2022 IDP Tiered Rankings – Defensive Lineman

Starting a series of 2022 IDP Tiered Rankings, with Defensive Lineman. The following is a three-part installment discussing and ranking Individual Defensive Players (IDP/IDPs). The positions are in accordance with Sleepers view of the position, which include dual designation.

Why play IDP and Defensive Linemen (DL).

Playing Fantasy Football is immensely fun. Playing with IDPs makes the game double the fun. In over a decade of playing/participating with IDP, the community has grown from wierdos, to niche, to accepted but in the corner y’all go, to now fringe mainstream. Odds are if you don’t play in IDP, at least half of your league mates are. The joy of playing with the defensive stars and receiving points on the most exciting plays in football is something we should all embrace.

One ‘complaint’ about IDP is that the point system varies too much, or that there is not a standard scoring system. Diversity should be embraced, not chastised. The offensive side of Fantasy Football can have 4 or 6 per TD pass, PPR, .5 PPR, can reward 1st downs and punish drops, can give bonus points, have superflex or not and receives little to zero criticism of the variety it can yield. The shame should be true for IDP. Having said that ALWAYS KNOW THE POINT SYSTEM OF YOUR LEAGUE!

Any good Fantasy coach/gm knows you must know how you WIN in your league. 1st and foremost is knowing the point/scoring system. For IDP specifically does the league tilt towards (Sacks 6+ points), is it tackle driven, is it big play=big pay, are there return yards, etc. etc.

If your league is sack-heavy you want edge pressure people; TJ Watt, M. Golden, M. Garrett, N. Bosa, R. Gary. Keep in mind sacks come in bunches, you ride the ups and downs of games having sacks and having 0. If a player could average just 2 sacks a game, they would DEMOLISH the sack RECORD by 11.5 SACKS! It is a beautiful, joyous, and uplifting play… arguably the best in the game. Reward how you see fitting.

DL generally do not get as many tackles, but some garnish enough to be valuable and on a weekly basis a great DL or front four can completely control the game. The following are my updated (as of 8.20.22) DL rankings for 2022.

Tiered Rankings

The below rankings use the assigned positions used by Sleeper including dual

Tier One

Name Team Bye
T.J. Watt
PIT
9
Micah Parsons
DAL
9
Myles Garrett
CLE
9
Nick Bosa
SF
9
Maxx Crosby
LV
6
Marcus Golden
ARI
13
Danielle Hunter
MIN
7
Aaron Donald
LAR
7
Cameron Jordan
NO
14
Za'Darius Smith
MIN
7
Rashan Gary
GB
14

Tier Two

Name Team Bye
Robert Quinn
CHI
14
Trey Hendrickson
CIN
10
Sam Hubbard
CIN
10
Cameron Heyward
PIT
9
Joey Bosa
LAC
8
Emmanuel Ogbah
MIA
11
Haason Reddick
PHI
7
Matt Judon
NE
10
Jonathan Allen
WAS
14
Yannick Ngakoue
IND
14
Leonard Williams
NYG
9
Bradley Chubb
DEN
9
J.J. Watt
ARI
13
Chase Young
WAS
14
Khalil Mack
LAC
8

Tier Three

Name Team Bye
Brian Burns
CAR
13
Alex Highsmith
PHI
9
Jeffery Simmons
TEN
6
Christian Wilkins
MIA
11
Kwity Paye
IND
14
DeForest Buckner
IND
14
Marcus Davenport
NO
14
Charles Harris
DET
6
DeMarcus Lawrence
DAL
9
Kayvon Thibodeaux
NYG
9
Chandler Jones
LV
6
Shaquil Barrett
TB
11
Chris Jones
KC
8

Tier Four

Name Team Bye
Von Miller
BUF
7
Jaelan Phillips
MIA
11
Jonathan Greenard
HOU
6
Harold Landry III
TEN
6
Preston Smith
GB
14
Odafe Oweh
BAL
10
Jadeveon Clowney
CLE
9
Amani Oruwariye
DET
6
Leonard Floyd
LAR
7
Montez Sweat
WAS
14
Randy Gregory
DAL
9
Carlos Dunlap
SEA
11
Quinnen WIlliams
NYJ
10
Javon Hargrave
PHI
7
Aidan Hutchinson
DET
6
Akiem Hicks
TB
11

That’s the first in our series of 2022 IDP Tiered Rankings- Defensive Lineman. Don’t forget, you can get prepared for your fantasy drafts with our Fantasy Draft Kit. Or you can find us on TwitterFacebook, or Instagram.

Image Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea – USA TODAY Sports