Offseason Low Down: The Fluidity of IDP Positions
In standard offense-only fantasy football leagues there are no questions regarding what position a player should be. In recent memory the closest we have seen to a position dilemma was running back-slot wide receiver hybrid Dexter McCluster and Jimmy Graham trying to disguise himself as a WR to get paid more. However in the IDP (Individual Defensive Player) world we see this all the time. Given the insane athleticism of today’s NFL defenders, many can play a variety of positions to match up or confuse offenses. So what position a player should be in IDP is not as cut and dry as baseball, for example. There is no lineup card in football made by the coach and the defensive positions can change every play depending on offensive personel. Dual eligibility also is not implemented regularly in fantasy football like some other sports, likely due to small sample size of 16 games in the NFL regular season.
The way IDP positions are determined and always have been is “base” defense alignment. Base is when a defense has four defensive backs and a combination of seven defensive lineman and linebackers. Using IDP base alignment positions gives an accurate and consistent method to designate players for fantasy football purposes. Recently with the transition of the NFL to a more pass-happy league, the nickel (five defensive backs) defensive scheme has become quite popular and gives the illusion to many fans that 3-4 outside linebackers are actually 4-3 defensive ends. If this was the case it would create tidal waves in the IDP landscape because linemen are so much rarer and more valuable than linebackers due to box score production and lack of supply. While many think using nickel formation for IDP designation would be ideal, it also would create even more questions. Quite a few defensive ends in base slide down and play tackle in some nickel formations. Also some safeties play slot corner in subpackages. What should be the correct IDP positions for these players? Long story short, it would create a very confusing and inconsistent method of determining IDP positions. Maybe one day we will create a more detailed and elaborate position designation system with snap counts and other factors but as of today the best way is to look at base defense positions. Base positions are also written in pencil from year to year. Personel and coaching changes can change defensive schemes from 4-3 to 3-4 or vice versa so fantasy players need to stay on their toes. The NFL defensive scheme layout is fluid and adaptable to change.
As base alignment is so important for the IDP world, the offseason is the peak time of possible scheme changes. Below are some of the most important IDP position designations questions for the 2016 NFL season.
Oakland Raiders: Khalil Mack
There was no bigger story in the IDP world last offseason than the unknown position of Khalil Mack. The fantasy community as a whole was extremely torn on if he was a Defensive End or a Linebacker and so was the NFL as he was 1st team all-pro at BOTH. So a full year later, one would think the questions are cleared up but in reality they still remain. Contrary to what people say, Khalil Mack was a linebacker in base formation last year and his being designated at that position in your fantasy league was correct even if it decreased his IDP value. Now the question is what will Mack’s designated be in 2016? The addition of Bruce Irvin gives hope that Mack gaining DL eligibility is possible. Irvin excelled in Seattle playing the 4-3 Strongside Linebacker (SAM) in a defense that current Oakland DC Ken Norton Jr.(former SEA LB coach) is very experienced with. Irvin’s pass coverage skills will let Mack rush the passer even more frequently than he did last year which makes 20 sacks for Mack achievable. The only question is what IDP position will those sacks will be assigned to? The Raiders’ inside linebacker duo of Malcom Smith and Ben Heeny can succeed in any alignment, Irvin and Norton have 4-3 roots while HC Jack Del Rio and NT Dan Williams bring the 3-4 scheme so both extremely schemes are extremely viable. The next few months will be vital to see if Khalil Mack will be a useful IDP at Linebacker or an elite fantasy football championship centerpiece at DE.
Prediction: 65% chance Mack gets a Linebacker designation
Arizona Cardinals: Tyrann Mathieu
The Cardinals’ secondary was a position of mass excess that quickly has turned into one of concern. While the starters are still top notch for NFL standards, the team’s depth is extremely lacking. Arizona allowed nearly two thousand 2015 snaps to walk out the door during free agency via Jerraud Powers and Rashad Johnson. Add that to the full time transition of thumping hybrid defender Deone Bucannon to inside linebacker as well as Tyrann Mathieu’s late-season torn ACL and the depth issues are easy to see. For fantasy purposes, this brings up the question of what the Honey Badger will play when back to full health. He is one of, if not THE, most versatile player in the entire league. Looking at the current roster, my preliminary starter breakdown for this base defensive unit is Patrick Peterson and Jeremy Bethel at cornerback with Mathieu and combination of Tony Jefferson/Tyvon Branch at safety. The signing of Branch was an important one since that will allow Mathieu to once again thrive as a slot corner in nickel packages whichever IDP position designation is derived from base. Behind Bethel, there is very little depth at corner besides a rookie 3rd rounder who is a raw prospect so if there were to be an injury to a starting CB it is possible Mathieu would take over the spot, however I would deem it unlikely. Honey Badger is most effective when defending towards the middle of the field where he can make plays and wreak havoc on the offense, whereas putting Tyronn outside at cornerback isolates him from most of the field. For many IDP leagues, Mathieu’s position designation is meaningless because the DB position is used but for those leagues that require a CB, it would be best to treat the Badger as a safety.
Prediction: 95% chance Mathieu gets a S/DB designation
New England Patriots: Jabaal Sheard
New England lost two of their most productive defensive players this offseason. Chandler Jones was shipped off to the desert and Jerod Mayo decided to hang up his cleats for good. Luckily for the Patriots, they still have loads of talent to fill these holes however it does open up the possibility of a base defensive scheme change. New England has always been a team prone to running multiple fronts on defense but a few BIG offseason moves show that a shift to majority 3-4 alignment may be in the works. I capitalized the word “BIG” because New England went out and got themselves a couple monstrous men in Terrance “Pot Roast” Knighton and Vincent Valentine the last few months. Both of these guys are prototypical run-stuffing nose tackles, a necessary position in order to implement the 3-4. Most of the Patriots’ edge rushers also have experience playing outside linebacker in this scheme. Now the question is why do we care? The simple answer is Jabaal Sheard. Sheard is going to be a hot name this offseason as a breakout both on the field and in the boxscore. This hype is not unwarranted as he is a fantastic player that is now the lead dog for the Patriots’ pass rush with Jones gone. The only thing standing in the way of a 2016 IDP breakout is the dreaded linebacker designation. While it is in no way set in stone, I think it is a very decent possibility given the current roster. Some have speculated that Ninkovich could play 4-3 SAM and shift incumbent linebackers Donte Hightower and Jamie Collins over to fill the void left by Mayo. This makes sense on paper except Ninkovich has lost a step and should no longer be a full-time player. Ninkovich splitting snaps with newly acquired Chris Long opposite of Sheard makes a lot of sense to keep both veterans fresh and effective. Jonathon Freeney, who played well last year as injury fill-in, is also another possibility as a drop in replacement for Mayo. The thing is, good coaches try to get their best 11 players on the field and 2015 first round pick Malcom Brown should be one of those players but currently sits on the 2nd team in a 4-3 alignment. One of Brown’s biggest selling points last season was his versatility in being able to play in any scheme. The Sheard breakout is coming, now we just have to sit patiently and wait to see what position it is coming from.
Prediction: 60% chance Sheard gets a DE designation
The Rotoworld IDP Depth Charts will evolve all offseason while more information is gained through OTAs, minicamp and preseason games. By staying proactive you can gain an edge in your leagues by acting on likely upcoming changes. Just remember that all defensive schemes and therefore all IDP position designations are fluid, do not write anything in stone, and “It’s all about that Base”.
