Bobby Wagner led the NFL in tackles last season, helping him finish as one of the top fantasy scorers among all IDPs
If your fantasy football league includes Individual Defensive Players (IDPs), the question you must answer is which position is the most valuable? Is it the stud defensive lineman that racks up sacks and makes big plays behind the line of scrimmage? Is it a linebacker that fills the stat sheet in a number of ways? Or is it a defensive back that does his best linebacker impression while also excelling in coverage?
Opinions will no doubt vary, but in looking at the top 50 IDPs for 2020, it appears that the do-everything linebackers get the nod followed by the elite pass rushers. But don't sleep on the multi-dimensional DBs either.
The pool for each position is fairly deep, considering in most cases IDP leagues feature one or two of each position (DL, LB, DB) in a starting lineup, perhaps three if you employ a flex. But just as is the case with QBs, RBs, WRs, TEs, D/STs, and even Ks, picking the right IDP (and when) could be the difference between you putting together a championship-caliber defense or watching another team in your league claim the title.
2020 Positional Rankings: QB I RB I WR I TE I DST I K I DL I LB I DB I Top 50 IDP
2020 IDP Rankings
| Rank | Player | Pos | Team | Bye |
| 1 | Darius Leonard | LB | IND | 7 |
| 2 | Bobby Wagner | LB | SEA | 6 |
| 3 | Danielle Hunter | DE | MIN | 7 |
| 4 | Joey Bosa | DE | LAC | 10 |
| 5 | Myles Garrett | DE | CLE | 9 |
| 6 | Deion Jones | LB | ATL | 10 |
| 7 | Cory Littleton | LB | LV | 6 |
| 8 | Joe Schobert | LB | JAC | 7 |
| 9 | Aaron Donald | DE | LAR | 9 |
| 10 | Cameron Jordan | DE | NO | 6 |
| 11 | Derwin James | S | LAC | 10 |
| 12 | Fred Warner | LB | SF | 11 |
| 13 | Christian Kirksey | LB | GB | 5 |
| 14 | Calais Campbell | DE | BAL | 8 |
| 15 | J.J. Watt | DE | HOU | 8 |
| 16 | Melvin Ingram | DE | LAC | 10 |
| 17 | Budda Baker | S | ARI | 8 |
| 18 | Jamal Adams | S | SEA | 6 |
| 19 | Jordan Hicks | LB | ARI | 8 |
| 20 | Devin White | LB | TB | 13 |
| 21 | Blake Martinez | LB | NYG | 11 |
| 22 | Roquan Smith | LB | CHI | 11 |
| 23 | Jamie Collins | LB | DET | 5 |
| 24 | Jaylon Smith | LB | DAL | 10 |
| 25 | Demarcus Lawrence | DE | DAL | 10 |
| 26 | DeForest Buckner | DT | IND | 7 |
| 27 | Cameron Heyward | DE | PIT | 8 |
| 28 | Nick Bosa | DE | SF | 11 |
| 29 | Landon Collins | S | WAS | 8 |
| 30 | Jordan Poyer | S | BUF | 11 |
| 31 | Tracy Walker | S | DET | 5 |
| 32 | John Johnson | S | LAR | 9 |
| 33 | Kwon Alexander | LB | SF | 11 |
| 34 | Tremaine Edmunds | LB | BUF | 11 |
| 35 | Lavonte David | LB | TB | 13 |
| 36 | Zach Cunningham | LB | HOU | 8 |
| 37 | Isaiah Simmons | LB | ARI | 8 |
| 38 | Shaq Thompson | LB | CAR | 13 |
| 39 | Kenneth Murray | LB | LAC | 10 |
| 40 | Sam Hubbard | DE | CIN | 9 |
| 41 | Carlos Dunlap | DE | CIN | 9 |
| 42 | Dee Ford | DE | SF | 11 |
| 43 | Chase Young | DE | WAS | 8 |
| 44 | Chris Jones | DE | KC | 10 |
| 45 | Justin Houston | DE | IND | 7 |
| 46 | Leighton Vander Esch | LB | DAL | 10 |
| 47 | T.J. Watt | LB | PIT | 8 |
| 48 | Demario Davis | LB | NO | 6 |
| 49 | Eric Kendricks | LB | MIN | 7 |
| 50 | Jessie Bates III | S | CIN | 9 |
