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Defensive, Rugged Individualist in a Virtual Football World: Rank ‘Em

August 19, 2011 | 2011 Fantasy Football Rankings, 2011 IDP Fantasy Football, Fantasy Football Daily Notes | 24 Comments

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Good news, you can stop holding your breath. Individual Defensive Player top 100 revealed (***waves smelling salts at computer monitor***).

These rankings form an upside projection, position scarcity, injury risk analysis, and playing time composite, which equates to a tackling and tipped pass totem pole of tremendousness. Important note, I’m basing these rankings on a very vanilla league scoring system (documented in italics below) melded with a slice of grittiness and gut-check intuition. I would prefer allotting higher point totals across the board but I, like Johnny Mayer, feel the gravity of public perception. That’s right a John Mayer reference. These rankings will experience fluctuation throughout the preseason, so envision this as the primer on the canvas you’re about to go all Jackson Pollock on. As a bonus, I’ve chunked the top 100 in 10 packs and headlined each tier with a Legendary Roots crew song title. IDP = fantasy’s weird looking 2nd cousin AND The Roots = hip hop’s live instrument heavy weight. There’s a connection there I swear.  Enjoy and happy IDP’ing to all!

1)     Scoring 2) Ranking Key
1)     Solo Tackle = 1.0, Tackle Assist = 0.5, INT = 6, Forced Fumble = 4, Sack = 6, Fumble Recovery = 4, Pass Defense = 3, Blocked FG/Punt = 3, Defensive TD = 6, Safety = 2

2)     (Team- Positional Ranking) — 45 LB ranked, 35 DBs ranked, and  20 DL ranked

 Do You Want More?!!!??!

  1. Patrick Willis (SF – LB 1) – Outlook defined within Installment 1
  2. Jon Beason (CAR – LB 2) – Outlook defined within Installment 1
  3. Jerod Mayo (NE – LB 3) – Outlook defined within Installment 1
  4. Justin Tuck (NYG – DL 1) – Outlook defined within Installment 1
  5. Lawrence Timmons (PIT –LB 4) – Outlook defined within Installment 1
  6. Jared Allen (MIN – DL 2) – Outlook defined within Installment 1
  7. Eric Berry (KC – DB 1) – Outlook defined within Installment 1
  8. Ray Lewis (BAL – LB 5) – Outlook defined within Installment 1
  9. Terrell Thomas (NYG – DB 2) – Outlook defined within Installment 1 (OUT FOR SEASON)
  10. James Harrison (PIT – LB 6) – Outlook defined within Installment 1

The Next Movement

  1. Paul Posluszny (JAX –LB 7) – Hardnosed offensive line challenger inserts himself into a domesticated Jaguar defense.
  2. LaRon Landry (WAS – DB 3) – Outlook defined within Installment 1
  3. Curtis Lofton (ATL – LB 8) – Breakout expected last year. He thinks he’s ready to breakout this year.
  4. Ndamukong Suh (DET – DL 3) –  Outlook defined within installment 1
  5. Stephen Tulloch (DET – LB 9) – Whether Music City Country or Mo-Town Soul Jim Schwartz wants to give this guy the MIKE on D.
  6. Brian Urlacher (CHI – LB 10) – He’s old right? Funny, he just tackled people 126 times last year and captains a cold-weather defensive unit revived by a hint of Orange and Navy Julius (Peppers).
  7. James Laurinaitis (STL – LB 11) – A slightly smaller Urlacher body double plays in a division allergic to the pass so should see a plethora of tackling opportunities.
  8. Osi Umenyiora (NYG – DL 4) – Outlook defined within installment 1 (INJURED: Seek Jason Pierre-Paul in the interim!)
  9. Derrick Johnson (KC – LB 12) – Talk is cheap, but heck, I’m buying the hype after a ballerific type year in ’10.
  10. Julius Peppers (CHI – DL 5) – Outlook defined within installment 1

Rolling with Heat

  1. London Fletcher (WAS – LB 13) – I will not bet against London until he misses a game for once. Never calls out sick, which makes him the Alex Trebek of IDP ‘backers.
  2. Barrett Ruud (Ten – LB 14) – His name might remind you of a bluegrass-oriented American Idol contestant, but Barrett’s game is to consistently bring football players to the field turf.
  3. Lance Briggs (CHI – LB 15) – A consistent playmaker in Urlacher’s entourage that dipped below the tackle century mark last year. I probably won’t target him at this price; however, the guy’s track record speaks for itself.
  4. Trent Cole (PHI – DL 6) –The DL position could use a Rogaine treatment, because after Cole it starts to thin out like a young Andre Agassi.
  5. DeMarcus Ware (DAL – LB 16) – Sack-Master-Flex pulled the QB down 16 times last year with 66 total tackles. I can see him replicating a similar line at the ripe old age of 29.
  6. D.J. Williams  (DEN – LB 17) – The guy might have accepted unspecified favors, money, and unlimited buy-one-get-one passes to a burrito joint in Coral Gables, FL. From an IDP perspective, I’m still drafting him.
  7. T.J. Ward (CLE – DB 4) – Outlook defined within Installment 1
  8. Patrick Chung (NE – DB 5) – Outlook defined within Installment 1
  9. Desmond Bishop (GB – LB 18) – Could push into The Next Movement tier if he can make it 2 successful seasons in a row patrolling the frozen tundra as a 3-4 middle man.
  10. Chad Greenway (MIN – LB 19) – This might be a shade low, as the guy is essentially Barrett Ruud. Practices against a top-flight running back and provides value solely on textbook tackling.

Respond/React

  1. David Harris (NYJ – LB 20)
  2. Yeremiah Bell (MIA – DB 6)
  3. Charles Johnson  (CAR – DL 7)
  4. DeMeco Ryans (HOU – LB 21)
  5. Elvis Dumervil  (DEN – DL 8**) – **Assumes he acquires DL eligibility.
  6. Robert Mathis (IND – DL 9)
  7. Brian Cushing (HOU – LB 22)
  8. David Hawthrone (SEA – LB 23)
  9. Eric Weddle (SD – DB 7)
  10. Jonathan Vilma (NO – LB 24)

Adrenaline!

  1. Charles Woodson (GB – DB 8)
  2. D’Qwell Jackson (CLE – LB 25) – Sleeper.
  3. Rolando McClain (OAK – LB 26) – Sleeper.
  4. Roman Harper (NO – DB 9)
  5. Mario Williams (HOU – DL 10) – Sleeper.
  6. Tyvon Branch (OAK – DB 10)
  7. Antoine Bethea  (IND – DB 11)
  8. Bradie James (DAL – LB 27)
  9. Karlos Dansby (MIA – LB 28)
  10. Joe Haden (CLE – DB 12)

Now or Never

  1. Thomas Davis (CAR – LB 29)
  2. Clay Matthews (GB LB 30)
  3. Dawan Landry (JAX – DB 13)
  4. Earl Thomas (SEA – DB 14) – Sleeper.
  5. Nick Barnett (BUF – LB 31)
  6. Darnell Dockett (ARI – DL 11)
  7. James Anderson (CAR – LB 32)
  8. Bernard Pollard (BAL – DB 15)
  9. Donte Whitner (SF – DB 16)
  10. James Farrior (PIT – LB 33)

Essaywhuman?!!!??!

  1. Stewart Bradley (ARI – LB 34) Sleeper.
  2. Tramon Williams (GB – DB 17)
  3. Aldon Smith (SF – DL** 12) **Outside ‘backer with DL eligibility.
  4. Rey Maualuga (CIN – LB 35)
  5. Troy Polamalu (PIT – DB 18)
  6. Oshiomogho Atogwe (WAS – DB 19)
  7. LaMarr Woodley (PIT – LB 36)
  8. Geno Hayes/Quincy Black/Mason Foster (TB Linebackers – LB 37) – Pulled my hair out trying to separate this group, so thought it’d be fitting for them all to occupy the same preseason rank. Essaywhuman?
  9. Gary Brackett (IND – LB 38)
  10. Justin Smith (SF – DL 13)

Anti-Circle

  1. DeAngelo Hall (WAS – DB 20)
  2. Kyle Williams (BUF – DL 14)
  3. Nick Collins (GB – DB 21)
  4. Mathias Kiwanuka (NYG – DL 15)
  5. Marcell Dareus (BUF – DL 16)
  6. Daryl Washington (ARI – LB 39)
  7. Ed Reed (BAL –DB 22)
  8. Cameron Wake (MIA – LB 40)
  9. William Moore (ATL – DB 23)
  10. Terrell Suggs (BAL – LB** 41) **Bump up 3 tiers if DL eligible.

Rising Down

  1.  A.J. Hawk (GB – LB 42)
  2. Devin McCourty (NE – DB 24)
  3. John Abraham (ATL – DL 17)
  4. Takeo Spikes  (SD – LB 43)
  5. Brent Grimes (ATL – DB 25)
  6. Chris Hope (TEN – DB 26)
  7. George Wilson (BUF – DB 27)
  8. Chris Long (STL- DL 18)
  9. Ray Edwards (ATL – DL 19)
  10. Charles Godfery (CAR – DB 28)

Don’t Feel Right

  1. Michael Huff (OAK – DB 29)
  2. Jamar Chaney (PHI – LB 44) – Sleeper.
  3. Ronde Barber (TB – DB 30)
  4. Greg Toler (ARI – DB 31)
  5. Carlos Dunlap/Derrick Morgan (CIN/TEN – DL 20.5) – Two sophomore defensive lineman to target.
  6. Morgan Burnett (GB – DB 32) – Sleeper.
  7. Jaiquawn Jarrett (PHI – DB 33)
  8. Aaron Curry (SEA – LB 45)
  9. Lardarius Webb ( BAL – DB 34) – Sleeper.
  10.  Adrian Wilson (ARI – DB 35**) **Bicep injury.
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