2010 IDP Draft Rankings – Defensive Linemen (Dynasty)

ByRyan Sitzmann Posted on Updated on

Here are my IDP Defensive Lineman Rankings for Dynasty Leagues. Obviously, age becomes a more significant factor in dynasty leagues compared to redraft leagues and consequently I have provided the ages of all the players listed (as of 9/1/2010). I will continually update these rankings throughout the off-season to reflect changes in free agency, defensive schemes, defensive playing time, rookie draft selections, etc.

I would love to get feedback from my readers. Often times, we get stuck in our own philosophies and tendencies. So it’s nice to get a different perspective on things. Your comments will definitely influence my rankings.

Drafting Philosophy:
Defensive linemen are by far the most inconsistent fantasy point producers during the year. Many linemen will go three or four weeks without registering a sack and then, exactly when you drop or bench them, they have a multiple sack game. This can be extremely frustrating for fantasy owners. In addition, there aren’t many unknown linemen that emerge during the season and consequently the waiver wire is usually not packed with worthwhile fantasy defensive linemen.

With this being said, in order to lessen my “cognitive dissonance”, I try to use many of my early round defensive draft picks on defensive linemen (unless the scoring system doesn’t reward much for sacks). Obtaining guys like Jared Allen and Justin Tuck allows me to plug them in my roster and not worry about their ups and downs throughout the season, since they have proven their consistency throughout their careers.

Also, when you’re trying to fill that last defensive lineman position, I prefer to go with younger, high risk/high reward players such as Everette Brown or Connor Barwin as opposed to the safer, veteran players such as Richard Seymour or Albert Haynesworth. This philosophy is reflected in my lower-tier rankings.

Scoring System:
Solo Tackle = 2 points
Assist = 1 point
Sack = 7 points
Interception = 12 points
Fumble Recovery = 5 points

Key:
DSC = Possible Defensive Scheme Change
S = Sleeper/Undervalued Player
B = Bust/Overvalued Player
R = Injury Risk
ROOKIE = 2010 NFL Rookie
(xx) = Previous Ranking

Tier 1

Jared Allen
Age: 28 		1. RDE Jared Allen (MIN) – This is an obvious one. Allen was the top fantasy lineman by a substantial margin in 2009. Not only does he get to the quarterback on a consistent basis, he seems to come up with a handful of big plays every year. Allen provides the largest relative fantasy value of any defensive lineman and should therefore be one of the first defensive players selected.

Tier 2

Mario WilliamsAge: 25 2. RDE Mario Williams (HOU) – Williams had somewhat of an off-year in 2009 by compiling only nine sacks. However, over his last three seasons in the league, he has averaged 12 sacks per year. The possible emergence of Connor Barwin at LDE could take some pressure off of Williams and allow him to return to his double digit sack production of 2007 and 2008.

Trent ColeAge: 27 3. RDE Trent Cole (PHI) – Cole has been a model of consistency over the last four seasons. During that span, he has averaged over 10 sacks per season and over 60 total tackles. Defensive linemen are the most inconsistent fantasy producers. With this being said, Cole becomes a valuable commodity in the IDP world.

Justin Tuck
Age: 27		 4. LDE Justin Tuck (NYG) – Tuck had his worst season in three seasons and he still finished as the eighth leading scorer for defensive linemen in my scoring system. Keep in mind that Tuck was struggling with injury problems the whole season and that the Giants defensive line severely underperformed, both of which greatly limited his production. Heading into the 2010 season, with a clean bill of health and an improved defensive line, Tuck should be able to return to top form. DSC, R

For a more in-depth look at Justin Tuck, click here.

Julius PeppersAge: 30 5. RDE Julius Peppers (CHI) – Peppers answered all the doubters this season by registering 10.5 sacks to follow up his 14.5 sack season of a year ago. This marks the fifth time in eight seasons that Peppers has registered double digit sacks. His move to Chicago really doesn’t affect his fantasy value at all. I expect him to continue to put up double digit sack numbers. He doesn’t have a ton of help on the defensive line, but he didn’t in Carolina either.

Tier 3

Terrell SuggsAge: 27 6. RDE/ROLB Terrell Suggs (BALT) – Suggs in one of the safest choices at defensive lineman. He is usually a lock for 65-80 total tackles and eight or more sacks. His 2009 sack numbers (5.5 sacks) seem a bit disappointing. However, keep in mind that Suggs missed three games due to injury which lowered his overall numbers. A healthy Suggs should be able to produce his typical fantasy numbers in 2010 and beyond. S, R

Robert MathisAge: 29 7. LDE Robert Mathis (IND) – Mathis’ 2009 numbers are a bit deceiving. Yes, he did have only 9.5 sacks. However, all 9.5 of those sacks were registered during the first 12 games of the season. Mathis only registered one tackle and no sacks during the last five games of the season due to injury issues. If he had played a full injury-free season, he probably would have had 13-15 sacks. As long as Freeney continues to draw the attention of defenses, Mathis will be a top 10 fantasy DL.

Ray EdwardsAge: 25 8. LDE Ray Edwards (MIN) – Edwards exploded onto the IDP scene this season with 9 sacks. Obviously Edwards benefited greatly from having the beast known as Jared Allen drawing double teams on the opposite side of the defensive line. Allen continuing to draw the attention of opposing offenses should free Edwards up to produce similar stats to his 2009 season. He may however see a slight decrease in numbers now that opposing offenses know about him. S

Will SmithAge: 29 9. RDE Will Smith (NO) – Smith was sure “getting jiggy wit’ it” in 2009 by sacking the quarterback 13.5 times. Personally, I think the “Fresh Prince” played a little over his head in 2009 and may be somewhat overvalued heading into the 2010 draft. However, he does have the advantage of playing on the Saints defense where he has plenty of sack opportunities since opposing teams are usually trailing the Saints and have to throw to catch up. The addition of Alex Brown on the left side should help solidify the Saints line and decrease the amount of double teams Smith will be seeing next season.

Tier 4

Ray EdwardsAge: 31 10. RDE Aaron Kampman (JAX) – From 2006-2008, Kampman was a top 8 fantasy defensive lineman. During this span he averaged 71 total tackles and 11.5 sacks per year and established himself as one of the most productive fantasy defensive linemen in the NFL. Kampman’s numbers took a severe hit in 2009 however when he was moved into a rush linebacker position. After signing with the Jaguars in the off-season, Kampman will return to his natural defensive end position. He should be a great fit in Jacksonville and I can see Kampman putting up top 10 numbers next season.

Darnell DockettAge: 29 11. RDE Darnell Dockett (ARI) – Dockett’s numbers have never been overly impressive. However, he did finish as the number 10 lineman in my scoring system by having both solid tackle (54 total tackles) and sack (7.5 sacks) numbers. The addition of Dan Williams at nose tackle should help Dockett penetrate the line on a fairly consistent basis. I look for Dockett to replicate his 2009 numbers next year.

Mathias KiwanukaAge: 27 12. RDE Mathias Kiwanuka (NYG) – I really like Kiwanuka heading into the 2010 season. At this point in time, he looks to have the advantage over Osi Umenyiora concerning the starting RDE position in New York. “Special K” has shown that he can produce when given the opportunity (8 sacks in 2008 as a full-time starter) and he will surely benefit from playing opposite LDE Justin Tuck. I expect Kiwanuka to get about 60-65% of the snaps at the RDE position next season which should be enough to make him a solid DL2 next season. DSC, S

Everette BrownAge: 22 13. RDE Everette Brown (CAR) – With Julius Peppers in Chicago, Everette Brown is now the man in Carolina. Carolina thought highly enough of Brown not to put up a big fight in getting Peppers to stay in Carolina. He was the 43rd overall pick in last year’s draft and has the talent to become the Panthers top lineman. He’s going to have some growing pains but I expect him to be a low DL1/high DL2 by the start of the 2011 season. S

Osi UmenyioraAge: 29 14. RDE Osi Umenyiora (NYG) – It looks as though Umenyiora will be the backup to Kiwanuka at the RDE position next season. I still expect him to get about 50% of the snaps between RDE and LDE next season though since the Giants plan on rotating their linemen often. He should be able to produce solid numbers next season primarily since he’s playing on such a talented defensive line that allows for ample sack and tackle opportunities. DSC

Justin SmithAge: 30 15. RDE Justin Smith (SF) – Words cannot describe how atrocious Smith was last season. Through 15 games of the season, he only had 2.5 sacks. He finished the year with six sacks because he registered 3.5 sacks against the lowly Rams in the final game of the season. With all this being said, Smith still finished as the 12th highest scoring lineman due to his above average tackle numbers. The fact remains that Smith is one of the better tackling linemen and is therefore a fairly safe pick to be a top 20 defensive lineman.

Tier 5

Chris LongAge: 25 16. RDE Chris Long (STL) – I was high on Long coming into the 2009 season and he really disappointed me. He failed to register a sack until Week 8; however he had five sacks the rest of the season. I think Long is going to breakout next year and show people why he was the 2nd overall pick back in 2008. S

Darren HowardAge: 21 17. RDE Derrick Morgan (TEN) – Out of all the defensive linemen drafted in 2010, Morgan has the best chance to become a fantasy DL1. He landed in a great position in Tennessee and has the work ethic and motivation to become a Pro Bowler in the NFL. He has a pretty good lineman in William Hayes on the left side to help take some of the pressure off him in his rookie season. Morgan probably won’t produce a ton in 2010, but I can see him developing quickly and becoming fantasy relevant by 2011. ROOKIE

William HayesAge: 25 18. LDE William Hayes (TEN) – Hayes is now the #1 defensive lineman in Tennessee with the departure of KVB to Detroit. He had quite a few QB hurries in 2009. If he can improve his game and turn those QB hurries into sacks, he’s going to be a solid DL2 next season. The drafting of Derrick Morgan should help Hayes in this task. S

Kyle Vanden BoschAge: 32 19. RDE Kyle Vanden Bosch (DET) – If you read my articles, you probably know that I don’t have much love for KVB. I think he is highly overrated as a standalone defensive lineman. However, I think KVB can be a very good player when surrounded with a strong supporting cast and this is exactly what he has in Detroit now that the Lions have drafted Suh and signed DT Corey Williams (and they have Cliff Avril on the left side as well). I think KVB can have a top 15 season. However, he is 32 and only has a couple years left which hurts his dynasty value.

Calais CampbellAge: 24 20. LDE Calais Campbell (ARI) – Campbell took advantage of teams focusing on Pro-Bowl RDE Darnell Dockett by getting to the quarterback 6.5 times. Campbell is only going into his 3rd season and is a talented player who should only improve with time. The addition of NT Dan Williams in the draft should further increase Campbell’s chances for success. I look for him to improve upon his 2009 numbers.

Age: 31 21. RDE Greg “Stylez” White (TB) – The “(Sack) Artist Formerly Known as Greg” come through with a solid season and is one of my favorite sleeper picks next season. All of White’s 6.5 sacks came after the Buccaneers traded RDE Gaines Adams in Week 5. The Bucs spent their 1st two draft picks on interior defensive linemen (Gerald McCoy and Brian Price) and White has said he is in the “best shape of his life.” This is a guy you can grab late in drafts and someone I think has a chance for double digit sacks next season. S

Alex BrownAge: 31 22. LDE Alex Brown (NO) – Brown manages to fly under the radar every year. But, you will be hard pressed to find a more consistent defensive lineman. Brown has never had more than 7 sacks in a season, but he usually finishes in the 5-7 sack range with decent tackle numbers. These numbers may not seem very impressive but, in my scoring system, Brown scored the 21st most points for a defensive lineman. Brown’s signing with New Orleans helps his fantasy value somewhat since he’s playing on a very strong defensive line. S

For a more in-depth look at Alex Brown, click here.

Cliff AvrilAge: 24 23. RDE Cliff Avril (DET) – Avril was one of my top sleepers heading into the 2009 season and, man, did he make me look like a jackass. However, I’m still a believer in Avril and his value has definitely increased since the Lions added KVB, Suh, and Corey Williams. Also, the Lions released LDE Dewayne White which should improve Avril’s chances of getting decent playing time. I may have had Avril ranked a couple spots higher if he had not burned me so badly last season :). S

Tier 6

Dwight FreeneyAge: 30 24. RDE Dwight Freeney (IND) – In my opinion, Freeney is overrated and always has been. As a like to say, there are three things in life that are inevitable: death, taxes, and someone taking Dwight Freeney too early in a fantasy draft. Yes, he has averaged 12 sacks over the last two seasons. However, he just doesn’t generate enough tackles to warrant top 20 consideration. Excluding solo tackles obtained from sacking the quarterback, Freeney had only six solo tackles. In my scoring system, that puts him as the 20th ranked defensive lineman. Plus, Freeney is on the wrong side of 30 and has had numerous injury problems the last few seasons. B

Antwan OdomAge: 29 25. RDE Antwan Odom (CIN) – Odom had 8 sacks in his first five games of the season before going down with a season-ending knee injury. I think Odom is going to be severely overvalued heading into the 2010 fantasy draft. The Bengals’ defensive line hasn’t been a very fruitful place for fantasy players lately and, keep in mind that, 5 of Odom’s 8 sacks came against Aaron Rodgers and his offensive line (at the time approximately named “Baby Swiss”). B, R

Jay RatliffAge: 29 26. NT Jay Ratliff (DAL) – Ratliff is one of the few nose tackles in the league who is actually a viable fantasy option. Ratliff has finished in the top 25 for defensive linemen in each of the past two years. Although is upside is quite limited, he has established himself as one of the safer defensive tackle picks. If you are look for consistency, Ratliff is your man.

Derrick HarveyAge: 23 27. LDE Derrick Harvey (JAX) – Owners have been waiting for Harvey to breakout since he was drafted with the 8th overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft. This has failed to happen yet but Harvey did play well down the stretch last season and if he can manage to put things together, he could be a top 20 lineman in the future. If you’re feeling risky, this may be a good pick for you. S

Darren HowardAge: 24 28. LDT Sedrick Ellis (NO) – The Saints spent the 7th overall pick of the 2008 draft on Ellis and so far he hasn’t panned out (largely due to injury issues). In the games in which he’s played, he’s put up nice tackle numbers and even thrown in a few sacks. Assuming he can stay healthy for a majority of the season, Ellis could be one of the top fantasy defensive tackles and a top 35 defensive lineman. S, R

Connor BarwinAge: 23 29. LDE Connor Barwin (HOU) – As my former FFManiaxs colleague Sean Haugh says, Barwin is “nasty.” He has the intangibles and the intelligence to be a successful defensive end; he just needs to develop some moves and become a better defender against the run. He will eventually end up playing opposite of All-Pro defensive end Mario Williams which will definitely help him to develop more quickly. S

Tier 7

Haloti NgataAge: 26 30. RDE Haloti Ngata (BALT) – Ngata had a down year last season mainly due to lingering injury issues. He returns in 2010 fully healthy and I expect him to regain his fantasy form. He surprisingly finished 27 overall in points scored for defensive linemen in 2008 and is surely capable of putting up those type of numbers again. In tackle-heavy leagues, he’s a nice option.

Darren HowardAge: 21 31. LDE Brandon Graham (PHI) – I think Graham is overrated as a player and that the Eagles reached when they traded up to draft him. However, the Eagles really like him and, although he won’t be an immediate starter, he should be able to garner a decent amount of playing time. He has the advantage of playing opposite Pro Bowler Trent Cole, which should help ease his transition to the NFL and help his 2010 fantasy numbers. I’m not expecting much though this season, but he could become a decent DL2 in following years. ROOKIE

John AbrahamAge: 32 32. RDE John Abraham (ATL) – Last year was perhaps the worst season of Abraham’s career. Abraham is getting older and is starting to be relegated to passing situations only. Many owners think Abraham is done and consequently his perceived value will be greatly diminished heading into 2010. However, many forget that it was only one year ago when Abraham had 16.5 sacks. I think Abraham still has some gas left in the tank and can definitely have a rebound year. He is 32 however and his dynasty value will be greatly diminished after this season. R

Mike PattersonAge: 23 33 (45). LDE Michael Johnson (CIN) – I’m not a huge believer in either Antwan Odom or Robert Geathers and I think Michael Johnson will have plenty of opportunities to unseat one of these guys for a starting job. Johnson is kind of a wildcard in that we haven’t seen much from him yet and I’m a little weary of this pick since the defensive line position in Cincinnati always seems to be up in the air. The Bengals have been experimenting with Johnson at strong side linebacker though and he could be the sneaky LB at DL play this season (ala Trevor Scott of last year). Johnson is a high risk/reward pick and could be a nice selection in the right situation.

Kroy BiermannAge: 24 34. RDE Kroy Biermann (ATL) – Biermann is a great name and he had a solid season. In fact, he finished 19th overall in my scoring system for defensive lineman. He played a decent amount of snaps even playing behind John Abraham and I see no reason for a reduction in playing time for “Beer Man.” He’s had a great preseason with sacks in each of his first two games.

Shaun EllisAge: 33 35. LDE Shaun Ellis (NYJ) – Ellis had a nice year and seemed to thrive under new, defensive-minded, head coach Rex Ryan. I’m always a little bit skeptical of 3-4 DEs such as Ellis. However, Ellis has proven throughout his career that he is a top 30 defensive lineman. Keep in mind though that Ellis is 33 years old and he doesn’t have many years left.

Glen DorseyAge: 25 36. RDE Glen Dorsey (KC) – There is no doubting Dorsey’s talent. However, he is severely miscast in Kansas City’s 3-4 defensive scheme. He’s managed only 2 sacks in 2 years. For as bad as Dorsey’s been though, he still ranked as the 38th scoring lineman in my scoring system in large part due to his above average tackle numbers. With Romeo Crennel coming to town as KC’s new defensive coordinator, I expect Dorsey to generate more than 1 sack next year and to produce a good amount of tackles. Dorsey could be a nice late-round steal. S

Kevin WilliamsAge: 30 37. RDT Kevin Williams (MIN) – Williams’ sack totals weren’t off-base with his previous year’s accumulation. However, he had a career-low in tackles. I attribute these low tackle numbers to Williams being unhealthy for a large part of the 2nd half of the season. Tackle-wise, I think Williams will substantially improve next season and I foresee a similar sack total.

Tier 8

Charles JohnsonAge: 23 38. LDE Charles Johnson (CAR) – Johnson has had 10 sacks in the last two seasons as a backup and, now, with Julius Peppers gone, it looks as though he may become the starter at right defensive end. He doesn’t do much for you at all in the tackle department, but I wouldn’t put it past Johnson to register 6-8 sacks.

Kelly GreggAge: 33
 39. NT Kelly Gregg (BALT) – Kelly Gregg, similar to Jay Ratliff, is one of the few nose tackles that are worthy of a fantasy roster spot. Gregg is a tackling machine and can provide consistency to fantasy owners which is something hard to find with defensive lineman. Gregg is usually good for 65-80 total tackles. However, Gregg is 33 years old and the Ravens used a high draft pick to draft NT Terrence “Mount” Cody and Gregg will more than likely lose some playing time next year. He’s a decent option in 2010, but may lose most of his fantasy relevance after the 2010 season.

Darren HowardAge: 23 40 (43). RDE Matt Shaughnessy (OAK) – “Shag Nasty” had a good 2nd half of the 2009 season. In that time period, he registered 4 sacks in eight games and throw in decent tackle numbers. With the addition of Richard Seymour on the left side and another year under his belt, Shag Nasty enters 2010 as a potential sleeper candidate. I’m not as high on him as others are just because he plays in Oakland and they haven’t had a viable fantasy lineman there for a while and I have a sneaky suspicion that Oakland is going to give some 3-4 looks this season. He’s worth a shot in later rounds if you need to fill spots.

August 23 Update: Even though it looks like Shaughnessy is only going to be a two-down player to start the season, he had two sacks in his preseason game against the Cowboys and could end up being the Raiders best defensive lineman.

Darryl TappAge: 25 41. RDE Darryl Tapp (PHI) – IDP owners have been waiting for Tapp to blossom into a top 15 defensive lineman for the last couple of years and it just hasn’t happened. Tapp had an off-year last year by only registering 2.5 sacks. Tapp will probably start the season as the starting LDE in Philadelphia. However, I expect rookie Brandon Graham so steal away a decent amount of snaps from him. I’m hoping that a change of scenery will improve Tapp’s performance and production. He’s only 25 so he still has a chance to become a decent fantasy option.

Darren HowardAge: 27 42. LDE Mark Anderson (CHI) – Anderson pretty much completely fall off the map after registering 12 sacks in his rookie year (2006). The only reason why I have him in the top 50 is because he is playing opposite of RDE Julius Peppers (on passing downs) and this makes Anderson a definite worthwhile late-round flier. There’s little risk taking him this late in drafts and he has nice upside. S

Jonathan BabineauxAge: 28 43. LDT Jonathan Babineaux (ATL) – Both Jonathan Babineaux and Kroy Biermann emerged this season for the Falcons. It’s difficult to tell which player (if any) is the real deal and which one is the fluke. Even though he is a defensive tackle, I would bet on Babineaux being the slightly better play in 2010. He was a standout at Iowa and was fairly highly touted in the draft. He was quite consistent throughout the 2009 season and registered a nice sack total of six from his interior position and finished with the 19th most points for a defensive lineman in my scoring system. I don’t think he’ll have quite as good of a year next season, but he’s still should be a solid low DL3/high DL4.

Jerry HughesAge: 21 44 (45). RDE Jerry Hughes (IND) – The Colts always seem to have players fall into their laps during the draft and Hughes is no exception. Regarding by many scouts as perhaps the best rushing linebacker coming out of the draft, he lands with a team that has the advantage of slowly bringing him along. I expect the Colts to use him in a variety of different ways and he could put up some decent numbers in his rookie year thanks to teams focusing on ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. ROOKIE

Tier 9

Richard SeymourAge: 30 45 (41). LDE Richard Seymour (OAK) – Seymour has always been a bit overrated in fantasy-terms. However, with him now in Oakland, he should see an uptake in his tackle numbers since the Raiders defense is constantly on the field. He’s usually got for 4 or 5 sacks as well.

August 23 Update: Seymour has been moved to RDT and becomes a great play in DT-require leagues in which he is still classified as a defensive end.

Randy StarksAge: 28
46. NT Randy Starks (MIA) – Starks came out of the woodwork this season and strung together a solid year of production with 42 solo tackles and 7 sacks. Starks surprisingly finished as the ninth best lineman in my scoring system. However, Starks is moving to nose tackle this season which is definitely going to hurt his sack totals. This is a guy I would sell in the off-season if I had him on my roster. B

Tony BrownAge: 29 47. RDT Tony Brown (TEN) – Mr. Brown has increased in sack total each year since he entered the league in 2004. Last season he had 5 sacks and with the departure of Kyle Vanden Bosch, Brown may be able to increase those numbers. He puts up fairly mediocre tackle numbers though, especially for a defensive tackle. Brown is a decent DL4 option.

Albert HaynesworthAge: 28 48. NT Albert Haynesworth (WASH) – “Fat Albert” came back down to earth after his monstrous 2008 season. I’ve always thought Haynesworth was overrated in fantasy terms. Accoring to his trainer, “Big Daddy” has lost 30 pounds in the off-season. This would normally be good news, however with Haynesworth now assuming the 3-4 NT role in the Redskins new system, he needs to be larger to be effective. I just don’t see Albert putting up great numbers. DSC

Jason Pierre-PaulAge: 21 49. LDE Jason Pierre-Paul (NYG) – Are you down with JPP? I am (in a couple of years). Pierre-Paul is a project and is going to take a couple of years to develop. However, once he’s ready, I think he’s going to be a great player. Not only does he have freakish talent, he has the opportunity to learn from 3 great defensive linemen in Justin Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka, and Osi Umenyiora. If you are stacked at defensive line and have the ability to wait on a lineman for a couple of years, JPP is your man. ROOKIE

Gerald McCoyAge: 22 50. LDT Gerald McCoy (TB) – Out of the all the defensive tackles taken in this year’s draft, McCoy has the best chance to become fantasy viable. He landed is a great position in Tampa Bay and should be able to develop into a great 3-technique lineman there. I’m not expecting Warren Sapp-esque numbers, but I do think McCoy will surprise people with his production from the interior of the line. ROOKIE

Last Updated: August 24, 2010

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