• Micah Parsons makes his case to be the top IDP asset: After another year of elite production and pass-rush metrics, Parsons’ move to a full-time edge role solidifies his spot at the top.
• Where the 2023 rookie class fits in: With the NFL draft wrapped and landing spots sorted, see where this year’s rookie class falls in with the established veterans.
• A new leader along the defensive interior: After years of being the clear top defensive tackle option, Aaron Donald’s spot has been taken by another, at least for Dynasty purposes.

Estimated reading time: 17 minutes

Version 2.0 of the IDP dynasty rankings follows the NFL draft by adding rookie IDPs into the mix and moving around some of the more recently signed free agents in order to update the current dynasty landscape. 

Standalone rookie IDP rankings can be found here.

Preferred scoring for 2023 Dynasty IDP Fantasy Football rankings

• Age is a factor in dynasty leagues. This list is designed to create the best long-term dynasty roster.
• This list assumes true position (DI, EDGE LB, CB, S) for players (e.g., outside linebackers are considered “edge defenders” to reflect real NFL value).
• This is version 2.0 — these rankings are going to change throughout the offseason, so be sure to check the rankings page for updates and to sort by position.

Tier 1

When it comes to building a top-Tier IDP roster, drafting the league’s best defensive players, especially along the defensive line, yields the best results. Outside of leagues where tackles/linebackers are heavily favored in scoring rules — which the suggested scoring for these rankings (above) does not — IDP managers will want to start by building around the best edge defenders in the league to solidify a position that is much harder to replace once the season rolls around.

The first four players that should be in consideration for the first picks in IDP dynasty drafts all earned 90.0-plus grades in 2022, posted elite pass-rush metrics that led to double-digit sacks on the year and are all 27 years old or younger. Going with either of these four players when given the choice will not disappoint when it comes to the return on investment that dynasty players are hoping for. Micah Parsons (ED1) age, combined with his transition to a full-time role on the edge in Year 2 and never failing to produce elite pass-rush metrics, gives him the slightest edge over the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Nick Bosa (ED2).

For IDP Dynasty Managers looking for a solid anchor at the linebacker position for multiple years, there are a few top choices, led by Roquan Smith (LB1) and Nick Bolton (LB2). There aren’t many safer bets to maintain full-time roles for years to come while consistently producing strong tackle numbers on a weekly basis, which includes Fred Warner (LB3). Foyesade Oluokun’s (LB4) first year in Jacksonville led to a career-high in overall grade (69.6) while still racking up tackles at an elite pace. His status as a full-time linebacker shouldn’t be in doubt considering his contract and strong play this past season.

Tier 2

Attacking positions of scarcity continues to be the most optimal way to build a successful long-term dynasty roster, and ensuring that the roster has a top-tier defensive tackle in DT-required leagues is the next step in solidifying those chances. Quinnen Williams (DT1) made his move to be Aaron Donald’s (DT6) heir apparent as the top interior defensive lineman for dynasty purposes following a career year across the board, including a 90.1 overall grade and 12 sacks. 

The truly elite edge rushers quickly wrap up this group, starting with the first rookie, Will Anderson Jr., (ED9) and finishing with Chase Young (ED14). Young has dealt with significant injuries and a lack of production over the past two seasons, but the physical attributes and underlying metrics that made him a No. 2 overall pick just three seasons ago keep him in the conversation for a potential resurgence going forward.

Brian Burns (ED10) and Haason Reddick (ED11) are both coming off career years in different ways, as Burns hit double-digit sacks for the first time while Reddick posted the best grades of his career, including a 90.0 pass-rush grade. Meanwhile, T.J. Watt (ED12) and Joey Bosa (ED13) are coming off a year plagued by injury, which led to disappointing production, but both players continue to be two of the best pure pass-rushers at their position and would serve IDP managers well as top edge options, assuming health.

Tier 3

Donald’s move down the board isn’t a sign that his level of play has fallen off, but more about how many years he has left to play in the NFL, as retirement rumors have begun to surface over the past two offseasons.

The end of the last tier and the beginning of this one is about where most linebackers should come off the board. Now that the top-shelf defensive line assets have begun to drop off, dynasty managers can turn their focus to the linebackers that have the best shot to produce for multiple seasons, which starts by finding younger players who are either locked up with a long-term contract and will be given every opportunity to succeed and/or players who perform well enough to remain employed for years to come. Tremaine Edmunds (LB7) and T.J. Edwards (LB8) join the Bears and are coming off exceptional seasons. They should both play full-time roles in Matt Eberflus’ defense with a chance to continue their strong production.

Pete Werner (LB11) and Quay Walker (LB12) are next in line to be the top linebacker on their respective teams, especially when factoring in draft capital and age. First-round rookie Jack Campbell (LB13) joins these young linebacker options as a potential IDP star right away in Year 1, as he lands on a thin depth chart at the position in Detroit.

Danielle Hunter (ED15), 28 years old, may be the oldest of this group’s edge players, who are all just entering their prime, but Hunter continues to produce at a high rate while boasting positive underlying metrics that indicate he still deserves to be a high-end edge option for IDP.

Tier 4

Devin Lloyd’s (LB14) rookie season was far from ideal after being a first-round pick, grading poorly for most of the year and having to split duties with fellow rookie Chad Muma (LB44). It’s understandable if IDP managers don’t trust Lloyd in drafts this offseason. Given the Jaguars’ investment in him, expect Lloyd to be given every chance to develop this season so that he can get back to the form that made him a first-round pick.

Derwin James (S1) tops these safety rankings for the second-straight season, but rest assured for anyone tempted to grab a safety or any defensive back at this point in drafts, there are plenty of viable options well outside even the top-100 IDPs that can start every week for fantasy purposes. James is the best of the bunch as far as dynasty leagues are concerned given his talent and ability to fill the stat sheet in a variety of ways. However, he is also going to be most costly, which should be taken into account for anyone drafting a deep position like safety this early.

A number of rookie edge defenders fill out this tier, including a top-10 pick in this year’s draft, Tyree Wilson (ED22), whose upside and athleticism will be what makes him worth the capital as he could turn into a top-tier talent, it just might take time. Fellow rookies, Lukas Van Ness (ED23) and Myles Murphy (ED24) will be on a similar path, as they may not get ideal snap shares early in their careers but are poised to start down the road as they develop into their prime.

Tier 5

Shaquille Leonard (LB17) and Jordyn Brooks (LB20) have significant injury concerns causing them not to be higher on this list, but both have a history of elite production and if they can get healthy and back on the field should continue to produce for fantasy managers.

Divine Deablo (LB18), Ernest Jones (LB21) and Azeez Al-Shaair (LB22) are some of the biggest risers in this version of the IDP rankings after dodging real competition for snaps during the first couple waves of free agency and the NFL draft. For Al-Shaair, he lands in Tennessee with the best shot to emerge as the Titans’ LB1 this season and possibly beyond. As for Deablo and Jones, both players avoided their teams bringing in anyone of real significance to threaten their playing time, and in Jones’ case, even saw Bobby Wagner (LB28) released to clear up room for him to flourish as a top IDP.

Tier 6

Top young safeties highlight this section. For anyone who missed out on James, there are plenty of comparable safety options to satisfy those needs. The 2022 NFL Draft supplied three of those options alone between Jaquan Brisker (S3), Kyle Hamilton (S2) and Jalen Pitre (S4). 

Hamilton likely holds the highest IDP upside among all safeties given his size and pure talent, and is no longer handcuffed in a limited role behind Chuck Clark (S36), which will lead to an every-down role. Hamilton should be able to unlock his potential for a high tackle floor, pass-rush upside and other big plays in Baltimore’s defense, making him a valuable safety target in dynasty leagues.

Tier 7

Bobby Wagner, Brian Asamoah (LB29), Eric Kendricks (LB31) and David Long (LB32) all find themselves in somewhat new situations this offseason after being involved in free agency activity. Wagner returning to Seattle locks him into another productive starting spot for at least another season while Kendricks and Long will look to keep their productive careers rolling in completely new homes. Both players should see significant snaps to satisfy the starting needs of IDP managers for another season.

Tier 8

When it comes to finding starting linebackers who can produce for at least one season, this tier still offers plenty of options, including Alex Singleton (LB37). The Broncos’ tackling machine will be valued much higher in redraft formats but may not be as trustworthy long-term in dynasty, especially as the team added Drew Sanders (LB24) in this year’s draft, who could be looking to take over at some point down the road.

As dynasty managers get into the deeper stages of the draft, there is still plenty of opportunity to add great depth players at the edge position who can serve as starters on any given week. DeMarcus Lawrence (ED32) is an excellent example of an over-looked dynasty asset, who can still produce a strong production floor thanks to his tackling ability while maintaining the high-level pass-rush metrics that allow him to have high-ceiling weeks as well. These are the types of IDPs that fantasy players may want to consider adding before moving onto a very deep defensive back pool to fill out the rest of the roster.

Tier 9

Again, there is no shortage of viable starting IDP safeties as dynasty managers reach this stage of drafts. Not much separates the safeties in this group, so health and playing time will be the most significant deciding factors. Dynasty managers may choose to skew younger at the position, but even after this group, there will be plenty of options to meet those requirements as the draft rolls on.

Christian Barmore (DT12) also starts off the last run of weekly viable starting options at the defensive tackle position, which continues into the next large tier up until D.J. Reader (DT17). In DT-required leagues, this could be the last chance dynasty managers have to shore up a thin position before having to take shots on more inconsistent options.

Tier 10

Depth can be just as important as starters for teams looking to make a serious run at a dynasty championship, and there are still plenty of excellent depth options above who are capable of filling in as needed on a weekly basis. There are also some young upside stashes to fill in taxi squads for those dynasty managers who like to stockpile younger players, including the first few rookie safeties, Derick Hall (ED43), Zach Harrison (ED55) and Dorian Williams (LB51).

Tier 11