This is a NEW daily segment for August, with a defensive perspective. The articles focus on team defense/special teams, along with the best individual defensive player (IDP) at each ‘level’ of the defense. This is to help new and old fantasy football managers with understanding important defensive statistics, and IDPs you should be targeting from each team. In total 32 defenses and 96 IDP will be discussed.

Though often ignored, D/ST and IDPs can be the catalyst to a championship. This can happen via streaming or drafting plug and play D/ST and IDPs so you can focus on offensive players. Although custom scoring is common with IDP leagues, the article will use standard scoring for both the defenses and the IDPs based off of the Sleeper app.

There are essentially three levels to the defense, and thus three groupings of positions. Defensive Linemen (DL), Linebackers (LB), Defensive Backs (DB).There are various specific positions within those groupings (and in the new era of football certain hybrid players are blurring those lines…LeRoy Butler and Troy Polamalu are exemplary examples of this diversity), but for the purpose of this article it is the three simple designations.


The teams will be displayed via their end of season ranking, by points per game. Last year’s best defense was the Baltimore Ravens.

Baltimore Ravens:  PPG – 16.5, Sacks – 60 1st.

The Baltimore Ravens have been true to their identity since their inception; tough defense, excellent special teams, and mistake free offensive football. They allowed just 16.5 points per game, which is impressive considering how tilted the game has become for the offense. 

The Ravens also had the most sacks in 2023, relatively surprising as most people can not name either of their pass rushers. Is it a coincidence that the best defense also had the most sacks? Perhaps, but you will notice a common theme amongst teams that sack often. Baltimore has an elite secondary, paired with arguably the best linebacker of this decade in Roquan Smith.

The new 2024 kickoff rules will be interesting to monitor, and will undoubtedly have an impact on D/ST scoring. The truth is no one can truthfully say what that impact will be. However the Ravens have a kicker that can kick it for a touchback everytime, if so desired. Justin Tucker is also viewed as one of the best field goal kickers of all time, something very valuable in reality in fantasy football.

2024 Expectations

The Ravens should have another great defensive year, and should finish as a top five D/ST. In fact that is where I have them projected to finish this year, 5th. They have playmakers at all levels, and should be aided with a patient two time NFL MVP QB at the helm.

In addition to that new running back, Derrick Henry, will keep the chains moving, and the time ticking. This is a tremendous help to D/ST with rest, and less time for their opponent to score an offensive touchdown. 

As mentioned earlier the Baltimore Ravens do have IDPs that could have a bust in Canton, Ohio one day. Roquan Smith, Kyle Hamilton, and Justin Madubuike are enough to keep any opposing offensive coordinator up all night.


BEST IDPs: In order of ranking

LB Roquan Smith
DB Kyle Hamilton
DL Justin Madubuike

Roquan Smith is a tackling machine and earns most of his points via solo and assisted tackles. He had 158 total tackles last year, 84 solo and 74 assisted. Smith has 852 career tackles and could eclipse the 1,000 mark this season. 

R. Smith comes with heavy draft stock, and if you want him do not hope that he falls to you, be aggressive in your pursuit. He is often a top ten IDP draft pick, but he rewards your team with a high weekly floor. He is the Ravens best IDP and although he does not put up many other stats, tackling is the foundation of all IDP scoring. 

Kyle Hamiltion is only in his third year, but is already regarded as one of the top tier defensive backs in the NFL. He is a big strong kid capable of playing ‘in the box’ (line of scrimmage to five yards back and from tight end to opposing offensive tackle), but his strength is his ball hawk skills. 

K. Hamilton had a respectable 81 total tackles last year, but got marks in almost every defensive statistic. He had 13 passes defended, 4 interceptions, 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 1 touchdown. All important statistics that count towards points in IDP leagues. Hamilton is still learning and refining his skill as a hybrid player and those numbers could all go up. Do not reach for Hamilton but if he falls when you are drafting your DB, get him!

Justin Madubuike is a young force in the trenches, and is largely unknown. Your IDP junkie will know him, but the casual fan or fantasy football manager may have never heard of him. Sacks give points in both D/ST, and IDP leagues (and the double down if you are lucky enough to play in a league with both). Sacks can make a low volume tackler a relevant scorer, and could lead to forced fumbles, fumble recoveries, and occasionally touchdowns. All of which are giving points in standard D/ST and IDP leagues.

J. Madubuike had just 58 tackles, but 13 sacks. Double digit sacks are always a great marker for a DL or edge rusher… Madubuike plays as defensive tackle, in the middle of the defensive. With defensive linemen usually defensive tackles are ignored, but Madubuike is an exception. Do not reach for him but if he falls in the draft he is worth a roster spot.
Tomorrow the Kansas City Chiefs.

Thank you for reading, please leave any feedback here or on my X account @IDP_Iggy

Bet Smart, Be Lucky – Iggy