IDP - an opinionated and bias overview for beginners
Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 6:06 pm
I wrote up a general overview for those who want to enter into the world of IDP with some thoughts and suggestions, so beginners could see a small snapshot of the IDP world. There may be more choices then you realize and IDP leagues can be totally different. You might enjoy one league's scoring system and not another. This is an overview of what is out there... along with easy steps you can complete that will likely increase your enjoyment/success. The IDP world is actually pretty easy to get a grasp on and it dosen’t take much time. Getting an overall understanding of a few simple things will make you much more successful in the IDP. A tiny bit of reading and understanding will put you ahead of a lot of people that haven’t done any of the following steps.... and who doesn't want to be ahead of people in their league 
1. Startup or orphan team? The biggest decision to be made when taking on IDP for the first time. Your decision here can greatly affect your enjoyment. You have two basic options. Just make sure you have your expectations and what you want to accomplish in mind when making the decision. I’m guessing you want to try it out and see if you like it. It’s great to think that you are going to create your own team, but it might be nice to wade into the water and not just jump in.
- Orphan team: The easiest way to get your feet wet in IDP is to take over an established team. Taking over an orphan team will allow an IDP new comer to avoid all the pits falls that happen in a startup that can put your team behind for years. You will be able to manage the team over the year and learn the IDP side just from being a part of the league. IDP really isn’t that hard and it’s easily picked up as you go along. Within a short amount of time, you will understand how IDP and IOP value relates to each other. Orphan teams are typically not good, so you taking over and learning as you go isn’t that much of a big deal to the league. You likely have more time to put into the league or more devotion then the previous owner, which is why he left. Orphan teams avoid the startup draft where a new comer can really fail in a dynasty startup draft, which can make a lot more work to rebuild the team only 1 year old and rebuilding early makes the experience much less enjoyable.
- Startup draft: those new to IDP should get some trusted advice and review previous drafts before attempting this. I don’t say this to scare people from IDP, but just to issue the warning that an IDP draft can go very wrong. As stated in the orphan team portion, the wrong strategy in a startup draft can set a team back for years. The ironic part is that the mistake is typically taking IDP’s too early and under valuing the IOP’s that the person likely already knows very well. Taking a LB that scores 280 points a year over a WR who scores 185 looks like a good on paper and in theory for round 3 of your startup draft, but it could actually be the worst pick in the entire draft (in terms of “player value”). If you want to learn under fire in a startup, try to find a league made up of all people new to IDP. This means that there won’t be experienced IDP players that have an obvious advantage. It’s not impossible to compete in a startup as a new comer to IDP with seasoned vets, but it is tougher. Remember that you are learning as you go. It’s much easier to learn as you go with an orphan team, because you already have a team skeleton in place, lower expectations, and examples of other team’s makeup from the rest of the league. Too many times, an inexperienced IDP player takes on a team in a startup draft, but hasn’t put any work into it. This will lead to a horrible draft, they realize it’s not for them or that they messed up, quit the league, and stick the league with a horrible team that they have to find an owner to take over.
2. Know your scoring. This is the most important thing you can possibly do. The offensive side of fantasy football is pretty standard with PPR, non-PPR, QB heavy scoring. The IDP side is all over the place. Scoring makes a huge difference in some player’s value. However, I will attempt to simplify it for everyone so you should be able put your league in one of or a combination of these buckets.
- Tackle only: These leagues award points for tackles, but do no award separate points for sacks or interceptions. A tackle only league obviously puts a major emphasis on those players that make the most tackles.
- Tackle heavy: Tackles are awarded 1-2 points like tackle only. These leagues give around 2-3 points for big plays like sacks or interceptions. A tackle heavy league will give only a minor bump in value to those players that are sack dependent to get enough points to be viable in a starting lineup. For the most part, owners in these leagues are best to focus on the same high tackle players that you should focus on in a tackle heavy league.
- Big play: This league gives 1-2 points per tackle and 5-6+ points for sacks and interceptions. This scoring system allows for a lot more players to be viable for starting lineups, but you will also experience a roller coaster of many players putting up nice points when they get a sack or being invisible without a sack. Tacklers are still your safest bet, but this opens the door for more LB’s to be usable and defensive back interceptions. The player pool in this type of league is greatly expanded for large leagues and/or deep rosters.
- Kick return: In many cases, kick return value in IDP only makes a slight bump in a players value. These leagues may award 1 pt per 40-50 yards. There actually isn’t too much adjustment in the rankings from this, but it does add a wrinkle to the league.
- Heavy kick return: There are also heavy KR yardage leagues that award 1 point for every 10 or 15 yards. These leagues boost a player’s value with return yardage well above their NFL or normal fantasy football value. This type of league requires managers to address and even go out of their way to target players with kick return ability. Getting advice in these types of leagues is sometimes difficult, because few people can relate to the huge impact return yardage makes in your scoring system.
- Get rankings: You can find offensive player rankings all over the place. IDP rankings are a little harder to find. Then you’ll find that some IDP rankings don’t list what kind of scoring they are based on, which essentially makes then useless to a new comer. IDP rankings can be a big help to you and they are out there. Look for rankings that have a scoring system associated with them and make sure that scoring system is in the same bucket above as your league is. The wrong cheat sheet can steer you very... very wrong. A cheat sheet based on a big play league will completely throw off your draft in a tackle heavy or tackle only draft and vice versa.
3. NFL defensive schemes: Take 20-30 minutes and read up on the NFL’s general defensive schemes. Know the general difference between a 3-4, 4-3, hybrid, and what a cover 2 is. Read the Wikipedia page at the least or something. Schemes determine a player s value in almost all cases. So knowing what the scheme is can be a huge help. You are looking for a general over view and understanding of the schemes. Knowing the actual positions is the 5th step and it may not be something you ever do, but you should have an understanding of the basic schemes.
4. Starting requirements matter a lot: Starting requirements can vary in IDP leagues. Certain starting requirements can add great value to some positions that would be an afterthought in other leagues.
- The Most common starting requirements are defensive lineman, linebacker, defensive back. In this instance, managers will be focused on linebackers, defensive ends, and safety’s. The DT and CB are greatly devalued. The players at DT and CB positions are afterthoughts and depth players. DT because they don’t score well and few consistently get sacks to make them relevant. CB’s can be had on most waiver wires. They are consistent, but typically have a short shelf like. A high scoring CB in most instances is one that is getting picked on by offenses. That CB will either get better next year so teams will pick on someone else or he’ll be replaced. Either way, a dynasty point reduction is not something you want, so owners attempt to stay with the more consistent safety then a CB.
- Leagues are starting to require a DT and CB starting spot more. This brings great value to the top DT’s, but CB’s are still out there and a CB is easy enough to find that people don’t really put much focus on that position until later in the draft or free agency.
- If you get return yardage, make sure you check if you have a specific kick return starting position before you draft.
5. Learn the specific positions in each defense: This one you can take your time with once you have a firm comprehension of the other steps. Learn the difference between SOLB and SLB, DT and NT, ILB and MLB, SLB and WLB, etc. This step will help you understand the advice you are getting from others that use these terms and assume you know them, since you are asking IDP questions. This will also help you evaluate and understand scouting reports for rookies that will be coming in the rookie draft. We know the difference between the X WR, Y WR, and slot or RB, FB, and HB. IDP is no different and it has its own lingo that is thrown around, but IDP uses this terminology a lot more then IOP. Knowing the actual positions and whether they are typically FF relevant will save you time and wasted rookie draft picks. Learning the positions doesn’t take much time. There is only 3-4 and 4-3 that you need to concentrate on, so take 15 minutes one night to learn one and 15 minutes the next night to learn the other. It's probably easier to learn this then most people think.
1. Startup or orphan team? The biggest decision to be made when taking on IDP for the first time. Your decision here can greatly affect your enjoyment. You have two basic options. Just make sure you have your expectations and what you want to accomplish in mind when making the decision. I’m guessing you want to try it out and see if you like it. It’s great to think that you are going to create your own team, but it might be nice to wade into the water and not just jump in.
- Orphan team: The easiest way to get your feet wet in IDP is to take over an established team. Taking over an orphan team will allow an IDP new comer to avoid all the pits falls that happen in a startup that can put your team behind for years. You will be able to manage the team over the year and learn the IDP side just from being a part of the league. IDP really isn’t that hard and it’s easily picked up as you go along. Within a short amount of time, you will understand how IDP and IOP value relates to each other. Orphan teams are typically not good, so you taking over and learning as you go isn’t that much of a big deal to the league. You likely have more time to put into the league or more devotion then the previous owner, which is why he left. Orphan teams avoid the startup draft where a new comer can really fail in a dynasty startup draft, which can make a lot more work to rebuild the team only 1 year old and rebuilding early makes the experience much less enjoyable.
- Startup draft: those new to IDP should get some trusted advice and review previous drafts before attempting this. I don’t say this to scare people from IDP, but just to issue the warning that an IDP draft can go very wrong. As stated in the orphan team portion, the wrong strategy in a startup draft can set a team back for years. The ironic part is that the mistake is typically taking IDP’s too early and under valuing the IOP’s that the person likely already knows very well. Taking a LB that scores 280 points a year over a WR who scores 185 looks like a good on paper and in theory for round 3 of your startup draft, but it could actually be the worst pick in the entire draft (in terms of “player value”). If you want to learn under fire in a startup, try to find a league made up of all people new to IDP. This means that there won’t be experienced IDP players that have an obvious advantage. It’s not impossible to compete in a startup as a new comer to IDP with seasoned vets, but it is tougher. Remember that you are learning as you go. It’s much easier to learn as you go with an orphan team, because you already have a team skeleton in place, lower expectations, and examples of other team’s makeup from the rest of the league. Too many times, an inexperienced IDP player takes on a team in a startup draft, but hasn’t put any work into it. This will lead to a horrible draft, they realize it’s not for them or that they messed up, quit the league, and stick the league with a horrible team that they have to find an owner to take over.
2. Know your scoring. This is the most important thing you can possibly do. The offensive side of fantasy football is pretty standard with PPR, non-PPR, QB heavy scoring. The IDP side is all over the place. Scoring makes a huge difference in some player’s value. However, I will attempt to simplify it for everyone so you should be able put your league in one of or a combination of these buckets.
- Tackle only: These leagues award points for tackles, but do no award separate points for sacks or interceptions. A tackle only league obviously puts a major emphasis on those players that make the most tackles.
- Tackle heavy: Tackles are awarded 1-2 points like tackle only. These leagues give around 2-3 points for big plays like sacks or interceptions. A tackle heavy league will give only a minor bump in value to those players that are sack dependent to get enough points to be viable in a starting lineup. For the most part, owners in these leagues are best to focus on the same high tackle players that you should focus on in a tackle heavy league.
- Big play: This league gives 1-2 points per tackle and 5-6+ points for sacks and interceptions. This scoring system allows for a lot more players to be viable for starting lineups, but you will also experience a roller coaster of many players putting up nice points when they get a sack or being invisible without a sack. Tacklers are still your safest bet, but this opens the door for more LB’s to be usable and defensive back interceptions. The player pool in this type of league is greatly expanded for large leagues and/or deep rosters.
- Kick return: In many cases, kick return value in IDP only makes a slight bump in a players value. These leagues may award 1 pt per 40-50 yards. There actually isn’t too much adjustment in the rankings from this, but it does add a wrinkle to the league.
- Heavy kick return: There are also heavy KR yardage leagues that award 1 point for every 10 or 15 yards. These leagues boost a player’s value with return yardage well above their NFL or normal fantasy football value. This type of league requires managers to address and even go out of their way to target players with kick return ability. Getting advice in these types of leagues is sometimes difficult, because few people can relate to the huge impact return yardage makes in your scoring system.
- Get rankings: You can find offensive player rankings all over the place. IDP rankings are a little harder to find. Then you’ll find that some IDP rankings don’t list what kind of scoring they are based on, which essentially makes then useless to a new comer. IDP rankings can be a big help to you and they are out there. Look for rankings that have a scoring system associated with them and make sure that scoring system is in the same bucket above as your league is. The wrong cheat sheet can steer you very... very wrong. A cheat sheet based on a big play league will completely throw off your draft in a tackle heavy or tackle only draft and vice versa.
3. NFL defensive schemes: Take 20-30 minutes and read up on the NFL’s general defensive schemes. Know the general difference between a 3-4, 4-3, hybrid, and what a cover 2 is. Read the Wikipedia page at the least or something. Schemes determine a player s value in almost all cases. So knowing what the scheme is can be a huge help. You are looking for a general over view and understanding of the schemes. Knowing the actual positions is the 5th step and it may not be something you ever do, but you should have an understanding of the basic schemes.
4. Starting requirements matter a lot: Starting requirements can vary in IDP leagues. Certain starting requirements can add great value to some positions that would be an afterthought in other leagues.
- The Most common starting requirements are defensive lineman, linebacker, defensive back. In this instance, managers will be focused on linebackers, defensive ends, and safety’s. The DT and CB are greatly devalued. The players at DT and CB positions are afterthoughts and depth players. DT because they don’t score well and few consistently get sacks to make them relevant. CB’s can be had on most waiver wires. They are consistent, but typically have a short shelf like. A high scoring CB in most instances is one that is getting picked on by offenses. That CB will either get better next year so teams will pick on someone else or he’ll be replaced. Either way, a dynasty point reduction is not something you want, so owners attempt to stay with the more consistent safety then a CB.
- Leagues are starting to require a DT and CB starting spot more. This brings great value to the top DT’s, but CB’s are still out there and a CB is easy enough to find that people don’t really put much focus on that position until later in the draft or free agency.
- If you get return yardage, make sure you check if you have a specific kick return starting position before you draft.
5. Learn the specific positions in each defense: This one you can take your time with once you have a firm comprehension of the other steps. Learn the difference between SOLB and SLB, DT and NT, ILB and MLB, SLB and WLB, etc. This step will help you understand the advice you are getting from others that use these terms and assume you know them, since you are asking IDP questions. This will also help you evaluate and understand scouting reports for rookies that will be coming in the rookie draft. We know the difference between the X WR, Y WR, and slot or RB, FB, and HB. IDP is no different and it has its own lingo that is thrown around, but IDP uses this terminology a lot more then IOP. Knowing the actual positions and whether they are typically FF relevant will save you time and wasted rookie draft picks. Learning the positions doesn’t take much time. There is only 3-4 and 4-3 that you need to concentrate on, so take 15 minutes one night to learn one and 15 minutes the next night to learn the other. It's probably easier to learn this then most people think.