August: Top 50 IDP Fantasy Football Players
By: Robert Kirlin

As promised, and just in time for your Fantasy Football IDP Draft, is a compiled version of my top 50 fantasy football IDP's at D-Line, Linebacker and D-Backs.

Many of the perennial favorites may be down further than you might normally see them, or some are not on the list at all, well my reasoning comes from a variety of mathematics, philosophy changes and finally gut instinct! While you may not agree 100% with these choices, these IDP Cheat Sheets will give you a good idea as to where a lot of players stand, and for you new to IDP, you should get a "bank for your buck". Oh wait this is free fantasy football advice , so enjoy my picks and how I rank players, in preparation for my Fantasy draft.

Research, and lots of it by me the past 3 months should be pretty accurate. As I go through my choices, you will also get some input as to my thought process on some of the players.

Now on to the fantasy football picks…

Defensive Line:

1. Jared Allen Minnesota: Even though he’s going to Minnesota, he is on a much better defensive team then he left. Allen who missed 4 games last year still had a great year, and with a full season, he’s could have some unheard of numbers.
2. Aaron Kampman Green Bay
3. Trent Cole Philadelphia: Numbers just keep getting better ever year.
4. Osi Umenyiora NY Giants
5. Kyle Vandenbosch Tennessee
6. Justin Smith San Francisco: Moved over from the Bengals, many have him rated much lower, but I think on a better defensive team, he will really produce.
7. Jason Taylor Washington: New location, still at his age at the top of his game.
8. Aaron Schobel Buffalo
9. Patrick Kearney Seattle
10. Mario Williams Houston
11. Adewale Ogunleye Chicago
12. Justin Tuck NY Giants: With Strahan retired, Tuck is the incumbent, with Umenyiora likely seeing double teams, he could be huge.
13. Will Smith New Orleans
14. Kelly Gregg Baltimore
15. Ty Warren New England: Should bounce back after a sub par year in 2007, could be a steal.
16. Julius Peppers Carolina: Contract year!!!
17. I. Sopoga San Francisco
18. Tamba Hali Kansas City
19. Andre Carter Washington
20. Kenyon Coleman NY Jets
21. Derrick Burgess Oakland: If he stays healthy, if not, he will struggle.
22. Elvis Dumervil Denver
23. Terrell Suggs Baltimore
24. Charles Grant New Orleans
25. Darnell Dockett Arizona: I’m really high on him, he plays DT, but has the speed to play End.
26. Darrell Tapp Seattle
27. Jovan Haye Tampa Bay
28. Alex Brown Chicago
29. Pat Williams Minnesota
30. Chris Long St. Louis: First rookie in the group, may struggle early, but will pick up the speed of the NFL by week 6.
31. Halot Nagta Baltimore
32. John Abraham Atlanta: Another case to watch the injury charts for.
33. Mike Patterson Philadelphia
34. Shaun Rogers Cleveland
35. Shaun Smith Cleveland
36. Aaron Smith Pittsburgh: The Steelers fell apart without him at the end of the season.
37. Antonio Smith Arizona
38. Dewayne Robertson NY Jets
39. Robaire Smith Cleveland
40. Dewayne White Detroit
41. Vernon Ghoulston NY Jets: Speedy rookie will have a good pass rush and see his share of sacks, he may end of at outside linebacker in the NFL.
42. Paul Spicer Jacksonville
43. Shaun Ellis NY Jets
44. Jonathan Babineau Atlanta
45. Tony Brown Tennesse
46. Igor Olshansky San Diego
47. Glen Dorsey Kansas City: Last of the rookies.
48. Gaines Adams Tampa Bay
49. Tommie Harris Chicago
50. Jamal Anderson Atlanta

Linebackers:

1. Patrick Willis San Francisco: The #1 guy to get on defense.
2. John Beason Carolina
3. Demeco Ryans Houston
4. London Fletcher Baker Washington: Age worries me, but has not shown signs of slowing down.
5. Brian Urlacher Chicago
6. DJ Williams Denver: Didn’t see much of Denver last year, but his numbers are very convincing.
7. Nick Barnett Green Bay
8. Ernie Simms Detroit
9. Keith Bulluck Tennessee
10. Lance Briggs Chicago
11. Michael Boley Atlanta
12. Keith Brooking Atlanta: Honestly, I was looking at the wrong numbers and actually had him rated in the top 10 earlier, still a solid player.
13. Kirk Morrison Oakland
14. Donnie Edwards Kansas City
15. Jonathan Vilma New Orleans: Perhaps the steal of the draft, playing back in a 4-3 defense and if healthy will produce!
16. David Harris NY Jets
17. Lofa Tatupu Seattle: Highly underrated.
18. EJ Henderson Minnesota
19. David Thornton Tennesse
20. Gary Brackett Indianapolis
21. Zach Thomas Dallas: New team, one year older, and injuries are always a concern.
22. Antonio Pierce NY Giants
23. Angelo Crowell Buffalo
24. Ray Lewis Baltimore: Played hurt much of last year, but still put up respectable numbers.
25. James Harrison Pittsburgh: Perhaps the most overrated player on the board, many have him ranked much higher due to the Monday night game last year, take away that game and he’s an above average player.
26. Paris Lenon Detroit
27. Barrett Ruud Tampa Bay: Faded down the stretch last year, need to see more of him to rate him higher, but has potential to be top 15.
28. Thomas Howard Oakland
29. Will Witherspoon St. Louis
30. Chad Greenway Minnesota
31. Derrick Brooks Tampa Bay
32. AJ Hawk Green Bay
33. Demarcus Ware Dallas: Another overrated player, may benefit from Thomas if he stays healthy.
34. Morlon Greenwood Houston
35. Keith Rivers Cincinnati: Rookie almost sure to start in an awful defense.
36. Gerald Hayes Arizona
37. Karlos Dansby Arizona
38. James Farrior Pittsburgh
39. John Digiorgio Buffalo: Filled in nicely when Posluszny went down.
40. Stephen Cooper San Diego
41. Derrick Johnson Kansas City
42. Napolean Harris Oakland
43. D’Qwell Jackson Cleveland: Should lead the Browns in tackles this year. 4
44. Shawne Merriman San Diego: Nothing more than a glorified pass rusher, will have the sacks, but not enough tackles.
45. Paul Posluszny Buffalo: Coming off an early knee injury that ended his season, he should be ready to go.
46. Jerod Mayo New England
47. Thomas Davis Carolina
48. Julian Peterson Seattle
49. Omar Gaither Philadelphia
50. Curtis Lofton Atlanta

Dfensive Backs:

1. Sean Jones Cleveland: The most steady and reliable tackler of the group.
2. Marcus Trufant Seattle
3. Jermaine Phillips Tampa Bay: Had an off year last year, but I predict he will bounce back to his 2006 form.
4. Gibril Wilson Oakland
5. Chris Hope Tennessee
6. Nate Clements San Francisco
7. Leigh Bodden Detroit
8. Adrian Wilson Arizona: Injury last year really hurt his numbers, but is still the best tackler in the Cards secondary.
9. Kerry Rhodes NY Jets
10. Chris Harris Carolina
11. Roman Harper New Orleans
12. Michael Lewis San Francisco
13. Donte Whitner Buffalo: He dropped some from my original top 10 pick as I see the Bills front 7 improving over last year giving Whitner less tackles.
14. Bob Sanders Indianapolis: Helath always an issue
15. Laron Landry Washington: My gut tells me he can be top 10, but I want 1 more year to wait and see.
16. Cedric Griffin Minnesota
17. Darrelle Revis NY Jets
18. Clinton Hart San Diego
19. Atari Bigby Green Bay
20. Bernard Pollard Kansas City
21. Richard Marshall Carolina
22. Sammy Knight Jacksonville
23. Antoine Winfield Minnesota: Perennial top 10 pick drops due to injury and age, still the best tackling corner in the NFL.
24. Ike Taylor Pittsburgh: Remember Ronde Barber in Tampa and how well he did, the focus shifts off of safety in the “Tomlin 2” so look for Taylor to be more involved in tackles.
25. Terrence McGee Buffalo
26. Cortland Finnegan Tennessee
27. Troy Polamalu Pittsburgh: He plays to wild and hits to hard for a guy his size, and the past 2 years his body just has not been up to the task. Watch, someone will grab him early in your draft… let them.
28. Champ Bailey Denver
29. Charles Tillman Chicago
0. Lawyer Milloy Atlanta
31. Deangelo Hall Oakland
32. Roy Williams Dallas
33. Kelvin Hayden Indianapolis
34. Von Hutchins Houston: Sleeper Alert!
35. Michael Huff Oakland
36. OJ Atogwe St. Louis
37. Josh Bullocks New Orleans
38. Marlin Jackson Indianapolis
39. C.C. Brown Houston
40. Nick Harper Tennessee
41. Kenoy Kennedy Detroit: Really a great player but just cannot stay healthy.
42. Eric Wright Cleveland
43. Reggie Nelson Jacksonville
44. Kenny Phillips NY Giants: Rookie has big shoes to fill since Gibril Wilson signed with Oakland, but will get the chance to start on the Super Bowl Champs.
45. Sam Madison NY Giants
46. Dawan Landry Baltimore
47. Madieu Williams Cincinnati
48. Corey Chavous St. Louis
49. Ed Reed Baltimore: If interceptions are the only thing your league is graded on, Reed is your man, as a tackler, Reed is just not getting it done.
50. Tyrell Johnson Minnesota

Okay, so there you have it my fantasy football IDP picks, I know you’re saying a lot of the big names or not on your board, what about KGB in Green Bay, or Mike Peterson in Jacksonville or Brian Dawkins in Philly??? My answer is simple, they did not figure up in the numbers, sure they made my top 100, and to be fair, Dawkins did rank 51st in D-Backs, but there are so many good players out there, you really need to look outside the box and take emotion out of it, these are the players that I see as the ones who have the most potential for scoring you the most points in your IDP league.

As always keep an eye on our fantasy football Forums section weekly during the regular season where I will update injuries and who may end up with a great week at the fantasy football IDP spot. I usually make my updates early Saturday mornings, but on occasion have been able to get it done late Friday nights. I hope this helps you, and good luck with your fantasy football draft!