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Factoid

J.J. Watt

Defensive MVP best IDP, too

Few would dispute J.J. Watt's credentials as the last year's defensive MVP; he earned some votes for NFL MVP, as well. That carried over to the fantasy realm, where he was the best individual defensive player by a wide margin.

Using a scoring system that awards points for tackles (1.5), assists (.75), sacks (4), takeaways (4) and defensive touchdowns (6), Watt last year racked up 235 fantasy points. No other IDP was within 20 points of him; only five others reached 200.

The gap between Watt and other defensive linemen is particularly significant. The franchised Jason Pierre-Paul was the only other one to rank among the top 50 IDPs. (For that reason, some scoring systems -- including the one we use during the year -- give linemen slightly more points for tackles and sacks than linebackers and defensive backs.)

The table below shows the top 50 IDPs, using the above-outlined scoring system.

TOP 50 INDIVIDUAL DEFENSIVE PLAYERS, 2014
Player Team PosTcklAst Sck Int FF FRFF Pts
J.J. Watt HOU DE 591920.5145235
DeAndre Levy DET OLB 117342.5100213
Lavonte David TB OLB 101451041209
Luke Kuechly CAR MLB 99543111209
D'Qwell Jackson IND ILB 81574014206
Justin Houston KC OLB 60922040201
Curtis Lofton NO ILB 99450011190
C.J. Mosley BAL ILB 89443211187
Paul Worrilow ATL ILB 84582020186
Jamie Collins NE OLB 74424242183
Morgan Burnett GB SS 94361.5111182
David Harris NYJ ILB 71525.5020176
Lawrence Timmons PIT ILB 87452000172
Demario Davis NYJ ILB 79373.5002168
Jelani Jenkins MIA OLB 83273.5020167
Brandon Marshall DEN OLB 91222110165
James Laurinaitis STL MLB 81283.5002165
Jason Pierre-Paul NYG DE 542312.5031164
Ryan Kerrigan WAS OLB 511313.5051164
Daryl Smith BAL ILB 68601121163
Alec Ogletree STL OLB 85260240163
Eric Weddle SD FS 91230120162
Michael Griffin TEN FS 85273200160
K.J. Wright SEA OLB 73342031159
Jameel McClain NYG MLB 74422.5010157
Charles Woodson OAK FS 83301401155
T.J. McDonald STL SS 84212101154
Chris Borland SF ILB 84241201152
Telvin Smith JAC OLB 72322112152
Connor Barwin PHI OLB 471714.5020149
Ryan Mundy CHI SS 75281401148
Thomas Davis CAR OLB 66342.5021147
Nigel Bradham BUF OLB 66382.5120146
Johnathan Cyprien JAC SS 80340000146
Rashad Johnson ARI FS 75171401145
Keenan Robinson WAS ILB 71381.5101145
Harrison Smith MIN FS 71213510144
Earl Thomas SEA FS 71260131142
Ron Parker KC SS 84101110142
Josh Mauga KC ILB 82210.5000141
Von Miller DEN OLB 421714011140
Jason McCourty TEN CB 7780321140
Donte Whitner CLE SS 69370120139
Miles Burris OAK MLB 76330000139
Barry Church DAL SS 77200211139
Ryan Clark WAS FS 69330.5102138
Robert Blanton MIN SS 72340101138
Kemal Ishmael ATL SS 67300411137
Mychal Kendricks PHI ILB 62214030137
Dawan Landry NYJ SS 67401.5000137

--Andy Richardson

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