• An surprising identify takes the highest prize: No one would have thought-about Andrew Van Ginkel within the IDP MVP dialog heading into this season, however he earned his strategy to the highest and returned vital worth for all those that invested in him.
• Zack Baun’s outstanding 2024 season has him in consideration for a lot of awards: One other participant who wasn’t on many IDP radars heading into the season, Baun loved a formidable 2024 marketing campaign — one for the ages.
• 2025 NFL Draft season is right here: Attempt PFF’s best-in-class Mock Draft Simulator and study 2025’s high prospects whereas buying and selling and drafting in your favourite NFL crew.
Estimated Studying Time: 14 minutes
With the 2024 fantasy soccer season wrapped up, it’s time to dole out awards to the NFL defensive gamers who delivered, and those that didn’t, all year long to assist fantasy avid gamers safe crucial award of all: a fantasy soccer championship.
PFF-Most popular IDP Scoring
| Place | Solo Tackles | Assists | Sacks | TFLs | QB Hits | PBUs |
| DI/ED | 2.5 | 1.25 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| LB | 1.5 | 0.75 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| CB/S | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
All IDP scorers below these settings will be seen right here (minimal 100 snaps).
2024 IDP MVP
Beginning with the large one. This award goes to probably the most constant participant all year long, delivering high-end fantasy performances and solidifying themselves as probably the most precious IDP in 2024.
WINNER: EDGE Andrew Van Ginkel, Minnesota Vikings
There are all the time a number of robust candidates for this award and, relying on the way you outline worth, seemingly numerous affordable winners. Nonetheless, Van Ginkel completed the 12 months because the top-scoring defensive lineman, per PFF’s scoring, and did in order a participant drafted effectively exterior the highest 24 choices at his place this offseason, creating the best return on funding at a place the place constant high-end scoring is tough to return by.
Van Ginkel was coming off a stable 12 months in 2023 however was set to affix a brand new crew in Minnesota that additionally spent a first-round choose on a participant at his very place, so expectations have been understandably tempered for the previous fifth-round choose. Nonetheless, Van Ginkel instantly put these considerations apart when he got here up with a sack and an interception return for a landing in Week 1 of the season, and he didn’t look again.
Van Ginkel completed the season with a career-high 11.5 sacks, 72 complete tackles, 5 cross breakups, 19 quarterback hits, a pressured fumble and two pick-sixes. It appeared like each week he was delivering a powerful manufacturing ground on the very least, and he was consistently sprinkling in massive performs, serving to his fantasy managers pile up wins all season lengthy. Contemplating that Van Ginkel didn’t profile as an IDP who can be near this precious heading into the 12 months — after which was at a place the place consistency could be very onerous to return by — he’s most deserving of this season’s IDP MVP.
Runners up:
2024 IDP ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
This award goes to the first-year participant who carried out above and past the expectations of a rookie. There are a number of robust candidates on the defensive facet of the ball, however just one can take residence this {hardware}.
WINNER: EDGE Jared Verse, Los Angeles Rams
Verse might have completed the 12 months with solely 4.5 sacks, however his high-end manufacturing and superb taking part in time persistently allowed for him to be in fantasy beginning consideration each week, and he was typically capable of present worth within the type of a powerful deal with ground. Verse averaged 78% of the Rams’ defensive snaps this season, which is so much for a rookie defensive lineman, however he acclimated shortly to the NFL and seems to be one of the crucial promising gamers from the 2024 rookie draft class. He even ranked among the many high 10 gamers at his place in PFF pass-rush grade (83.5) and the highest 5 in complete pressures (74).
For IDP functions, Verse completed the 12 months because the ED13. He didn’t notch a sack since Week 10, which highlights how a good manufacturing ground will be so precious for IDP on the line of defense place. Verse delivered 65 complete tackles, 18 quarterback hits, two pressured fumbles and two fumble recoveries to associate with his 4.5 sacks. Verse will seemingly be one of many high constructive regression candidates heading into 2025, so the long run could be very vivid for the Rams’ first-round choose.
Runners up:
2024 IDP WAIVER-WIRE ADDITION OF THE YEAR
This award goes to the participant who went undrafted earlier than establishing themselves as a high fantasy choice to the purpose the place they have been a must-add in most IDP leagues. Candidates additionally needed to keep their fantasy relevance for a lot of the 12 months to qualify.
WINNER: LB Jamien Sherwood, New York Jets
Zack Baun can technically be thought-about a waiver addition of the 12 months, as effectively, however readers and followers of PFF’s IDP content material heading into the season can have recognized about Baun’s beginning potential from the early preseason, so we’ll spotlight one of many extra common waiver targets in Sherwood, who took over an injured C.J. Mosley close to the top of Week 1 and by no means regarded again.
Sherwood completed third within the league (Weeks 1-17) in complete tackles (152) — behind solely Zaire Franklin (165) and Budda Baker (155). Sherwood delivered greater than sufficient manufacturing all year long to be a weekly IDP starter, finally ending as the general LB11 due to an elite 15.6% deal with price. Many IDP managers spent as much as purchase Quincy Williams and/or Mosley this offseason, however it was Sherwood who got here by means of by delivering sufficient manufacturing to make each gamers an afterthought popping out of this season.
The 2021 fifth-rounder seizing the chance as an every-down linebacker from Week 2 on allowed him to outperform a number of the top-drafted IDP linebackers, together with Nick Bolton, Bobby Wagner and T.J. Edwards in total factors amongst gamers with at the very least 16 video games. He even outperformed three-time IDP LB1 Foyesade Oluokun in factors per recreation this season.
Runners up:
2024 MOST IMPROVED IDP OF THE YEAR
This award goes to the participant who noticed the most important soar in worth from final season to this season, delivering a high-end fantasy efficiency in 2024.
WINNER: LB Zack Baun, Philadelphia Eagles
Baun is deserving of arguably many IDP awards popping out of 2024, however he’s seemingly no extra of an apparent choose than for probably the most improved IDP this season. First, Baun got here into this season principally by no means having performed a real off-ball linebacker position within the NFL and was thrust into Vic Fangio’s scheme as a full-time starter instantly within the 2024 offseason. Not solely did Baun thrive as an IDP on this position, ending the 12 months as the general LB1, however he was additionally the highest-graded linebacker each total (90.1) and in protection (91.7). That could be a outstanding feat for a participant with fewer than 200 NFL snaps on the place coming into the season.
Baun delivered 151 complete tackles, which ranked fourth within the league due to an elite 16.5% deal with price, however he was a lot greater than a powerful tackler. He additionally delivered 3.5 sacks, and interception, a fumble restoration and 5 pressured fumbles (second to solely T.J. Watt). Baun’s 2024 season will go down as one of the crucial spectacular linebacker performances in a very long time and made him a straightforward alternative for probably the most improved defensive participant this season.
Runners up:
2024 IDP PLAYOFFS MVP
Weeks 15-17 could make or break a fantasy supervisor’s season. This award goes to the participant who persistently delivered high-end fantasy performances for all three weeks of the fantasy playoffs and ended up being the first cause a championship was secured as soon as all of the smoke had settled.
WINNER: DI Zach Allen, Denver Broncos
Allen was a workhorse at a place the place workhorses are few and much between, averaging a career-high 90% of the crew’s defensive snaps throughout 15 video games this season. That prime-end taking part in time allowed him to complete as the general DT1 in 2024, which was helped by his elite performances all through the fantasy playoffs.
In leagues that rely quarterback hits, Allen by no means disillusioned relative to his place, totaling 14 by means of Weeks 15-17. He additionally notched 13 complete tackles, three of which have been for a loss, after which topped all of it off in Week 17 with seven tackles, six quarterback hits and three.5 sacks as the highest IDP scorer for the week. That solidified his spot because the fantasy playoffs IDP MVP.
Runners up:
2024 IDP COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR
This award goes to the participant who was on a downward development in fantasy worth heading into this 12 months however discovered a strategy to bounce again and enhance their fantasy inventory, returning to earlier ranges of manufacturing.
WINNER: DI Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers
After ending as 2023’s DT64 total as a consequence of missed time with damage — and even simply being the DT31 in factors per recreation — Heyward was a straightforward fade heading into his 14th NFL season. He went missed in loads of leagues this offseason, whether or not in drafts or as somebody who may very well be acquired cheaply off waivers early on. Nonetheless, not solely did Heyward show that he nonetheless has some gasoline left within the tank, however he delivered top-of-the-line seasons of his total profession in 2024 at 35 years previous.
Heyward completed the season as the general DT2 and the DT4 in factors per recreation (15.6), due to eight sacks, 20 quarterback hits, 70 complete tackles and eight cross breakups. Heyward was a constant power and a locked-in IDP starter all season lengthy due to his excessive manufacturing ground and elite pass-rush capacity, that are the best traits of any defensive deal with we’re concentrating on in IDP.
The veteran not solely delivered a particular IDP season, however his 90.2 PFF total grade was the third-best mark of his profession and led all inside defensive linemen this season. In the meantime, Heyward’s 86.6 PFF pass-rush grade was the most effective mark of his profession and ranked third on the place, which once more, is all of the extra spectacular contemplating that is Yr 14 of his NFL profession. Heyward may have simply rode off into the sundown after a disappointing 2023, however he got here again stronger than ever.
Runners up:
- S Budda Baker, Arizona Cardinals
- S Brandon Jones, Denver Broncos
- ED Brian Burns, New York Giants
2024 IDP CORNERBACK STREAMER OF THE YEAR
Yearly, a brand new crop of cornerbacks emerges whom IDP managers can comfortably choose up off the waiver wire and plug into lineups with out spending a lot, if any, draft capital. This award goes to the cornerback who was the best streamer of the bunch.
WINNER: CB Alontae Taylor, New Orleans Saints
It appeared like regardless of which Saints cornerback IDP managers needed to depend on this season, all of them delivered elite performances for his or her allotted time in beginning lineups. That started with Paulson Adebo by means of the primary seven video games of the 12 months. Adebo deserves recognition because the CB1 in factors per recreation (19.1), even when his 12 months was reduce quick as a consequence of damage, as he was within the midst of separating himself from the remainder of the pack.
Taylor finally will get the nod for “Cornerback Streamer of the Yr” as a participant who was largely undrafted and took over Adebo’s mantle for a lot of the remainder of the season. He did sufficient in that position to supply robust IDP worth on a weekly foundation for his place. Whereas Taylor did calm down ultimately, as Ugo Amadi emerged because the crew’s main nickel cornerback, he nonetheless completed the 12 months robust with 87 complete tackles, together with 4 sacks and rating because the CB4 in factors per recreation (13.1). Finally, Taylor’s CB1 end on the 12 months pushed him far sufficient forward of different undrafted cornerbacks.
Runners up:
2024 DISAPPOINTING IDP OF THE YEAR
The ultimate award goes to the participant who let IDP managers down in a giant approach in 2024, failing to dwell as much as their ADP and persistently disappointing. The participant will need to have performed at the very least 12 video games to qualify since accidents can’t be helped.
WINNER: EDGE Montez Sweat, Chicago Bears
Sweat got here out of the 2023 season having performed for 2 completely different groups and nonetheless completed as the general ED15 and a top-20 participant at his place in factors per recreation. The hope coming into the season, and why he was seemingly drafted as a top-15 participant at his place within the majority of leagues, was that the consistency of being on one crew for a full 12 months, the promising pass-rush profile and the Bears’ have to rely closely on him can be sufficient for a very good return on funding.
Sadly, Sweat got here nowhere close to that mark in 2024, regardless of taking part in 15 video games on the 12 months. He supplied subsequent to no fantasy worth and managed a really poor 3.9% deal with price, simply 5.5 sacks and eight.6 factors per recreation (ED62). Sweat underperformed by a big margin, even relative to his play on the sphere. He earned his lowest PFF total grade (65.6) since his 2019 rookie season.
It’s onerous to provide you with any excuses for Sweat, as he nonetheless averaged a powerful 62% of snaps on the 12 months however simply hardly ever did something with that workload. IDP managers who invested in Sweat seemingly felt this burn fairly a bit; it’s tough to discover a substitute for a defensive lineman after they’re underperforming. Fantasy managers might have needed to begin him on extra events than anybody ought to be snug with, which is why he’s this 12 months’s most disappointing IDP.
