Robinson, Miami Dolphins

• ADP: 77.5 (ED36)

I’m buying the dip on Chop Robinson. He’s not as bad as he was in 2025, and I think a combination of injuries and scheme might have hindered him a bit.

The Dolphins released Bradley Chubb in March, and they’re sending a strong message: they believe he’s the guy from his rookie year.

Robinson generated a 16.3% pressure rate and 23.8% win rate as a rookie, so it was quite a disappointment when those numbers fell off a cliff, finishing with a 7.9% pressure rate. However, 68% of his total pressures came from Week 8 onward, improving his pressure rate to 8.8%, including 11.8% in true pass sets, eliminating throwaways, play action, and quick throws.

I think Sean Duggan is going to scheme pressure for him from a wide alignment as a speed rusher. The scheme should create open rush lanes and isolate him one-on-one with the tackles.

I like the value here, as you’re getting a potential DL2 at a DL4/5 price.

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Staying ahead of value is key in dynasty. Redrafters adjust draft boards based on one-year projections, but dynasty managers must be constantly thinking ahead, cashing out on assets just before they decline in value, and buying in before the boom. While even the best dynasty managers miss (often) when buying and selling - dynasty is indeed a fickle friend - it’s tough to build a contender with draft selections alone.

The point of this piece is to help identify some IDPs who aren’t valued by dynasty managers where they should be, whether that’s due to perception, coaching and scheme changes, or situational factors.

First, a few notes on this article:

• The IDP content streets are jammed with rookie prognostications, so I’m avoiding anyone who hasn’t yet played an NFL snap.

• There’s no need for me to write about the likes of Vikings EDGE Dallas Turner and Jaguars linebacker Ventrell Miller. The off-season winners have been well defined and written about.

• I’ve noted statistical sources except for alignment data, which is from Pro Football Focus (PFF).

Comeback Kids

Don your rally caps: These IDPs once had decent dynasty value. Now they’re making a comeback.

DT Christian Barmore, New England Patriots

It’s fair to wonder what Barmore is doing on this list. He was, after all, the first defensive tackle taken in the 2021 NFL Draft, and after an 8.5-sack, 64-tackle season in 2023, New England rewarded him with a massive four-year extension. But he played just 123 defensive snaps over four games in ‘24 due to a blood clot scare, and his dynasty stock plummeted with his playing career in jeopardy. So even though he was overshadowed last season by Milton Williams, 2025 was big for Barmore, given he played in all 17 games and saw his snap share return to a near-career high of 65 percent. What wasn’t big was his fantasy production, and he was well out of starting consideration with just two sacks and 29 total tackles.

The surface-level numbers don’t tell the story, though, and mask a season in which Barmore set a career high in regular-season pressures (per PFF) with 50. And according to Next Gen Stats, he finished tied for fourth among defensive tackles in total quick pressures (generating a pressure in less than three seconds), and his pressure rate was third overall among defensive tackles, behind just Jeffery Simmons and Ed Oliver (who played just 108 snaps). Entering his age-27 season, Barmore has prime years remaining. Provided his sack numbers come in line with his pressures and the low tackle total rebounds to a more respectable number (45-50 range), we’re looking at a low-end DT1 or high-end DT2, and an asset that is once again on the ascent.

LB Divine Deablo, Atlanta Falcons

Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich heaped praise last off-season on Deablo, who Atlanta brought in to be the centerpiece of the defense. He did miss four games with a broken forearm, but even when healthy, Deablo was nothing more than an LB4, with just 73 combined tackles over 750 snaps. Still, there’s good reason to remain bullish on Deablo’s chances of returning to or exceeding his previous peak value, which occurred after a 2023 season - the only one in which he logged a triple-digit tackle total. As for those pluses, Atlanta bulked up a little up front with the Da’Shawn Hand and Maason Smith additions, and the bigger bodies should better help keep the second-level defenders free to make plays on the ball. There’s also less experienced competition for full-time snaps at off-ball, with Kaden Elliss heading back to division rival New Orleans. The Falcons only invested one-year deals in Christian Harris and Channing Tindall on the free agent market, and Day 3 selections on Kendal Daniels (fourth round) and Harold Perkins Jr. (sixth).

Value according to the IDP Show trade calculator is on par with nondescript edge rushers like Josh Sweat and Carl Granderson, safety Quentin Lake, and linebacker Quincy Williams. Diablo’s weirdly low 2025 tackle total aside, it would be a surprise if he didn’t surpass his previous career high in tackles. He’s just 28, and solid in all areas. A big year would likely result in an extension or starter’s contract on the open market.

S Tyler Nubin, New York Giants

Nubin was the highest regarded (and drafted) safety from the 2024 rookie class, typically coming off the board in the mid-third to early fourth rounds in 14- and 16-team leagues after the New York Giants selected him in the second round. And after a solid showing as an S3 (98 combined tackles over 790 snaps in 13 games), Nubin typically made his way into the top 10 of dynasty safety rankings. Like all things Big Blue, it fell apart in 2025.

My optimism for a Nubin rebound comes from a couple of places, most notably on the defensive coaching staff front. Shane Bowen and interim Charlie Bullen are gone, and in is former Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson, whose background is coaching defensive backs (with the New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, and Baltimore Ravens before he landed the Titans’ coordinator job). If Wilson can help refine Nubin’s tackling technique and play into his strengths as an instinctual in-the-box playmaker, might he be able to develop him into Jamal Adams Lite? That might be a long shot, but I still think the change is a very good one for Nubin.

Per Wilson’s tendencies in Tennessee, I’d expect the Giants to lean more heavily into split safety looks. In 2025, per Sharp Football Analysis, the Giants played middle field closed (single high) at the fifth-highest rate in the league at 58.3 percent, while the Titans played it at a rate closer to the league average at 46.5 percent. New York also rotated its top three safeties into the post, and despite the interception production in college, that’s not putting Nubin in a position to play to his strengths.

Also on the personnel side, the trio of Nubin, Dane Belton, and Jevon Holland was a bit repetitive from a player strengths perspective. Belton is a better tackler than Nubin, but they’re both limited and better in split-field and box roles. Replacing Belton with John Harbaugh’s favorite Ar’Darius Washington creates a better dynamic for Nubin, with Washington and Holland more capable of handling deep field or slot duties. The end result is, hopefully, a higher percentage of box snaps for Nubin and a higher tackle total. The trade calculator equates his value right now to a mid-fourth round rookie pick, and that seems fair, although I’d try for less if you’re looking for upside in your third safety spot.

On the Cusp

The time is very near for these IDPs to see a significant increase in value.

ED Nick Herbig, Pittsburgh Steelers

Herbig is one of the more obvious selections for this list, and as such, he won’t necessarily come at a discount if you’re looking to make a move in fantasy. But I’d be remiss not to mention him, given he’s a season away from free agency, and he’s been nails as a third EDGE/injury fill-in over the past two seasons. A fourth-round pick, Herbig had size concerns at 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds, and was reportedly viewed by several teams as a future off-ball. With 13 sacks on 73 pressures (per PFF) over 1,025 snaps over the past two seasons, Herbig is now established as a legitimate threat off the edge, and is going to likely bag a contract in the range of $15 million per season - a figure likely out of Pittsburgh’s price range given the money invested in TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith over the next two seasons. So, assuming he hits the free agent streets, he’ll see a value bump as dynasty managers will consider him to have a more consistent floor as an every-week starter.

DT Osa Odighizuwa, San Francisco 49ers

Odighizuwa is no stranger to the DT-premium community, having been a consistent yet unspectacular DT3/DT4 since his second season in 2022. In his past four years with the Cowboys, you could pretty much count on three to four sacks and 45 combined tackles - and nothing more. So why should we expect anything different heading into year six and his age-28 season?

A new home is the easy answer, as Odighizuwa isn’t anything like San Francisco’s top returnees, rising second-year tackles Alfred Collins and CJ West. The Niners didn’t get any juice out of their primary tackles in 2025, with Collins, Kalia Davis, Jordan Elliott, and West reaching a rather pitiful 47 pressures over the group’s combined 1,725 snaps. Acquired for a third-round pick, Odighizuwa has talked (on Richard Sherman’s podcast) about the 49ers varying up his techniques and rushes to reduce predictability. Considering Bryce Huff’s retirement and Nick Bosa’s recovery from a torn ACL (his third, and second in his right knee), new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris should be prioritizing pass rush from anywhere on the line, meaning a snap share close to 80 percent could be on tap for Odighizuwa this season.

LB Payton Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers

I’ll admit it’s entirely possible I’m just being stubborn with Wilson, but I truly believe it’s time to pounce in leagues I’m without. The cases to be made against the rising third-year off-ball are simple: He hasn’t been able to hold down a full-time job, he’s already 26, he has a lengthy injury history, and reportedly no longer has an ACL in his right knee. While the ACL diagnosis has never been substantiated - nor totally denied - Wilson has said he hasn’t had any issues with the knee since 2018. And it’s not unprecedented for NFL players to have long careers without the ligament; Steelers great Hines Ward played 14 years without one in his left knee, and when he found out he didn’t have it, he joked, “Good, I can’t tear it.”

The most concerning of those concerns is Wilson’s failure to stay on the field for three downs due to run-down deficiencies. Last season, from Weeks 1 through 17, Wilson’s snap share ranged from 87.5 percent to 40 percent. Yet despite the 63 percent snap share (732 snaps) on the year, he amassed 126 combined tackles - good for 18th among all defenders. And, he’s a good coverage linebacker. Guess who is not? Patrick Queen. In fact, in two seasons as the Steelers’ full-time off-ball, Queen really hasn’t been good at anything. Mike Tomlin and Teryl Austin are no longer in Pittsburgh, and there’s room for Wilson to play a larger role in Patrick Graham’s system. Even if it’s not as the No. 1 off-ball, a more consistent 75 percent to 80 percent role - similar to what Divine Deablo saw next to Robert Spillane on Graham’s ‘23 and ‘24 Las Vegas Raiders squads - would be beneficial for Wilson’s fantasy consistency, and provide a higher tackle ceiling.

Further, Queen is scheduled to hit free agency next offseason, and given Pittsburgh’s volume of visits with rookie off-balls (though the Steelers didn’t draft one), I don’t see Queen returning. That would put Wilson in the driver’s seat in 2027 with an opportunity to cement a new contract and his place as the defensive signal-caller for a few seasons.

The trade calculator lists Wilson’s value at the turn from the second round to the third (2026 or 2027), and I’d hop on those offers.

S Kevin Winston Jr., Tennessee Titans

The 2025 third-round pick is set to assume a full-time role as the second safety next to Amani Hooker. Winston saw time over the slot (116 snaps), in the box (62 snaps), and at free safety (116 snaps) as a rookie, and figures to again see a versatile role with a high snap ceiling now that veterans Xavier Woods and Quandre Diggs are officially done. Former Jet Tony Adams figures to come on in big nickel looks, but provided his health holds up, Winston shouldn’t come off the field.

I Want to Believe

I really like these IDPs enough to buy into them, but I recognize the decent chance they won’t become regular starters for my squads.

ED Jalyx Hunt, Philadelphia Eagles

Hunt enjoyed a breakout second season with 6.5 sacks on 55 pressures (per PFF), and a healthy 17.3 percent pressure rate, per Next Gen Stats (for reference, Micah Parsons and Nik Bonitto are just above 20 percent). A converted safety with an outside linebacker frame at 6-foot-3 and 252 pounds, Hunt has a high ceiling from a development perspective but will have to overcome a snap ceiling with Jonathan Greenard in town as the No. 1 EDGE, and Nolan Smith still around as a superior run defender. Hunt is currently just inside my personal top 100 dynasty assets, and would rocket into the top 50 if his pressure and sack numbers improve by 20 percent in Year 3.

ED Josaiah Stewart, Los Angeles Rams

Granted, the Rams will slide tackles Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske out to the edge to absorb snaps, but Stewart somewhat surprisingly remains the unchallenged No. 3 EDGE for the NFC’s Los Angeles team. And, there’s a clear path at the moment to starting duties in 2027, assuming the Rams decide to let Byron Young test the green waters of free agency.

I’d anticipate Young to indeed become one of the higher-paid edge rushers next off-season, and I don’t see the Rams playing Huckleberry in contract negotiations, given Turner and Puka Nacua are likely to be higher priorities. Stewart, for his part, showed well enough as a rookie (three sacks on 21 pressures - per PFF - over 374 defensive snaps) to think he may be able to transition to a starter’s level snap share.

LB Nickolas Martin, San Francisco 49ers

There wasn’t much to Martin’s rookie season, given he played defensive snaps in just two games (15 total, and 14 in one of those games) before suffering a nasty concussion in Week 13. If you include the special teams statistics, he logged 11 combined tackles. So why keep the light on for the 2025 third-rounder? While the Niners brought back Dre Greenlaw to man the weakside off-ball spot next to Fred Warner, they jettisoned Dee Winters during the draft in a trade with Dallas. That removed a potential long-term impediment.

The older Greenlaw (29) is playing on a one-year deal after bombing in Denver, so it’s not inconceivable that Martin could be in line for starter snaps in 2027 should he impress when given the opportunity in 2026. And San Francisco does a great job of developing linebackers, from Warner to Greenlaw to Winters to Tatum Bethune.

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We have completed 17 IDP-ONLY best ball drafts in 2026, including six drafts since the NFL Draft concluded. I’ll continue to crank out drafts throughout the summer as we gear up for…IDP MADNESS!!!!

That’s right, the much-loved and often asked about IDP best ball tournament is coming back this summer! Watch for announcements of individual drafts and the IDP Madness tournament in the Best Ball channel in the IDP Show Substack chat, the Best Ball channel in the paid subscriber Discord, or on Twitter by following @ericharmsff.

Rookie fever is in FULL SWING, so let’s look at where the rookies have been going in our IDP-only best balls on Sleeper. I’m going to order these by where they were drafted since the NFL draft and discuss them in small groups.

Be sure to check out the results from all of our Best Ball Tournaments using our Best Ball ADP tool here.

The IDP Show Best Ball ADP

The Top Linebackers

LB Sonny Styles, Washington Commanders

• ADP Overall: 47.3

• ADP Rank Overall: 46

• ADP since the draft: 36.8

• ADP Rank since the draft: 37

LB Arvell Reese, New York Giants

• ADP Overall: 57.3

• ADP Rank Overall: 54

• ADP since the draft: 59.2

• ADP Rank since the draft: 55

I love Styles and have him and Reese neck and neck in dynasty leagues, but I would take Reese first in redraft leagues this year. A lot of that is due to Reese having no competition for snaps in New York, while we don’t know for sure how the snaps will play out in Washington with Leo Chenal and Frankie Luvu also there. The ADP for both Luvu and Chenal has gone down since Styles was drafted, and I don’t know that any of them get 100% of snaps consistently throughout the season.

Styles is going before Foyesade Oluokun, Nate Landman, Montez Sweat, Jaelan Phillips, Devin Lloyd, and Kaden Elliss. He shouldn’t be. I like Reese’s potential for tackles as an off-ball linebacker and for big plays when they blitz him. I’m viewing this year as a Zach Baun-lite sort of season. I don’t think this is too far off for Reese.

An Ideal Opportunity Linebacker

LB C.J. Allen, Indianapolis Colts

• ADP Overall: 133.2

• ADP Rank Overall: 130

• ADP Since the draft: 65.7

• ADP Rank since the draft: 61

Allen is going to get his own write-up. Just look at the way he rocketed up draft boards after being taken in Round 2 by the Indianapolis Colts. Much of this is due to the absolute barren wasteland that is the Colts’ linebacker group, which includes Akeem Davis-Gaither, Jaylon Carlies, and fellow rookie Bryce Boettcher.

Davis-Gaither has experience in defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo’s defense, but he has always just been a serviceable player. It’s well documented that Allen has a ton of experience not only as the green dot in Georgia but also in calling the plays. However, because of his experience, I think Davis-Gaither starts the year as the green dot for the Colts, potentially limiting Allen’s snaps somewhat to start the year. I don’t know how long that lasts, and I believe there is a chance Allen takes it over later in the year.

Allen is being drafted a little too early for my taste, partially because I’m not sure of his role to start the year, and partially because I think there are linebackers still available that are just better. I would take Eric Wilson, Robert Spillane, and Payton Wilson over him.

The Top Edge Defenders

ED Rueben Bain Jr., Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• ADP Overall: 89.4

• ADP Rank Overall: 87

• ADP Since the draft: 65.8

• ADP Rank since the draft: 62

ED David Bailey, New York Jets

• ADP Overall: 89.7

• ADP Rank Overall: 88

• ADP Since the draft: 69.8

• ADP Rank since the draft: 68

These two EDGEs have been linked since before the NFL draft, when there was a lot of talk of who would go first. In the end, Bain fell down the draft board on draft day, likely due to his short arms. He has the third-shortest arms for an EDGE in the last 25 years. The other two are Nate Williams and fellow rookie Cashius Howell. However, Bain is very effective at using his strength and hands to avoid getting locked up in blocks. There is a chance he is the outlier of outliers.

Bain was also very effective in run defense, especially given how Miami used him. It was often just Bain and Keionte Scott on one side of the line, daring teams to run that way. Bain doesn’t have a lot of competition for snaps, so he will get his shot to prove the doubters wrong.

Bailey and Will McDonald likely start over Joseph Ossai, Kingsley Enagbare, and others. Bailey is an elite pass rusher who hasn’t been as good as Bain against the run, so I think his weekly floor is lower than Bain’s, but both should have boom weeks when they get sacks. Because of that, I like that Bain is going before Bailey. However, neither should be drafted over more proven players like Robert Spillane, Payton Wilson, Demario Davis, Yaya Diaby, George Karlaftis, and Leonard Williams.

The Top Safeties

S Caleb Downs, Dallas Cowboys

• ADP Overall: 108.9

• ADP Rank Overall: 107

• ADP Since the draft: 88.3

• ADP Rank since the draft: 85

S Dillon Thieneman, Chicago Bears

• ADP Overall: 145.9

• ADP Rank Overall: 143

• ADP Since the draft: 117

• ADP Rank since the draft: 115

Downs and Thieneman were both taken in the first round of the NFL draft. Safeties to be taken in the first round of the last ten years were Kyle Hamilton, Dax Hill, Darnell Savage, Johnathan Abraham, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Derwin James, Jamal Adams, Malik Hooker, and Jabril Peppers. That’s a pretty darn good list.

So far, the Cowboys say Downs will play in a nickel role. I assume they will move him around the field when not playing there. He is just too good to take off the field. Getting all of those snaps close to the line of scrimmage is going to be great for his fantasy football value. Picking him in the eighth round may be a little early, especially if you subscribe to the late-round DB principle. However, there are limited bench spots in these best balls, and I don’t hate drafting Downs here. I would still take Budda Baker over him, though, and with other defensive backs available much later in the draft, I’d personally still rather draft the likes of Jonathon Cooper, Odafe Oweh, and Boye Mafe.

Chicago was a fantastic spot for Thieneman to land, especially with Coby Bryant being the other safety there. Bryant has played mostly deep the past two years after playing slot corner in his first two seasons. So, it appears Thieneman will get a role closer to the line of scrimmage, and I love that! If I could only draft one, I would prefer to wait for Thieneman, thirty picks later, rather than draft Downs. However, there are still very good defensive backs on the board who go in the next 10 picks after Thieneman, so I have yet to draft him in a best ball. Those players include Kamren Curl, Marcus Jones, Antoine Winfield, and Devon Witherspoon. Plus, if you still need DL help, Jalyx Hunt and Jermaine Johnson go in the at range too, and Johnson is designated as DL/LB.

Round 2 Linebackers

LB Josiah Trotter, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• ADP Overall: 163.8

• ADP Rank Overall: 162

• ADP Since the draft: 128

• ADP Rank since the draft: 128

LB Anthony Hill, Jr., Tennessee Titans

• ADP Overall: 163.2

• ADP Rank Overall: 161

• ADP Since the draft: 136.5

• ADP Rank since the draft: 135

Trotter and Hill being in the same range makes sense. They both have a shot to start this year as their teams’ second linebacker, and I believe Trotter has the better shot. However, there are still players on the board who are definitely starters on their teams. I’m taking the proven players over the young hopefuls every time in a 12-team league.

If you get into a larger tournament like IDP Madness and think your build could use a potential boom player, I get it, but you won’t see me drafting these two this early until I have more information from camp.

Currently, I’d rather draft Cam Heyward, K’Lavon Chaisson, Kobie Turner, Teddye Buchanan, and Byron Murphy than these two.

High-End Pass Rushers

ED Akheem Mesidor, Los Angeles Chargers

• ADP Overall: 199.9

• ADP Rank Overall: 213

• ADP Since the draft: 151.3

• ADP Rank since the draft: 147

ED Cashius Howell, Cincinnati Bengals

• ADP Overall: 192.1

• ADP Rank Overall: 202

• ADP Since the draft: 157.5

• ADP Rank since the draft: 153

Both of these players moving up about fifty spots after the draft surprises me. That overall ADP includes these last six drafts, so it is an even bigger difference than seen above. I can only assume Mesidor’s first-round draft capital is responsible for the rocket ship he has been on, but he was drafted to a team that already has two EDGEs. He will be a rotational player behind Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu, and maybe they will move his large frame inside on third down.

Howell has a much better path to snaps, but I’m betting against two short-arm outliers in the same draft class. I’m probably not drafting Howell in dynasty, and I’m definitely not drafting him this early in a redraft league. I would much rather have Xavier McKinney, Mack Wilson, Teddye Buchanan, Zach Sieler, Uchenna Nwosu, Milton Williams, and Ed Oliver than these two players this year.

The Rodfather

LB Jacob Rodriguez, Miami Dolphins

• ADP Overall: Was not in Sleeper yet

• ADP Rank Overall: N/A

• ADP Since the draft: 160.5

• ADP Rank since the draft: 157

The Dolphins want to extend Jordyn Brooks contract, but I’m hopeful. Hopeful that the Dolphins either jettison Tyrel Dodson or bench him for Rodriguez. Dodson has been a productive linebacker for fantasy, but Rodriguez is a stud, and I want to see him play.

I can’t bring myself to draft hope over the likes of Uchenna Nwosu, Milton Williams, Ed Oliver, or DBs like Cole Bishop, Chamarri Conner, Mike Sainristil, and Minkah Fitzpatrick. I just can’t do it…not yet.

An Ideal Opportunity Safety

S A.J. Haulcy, Indianapolis Colts

• ADP Overall: 187.9

• ADP Rank Overall: 194

• ADP Since the draft: 165.7

• ADP Rank since the draft: 163

Haulcy got a great landing spot, likely playing closer to the line of scrimmage, while Camryn Bynum plays deep. The Colts were considering him in the second round, but were sure he would be available in the third, so they grabbed CJ Allen in Round 2. That sounds like a team that likes him… a lot.

I don’t hate taking Haulcy here because of his likely role. It’s at least in the right range. Depending on my build, I might take Milton Williams or Ed Oliver ahead of him. There are also other good defensive backs available that I would probably take ahead of him, but I do so many drafts that I like to mix it up a little, too. Those backs include Minkah Fitzpatrick, Chamarri Conner, and Mike Sainristil.

One More Pass Rusher

ED Malachi Lawrence, Dallas Cowboys

• ADP Overall: 187.7

• ADP Rank Overall: 193

• ADP Since the draft: 178.8

• ADP Rank since the draft: 172

I’m usually looking for defensive backs around this time, but grabbing Lawrence here is fine. I think he’s likely a situational pass rusher this year behind Donovan Ezeiruaku and Rashan Gary, but it’s the fifteenth round, get your guy.

I’m drafting to take DBs here because it gets pretty gross. Those three DBs I keep mentioning (Fitzpatrick, Conner, Sainristil) are still available. You could also grab a starting linebacker (for now) by drafting Cody Barton. Ventrell Miller has a good chance to start in Jacksonville with Devin Lloyd now in Carolina, and is still available.

Late-Round Options

S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Cleveland Browns

• ADP Overall: 208.4

• ADP Rank Overall: 241

• ADP Since the draft: 202

• ADP Rank since the draft: 194

LB Jake Golday, Minnesota Vikings

• ADP Overall: 213.5

• ADP Rank Overall: 251

• ADP Since the draft: 207.3

• ADP Rank since the draft: 200

It’s the seventeenth round, so take your swings. However, I worry about McNeil-Warren’s role in Cleveland this year. I believe he needs to play close to the line to reach his potential in the NFL. They have Grant Delpit there. If I take McNeil-Warren in a redraft, and it is a big if right now, I’m waiting until the last round. There are too many other defensive backs available to take a chance this early (Camryn Bynum, Jalen Thompson, Bryan Cook, Brandon Jones, Amani Hooker).

I love the landing spot for Golday, but not for this year. He has played EDGE and off-ball linebacker in college, and I could see Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores use him like Andrew Van Ginkel or Eric Wilson. He likely backs up both players this year and rotates in on the EDGE if I had to guess. I would take him before McNeil-Warren. I don’t mind drafting Golday here for his potential boom weeks.

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It’s easy at the end of each NFL season to look at where players ranked in fantasy football, but understanding why they finished where they did is often more important when projecting for the future.

While Tackles vs Expected for the Linebacker, Safety, and Cornerback positions is more about providing context on the league’s most effective and least effective tacklers, the defensive line’s Expected Sacks metric is used more to help predict positive and negative sack regression candidates.

As highlighted in the images below, Expected Sacks are our most stable and predictive metrics for the defensive line position.

Edge Defender Metrics: Year-to-Year Correlation

Edge Defender Metrics: In-Season Correlation to Actual Sacks

Defensive Tackle Metrics: Year-to-Year Correlation

Defensive Tackle Metrics: In-Season Correlation to Actual Sacks

Read more

Fantasy Football production comes from opportunity first and foremost, and knowing which players are in line for the most snaps is one of the key pieces of information we need before projecting forward. These depth charts will focus on each team’s defensive players, helping IDP managers better grasp the top targets for the 2026 season.

Additionally, we’ve included some team projections relevant to IDP, including zone and man coverage rates, based on recent defensive playcaller data. This is important because zone coverage schemes often lead to more efficient linebacker tackling, whereas man coverage schemes lead to below-average efficiency.

Lastly, there is a projection for the team’s two-linebacker usage based on recent defensive playcaller data, so IDP managers can anticipate each team’s LB2 snap share. Of course, this is a projection based solely on past usage, so expect some year-to-year shifts and with personnel changes, but for the most part, we can bank on these tendencies to a decent degree.

Arizona Cardinals

Head Coach: Mike LaFleur

Defensive Coordinator: Nick Ralliss

Expected zone coverage rate: 80.9% (11th)

Expected man coverage rate: 15.5% (24th)

Projected two-linebacker usage: 70% (25th)

Atlanta Falcons

Head Coach: Kevin Stefanski

Defensive Coordinator: Jeff Ulbrich

Expected zone coverage rate: 80.3% (12th)

Expected man coverage rate: 18.5% (18th)

Projected two-linebacker usage: 93% (5th)

Baltimore Ravens

Head Coach: Jesse Minter

Defensive Coordinator: Anthony Weaver

Expected zone coverage rate: 76.1% (19th)

Expected man coverage rate: 22.6% (13th)

Projected two-linebacker usage: 88% (9th)

Buffalo Bills

Head Coach: Joe Brady

Defensive Coordinator: Jim Leonhard

Expected zone coverage rate: 75.0% (21st)

Expected man coverage rate: 23.9% (11th)

Projected two-linebacker usage: 74% (18th)

Carolina Panthers

Head Coach: Dave Canales

Defensive Coordinator: Ejiro Evero

Expected zone coverage rate: 86.7% (1st)

Expected man coverage rate: 11.6% (32nd)

Projected two-linebacker usage: 71% (22nd)

Chicago Bears

Head Coach: Ben Johnson

Defensive Coordinator: Dennis Allen

Expected zone coverage rate: 69.8% (28th)

Expected man coverage rate: 29.0% (4th)

Projected two-linebacker usage: 84% (14th)

Cincinnati Bengals

Head Coach: Zac Taylor

Defensive Coordinator: Al Golden

Expected zone coverage rate: 71.5% (26th)

Expected man coverage rate: 26.2% (7th)

Projected two-linebacker usage: 73% (21st)

Cleveland Browns

Head Coach: Todd Monken

Defensive Coordinator: Mike Rutenberg

Expected zone coverage rate: 80.3% (12th)

Expected man coverage rate: 18.5% (18th)

Projected two-linebacker usage: 93% (5th)

Dallas Cowboys

Head Coach: Brian Schottenheimer

Defensive Coordinator: Christian Parker

Expected zone coverage rate: 73.6% (24th)

Expected man coverage rate: 24.6% (8th)

Projected two-linebacker usage: 85% (12th)

Denver Broncos

Head Coach: Sean Payton

Defensive Coordinator: Vance Joseph

Expected zone coverage rate: 66.1% (31st)

Expected man coverage rate: 32.7% (1st)

Projected two-linebacker usage: 67% (27th)

Detroit Lions

Head Coach: Dan Campbell

Defensive Coordinator: Kelvin Sheppard

Expected zone coverage rate: 65.9% (32nd)

Expected man coverage rate: 31.3% (2nd)

Projected two-linebacker usage: 97% (2nd)

Green Bay Packers

Head Coach: Matt LaFleur

Defensive Coordinator: Jonathan Gannon

Expected zone coverage rate: 73.9% (23rd)

Expected man coverage rate: 23.1% (12th)

Projected two-linebacker usage: 76% (17th)

Houston Texans

Head Coach: DeMeco Ryans

Defensive Coordinator: Matt Burke

Expected zone coverage rate: 78.6% (16th)

Expected man coverage rate: 20.4% (16th)

Projected two-linebacker usage: 80% (16th)

Indianapolis Colts

Head Coach: Shane Steichen

Defensive Coordinator: Lou Anarumo

Expected zone coverage rate: 71.5% (26th)

Expected man coverage rate: 26.3% (6th)

Projected two-linebacker usage: 74% (18th)

Jacksonville Jaguars

Head Coach: Liam Coen

Defensive Coordinator: Anthony Campinile

Expected zone coverage rate: 80.2% (14th)

Expected man coverage rate: 18.3% (20th)

Projected two-linebacker usage: 74% (18th)

Kansas City Chiefs

Head Coach: Andy Reid

Defensive Coordinator: Steve Spagnuolo

Expected zone coverage rate: 78.1% (17th)

Expected man coverage rate: 19.6% (17th)

Projected two-linebacker usage: 84% (14th)

Las Vegas Raiders

Head Coach: Klint Kubiak

Defensive Coordinator: Rob Leonard

Expected zone coverage rate: 82.8% (7th)

Expected man coverage rate: 15.0% (27th)

Projected two-linebacker usage: 71% (22nd)

Los Angeles Chargers

Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh

Defensive Coordinator: Chris O’Leary

Expected zone coverage rate: 85.5% (2nd)

Expected man coverage rate: 12.9% (31st)

Projected two-linebacker usage: 62% (29th)

Los Angeles Rams

Head Coach: Sean McVay

Defensive Coordinator: Chris Shula

Expected zone coverage rate: 83.6% (4th)

Expected man coverage rate: 14.8% (29th)

Projected two-linebacker usage: 67% (27th)

Miami Dolphins

Head Coach: Jeff Hafley

Defensive Coordinator: Sean Duggan

Expected zone coverage rate: 81.0% (10th)

Expected man coverage rate: 18.1% (21st)

Projected two-linebacker usage: 97% (2nd)

Minnesota Vikings

Head Coach: Kevin O’Connell

Defensive Coordinator: Brian Flores

Expected zone coverage rate: 83.1% (6th)

Expected man coverage rate: 15.5% (24th)

Projected two-linebacker usage: 88% (9th)

New England Patriots

Head Coach: Mike Vrabel

Defensive Coordinator: Zak Kuhr

Expected zone coverage rate: 69.7% (29th)

Expected man coverage rate: 28.5% (5th)

Projected two-linebacker usage: 59% (31st)

New Orleans Saints

Head Coach: Kellen Moore

Defensive Coordinator: Brandon Staley

Expected zone coverage rate: 81.8% (9th)

Expected man coverage rate: 15.8% (23rd)

Projected two-linebacker usage: 62% (29th)

New York Giants

Head Coach: John Harbaugh

Defensive Coordinator: Dennard Wilson

Expected zone coverage rate: 80.0% (15th)

Expected man coverage rate: 18.0% (22nd)

Projected two-linebacker usage: 91% (7th)

New York Jets

Head Coach: Aaron Glenn

Defensive Coordinator: Brian Duker

Expected zone coverage rate: 66.3% (30th)

Expected man coverage rate: 30.8% (3rd)

Projected two-linebacker usage: 87% (11th)

Philadelphia Eagles

Head Coach: Nick Sirianni

Defensive Coordinator: Vic Fangio

Expected zone coverage rate: 73.6% (24th)

Expected man coverage rate: 24.6% (9th)

Projected two-linebacker usage: 85% (12th)

Pittsburgh Steelers

Head Coach: Mike McCarthy

Defensive Coordinator: Patrick Graham

Expected zone coverage rate: 82.8% (7th)

Expected man coverage rate: 15.0% (28th)

Projected two-linebacker usage: 71% (22nd)

San Francisco 49ers

Head Coach: Kyle Shanahan

Defensive Coordinator: Raheem Morris

Expected zone coverage rate: 76.3% (18th)

Expected man coverage rate: 22.0% (15th)

Projected two-linebacker usage: 50% (32nd)

Seattle Seahawks

Head Coach: Mike Macdonald

Defensive Coordinator: Aden Durde

Expected zone coverage rate: 83.6% (5th)

Expected man coverage rate: 15.5% (24th)

Projected two-linebacker usage: 69% (26th)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Head Coach: Todd Bowles

Defensive Coordinator: Todd Bowles

Expected zone coverage rate: 75.4% (20th)

Expected man coverage rate: 22.5% (14th)

Projected two-linebacker usage: 90% (8th)

Tennessee Titans

Head Coach: Robert Saleh

Defensive Coordinator: Gus Bradley

Expected zone coverage rate: 83.8% (3rd)

Expected man coverage rate: 14.1% (30th)

Projected two-linebacker usage: 98% (1st)

Washington Commanders

Head Coach: Dan Quinn

Defensive Coordinator: Daronte Jones

Expected zone coverage rate: 74.3% (22nd)

Expected man coverage rate: 24.0% (10th)

Projected two-linebacker usage: 97% (2nd)

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Historical IDP scoring tells the story of what actually wins fantasy football leagues. Trends emerge. Archetypes repeat themselves. Some seasons redefine positional ceilings, while others expose how quickly roles, schemes, and scoring settings can shift player value overnight.

This tool gives you a searchable look at past Big 3 IDP scorers dating back to 2016, helping you compare eras, identify scoring trends, and better understand what elite production really looks like at linebacker, defensive line, and defensive back.

Below is the breakdown of Big 3 IDP Scoring, though it’s worth noting that these historical results do not include return yardage. Rationale on Big 3 IDP Scoring can be found here.

Across the past 10 seasons, here are the positional finish rates for the top-300 since 2016.

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

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Snaps are king in the fantasy football world, and that doesn’t change on the defensive side of the ball. Knowing which players are actually getting on the field is crucial for IDP managers to project the best weekly lineups.

This snap share tool is designed to give IDP managers an easily searchable and sortable chart with breakdowns on every defensive player’s weekly and overall snap rates from the 2025 season, giving you access to a free key resource to help dominate your IDP leagues.

(There will be a 2026 version once the season kicks off and will be updated weekly.)

Use the page arrows to find more teams and players within the table below. Utilize the search bar to quickly find the players you’re looking for and scroll across to see their week-by-week snap breakdown.

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Introducing The IDP Show Rookie ADP.

We all know the frustration of looking at a fantasy site’s default ADP only to find that it was clearly not calculated with IDP leagues in mind. That changes now with the release of our new combined offense+IDP rookie ADP, featuring data from nearly 200 completed or in progress drafts with ADP for 138 rookies.

The IDP After Show hosts Jake Kohlhagen and Scott Soltis have cultivated this growing list of leagues based on data from the State of IDP Survey about how you play IDP. As a result, this ADP is drawn from leagues that are most similar to the average IDP league, meaning:

• 12 teams

• 15-22 total starters

• Between 40-60% of starters are IDP

• Roughly half use 5 IDP positions (DT, DE, LB, CB, S) and half use 3 (DL, LB, DB)

• No devy leagues

• No multiple-player copy leagues

• Separate ADP breakdowns for 1-QB and Superflex formats.

We plan to update the data weekly through mid-June (bi-weekly after), so take this data, pair it with our rankings, and go win your draft!

The IDP Show Rookie ADP - June Updates

We are thrilled to see the reaction to the ADP we have generated and updated over the past few weeks. With the start of June comes a big development in Rookie ADP…the addition of Sleeper draft data!

In this week’s update, we have jumped from over 200 leagues to nearly 1,000 in total by adding drafts from the Sleeper platform. This means you now have four sets of ADP to help guide your drafting!

We kept these two popular IDP platforms separate for a few reasons:

• Sleeper assigns some players with dual positional designations, which can shape the value of some individual players (see David Bailey this year)

• Sleeper uses three IDP positions (DL, LB, DB), whereas most MFL leagues use five (DT, DE, LB, CB, S)

• Sleeper is a mixture of paid leagues and free leagues (allowing for more low-to-no-stakes drafts in the data), whereas the site hosting fee at MFL tends to draw almost exclusively paid leagues

We applied the same parameters to these new Sleeper leagues to make them as generalizable to your drafts as possible (12-team leagues with 15-22 total starters, 40-60% of starters are IDP).

The last note we have is a clarification. You will find a few non-rookies in the dataset. We have been meticulous in eliminating any keeper or devy drafts from the databases, but given that many leagues allow for FAs to be included in a rookie draft, where these players are going can be instructive, so we opted not to prune them.

1-QB Rookie Draft ADP

Updated 6/9/26

Superflex Rookie Draft ADP

Updated 6/9/26

See all of our rookie rankings content here:

• IDP ROOKIE RANKINGS

• 1QB + IDP ROOKIE RANKINGS

• SUPERFLEX + IDP ROOKIE RANKINGS

• 2026 ROOKIE DRAFT BOARD

• IDP ROOKIE DRAFT GUIDE

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When it comes to the IDP rookies, anyone can tell you to draft Jacob Rodriguez, David Bailey, or Sonny Styles. But, in the late rounds of your rookie draft, those guys are long gone, and you’re left asking, “Okay, now who should I target?”

What happens when those mid-round gems are snatched up?

The late rounds are when you find those diamonds in the rough that draw the ire of your league, “How did you know about that guy?!?!?!?!”

Now that the draft is over and the landing spots have been determined, here are a few late-round sleepers who could bear some fruit.

In the words of Lt. Gamble from The Other Guys, “they can’t all be first round picks, okay?”

So, we’re diving deep for the sleepers. Andy Bernard is at the skating rink and is requesting the deep tracks. No hits.

LB Parker Hughes, Jacksonville Jaguars

I have a feeling I’m one of the few who’ll be banging the drum for Parker Hughes.

He could be one of those 7th-rounders who pay off. The Jacksonville Jaguars let Devin Lloyd walk in free agency, which left their LB room incredibly thin.

Hughes was drafted 240th overall, which doesn’t scream immediate impact. However, the tape showed a decent football player.

I loved this stop from Hughes here. He hits the gap and gets the stuff:

He’s a reliable tackler and cut down his missed tackle rate to just 6.5% in 2025. Hughes finished with a solid 12.6% tackle rate and added two interceptions. He can rush the passer when called on, but his run defense is a big asset. His straight-line speed shows up, and his 4.39 40-yard dash time backed that up, while displaying incredible sideline-to-sideline range.

Hughes is a quick and physical striker who displays the quick trigger you like to see from an off-ball linebacker. He was also the green dot at Middle Tennessee, where he showcased his ability to communicate and quickly process what he sees. As a 7th-round pick, he undoubtedly has an uphill battle, but there isn’t much competition ahead of him.

Foyesade Oluokun hits free agency at the end of 2027, with an out at the end of 2026. Hughes could also battle Ventrell Miller for the weak-side/RILB spot. Miller hasn’t exactly taken advantage of the opportunities handed to him.

LB Kendal Daniels, Atlanta Falcons

Kendal Daniels got on my radar during the draft process. Even though he didn’t have the production profile I look for from an off-ball LB, he has a presence when on the field.

He’s one of these hybrid linebackers who can play off-ball, but also play the slot, and play the STAR linebacker as an overhang (in between the slot/box). Similar to Jake Golday.

He has a good frame and displays body control and coordination when changing direction. He also has violent hands to discard running backs and tight ends. He has good eyes, disguises what he does pre-snap, and triggers quickly to the ball in the run and in coverage. He earned a 79.2 PFF coverage grade and also produced a 27.5% pressure rate in 2025. Daniels is a well-rounded player.

This was one of my favorite plays of his. He gets the jump off the snaps and explodes through the tackle:

Jeff Ulbrich likes the Divine Deablo types, and that’s what he sees in Daniels. Ulbrich has coached and developed guys like Deion Jones and Foyesade Oluokun.

Daniels is a monster at 6’5” and 240lbs. He received higher draft capital than I expected, and with Ulbrich’s emphasis on multiplicity in his defensive schemes, Daniels fits that mold and should be comfortable in Atlanta.

He has a short path to snaps, behind Channing Tindall, JD Bertrand, and Troy Andersen. Not exactly a murderer’s row of linebacker competition.

LB Justin Jefferson, Cleveland Browns

We have another JJ in the NFL. The Browns took Justin Jefferson in the 5th round, and I think Andrew Berry liked his versatility.

Jefferson strung together two productive seasons at Alabama and finished with a 12.6% tackle rate during the regular season. Jefferson had an impressive outing in the College Football Playoff first-round game against Oklahoma, recording 9 tackles and 2 tackles for loss.

I really liked this rep from Jefferson. He gets a good jump off the snap, scrapes along the line, and avoids any traffic to get the stop:

Jefferson was solid in coverage, earning a 73.9 PFF grade during the 2025 season. He had some issues with tackling, but was a reliable tackler overall with just 10 misses and a 79.1 tackling grade.

He’s a bit undersized, but fits the mold of a weak-side linebacker. He utilizes his instincts well and is quick off the snap.

If Relative Athletic Scores (RAS) are your thing, he’s an athletic off-ball linebacker and tested very well, which matched the tape. The vertical and broad matched some of the explosiveness I saw.

His height and weight stick out like the Kenny Rogers’ Roasters sign from Kramer’s apartment.

However, the Browns’ front four should keep him clean and allow him to make tackles. He does need to do better at slipping and shedding blocks. He does, however, have well-above-average change-of-direction and chase-down speed.

I admire the kid’s confidence. He said he’s looking forward to competing with Carson Schwesinger and thinks he’s a better linebacker. As George Costanza said to the beached whale in the Marine Biologist episode, “Eeeeasy, big fella!!!”

Berry loves his draft picks, and he’s going to get the opportunity to contribute at some point. I’d imagine he starts as a special-teams ace. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is already out for the year, and Quincy Williams will probably be the LB2 in the defense. Jefferson could see snaps as an LB3 in 2026, with the opportunity to contribute significantly in 2027.

LB Keyshaun Elliott, Chicago Bears

Keyshaun Elliott was one of my favorite linebackers during the draft process. Not one of my favorite landing spots.

Elliott got on my radar when I initially read Dane Brugler’s top-100. The tackle production jumped out, and the tape was even more impressive.

Eliott was all over the field, and it seemed wherever the ball was, you would find #44. The vision and athleticism were on the film, and his RAS confirmed what I saw.

Elliott is a “see-ball-go-get-ball” off-ball LB:

I think his trigger and sideline-to-sideline range are his best traits. He also plays physically, is willing to take on contact, and fights through traffic. I did see too many reps where he gets locked in by blockers. However, he has the temperament of an off-ball linebacker.

Now, the landing spot. He’s drafted to a crowded linebacker room. Even though they lost Tremaine Edmunds, they re-added Jack Sanborn and still have Noah Sewell, D’Marco Jackson, and Ruben Hyppolite. If the depth chart holds up, he’s behind Sewell and T.J. Edwards for the MIKE.

Edwards is 30 and coming off a fractured leg in the playoffs. If Elliott can’t unseat Sewell in the next season or two, that will be telling. I think Elliott is worth a taxi stash, as the tape showed a capable off-ball LB.

Check out more IDP rookie sleepers here, and in Scott Soltis’ Degenerate’s Draft Guide.

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You can follow us on all our social media channels, including Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.

The 2026 Dynasty offseason is in full swing with the NFL Draft wrapped, rookie drafts taking place, and training camp right around the corner. With that, it was naturally time for updated dynasty rankings, now including rookies and accounting for the fallout from the NFL Draft on long-term fantasy potential.

These rankings and tiers will highlight my personal thoughts and rationale for why players are ranked where they are and within the tiers they fall into. Obviously, not all 350 players will get a spotlight in the written analysis, especially as the tiers get bigger and player outlooks start to blend together, so I will try to explain the basis of those later tiers more than the players themselves as we get to them.

Final notes before the ranks:

• You can check out The IDP Show consensus dynasty rankings here.

• Rankings are based on Big 3 Scoring settings, explained here.

• This list assumes true position designations (DT, EDGE LB, CB, S) for players (e.g., outside linebackers are considered “edge defenders” to reflect real NFL value).

Tier 1

Aidan Hutchinson leads the way as the top overall dynasty IDP option for me. Coming off a major leg injury and looking no worse for wear in 2025, he did nothing to drop in value from his top spot last season. Hutchinson was the overall ED1 in points per game in 2024 prior to his injury, and in his first year back, he finished as a top-six scorer at his position thanks to high-end playing time, elite pass-rush metrics, and delivering on his projected potential. Since entering the league in 2022, Hutchinson owns a 93.2 career pass-rush grade, which trails only reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett (96.0) and Micah Parsons (94.9) while also leading the league in expected sacks in 2023 and 2025. Hutchinson will turn 26 heading into the 2026 season and is more than likely to continue delivering at a top-12 level, if not higher, for years to come.

Will Anderson comes the closest to dethroning Hutchinson for the top spot, delivering his first top-12 finish this past season and his first truly elite year as a pass-rusher. Anderson delivered career highs in pass-rush grade (91.6), total pressures (93), and win rate (26.2%) – the first time he’s cracked the top-10 at his position in all of those marks. Anderson was an elite college prospect, and he’s been delivering on that potential with the expectation that he’ll continue to do so for several more years. He’s also a year younger than Hutchinson, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him valued slightly higher, and we’re truly splitting hairs at the top of the ranks, though Hutchinson’s slightly stronger track record gives him the edge for now.

Micah Parsons is unfortunately coming off a torn ACL; otherwise, he’d likely be in contention for the top spot as well, as he’s done nothing but deliver consistently elite production since entering the NFL and is still going to be just 27-years-old at the start of next season. Parsons has never failed to crack double-digit sacks in a season and has always delivered a top-five pass-rush grade at his position since entering the league. Parsons will more than likely bounce back from his injury in 2026 and deliver another high-end season for IDP, with many more to come, which is why he’ll remain locked into these top three dynasty assets for the remainder of the offseason.

Jared Verse and Abdul Carter represent more of the future at the position, spending no more than two seasons in the league and showing nothing but high-end promise with elite college profiles to back them up. Verse recently finished as a top-16 IDP scorer at his position and still has plenty of room to grow when accounting for his high-end pass rush metrics and playing time, scoring in the top 97th percentile in expected sacks in each of his first two seasons. Carter isn’t far behind after his rookie year, which saw him score in the 93rd percentile in expected sacks while delivering the best pass-rush grade (84.5) for a full-time rookie edge defender since 2012. Carter is more than due to deliver on his high-sack potential, as there is no reason to expect otherwise, and once he does, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him (or Verse) move up the dynasty ranks this time next year.

Myles Garrett just broke the NFL sack record in a season at 30 years old and has shown no signs of a potential decline in play, so there's no reason to expect him to fall off in the next year or two. At some point, that drop-off will come, and for Garrett, it’s more than likely to come sooner than later than most of Tier 1, though considering he’s still playing at an elite level, it’s hard to bet against him for the short-term. As a result, he’ll remain a top-five option considering IDP managers can get a near guarantee on that level of return for at least another season or two, and anything on top of that is a bonus.

Jack Campbell and Carson Schwesinger are neck and neck for the top linebacker spot coming out of the 2025 season. Campbell gets the edge purely due to track record, though Schwesinger obviously has time to take that for himself with another year in the league. Campbell, specifically, has finished in the top 90th percentile in tackles versus expected in all three seasons of his NFL career, comes with an elite college profile as a former first-round pick, and finished as the overall LB4 in his first season as a full-time linebacker in 2025. Schwesinger also boasts a high-end prospect profile, which he absolutely delivered in Year 1, cracking the top-five IDPs at his position, and looks poised to return that value year over year. Schwesinger is younger, so IDP managers may skew their personal rankings that way, which is fine since it’s so close, but with both players younger than 26, it matters less, given that so many high-end years are still likely to remain in their NFL and IDP careers.

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There are a number of ways to evaluate incoming rookie talent for fantasy football, and utilizing each individual’s unique college data profile to project to the next level is one that I, personally, tend to lean toward. If you’re reading and have access to this database, then I assume you do as well, so hopefully this can serve you well in your prospect evaluations.

Read more

The best IDP managers stay ahead of the market. Before preseason buzz reshapes rankings and ADP, the rookie draft season is the time to identify those defenders with startable IDP production potential hiding beneath the surface.

Every year, a select few under-the-radar rookies emerge as worthy dynasty stashes, and this list will look at those Day 3 NFL Draft prospects worth targeting near the end of dynasty rookie drafts.

Be sure to check out all of our rookie rankings articles here:

• IDP ROOKIE RANKINGS & TIERS

• 1QB OFFENSE + IDP ROOKIE RANKINGS & TIERS

• SUPERFLEX + IDP ROOKIE RANKINGS & TIERS

• IDP ROOKIE DRAFT BOARD & WALKTHROUGH

LB Kyle Louis, Miami Dolphins

• NFL Draft Capital: Round 4, 138th overall

• IDP Rookie Ranking: LB8

The 2025 Miami Dolphins produced two top-12 IDP linebackers in Jordyn Brooks (LB1) and Tyrel Dodson (LB10). However, this roster was nearly completely overhauled this past offseason, where the team was torn down to the studs — with Brooks and Dodson still in place, at least for now. The Dolphins’ current 2026 depth chart doesn’t necessarily appear enticing for a fourth-round rookie to step into an IDP-relevant role, but as is the case with many on this list, patience in these low-cost fliers could pay dividends down the road.

The Dolphins added Jacob Rodriguez in the second round, along with Kyle Louis in the fourth, which, at the very least, should signal confirmation that Brooks and Dodson aren’t long for this team once their contracts expire at the end of the 2026 season. With Rodriguez a clear-cut benefactor of the team’s expiring contracts, Louis may be in for a similar trajectory if he’s able to translate to the next level, as his college prospect profile would suggest.

Louis comes out of Pitt as one of the more versatile linebackers in this class, with above-average usage on the edge and in the slot on top of his full-time linebacker role, and he thrived in all of those deployments. Louis earned strong career PFF grades across the board, resulting in a 92nd-percentile score in the linebacker prospect model, which puts him amongst a strong hit-rate bucket for future IDP success. Assuming the Dolphins remain in a rebuild, they’ll be looking to address other positions of value with more star power, but linebacker should logically remain safe from added competition right now, considering the investment during this past draft. Rodriguez and Louis leading the way at the position in Miami is well within the realm of possibilities starting in 2027, which has Louis locked on my IDP radar during this rookie draft season.

LB Bryce Boettcher, Indianapolis Colts

• NFL Draft Capital: Round 4, 135th overall

• IDP Rookie Ranking: LB12

Bryce Boettcher shares a similar outlook to the previously mentioned Kyle Louis, who was also taken in the fourth round by a defense that also invested a second-round pick at the position. The difference with the Indianapolis Colts defense compared to Miami is that there are no clear starters at linebacker on this roster, which puts second-round pick CJ Allen on a clear path to snaps, with Boettcher not far behind.

Akeem Davis-Gaither is currently a clear favorite to start the year next to Allen, given his experience in Lou Anaroumo’s defense, though he’s not so established that Boettcher couldn’t force his way into a larger role over time and with strong play. That strong play is where a flier on Boettcher could pay off, as his time at Oregon resulted in 80th-percentile PFF grades overall and 82nd-percentile coverage grades, while also performing well as a run defender.

The bet on Boettcher’s IDP value hitting doesn’t have to happen in Year 1, either, as he is a stash-able dynasty prospect that could deliver beyond this season, with Davis-Gaither only on a one-year deal himself. Boettcher’s strong college play translating to the next level could make Davis-Gaither more easily expendable at the end of his contract, opening up a spot for this high-end tackler to step into a starting role in 2027, if not sooner. IDP managers don’t necessarily need to spend rookie draft capital to acquire Boettcher outside of deeper leagues, but he is worth a taxi squad stash for rosters with room.

LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr, Buffalo Bills

• NFL Draft Capital: Round 4, 126th overall

• IDP Rookie Ranking: LB9

Kaleb Elarms-Orr delivered a breakout season this past year at TCU, earning a top-20 PFF grade for his position in the FBS both overall (84.4) and in run defense (89.1). On top of not being a liability in coverage, Elarms-Orr was among the most efficient prospects at his position during his career, which naturally is going to entice IDP managers who believe in that tackle rate translating to the NFL, even if it is a flimsy correlation at best.

The real sleeper potential with Elarms-Orr comes from a good landing spot on a defense with a new coaching staff that has no real investment in the current personnel, specifically, Dorian Williams, who is the projected LB2 at the moment. Williams has struggled through the first three years of his NFL career, often proving to be a liability in coverage and never really gaining any traction as a starter, outside of short-lived stretches as an injury fill-in.

With Jim Leonhard taking over as defensive coordinator and spending an early Day 3 pick on Elarms-Orr, he should be expected to get a fair shake to unseat Williams for that LB2 spot next to Terrel Bernard. It’s possible that Elarms-Orr’s IDP potential could hit as soon as this coming season, though helping matters is that Williams’ contract is up at the end of 2026. Elarms-Orr is well worth a stash in non-shallow dynasty formats, and has a real shot to contribute as soon as this season if he continues his strong play from this past season at TCU.

ED Dani Dennis-Sutton, Green Bay Packers

• NFL Draft Capital: Round 4, 120th overall

• IDP Rookie Ranking: ED12

Fourth-round success for EDGE rushers doesn’t come easily, but it isn’t an impossible path, with high-end examples like Maxx Crosby and Josh Sweat standing out as two of the more recent comparative sleepers. Of course, there are plenty of examples of those that never amounted to true IDP relevancy, too, though we’ll obviously hope that Dani Dennis-Sutton can beat the odds, and he has the landing spot and potential to do so.

The Green Bay Packers are thin off the edge, with Micah Parsons being the clear and lone established starter at this point, and even he is coming off a season-ending ACL injury. Lukas Van Ness is the penciled-in starter as a former first-round pick, though he hasn’t been overly effective at any point in his three-year career thus far. As a result, Van Ness has struggled to crack the top of the rotation at the position, and if that continues into Year 4, Dennis-Sutton could be the next logical next man up.

Dennis-Sutton has played a significant role at Penn State over the last three years, logging over 800 pass-rush snaps and racking up over 125 total pressures and 22 sacks. Dennis-Sutton’s pass-rush metrics also come in above average for the position, backed up by similarly solid run defense metrics, suggesting he has the ability to play an every-down role at the next level. Helping matters is that he is also an elite athlete, scoring a 9.96 Relative Athletic Score (RAS), adding to the optimism that he’ll overcome his draft capital, as the previously mentioned fourth-round successes Crosby and Sweat also measured as elite athletes coming out of college. For big-play and balanced scoring formats, Dennis-Sutton is the Day 3 EDGE target for me during this IDP rookie draft season.

S Michael Taaffe, Miami Dolphins

• NFL Draft Capital: Round 5, 158th overall

• IDP Rookie Ranking: S8

The Dolphins make the list one more time, this time at the safety position, which is certainly one of the team’s thinnest positions, unlike at linebacker. Dante Trader Jr. and Lonnie Johnson Jr. were the expected starters for the team heading into the NFL Draft, though Johnson hasn’t exceeded 350 defensive snaps in a season since 2021, and Trader is just entering Year 2 of his NFL career.

Even if those two remain the Week 1 starters, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a short leash given to both, as the lack of encouraging PFF grades for both players suggests that these aren’t starting-caliber options for the long-term. It’s still too early in Trader’s career to write him off, and for that reason, he might get a longer leash to show what he can do, but for the 30-year-old Johnson, Taaffe may be real competition for that starting spot.

Taaffe owns one of the best career coverage grades in this rookie safety class as a true deep safety prospect, having spent 65% of his career defensive snaps at Texas from a deep alignment. Despite that alignment, Taaffe was still able to be an effective tackler, earning a 10.2% tackle rate (73rd percentile) for his career, giving at least some hope that he’ll be able to overcome a similar deployment at the next level. Most of all, opportunity is king for Taaffe on a thin depth chart, and deeper IDP dynasty leagues could be looking at a roster stash at the position with a relatively short path to snaps in 2026.

For more deep sleeper targets in this year’s rookie IDP class, be sure to check out Scott Soltis’ Degenerate’s Draft Guide here.

Be sure to subscribe to The IDP Show on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube.

You can follow us on all our social media channels, including Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.

Dynasty rookie draft season is in full swing, and naturally, we all have a plethora of ways to evaluate how potential talent coming out of college will translate to the next level. This article series is no different, as we’ll add a fantasy football spin to the evaluation process to identify which incoming prospects have a shot to become fantasy-relevant early on in their NFL careers.

For the defensive tackle position, the prospect model accounts for the most important factors and metrics for a player to achieve relevant IDP success in the NFL. As with any position, no single metric will tell us whether a college prospect will be good in the NFL, but the purpose of this model is to combine the metrics and factors that data has proven most relevant, assigning weight to those that are more important than others.

For the defensive tackle position, in no particular order, we’re looking at PFF pass-rush grades, pass-rush win rate, pressure rate, run-defense grades, draft capital, athleticism, and level of competition faced. There is some weight to one-year numbers, though the most stable metrics, with the most weight applied, are career numbers. Underlying metrics were also found to be much more reliable than overall production when accounting for all prospects. While production often comes with strong underlying metrics, the two can exist independently, and the underlying metrics have a higher success rate than overall production alone.

Keys

• The prospect pool for this model consists of 406 defensive tackle prospects dating back to 2018.

• Eighteen defensive tackles drafted since 2018 have become a top-12 IDP finisher for their position at least once (4.4%).

  • Of those 18 top-12 finishers, 11 (61%) finished as top-12 finishers within their first three NFL seasons.

  • Also, of those 18 top-12 finishers, seven of them (39%) have been repeat top-12 finishers.

• Thirty-three defensive tackles drafted since 2018 have become a top-24 IDP finisher for their position at least once (8.1%).

• Forty-nine defensive tackles drafted since 2018 have become a top-36 IDP finisher for their position at least once (12.1%).

• This is an important context for understanding hit rates, as far fewer prospects will become fantasy-relevant than in most leagues, given such a large pool of players.

• However, with this model, the higher the prospect score, the higher the success rate for each prospect, as highlighted below.

With all this in mind, it’s time to look at this year’s top scorers in the defensive tackle prospect model to identify our future IDP contributors. It should also be noted that these scores should not necessarily be used as much as your rankings, as they should be more of a guide to the player’s quality. For The IDP Show’s full rookie IDP rankings, you can check those out here.

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Gracen Halton, San Francisco 49ers

• NFL Draft Capital: 4th Round, 107th overall

• Current Rookie IDP Ranking: DT4

• This year’s defensive tackle class is somewhat underwhelming when it comes to truly high-end IDP prospects, though that is also the nature of the position as a whole.

• Halton’s 7.57 prospect model score is at the 93rd percentile, which also speaks to the rarity of scores much higher (8.00 and above), though his potential for IDP is still solid.

• With this in mind, Halton becomes a great DT-required sleeper option, which was also highlighted in Scott Soltis’ Degenerate’s Draft Guide article from earlier this week.

• Halton isn’t an elite pass rusher, but he has been consistently strong, posting at least a 71.8 pass-rush grade in each of his past three seasons at Oklahoma.

• Over the last two seasons, that level of talent helped Halton produce all nine of his career college sacks and 85% of his total pressures.

• Halton will have an opportunity to work his way up the San Francisco 49ers’ depth chart next to Osa Odighizuwa, as the team lacks other strong options, and should definitely be on DT-required IDP radars.

Peter Woods, Kansas City Chiefs

• NFL Draft Capital: 1st Round, 29th overall

• Current Rookie IDP Ranking: DT1

• Woods wasn’t the first defensive tackle drafted in the NFL Draft, despite him being almost unanimously mocked as such during the pre-draft process, and that does come partly from at least some red flags.

• Woods wasn’t the most productive pass-rusher coming out of college, with just six sacks, though his win rate says that he was certainly deserving of more.

• Unfortunately, based on the metrics, we’re looking at likely later wins in his reps, as his career pressure rate is also much lower than expected compared to his wins.

• Helping Woods is that he gets that strong first-round capital from a team in need of an immediate contributor next to Chris Jones.

• While Woods shouldn’t be expected to produce DT1 numbers early in his career, his potential for playing time should help create enough production to make him a valuable depth option in DT-required formats in Year 1.

Caleb Banks, Minnesota Vikings

• NFL Draft Capital: 1st Round, 18th overall

• Current Rookie IDP Ranking: DT2

• Banks ended up being the first defensive tackle drafted in this year’s class, despite concerns of a foot injury that kept him from playing much in 2025.

• Much like Peter Woods, Banks still projects as a taxi-squad stash for DT-required formats right now.

• Banks’ pass-rush metrics are slightly better overall than the previously mentioned Woods, though he suffers from a lower run-defense score, which could hurt his every-down potential early in his NFL career.

• Banks lands in a good spot for opportunity, with only Jalen Redmond as an established starter in Minnesota, though it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a heavier rotation in the middle outside of Redmond for a year or two.

• With Banks not scoring elite pass-rush marks in his college career, combined with the lower run defense marks, he’ll likely take some time to be an IDP-relevant player, which just makes him a solid stash for DT-required formats for now.

Christen Miller, New Orleans Saints

• NFL Draft Capital: 2nd Round, 42nd overall

• Current Rookie IDP Ranking: DT3

• Miller was very unproductive as a pass-rusher in his college career, delivering just two sacks across 566 pass-rush snaps, although sack totals aren’t accounted for in the model, and he was pretty unlucky in that regard.

• Miller wouldn’t have likely hit double-digit sacks in his career with better luck, but two sacks in college shouldn’t necessarily be the thing that’s held against him.

• Miller’s underlying pass-rush metrics aren’t disastrous by any means, and he’s one of the better run defenders in this class, which helps his overall standing for IDP potential.

• His landing spot and draft capital, on top of the fine overall score, combined with the lack of real options in this class, is what pushed him up to DT3 for me, though he’ll purely be a late-round option (Rounds 6-plus) still in DT-required formats.

High-Scoring Later-Round Picks

Kaleb Proctor, Arizona Cardinals

• NFL Draft Capital: 4th Round, 104th overall

• Current Rookie IDP Ranking: DT8

  • Proctor delivered an elite 90.4 pass-rush grade in 2025, resulting in 39 pressures and nine sacks this past season.

  • The asterisk to consider on that production is that he did so in the FCS, where he spent his entire college career, and only posted a pass-rush grade over 68.5 in his final year.

  • Essentially, this is a player that the model and I will disagree on; even though his prospect model score isn’t that high (6.59), it’s still higher than some drafted ahead of him, even accounting for the level of competition faced.

  • The Cardinals would likely only use him as part of a rotation as well, which just pushes him out of any real draft range for me in IDP rookie drafts right now.

Lower-Scoring Early-Round Picks

Kayden McDonald, Houston Texans

• NFL Draft Capital: 2nd Round, 36th overall

• Current Rookie IDP Ranking: DT5

  • McDonald’s 61.8 career pass-rush grade is the lowest mark for a defensive tackle drafted in the first two rounds since P.J. Hall in 2018 (54.5) – Hall never cracked even the top-36 IDPs at his position and played just three seasons in the NFL.

  • This isn’t to say that McDonald can’t have success at the next level, but Hall is the only real comparison at this point, because even Jordan Davis, who did not have high-end pass-rush metrics, owned one of the best athleticism scores in recent history.

  • IDP managers in DT-required formats should likely only really consider McDonald if scoring settings also lean more toward tackle-heavy; otherwise, there’s very little upside in him for IDP.

Lee Hunter, Carolina Panthers

• NFL Draft Capital: 2nd Round, 49th overall

• Current Rookie IDP Ranking: DT6

  • Hunter isn’t exceptional in any one particular metric, which ultimately hurts his standing in the model (6.39) and, in turn, his IDP potential.

  • Hunter blends in with a lot of past Day 2 prospects coming out of college with a similar score – the large majority of whom have yet to deliver any real IDP value.

  • Among 20 past prospects to score between 6.50 and 7.00 in the model and drafted within the first two days (Rounds 1-3) of the draft, only one (5%), Harrison Phillips, has managed a top-12 IDP finish for his position.

  • There has been one other (B.J. Hill) to crack the top-24 and two more to crack the top-36, but the point is that for IDP purposes, it isn’t promising to not stand out in the crowd here.

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