2024 Fantasy Football DL rankings for IDP leagues: Maxx Crosby top, Haason Reddick slips, Aidan Hutchinson on the rise

Modified Jul 03, 2024 17:37 GMT

2024 Fantasy Football DL rankings (Image Credits: GETTY)

IDP leagues are less common in fantasy football, but they offer a unique twist to traditional formats. Rather than each manager owning an entire NFL team's defense and special teams unit, they are forced to fill out their rosters with individual defensive players. This creates a much different strategy in fantasy drafts by altering the overall scoring settings.

Leagues that utilize IDP formats will usually reward points for most of the same statistical categories as DST leagues. However, they are earned by single players as opposed to an entire unit. Starting slots in a weekly lineup are generally broken down into three categories: linemen, linebackers and defensive backs. Each of them requires their own individual strategy to optimize lineups.

When it comes to defensive linemen, players who can consistently pressure opposing quarterbacks often have the most value in fantasy football. Unlike linebackers, who can rely on consistently totaling tackles to improve their fantasy scores, counting stats can be harder to come by for linemen. This results in pass rushers being the most desirable players for this roster slot.

Managers utilizing this strategy for their defensive linemen in IDP leagues should be targeting players with the most effective consistency in getting after quarterbacks. This concept puts Maxx Crosby on top of the 2024 defensive linemen rankings for fantasy football leagues. He is one of the most reliable in terms of pressures and sacks during his career with the Las Vegas Raiders.

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Many other factors play a role in assessing fantasy values, including player development and role changes. Haason Reddick has seen his overall fantasy value take a hit because of this, as his switch from the Philadelphia Eagles to the New York Jets could reduce his sacks in a less aggressive defensive system. He is also in a potential contract dispute, putting his immediate availability in question.

On the other hand, Aidan Hutchinson is one of the fastest risers of all defensive linemen in fantasy football. He enjoyed a breakout rookie season with the Detroit Lions last season, so another year of experience could help elevate him to the next level.

Taking all of these various situations into consideration, here's how the defensive linemen rankings stack up for the 2024 season.