IDP Draft Strategy (2018)

Jul 04, 2018

Unsure of the rules, settings, and strategies in an IDP league?

The following guide will provide the basic scoring formats, positional requirements, and league rules you need to know to get started.

More 2018 Positional Draft Strategies: Streaming D/ST | TE | QB | WR | RB

It will also provide draft strategy tips for each IDP position, as well as some more advanced strategies.

Two Must-Know Elements for Getting Started with IDP

To prep for an IDP draft, you need to be aware of a couple of key elements of your league: Scoring format and positional requirements.

1. Scoring Format

Big-play, tackle-heavy, and balanced (a mix of big-play and tackle-heavy) are the three main IDP scoring formats.

Big-Play Format

Big-play scoring typically refers to formats that devalue tackles and places more of an emphasis on the splash plays, which are far less predictable. Below is a common example of big-play scoring:

Sacks: 6 points
Fumble Recoveries: 4 points
Interceptions: 4 points
Tackles for Loss: 2 points
Forced Fumbles: 2 points
Passes Defended: 2 points
Solo tackles: 1 point

Tackles are more frequent, so they aren’t valued as highly as sacks or splash plays, which places a higher value on a sack specialist like Von Miller or Justin Houston, while at the time same placing less emphasis on a tackling machine like Bobby Wagner. There are elite players who thrive in most formats, like Luke Kuechly or J.J. Watt, who should be high IDP selections no matter the format.

Tackle-Heavy Format

In a tackle-heavy format, tackles are emphasized with double the points per solo tackle relative to big-play formats. Below is a common example of tackle-heavy scoring:

Interceptions: 4 points
Solo tackles: 2 points
Sacks: 2 points per half sack
Fumble Recoveries: 2 points
Forced Fumbles: 2 points
Assisted Tackles: 1 point
Passes Defended: 1 point

Drafting a tackling machine like Bobby Wagner, who has averaged 130 tackles in six seasons, can help you rack up double-digit IDP points each week because of tackles alone. This format puts less of an emphasis on pass-rushers, who tend to rely on sacks for fantasy scoring while failing to rack up many tackles. Pass-rushers can go multiple games without a sack, increasing the chances of them producing few IDP points in a given week.

Note: Another scoring intricacy to consider is return yardage, as this puts a little more value into a cornerback or safety since they can sometimes be primary kick returners.

2. Positional Requirements

Before drafting, you need to know three things about your specific league's rules:

How many defensive players you have to start each week.
How many you can roster.
If there are limitations as to how many you can draft at each position.

For example, you may be limited to drafting just five linebackers. What are your position designations? Do you have to draft a defensive tackle and a defensive end? Or is it a general defensive linemen position? Those rules and requirements matter.

If this is your first IDP league, I suggest using just one at each position, which means 36 IDPs at a minimum will be drafted.

If you want to get more advanced, I suggest starting 2 DL, 2-3 LBs, and 2-3 DBs, along with the offensive starters.

4for4's Top 100 IDP Rankings will give you a good idea of who we value at each IDP position and should help you unearth value plays.

Two Keys to IDP Pre-Draft Prep

Continue reading to see what are Mike's two keys to IDP pre-draft prepping as well as more IDP strategy tips that will help you win your IDP league...