1. What type of IDP league is it, and which positions do you start?
Many Fantasy Football 2014 leagues are adding IDP to their leagues to complicate things but to be honest if you understand the scoring settings and which positions you start, things are pretty simple, here is what I have seen out there
a- No specific position:
This is the easiest of leagues to understand and to prepare for. You have no restrictions on which positions you draft. If your league has standard scoring then here is the rule. Linebackers score the most points due to their tackles, Defensive ends score the least and Defensive Backs are in between. If you go more into details, Middle Linebackers score the most (again due to their tackles)
b. In between (this is the most common)
i. 1-2 Linebackers
ii. 1-2 Defensive ends
iii. 1-2 Defensive Backs
This is becoming the most popular option, and it’s probably the easiest to prepare a strategy for and I will explain why below.
c. Drafting the full Defensive spectrum:
i. 1-3 Linebackers
ii. 1-3 Cornerbacks
iii. 1-3 Safeties
iv. 1-3 Defensive Tackles
v. 1-3 Defensive ends
d. IDP only leagues
This is a full roster of IDP with no offensive players.
Full IDP rosters as in C and D are complicated IDP leagues, personally I would not attempt them if you have not at least tried A and B. If you are a risk taker then go for it and sign up for our Membership
2.What are the scoring settings?
As with any league, make sure you go to the scoring settings and find out how much a tackle is worth and how much an assisted tackle is worth. The same goes for Sacks, interceptions, Fumbles etc. You can’t have a draft strategy if you don’t know your league settings.
3. Understand what a big play league means?
If your league favors big plays, it means sacks/interceptions and usually fumble recoveries are worth more than 3points, versus a tackle worth 1 point and usually assisted tackles are worth 0.5 points whereas a league that favors tackles will have 1 point for tackles and 1 point for assisted tackles and no MORE than 3 points for big plays
Big play leagues: Sacks, Interceptions and Fumble recoveries worth MORE than 3 Points
Tackle heavy leagues: Tackles and Assisted Tackles worth the same amount and big plays worth NO MORE than 3 points
4. Understanding the NFL defensive schemes and their meaning in IDP Football
There is no golden rule to this however, 4-3 defensive schemes are usually friendlier than 3-4 schemes. Check all the teams and their schemes, usually (NOT ALWAYS) these apply.
a. DE > DT
b. MLB>WLB>SLB
c. SS>FS>CB
5. Drafting IDP
So at which point do I draft my Defensive players? Depending on your league settings (i.e. if your IDP guys do not score as much as your offensive guys, which is the norm) DO NOT DRAFT THEM before you draft your entire starting offense and at least your key backups to those starters! Do not make the ultimate IDP rookie mistake and draft too early. Sometimes you will find a run at IDP positions, if you haven’t drafted your offensive starters DO NOT FALL INTO THIS TRAP. Offense will most certainly give you more points (unless your league settings say otherwise) so draft your offense first. The first guy to go early in the draft is JJ WATT, he can go as early as round 5 (big mistake) and as late as round 10 (decent value).
Don't draft Defensive backs until the very last, they are the most volatile and almost every year a few new studs emerge. Get your LB's and your DE's in order first.
6. The Waiver Wire
The Waiver wire: YES as with Offensive every week there will be a few gems on the waiver wire, however don’t be too quick to dump a player. THE Biggest difference between IDP leagues and standard leagues is the bench! Some people in IDP leagues prefer not to carry any IDP players on their bench. SO WATCH OUT FOR THE BIG NAME PLAYERS OVER BYE WEEKS. Last year one of my readers asked me if he should pick up Navorro Bowman in WEEK 16 (CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK) the answer was YES but the shocker is he shouldn’t be there! So watch out especially during BYE weeks the studs are sometimes just waiting to be picked up. If you have a budget for your waiver don’t spend too much on IDP guys unless he is top 3 in his position!
7. Trading IDP
Trading your offensive players for IDP guys. Many people do it, is it right or is it wrong? The answer is both… The problem is too many people do it and too often. If you do trade make sure you are improving your position to a top 5 at that position.