In our Top 10 Dynasty IDP Players, we take a look into what tends to be a pretty fluid situation–the top IDP players in fantasy football. From year to year we can see this fluctuate based on a number of factors from league scoring to players opportunities and situations. At this point in the offseason, we haven’t had free agency or the influx of new talent via the NFL Draft, so this list will inevitably look a little different as we get to the 2021 season. As I put this list together, I’m thinking who are the guys that I want to own not only for the 2021 season but for the next 3-5 years as the core of my fantasy defense.

In this list, You won’t see many defensive tackles and cornerbacks, so I will make sure to have a paragraph highlighting the best of those positions. My hope with this article is to help you plan for long term IDP success, as well as knowing who some of the top current players are at the positions that change yearly (DT and CB). If you’ve played IDP for any length of time, you’ve seen that the leagues that have IDP can be so drastically different in scoring and lineups that these lists really are a starting point, but weekly team management can make or break your fantasy season.

Top 10 Dynasty IDP Players #1: Devin White – LB Tampa Bay

Top 10 Dynasty IDP Players
TAMPA, FL – AUGUST 16: Tampa Bay Buccaneers inside linebacker Devin White (45) during the first half of an NFL preseason game between the Miami Dolphins and the Tampa Bay Bucs on August 16, 2019, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The 2020 season saw White take another leap forward and really become a force not only in the NFL but in fantasy. White grew exponentially in a number of statistical categories including tackles (from 61 to 97), tackles for a loss (from 4 to 15), assists (from 29 to 43) and sacks (from 2.5 to 9). With all those increases, it was only expected that he would finish near the top of fantasy rankings, and at just 23 years old, we can expect this kind of production for many years to come.

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Top 10 Dynasty IDP Players #2: Darius Leonard – LB Indianapolis

Arguably one of the biggest names in IDP, 2020 saw Leonard stay in the top 10 for fantasy production but taking a small dip in total fantasy points, due to not getting any interceptions for the 1st time in his NFL career. He is the leader of what’s becoming one of the leagues top defensive units, and with the addition of Deforest Buckner last offseason, and potential for more talent in the 2021 Draft, Leonard has the chance to take another step forward in 2021.

Top 10 Dynasty IDP Players #3: Budda Baker – S Arizona

The top safety in fantasy this past season, Baker continues to be a tackle machine but added some interceptions in 2020 that helped keep him at the top of the charts. Baker has averaged over 80 tackles per year, even with a quieter rookie year in 2017. He does a great job of reading the quarterback and putting himself in the best place to make a play or bring he ball carrier down. Baker is the kind of player that you can build your fantasy defense around, giving you a solid weekly producer and knowing that he’s young enough to be around for plenty of years to come.

Top 10 Dynasty IDP Players #4: Roquan Smith – LB Chicago

Top 10 Dynasty IDP Players
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – OCTOBER 18: Teddy Bridgewater #5 of the Carolina Panthers runs with the ball while being tackled by Roquan Smith #58 of the Chicago Bears in the fourth quarter at Bank of America Stadium on October 18, 2020 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

The top option in fantasy this past season, Smith has had an up and down career in his 3 short years in the league. After a breakout rookie year in 2018, Smith dipped in 2019 with his first season with less than 100 total tackles but rebounded nicely in 2020. The centerpiece of that Bears’ strong defense, the team is positioned to try and push for not only playoff contention (if they find a QB) but for a run in the NFC because of players like Roquan and Khalil Mack.

Top 10 Dynasty IDP Players #5: TJ Watt – LB Pittsburgh

Watt’s a guy that brings it off the edge, as he is really heavily reliant on sacks, so you will see him with less tackles (typically 50-60 total per season) but will have double-digit sacks as well as higher potential for forced fumbles and interceptions sprinkled into his stats. He is as technically sound as they come and does a good job with his hands to force fumbles and create defended passes. Watt gives you the comfort knowing you’ll have a guy firmly inside the top 10 overall on a yearly basis, and in Pittsburgh’s scheme, that won’t change anytime soon.

Top 10 Dynasty IDP Players #6: Blake Martinez – LB New York Giants

Martinez is a strong fantasy option, as you know you will have above 100 total tackles every year, but since coming to the Giants they have used him in a variety of ways and it’s helped keep him fantasy relevant even on a bad football team. He’s 27 and is being surrounded by some up and coming defensive talent so he has plenty of opportunities to keep producing strongly for your fantasy team.

Top 10 Dynasty IDP Players #7: Joe Schobert – LB Jacksonville

Top 10 Dynasty IDP Players
Top 10 Dynasty IDP Players for Fantasy Football in the 2021 Offseason 4

I put Schobert in the same category as Martinez, as as long as he’s healthy you can be confident that he’ll produce strongly in the total tackles category, and if the Jaguars can turn things around, it can only get better for the 27 year old vet. Schobert brings the ability to get sacks, interceptions, and defended passes, which all are nice fantasy categories when it comes to potential weekly fantasy production.

Top 10 Dynasty IDP Players #8: Jamal Adams – S Seattle

Adams has been one of the stronger fantasy safeties as of late, though the move from the Jets to Seahawks brought excitement and very similar fantasy results. The Seahawks have done a good job at keeping their safeties fantasy relevant, but the 25 year old Adams brings the missile mentality to their defense, as he is a hard hitter and does a great job getting after opposing quarterbacks to the tune of 9.5 sacks in 2020.

Top 10 Dynasty IDP Players #9: Zach Cunningham – LB Houston

Who knows what’s going on in Houston! Cunningham could be on the move in a trade, and if he isn’t he may be the last man standing in that defense. Cunningham does a great job racking up the tackles, and with the new regime and head coach, David Culley, it will be interesting to see how that defense is laid out and what role Cunningham has. Culley comes from the Andy Reid coaching tree by way of Baltimore and Buffalo the last two seasons.

Culley primarily worked on the offensive side, so defensive coordinator Lovie Smith may take a more involved role in the defensive decisions. You’ll remember Smith most recently with Illinois, but he has a wealth of pro experience as a head coach as well as a defensive coordinator of the Rams from 2001-2003. Smith tends to lean more towards a 4-3, more specifically the Tampa 2 style, which he is considered one of the pioneers of that style of defense. In the end for Cunningham, I think he can be successful no matter the scheme, but buyer beware here–as long as he’s still the will backer, he will see a ton of snaps.

Top 10 Dynasty IDP Players #10: Bobby Wagner – LB Seattle

You’ll see a trend that you can take into your rookie drafts in the future, as linebacker tends to be king in fantasy. If you have high-end linebackers in fantasy, you tend to be getting high-end production, as most of the top 10-15 players in IDP are normally linebackers with a safety/defensive end sprinkled in, potentially. Wagner, although he is 30 years old as of this writing, has consistently been an LB1 for what feels like a lifetime.

Wagner does a great job of racking up tackles and getting tons of assists, which make up for him not getting many (if any) interceptions over the course of his career. Wagner could be considered as a tackle machine, and his fantasy value is mostly made up of tackles, tackles for loss, and assists, though you can expect a couple sacks and some pass defenses each season. The age concern will probably keep his cost lower than the others on this list, but he should still be highly productive for a few more fantasy seasons.

Top 10 Dynasty IDP Players: Honorable Positional Mentions

Make sure to check out my top 10 defensive ends article, Kraig’s top 10 safeties and top 10 cornerbacks articles for the names to watch out for at the other position groups. At the defensive tackle position, it’s really Aaron Donald and Deforest Buckner at the top, and then alot of younger guys that are pushing their way into consideration for top defensive tackle. Jeffrey Simmons and Javon Kinlaw are two names to be on the lookout for if you aren’t already (and your league plays the defensive tackle or IL in FleaFlicker leagues).

Top 10 Dynasty IDP Players: Thank You!

I appreciate you stopping by, and definitely connect with us and let us know what you think about all the content we are putting out for you! Make sure to catch all our video content (such as a weekly IDP livestream) on YouTube. Be sure to subscribe and click the notification bell to ensure that you don’t miss any of our other great content! We have free rankings of all kinds over at RotoHeat.com, and make sure to check out our 2021 Rookie Draft Guide! If you really want something to do after that, you can find me on Twitter.

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