RADIO
Playing fantasy football in an IDP league can be complicated. You have to draft both sides of the ball, and going after defensive players could cause you to miss some of the offensive players you are targeting.
On the other hand, if you ignore IDPs, you will miss out on stars like T.J. Watt and Nick Bosa. I personally like to snap up one or more of the IDP stars. They typically score more points than the offensive players picked at the same position.
However, if you prefer to load up on offense, you will have to find value on the defensive side of the ball later. Lucky for you, I have compiled a list of late-round IDP sleepers who could save you. I particularly like to wait on cornerbacks until later.
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Emmanuel Forbes, CB, WAS
DB30+
Emmanuel Forbes led the SEC in all kinds of interception and pass defense categories and set records for interception return touchdowns. Now he joins the Commanders secondary, after having been drafted in the first round, and he has a prime opportunity to make a big impact in his rookie year.
Cornerback is one of the positions where rookies can quickly make an impact on the stat line. Last season, rookies led the NFL in interceptions and pass defenses.
James Houston, DE, DET
LB70+
After making 16.5 sacks in his senior season at Jackson State, James Houston was relegated to the Lions' practice squad for the first half of the season. He nearly quit football before getting his first start in Week 11.
Then in the next seven games, he made 12 tackles and 8.0 sacks. While Houston has an unorthodox body for an edge rusher, at just 225 pounds, he makes up for his lack of size with speed and an exceptional feel for where the quarterback is and where he's going.
This preseason, he picked up where he left off last season. He might not be an every-down player, but if he's on the field for only obvious passing downs, he'll still get the important snaps in which he can make sacks.
Ivan Pace Jr., LB, MIN
LB70+
The Vikings No. 2 inside linebacker position is wide open after the departure of Eric Kendricks this offseason. Early on, it was assumed that Brian Asamoah would start next to Jordan Hicks. Asamoah was skyrocketing on draft boards (and he is still listed as the ILB1 on ESPN's depth chart). But if you drafted him, you've got to be nervous.
Undrafted LB Ivan Pace Jr., who made 125 tackles his junior year with Miami (OH) before transferring to Cincinnati, where he made 137 tackles, has been taking a lot of practice reps with the Vikings' first-team defense. In Minnesota's first preseason game against Seattle, Pace took the role of defensive play-caller and led the team in tackles.
Divine Deablo, LB, LV
LB50
Deablo was on pace for 157 tackles last season before an injury caused him to miss the whole second half of the season. He'll be back this season, and he should start at weak-side linebacker. He's a late-round value in leagues that reward tackles favorably.
However, he won't make many sacks or impact plays. He has so far made no sacks, nor forced any fumbles, in his two years in the NFL, and he only made half a sack in five years at Virginia Tech. He might, however, make an interception or two; he made five in his final two seasons at VT.
Ernest Jones, LB, LAR
LB41
Ernest Jones played second fiddle to Bobby Wagner last season in Los Angeles. But the 2021 third-rounder had a breakout season, making 114 tackles, including 66 solo tackles and 4 tackles for loss, as well as a forced fumble, while playing just 66% of the Rams' defensive snaps.
Now with Wagner having returned to the Seahawks and the Rams being an extremely young team, Jones will step into the every-down role. He should be on the field for 90-99% of the Rams' defensive snaps and dramatically increase his tackle numbers.
Byron Young, LB, LAR
LB70+
Speaking of the Rams linebacker core, the outside linebacker position next to Jones also has no veteran starter returning. Enter Alabama linebacker, Byron Young.
The Rams drafted him in the third round after he made 48 tackles last season, including 5.5 for loss and 4.0 sacks. He also blocked two passes in coverage and forced a fumble. Young will be available as a free agent in IDP leagues with shallow rosters, and he's a fine late-round sleeper in larger leagues.
Ji'Ayir Brown, S, SF
DB30+
The rookie from Penn State is a super athlete and a playmaker all over the field. He can make interceptions, sacks, and plays on fumbles. In 2022, he made 56 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 7.0 TFLs, and four interceptions, and he returned the interceptions for an average of 28.5 yards.
He will start out the season as a backup to the 33-year-old Tashaun Gipson Sr. But Gipson is in the last year of his contract, so the 49ers might want to give their safety of the future experience as the season goes along. Moreover, Brown can play nickelback, so he would likely get snaps even if he never overtakes Gipson on the depth chart.
Arguably, Brown is a more intriguing prospect in dynasty leagues, but if he's going this late, that means, like Young, he'll be available on the waiver wire in many leagues.
Honorable Mentions
Defensive back in fantasy football is such a deep position that a lot of very good players fall farther than they are likely to finish.
Broncos safety Justin Simmons, for example, is being drafted as the DB18 in Sleeper, and Jags safety Rayshawn Jenkins is the DB24. Jenkins finished as the DB7 last season, and Simmons averaged almost as many points per game as Jenkins.
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