We'll be happy to help more, but we'll need a bunch more information.
If I was running this team, I'd want to know how many players start at each defensive position, how many players are routinely carried, what the relative value of each position is to the offensive side (doesn't look good), where the IDPs usually go in the draft, what kind of value is already available on the waiver wire, etc.
I'd recommend reading through some of the threads in the FAQ. That should get you started on relative value of a DL, LB, and DB and which positions you should target for your scoring system. There are some good threads on when to take defensive players, learning defensive schemes, and some other useful ideas for you.
At a quick glance, your offensive roster looks very good and your defensive lineup looks okay. If there are only two players rostered per position, though, I think you could improve on Vilma and both DBs. If the IDP value is as minimal as it looks (tackles nice value, big plays little value), I'd look to add the most consistent tacklers you can find at every position. Again, look through the FAQ for details and exceptions, but that will mean stud 4-3 MLBs and SS who play the run more than the pass. Plug them in and forget about them. If you can't get there yet, your league rules will hopefully allow you to cycle players in and out by matchups with IDP rosters this shallow.
Let us know if there are specific players you're considering or if you want some clarification about some ideas you find in the FAQs. Good luck. Once you're bitten by the IDP bug, you'll never watch the game the same again.
Ok I dont exactly understand the first half of the bold sentence. The answer to the second half is each position requires 2 players and you start one of each every week. You are allowed one waiver per week to do with what you will. This past season was my first year doing fantasy football and was the intial draft of this league so as far as when def players are usually drafted I really dont know.Here are the top 5 scorers from last year who are currently free agents:
D line: Chike Okeafor ARZ
Trevor Price BALT
Ebenezer Ekuban DEN
Tommy Kelly OAK
Derrick Burgess OAK
S+CB: Will Demps NYG
Richard Marshall CAR
Nick Collins GBP
Donte Whitner BUF
Asante Samuel NEP
LB: Kirk Morrison OAK
Chris Draft CAR
EJ Henderson MIN
Ernie Sims DET
Landon Johnson
Demarcus Ware
The only specific player I was looking at was Laron Landry
In order to properly determine player value, you need to know the following:
1. The talent of the player
2. The opportunity the player will have now and/or in the future
The first two are self-explanatory. If you don't have a great grasp of those two issues yet, you will in time.
3. How your scoring system values the player
This is where relative value matters. It's important to know where certain tiers break out and compare across positions. How valuable is the #1, #6, #12, #24 player at a given position relative to the others. If there's a huge drop off after the 6th best TE in most years in your system but the #3 and #15 LBs are very close together you want to find yourself a good TE and not concern yourself if you've got the #5 or #12 LB. It becomes especially important in draft, trade, and waiver decisions. You win the relative value battle at enough positions, you win the war.
In this system, you're only rostering 24 total IDPs per position and starting twelve which means you're starting (and rostering) only the best of the best. The relative value of all three IDP positions is blunted. Further, since your scoring system doesn't award a high amount of points, the total output of an IDP in comparison to an offensive player is almost certainly too low to make them a vital part of your lineup total. When there's little relative difference among starters because you use so few and the total point output is so small, all that "relative value" talk isn't meaningful. That's why it's important to know the details of your system.
4. Where your leaguemates value each position
Knowing the relative value is important, but knowing whether your leaguemates won't trade a backup WR for a good IDP or that the first IDP won't be drafted until the third round of your yearly draft is just as important to determining trade and draft value. Some things you may be able to wait on, some things you may have to move more quickly or strongly to get.
Rovers pretty much said the same thing, only in a much more concise manner.
In your situation, you'll want to find two consistent top eight players at every position. When you can't do that, you'll want to carefully plan your waiver moves to take advantage of great matchups with lesser IDPs. The only two players you've listed that would strike me as upgrades for you today are Kirk Morrison and Ernie Sims. Both should be clear upgrades over Jonathan Vilma if he doesn't swap ILB positions in camp. Of the DBs, Donte Whitner looks to be the best option to replace Darrent Williams, but if there are only 24 DBs rostered, there's got to be other options available on the wire.
There are some can't miss no matter who drafts them IDP prospects but they are very few and far between. The value of a rookie IDP is very much tied to the scheme they're drafted into and the opportunity they'll get based on playing time, surrounding cast, etc. Most folks would've pegged AJ Hawk as the #1 overall prospect or Michael Huff as the #1 overall DB entering April last year. It was extremely rare to find DeMeco Ryans among some folks top five LBs, even after he was taken by Houston. For now, it's worth familiarizing yourself with names and skill sets, but don't get excited about any one rookie IDP until you see where they land. It's not inconceivable that Laron Landry won't be in some folks top three DBs, much less top five IDPs in June. He'll look awfully nice as a Carolina Panther, not so nice in some other uniforms.
I'll pimp the FAQ again, in particular the threads on roster management and positional value and schemes. It'll be overwhelming at first, but very much worth it. Feel free to start other general strategy threads or bump those in the FAQ looking for clarifications or more thoughts.
