IDP: The Allspark of Fantasy Football

Eric Breeze Posted On April 16, 2015

allspark

Editor’s Note: This IDP article is written by a new writer for DLF, Eric Breeze. Our recent survey asked us to provide more IDP content and we’ll do just that. We welcome Eric to the DLF Team and look forward to his work in the future.

I assume most of you have seen one or many of the Transformers movies. Let’s try to refrain from going into how bad the last couple have been and focus on a great comparison that can be made to Fantasy Football. The Allspark is an item of limitless power that can be used for great things – it can also be used to destroy if put into the wrong hands. I feel the same way about IDP (Individual Defensive Players) being implemented into Fantasy Football leagues. If you are not aware of IDP, or need a summary of it, please refer to the “IDP:101” by our own Eric Olinger.

If IDP settings are implemented the correct way, you can double your fantasy football player database and make FF twice as fun. Double the players you can trade, double the positions to improve and double the fantasy football experience. Who wouldn’t want that? However, if used incorrectly, you will think trying IDP was a bigger mistake than eating a grilled cod sandwich from a rundown gas station. You may even try to forget it ever happened. So, how can IDP be used incorrectly you ask? I’ll show you, then advise how to make IDP a fantasy football norm for you and your leaguemates from this day on. The one statement I hope you take from this article is, “MAKE IDP MATTER.”

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One of the most bittersweet things I see or hear is “My league has decided to add in IDP, but we are all new at it so we are only going to start one defensive lineman, one linebacker and one defensive back.” This statement breaks my heart. I’m not exaggerating. Family, Friends, my dog, Italian beef and IDP are my top 5 loves. It’s truly awesome that you are going to give IDP a chance, the problem is you are setting it up for failure without even knowing.

IDP has as much if not more depth than the offensive side of the ball. I would compare depth of defensive line and defensive backs to that of running backs. Linebackers are the wide receivers of IDP – they are crucial pieces to your team and extremely deep. Would you enjoy a fantasy football league that started only one WR each week? I know I wouldn’t because every week would just be an entire game of luck. Your Dez Bryant vs his/her Demaryius Thomas. It would be very possible you could have two elite wide receivers. How would you choose between starting Julio Jones or Megatron (Calvin Johnson, not the huge scary robot) every week? Picking the wrong one which results in a loss would be frustrating beyond belief. If you wouldn’t like a league that only starts one wide receiver, do not implement IDP with only one of each position. In a 12-team league, you need to have settings that start 2-3 DL, 3-4 LB and 2-3 DB. One of each will essentially feel like adding three more kickers to the end of your lineup. Every team will have one stud – it’s just purely luck who performs that week. By starting as many defensive lineman and defensive backs as running backs and as many linebackers as wide receivers you are setting yourself up for success. You are MAKING IDP MATTER.

Another thing I hear a lot is “We are new to IDP, so we are going to make them score less than offensive players”. Again, it’s great that you want to dive into IDP, but with this mentality I do not think you will enjoy it – I know I wouldn’t and I think about IDP every day. To enjoy IDP and make it stick in your league, you truly have to dive in, just not stick your toes in the water. If your league gave one point for every ten rush yards but only one point every 50 receiving yards ,would you enjoy drafting, trading and scouting wide receivers? I highly doubt it, so don’t do that for IDP if you want to really make it succeed. It is imperative you MAKE IDP MATTER in your weekly scoring.

So, that is enough of what not to do, so let’s move on to ways to succeed.

I challenge you all to give IDP a shot this off-season. It does not even have to be a dynasty league, redraft is a great way to start your journey into the world of IDP. All I ask is you take these following guidelines and use them

Leagues should start a minimum of 20 DL, 30 LB and 20 DB totally across all teams. In a 10 team league it should be 2DL/3LB/2DB starting requirements for each team. The more the better in my opinion but this is a great start.
Make IDPs score equivalent to offensive players. In a full PPR league I suggest you try the following
- Solo tackle = 1.5 points
- Assisted tackle = .75 points
- Sack = 6 points (or Tackle for loss = 2 points and Sack = 4 points, TFL and sack stack on each other when a sack is made)
- Interception = 7.5 points
- Forced fumble = 4.5 points
- Fumble recovery = 3 points
- Pass Defended = 2 points
- Defensive TD = 6 points (6 points will be added to INT/FR)
- Safety = 10 points

If you use these tips to add IDP into your Fantasy Football league, I would bet the majority of your leaguemates will love it. Also, it is completely understandable if you are scared to jump into IDP. I was four years ago when I joined my first IDP league, but it was the best fantasy football decision I ever made. The best part of fantasy football is you have the power to make it great. Take “The Allspark of Fantasy Football” and “transform” your league into something truly amazing!

Good luck, give it a try and remember, MAKE IDP MATTER.

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