When Should You Draft Your IDPs?
The prevailing wisdom among veteran IDP owners is to fill out most of your offensive starting lineup and even draft a key offensive backup or two before drafting your first IDP. Because offensive talent quickly grows scarce, most owners fall in line and the first IDPs runs won't happen until somewhere between Rounds 8 and 10.
In most cases, that will indeed be your sweet spot. But your understanding of scoring system and IDP opportunity will keep you flexible during the draft. You can exploit your lesser prepared leaguemates in multiple ways.
Often, your preparation will allow you to wait even longer to fill your IDP starting slots. While your competition relies on last year's stats and misunderstands the scoring system, you'll be able to find very good mid-round IDP value, unearth late round gems and successfully work the waiver wire. The number of starting defensive players in the NFL (3-4 DL, LB and DBs on every NFL team) also aids this strategy. Last season's prepared IDP owners recognized that Patrick Willis and D.J. Williams were primed for big seasons and had them in the top tier of linebackers. Those owners were able to slough the linebacker position well into the middle rounds while filling other positions and losing no ground to their competition.
However, some leagues take concerns about the scarcity of offensive talent too far and give you an opportunity to stack your lineup with stud IDPs. In leagues where defensive players carry as much value as offensive players, jumping on the top IDPs while your leaguemates are grabbing backup wide receivers will give you a big defensive advantage while not giving up much with your back-end offensive players. Again, your knowledge of the scoring system allows you the flexibility to confidently exploit whatever your competition gives you.
Which IDP Position Should You Draft First?
There are no simple answers to this question. So much of what may make a pick good or bad is dependent on the structure of the league and vagaries of your scoring system. Still, it's worth considering a few core thoughts around which to build your draft strategy.
Most IDP scoring systems give linebacker the most value, making them the lifeblood of your roster. The steady tackle production of most linebackers also makes them the most consistent IDP position. With rare exception, they will anchor your lineup and should be your first draft targets.
There are very few defensive ends that are capable of finishing among the leaders in sacks and solo tackles while providing consistent weekly production. Those elite ends are often as valuable as the top linebackers. It's worth considering drafting those rare and consistent defensive ends (e.g. Jared Allen and Aaron Kampman) in the same rounds as the better linebackers.
On the other hand, defensive backs tend to have more year-to-year and week-to-week variability. That variability usually dictates waiting to fill your defensive back slots in favor of safer and surer options at defensive end and linebacker. If you can't get a stud strong safety or all-around cornerback early in the draft, your preparation will help you find exceptional defensive backs off the waiver wire.
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