2024 Dynasty Fantasy Football Rankings: IDP
Welcome to the ultimate guide for 2024 Dynasty Fantasy Football Rankings: IDP. Unleash the power of defensive players as we analyze top picks, breakout stars, and strategic insights for your long-term fantasy football success.
When projecting the future at the individual defensive player (IDP) positions in fantasy football, understanding your league mate’s valuation of rookies and the league’s scoring settings can be the difference in adding stars or shaky assets. If you’re in a league where tackle and sack-heavy players thrive, investing in premier defensive ends and middle linebackers may be the most logical step to building a strong core.
Other formats may have more balanced scoring across each defensive position, which usually leads to managers searching for big plays such as sacks and interceptions. The development into a top defensive comes down to a player growing their game in college and at the top NFL level. For this article, we’ll be looking at young defensive players in the 2024 class who may find value for dynasty leagues and offer production in multiple formats.
1. DE Jared Verse, Florida State
The current top defensive prospect in the 2024 Draft class, Florida State’s Jared Verse, is a disruptor on the edge. Verse won Rookie of the Year and second-team all-conference honors during the 2021 FCS season with Albany. When he transferred to the Seminoles for 2022, Verse continued to produce by grabbing 9.0 sacks and 17 tackles for a loss. Verse thrives on his balance, footwork, and aggression getting to the quarterback, resulting in a lot of quickly collapsing pockets.
Verse plays at his own speed at the college level. He has all sorts of hand moves and pace to get passed the linemen before his momentum reaches its top level. He’s a very hard defender to get in front of, and he’s relentless. He should continue to rise as a prospect and become one of the first names taken by dynasty managers in 2024. He should be making sacks and plays for a long time.
2. DE Dallas Turner, Alabama
Alabama’s impressive edge play hopefully continues for 2023 in the form of prospect Dallas Turner. Turner has one of the highest athletic ceilings on the defensive side in the 2024 draft. Turner reads the game incredibly well, and his NFL-sized frame and speed are tantalizing. Turner has fewer line moves than Verse but provides the same strength as well as explosiveness at a very important position. Turner and Verse both have the balance and determination you’d expect when in pursuit.
Turner has been a two-year contributor for Alabama but now expects to step into a leading role following Will Anderson’s NFL departure. Turner’s best statistical season came in 2021 for the Crimson Tide, when he would record 8.5 sacks and 10 tackles for a loss. Seeing Turner step up and perform in this greater opportunity would be encouraging in his development and should hopefully secure him to be a top 15 draft asset next year. For dynasty, expect an athletic playmaker at a premium position.
3. CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama
Kool-Aid McKinstry is likely the top corner in next year’s NFL Draft class. He may battle the other two names on this list to be the top defender taken, which is impressive at this position. McKinstry is a tall smooth defender who can also make an impact in run support. He has the speed to shut down and stick with the top receivers while also possessing the intelligence to make turnover-worthy defensive plays.
McKinstry only had one interception in 2022, but he would accrue 15 passes defended during the season. McKinstry is an all-around corner who should give managers tackles and the threat to score in dynasty, and he’s a playmaker on defense. McKinstry showed lockdown ability with his defended passes and, similar to Turner, will be expected to expand his skills in 2023. With Alabama’s record of producing first-round players on defense, it looks like both Turner and McKinstry should be considered talents to watch for dynasty IDP managers.
4. LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Clemson
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. should become a very safe and reliable asset for dynasty managers to invest in next offseason. He was able to produce and lead the Tigers in tackles with 89 in 2022. He would also get 6.5 sacks while adding two interceptions for himself, even scoring on one. The point is Trotter Jr. plays an important role in the middle of the field and is able to affect both the rushing and passing offense
Trotter Jr. takes away rushing angles from quarterbacks who want to play on the run and also has the strength to wallop running backs when they come down the middle. An ultimate weapon, Trotter Jr. is a secure option at the middle linebacker and is as good a defensive prospect that we’ve seen out of Clemson the last few years. Trotter Jr. projects as a linebacker who should see a lot of tackles and ability to influence the game, which warrants his ranking as a top dynasty asset in 2024.
5. CB Kalen King, Penn State
Kalen King is another playmaking defensive back who is most important for managers who play in balanced-scoring leagues. He may not have Kool-Aid McKinstry’s athletic ceiling, but King should find himself taken in the NFL’s first round just the same. And for good reason.
King even had more passes defended than McKinstry in 2022, producing 18 compared to 15. Additionally, he added 30 tackles as well, proving he can handle himself in the open field along the way. Moving forward, King is going to move around the defensive formation a bit and stay on the field.
King is a solid contributor who knows his role and punishes defenders when making tackles. Both defensive backs we’ve looked at so far are big-time playmakers at their positions, which is important at this position. Tackle-heavy formats may not value defensive backs quite that highly. However, the impact these players have on stopping opposing teams shouldn’t be completely neglected. The passes defended and physicality from these two at this position should be a net positive for their dynasty owners next season.
Overall, King should be considered after the top three on this list. Additionally, it’ll likely be a positional need decision whether to take him over other linebackers and defensive ends.
6. DE J.T. Tuimoloau, Ohio State
Ohio State doesn’t only have offensive prospects to get excited about in 2024. There are a few defensive linemen who should see some NFL hype next Spring, with defensive end Jack Sawyer, tackle Michael Hall, and J.T. Tuimoloau all expected to play roles in 2023. However, Tuimoloau is where we’ll begin on this list, as he possesses good instincts and sound technique. Tuimoloau is a similar defensive end to Turner earlier on this list, with a bit less athleticism and even more defined bull rush moves.
In certain ways, Tuimoloau may be viewed as limited due to that, but his defensive hands and activity are his greatest skill on the field. He has even shown an ability to step into coverage and make plays, collecting two interceptions with one returned for a touchdown last season. Additionally, the size is there, the instincts are there, and he has every chance to grow and extend his defensive profile. Needless to say, he is going to be a strong but versatile defender. This should facilitate fantasy football points as his opportunity grows in 2024 as a rookie and beyond.
7. DE Maason Smith, LSU
Maason Smith has the potential to climb up this list in 2023. He can do that by proving his health after an ACL tear suffered in last year’s season opener, as well as improving on his stat line as a freshman. In 2021 Smith would play only seven games but would record four sacks for the Tigers. That’s on par with Dallas Turner’s 2022 sack total and half a sack more than Tuimoloau’s, while they did it in 13 games each. Smith is one of the larger defensive prospects on this list, and at the defensive end position, offers exceptional long-term upside for dynasty managers.
This year is all about staying healthy and growing as a prospect at Smith’s level. Undoubtedly, his physical attributes would suggest he is NFL capable. So, if he can prove he’s more agile and allowed to attack off the end, you’ll see the NFL value him more than it is currently. However, if that did happen, he’d need to be a top-three consideration in this upcoming NFL Draft class. In the end, a team molding him into his best final outcome would be getting a potential NFL sack leader and fantasy lineup lynchpin.
8. DT Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois
Illinois defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton has a draft profile built around impressive production in college and some quick feet. Yes, this is a defensive tackle who can be described as quick. Newton’s first step is impressive, and he finds himself influencing the entire line on his best plays due to that trait. Now, he heads into 2023 following two consecutive 50+ tackle seasons. In 2022, he had career numbers by recording 62 tackles, 14 tackles for a loss, and 5.5 sacks.
Newton has good hands and sticks with his assignments on the defensive end. He’s seen a lot of college snaps, and his progress plus ability should allow him to become a top defensive player in 2024. Should he continue to make big defensive stops in 2023, expect his name to be a first-round talent you can be confident taking in IDP dynasty leagues. Additionally, he can influence games from the middle of the line, which is an important trait for the position. All in all, he should see time on all defensive line positions and will hopefully be a solid contributor early in his career.
9. DE Bralen Trice, Washington
The defensive end position is important in the NFL and dynasty. Finding speed and power has been a running theme throughout this article, and we find it again with Washington Husky Bralen Trice. Trice broke out during the 2022 season by totaling 38 tackles and, more importantly, 9 sacks for the Huskies. Trice can read the game well off the line and may find himself as a difference-maker pass rusher at the next level.
When it comes to dynasty IDP prospects, the best players will be able to offer counting numbers in multiple areas. If Trice can stay consistent in this pass-rushing role, he should find a specialized role at the next level. Ultimately, if he grows his tackle numbers and sustains sack numbers, he could grow into a fantasy asset.
10. DT Michael Hall, Ohio State
Michael Hall is the second Ohio State lineman listed, and he should be a talent worthy of day one or day two capital come draft time. His tackle numbers aren’t huge, but he was able to contribute 4.5 sacks from the middle of the line in 2022. He’s another athletic tackle, and he should see an expansion to his game plan this upcoming season. The defensive lineman position isn’t the easiest position to find talent at for dynasty leagues. The best players will be the high-end sack leaders, who tend to be the defensive ends and not inside tackles.
Hall has the athleticism to get into the backfield and consistently make plays at the next level. With his speed and size, he will hopefully be able to play an NFL role early in his career and start paying back dynasty managers with an unorthodox investment for IDP.
Conclusion
IDP dynasty managers who know their league should be able to snatch one or two talents on this side of the ball every draft. Unless you play in leagues with as many defensive starters as offensive starters, these players are closer to second round talents and further down the board. Some of these players further down may even be able to be grabbed in the offseason. Rookie drafts are all about finding the fit for your team’s future.
There’s plenty of talent in this 2024 draft on the defensive side, but as is the case with any position, certain assets will need patience and growth to reach their peak fantasy value.
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