As the NFL season is gets closer, we take a look at the top-75 IDP player rankings. These rankings are based on fantasy football production/potential. This in not indicative of real-life football rankings and tiers. Within each tier, I will highlight a player I personally like at value due to skill, opporutnity, etc. Without further to do, let’s get underway.
TOP-75 IDP Fantasy Football Rankings
Tier 1
1. Devin White
2. Roquan Smith
3. Blake Martinez
4. Daruis Leonard
5. Fred Warner
Fred Warner is an absolute monster and is just scratching the surface. Last season he finished as the LB14 in fantasy football, with 202 points through 79 tackles. He was a 2020 first-team All-Pro. New defensive coordinator will be leaning heavily on Warner for his leadership and play-making abilities.
Tier 2
6. Budda Baker
7. Jeremy Chinn
8. Bobby Wagner
9. Deion Jones
10. Jaylon Smith
Deion Jones is someone who will be a true top five at his position sooner rather than later! You can read my previous article (here) on Jones regarding my primary thoughts on him. I love the new coaching staff in Atlanta, and believe they will do wonders with Deion’s skill-set. Jones has all the makings of a stud linebacker in the NFL, and for fantasy football, for years to come.
Tier 3
11. Joe Schobert
12. Patrick Queen
13. Derwin James Jr.
14. T.J. Watt
15. Zach Cunningham
16. Jamal Adams
17. Micah Parsons
18. Myles Garrett
There are a lot of studs in this tier, but the person I like most at value is Patrick Queen. Patrick Queen came into Baltimore as a rookie and put up excellent numbers for fantasy football. With this team, you can expect that Queen is going to make the necessary improvements this season. I can’t to wait to watch him play and see the impact he will have for the Baltimore Ravens defense.
Tier 4
19. Jordan Poyer
20. Jessie Bates lll
21. Foyesade Oluokun
22. Khalil Mack
23. Lavonte David
24. Devin Bush Jr.
25. Jabrill Peppers
26. Jayon Brown
27. Eric Kendricks
28. C.J. Mosley
C.J. Mosley, oh the forgotten man! Prior to 2019, Mosley was an all-around stud linebacker. He showcased those elite skills for three quarters in the Jets/Bills game in 2019. Then he got injured, and in 2020 he opted out due to Covid concerns. But this year he is back with a vengeance. There’s a new coaching staff in New York, and Mosley has been looking lighter and quicker than before by all accounts. I will not be surprised if by the end of the 2021 season, if Mosley is top-10 IDP player for fantasy football.
Tier 5
29. Jerome Baker
30. Isaiah Simmons
31. Kamren Curl
32. Justin Simmons
33. Matt Milano
34. Dre Greenlaw
35. DeForest Buckner
36. John Johnson
Kamren Kurl all day please! This kid is phenomenal and is ready to take-off. His rookie season stats are eerily similar to that of Jamal Adams’ rookie season! With Chase Young and rookie Jamin Davis loading up in the front seven in Washington, Kurl has the ability to take chances and become even more of a play-maker this season. He is flying under the radar, but has excellent potential.
Tier 6
36. Chase Young
37. Vonn Bell
38. Nick Bosa
39. Antoine Winfield Jr.
40. Aaron Donald
41. Jordan Hicks
42. Jamin Davis
43. Demario Davis
44. Shaq Thompson
45. Landon Collins
Antoine Winfield Jr. is becoming a guy that can do it all. He can play both safety positions and ranked as the second-best safety against the run with a grade of 86.3. Lest we forget, he also played an incredible game in the Super Bowl, allowing 0.0 passer rating in 61 coverage snaps! A strong case could be made that Winfield Jr. should’ve won the DROY instead of Chase Young. Stud safety written all over him.
Tier 7
46. Za’Darius Smith
47. Tremaine Edmunds
48. Shaquil Barrett
49. Adrian Amos
50. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
51. Rashaan Evans
52. Leighton Vander Esch
53. Zaven Collins
54. Kevin Byard
55. Harrison Smith
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah has speed and athletic playmaking ability to match-up with running backs and tight ends. He is one of my favorite rookies from the 2021 NFL Draft class that I’ll be keeping a close eye on this season. I expect him to be an impact player for the Browns, who now have a legit defensive weapon to go up against the likes of Mark Andrews, Travis Kelce, Darren Waller, etc.
Tier 8
56. Tracy Walker
57. Alexander Johnson
58. Chandler Jones
59. Terrell Edmunds
60. Quinnen Williams
61. Kenneth Murray Jr.
62. Bradley Chubb
Kenneth Murray Jr. had 107 total tackles in 2020, which were an all-time Chargers rookie record. He played the most snaps amongst any Chargers player with 959. Now entering his second season, he is the Chargers leader in the linebacking group. Look for him as a great late round steal in your fantasy football drafts.
Tier 9
63. Cory Littleton
64. Taylor Rapp
65. Tracy Walker
66. Minkah Fitzpatrick
67. Danielle Hunter
68. Brian Burns
69. Alex Singleton
70. Keanu Neal
71. Jonathan Abram
Alex Singleton, the former CFL star, has found a niche with the Eagles. He came out of nowhere to lead the team with 125 total tackles in 2020. Singleton will look to expand on those numbers and get a longterm contract come the 2022 off-season. He will be motivated in a contract year, and that makes him a player you’ll want to target.
Tier 10
72. Benardrick McKinney
73. Adrian Phillips
74. Tryann Mathieu
75. Marcus Maye
Benardrick McKinney is coming off of a down season in 2020, playing just four games due to a shoulder injury. He’s looking to bounce back in a big way now that he’s with the Dolphins. He should be in line for a starting position, and look to regain his 2016 form when he finished as LB13 with 209 fantasy points!
Hope you all enjoy this initial IDP rankings list for the 2021 fantasy football season! Stay tuned for the updated rankings that will be coming soon.
