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The NFL is a constantly evolving game, and fantasy football evolves right along with it. In IDP leagues, nowhere has that been more evident in recent seasons than along the defensive line.

The defensive line used to be far and away the shallowest position in IDP leagues. Before every IDP squad had rostered a pair of starters, the number of reliable starters was gone. This made drafting at least one higher-end defensive lineman critical and grabbing two advisable in many cases.

Now, however, the winds have shifted. The prevalence of the nickel as the de facto base defense in the NFL has led most IDP providers to group 3-4 outside linebackers like T.J. Watt of the Steelers with the defensive linemen. That has, in turn, led to a deeper player pool at the position and more options for fantasy managers.

Of course, just because more defensive linemen are available doesn’t mean that drafting the right ones has become easier. Exercise patience and grab a guy later on who blows past expectations, and you can gain a huge edge over the competition. Draft a high-end lineman who disappoints, and a team can be in major trouble.

IDP managers need to know which defensive linemen can be had at a position of value and which defensive linemen won’t live up to their asking price.

For better or worse, fantasy managers need to know which defensive linemen will define IDP leagues in 2024.

EDGE Will Anderson Jr., Houston

The third overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Anderson played a part in Houston’s surprise run to the AFC South title last year—his 45 total tackles and 7.5 sacks in 15 games last year propelled the former Alabama star to Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. After spending part of the offseason working out with reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, Anderson told reporters he’s determined to take a major step forward in his second season.

“Bigger, stronger, faster,” Anderson said. “How much faster can I be? How much bigger and stronger? All those things are what I’ve been working toward to have a really great season next year. What ‘no days off’ means to me, I would say, is every day is a productive day no matter what you’re doing. Every day is a day that you’re getting 1 percent better.”

IDP managers appear to believe that Anderson’s in for a massive 2024 campaign playing opposite Danielle Hunter in Houston—he’s being selected inside the top 12 at his position in many early drafts. But talented though he may be, Anderson only averaged three tackles a game as a rookie—it will take a big-time increase in sacks for Anderson to live up to a DL1 asking price.

EDGE Khalil Mack, LA Chargers

It was a rough 2023 season for the Chargers, but Mack was a bright spot—not only did the 2016 Defensive Player of the Year make his eighth Pro Bowl and set a career high with 17 sacks, but Mack also finished second in fantasy points among defensive linemen, trailing only Watt. Mack quipped to Eric Smith of the team’s website that he was a little taken aback his big year didn’t receive a little more attention.

 "I felt like I would look on Twitter and people would be like, '17 sacks, but he had six in one game'. It's like, damn, is that a bad thing? Maybe I shouldn't have gotten six in one game. Maybe I should've did three," Mack said. "Ultimately getting to that 100, it's special in the grand scheme of things when you understand everybody is not fortunate enough to play 10 years in this league and had great teammates like I have had and been able to do and accomplish some of the things that I have.”

With 101.5 career sacks and individual accolades galore, Mack is all but a mortal lock to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame someday. But he’s also a 33-year-old who had just 14 sacks in 2021 and 2022 combined—missing 10 games over that span. With an early price tag at the back end of DL1 territory, Mack is being drafted more for what he’s done than what he will do. And there’s a good chance that backfires—perhaps spectacularly.

EDGE Travon Walker, Jacksonville

Walker was the first overall pick in the NFL Draft two years ago. Last year, it appeared the lightbulb started to come on for the 6-foot-5, 272-pounder—he topped 50 total stops and hit 10 sacks for the first time in his career. While addressing the media, new Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen said Jacksonville is spending the offseason trying to scheme ways for an even better 2024 campaign from Walker—including potentially kicking him inside more.

"Here's our philosophy with the players: We're going to put the player in a position that he can have success first, over the scheme," Nielsen said. "We're going to evaluate everything that he does well, then if he can rush inside, we'll put him inside. If he's a better outside rusher, we'll keep him outside."

Walker benefits from playing opposite Josh Allen (and his 17.5 sacks in 2023), his talent is undeniable, and he nearly doubled his QB hit numbers last year relative to his rookie season. But over half of Walker’s sacks last year came in Jacksonville’s last six games. Whether that was the proverbial lightbulb coming on or just a hot streak will go a long way toward determining if Walker is a value play as a lower-end DL2 or just a low-ceiling second starter.

EDGE Bryce Huff, Philadelphia

Not much went right for the New York Jets a year ago, but Huff broke out in his fourth season, hitting double-digits in sacks despite playing just 42 percent of the team’s snaps. That career season earned Huff a three-year, $51 million contract to replace Haason Reddick on the Philadelphia Eagles. The 26-year-old told reporters at OTAs that he’s ready to embrace an expanded role with his new team.

“Just the same way I’ve always prepared,” Huff said. “Just honing in on my conditioning and staying strong. Doing a lot of injury prevention work and just staying dialed in on my details. I’ve always trained with the mindset of it only takes one play for somebody to get hurt, God forbid, or somebody miss a game. So, I’ve always practiced to be fully prepared for any opportunity. I’m just taking that same process into this year and playing my role.”

Now, Huff all but certainly won’t be able to match his per-snap sack production in 2024, and his tackle numbers (29 stops) weren’t great. But Huff’s win rate, pressure, and hit numbers were all excellent a year ago, and he joins a still-loaded Eagles front that has long excelled at getting after opposing quarterbacks. Huff has the potential to be one of this season’s biggest IDP values up front.

EDGE Byron Young, LA Rams

The 77th overall pick in last year’s draft, Young was one of the more pleasant rookie surprises defensively in 2023—the 6-foot-2, 258-pounder wound up playing 85 percent of the Rams’ defensive snaps last season, eclipsing 60 total stops while adding eight sacks. However, Young told Stu Jackson of the team’s website that he felt like he left quite a few stats on the field last season.

"I felt like last year I definitely (had) games where I need to close out, and I didn't come through, and that's my goal. That's my number one goal," Young said. "Honestly, this year, it's just about, you know, being a closer. They brought me here for a reason. They brought me here to rush the passer. It don't matter if it's a sack or whatever, it's a pressure, get to the quarterback, affect the passer. So, I feel like I didn't enough of that last year, and that's my number one goal is the train, do everything it takes to get there.”

Young has admittedly become a “flag plant” guy for the Godfather this year—he had better numbers almost across the board than Will Anderson with less help, and yet while the latter is being drafted as a DL1 Young is an afterthought in most drafts. In tackle Kobie Turner and rookies Braden Fiske and Jared Verse, Young has more talent around him in Year 2. His breakout chances aren’t dissimilar to Anderson’s—but Young’s upside can be had for a fraction of Anderson’s cost.

DT Justin Madubuike, Baltimore

The Godfather will never forgive Madubuike for helping to propel Leo McNeeley to a championship in the first King’s Classic Butkus Division. But after exploding for 13 sacks and a DT3 finish in fantasy points last season, there’s no question that the four-year veteran was an IDP league-winner. Now the third-highest paid interior lineman in the NFL, Madubuike told The Lounge podcast that he’s eager to claim the title of the league’s best defensive tackle.

"They think I'm just a one-hit wonder. Nah, I've put in this work for years. I see that as a little disrespectful," Madubuike said. "It's not for you to know, it's for you to find out. It's better to be the top dog. They're going to be scheming and planning to stop me. If you don't come with your best for four quarters, you're going to be embarrassed. I'm not going to do that. I'm going to embarrass them."

A DT1 IDP finish may well be within (shudder—hate this phrase) Madubuike’s range of outcomes—with Aaron Donald gone the throne at that position is vacant at the moment. But Madubuike is being drafted as an elite fantasy option at his position, and if his sack numbers regress (Madubuike had just 8.5 sacks over his first three years combined) he doesn’t have the history of tackle production (no 40-solo years) to prop up his fantasy value.

Gary Davenport (“The Godfather of IDP”) is a two-time Fantasy Sports Writers Association Football Writer of the Year. Follow him on Twitter (Can't make him call it X) at @IDPSharks.

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