"The rankings are here! The rankings are here!" In the grand tradition of Navin R. Johnson and his excitement over the newly published phone books, I am giddy with excitement that post-draft Individual Defensive Player (IDP) rankings are beginning to crop up.

If that reference is throwing you, I can only assume you have yet to see the cinematic classic, "The Jerk." If that's the case, you must immediately go rent, borrow or Netflix it and enjoy. Seriously, go now ... I'll wait. Done? OK, you're welcome.

One of the many joys fantasy football brings is the chance to discuss and dissect the latest rankings with our league mates, friends or even strangers on the streets (I'm not going to lie, that last one has gotten me some sideways glances).

While standing around the virtual water cooler recently and having one such discussion with a peer in the IDP community (as well as a friend I daresay), it occurred to me that maybe some other folks out there may enjoy our thoughts and ideas on these initial ranks. If not enjoy then at least be enraged by and either way it gets the IDP fantasy juices flowing ... a win/win.

If you play IDP football and are not acquainted with Joe Buccalleto and FantasyleagueGM, you should be. He is what I would deem an IDP savant, and when he has something to say that's IDP related, my radar goes up. We recently bounced some underrated and overrated names that jumped out in some of the most recent IDP rankings off of each other.

In the same vein as one of those awesome "Law and Order" episodes that crossed over with "Homicide Life on the Street," here are those players.

We will start with Buccalleto's thoughts:

Underrated

Justin Tuck, DE, N.Y. Giants: Formerly a premier fantasy defensive lineman, Tuck has suffered through consecutive subpar seasons. However, I'm not ready to dismiss him. Injuries have caused his play to lag, but he's only 30 years old. I'd rather add him to my team and hope for a rebound. If Tuck is washed up, useful linemen are easy to find on the waiver wire.

Patrick Willis, ILB, San Francisco: Willis was injured in 2011, and suffered through a "down" year in 2012. The presence of NaVorro Bowman in San Francisco and sexier, younger linebackers around the league have caused Willis' value to drop. In reality, his worst games were Week 13 (four solo tackles) and Week 1 (four solo tackles, two assists). That's his floor! Just like the NFL draft, you don't hit home runs in Round 1. You want safe, productive...

IDP Sleepers - Week 5 (fantasysharks.com)

The first quarter of the season is over, and most teams, excluding the Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts, have played four games.

Defensive depth charts continue to change weekly. Injuries and performance issues have seen some players emerge as surprisingly effective fantasy performers (Russell Allen comes to mind) and other big names have struggled mightily out of the gate (I'm looking at you, Jared Allen). Let's keep moving forward in our quest to locate the perfect sleeper options for Week 5.

LINEBACKERS

Craig Robertson, OLB, Cleveland at New York Giants: Showing excellent versatility as a situational linebacker, Robertson has been a pleasant, fantasy surprise. Through four weeks, he has more than 25 total tackles, two interceptions and three passes defended. There are concerns that when James-Michael Johnson returns from injury that Robertson will fade back to the bench, but I'm not buying it. The kid has earned his playing time and it will continue in a nice matchup against the Giants in Week 5.

Calvin Pace, OLB, New York Jets vs. Houston: Pace returns to the sleeper list for a second consecutive week as the Texans are coming to town. Houston is an excellent matchup for linebackers, and Pace put up a respectable Week 4 performance, mainly due to a sack and forced fumble. Look for better tackle numbers in Week 5 for Pace as Arian Foster and company pound the rock at the Jets defense.

Melvin Ingram, OLB, San Diego at New Orleans : Ingram has been getting close to the quarterback in his rookie campaign; he just hasn't finished the deal, yet. He has been credited with eight quarterback hurries and deflected two passes through four games. Look for Week 5 to be his coming out party. He's being utilized as a pass rushing specialist and the Saints love to throw the ball. Ingram will see increased playing time and the Saints are a mess right now. That equates to a very productive fantasy week for the rookie.

Koa Misi, LB, Miami at Cincinnati: Misi is a matchup play this week as he struggles in coverage but plays well against the run. His snap count will be up this week against the Bengals, after playing a season-low 38 snaps last week against the Arizona Cardinals. He did contribute a couple of big plays last week with a forced fumble and 1½ sacks. Solid tackle numbers and the potential for a big play or two in Week 5 make Misi a very nice sleeper candidate against Cincinnati.

Ryan Kerrigan, OLB, Washington vs. Atlanta: Kerrigan is the last...

IDP Cheatsheet: Week 12 (fantasysharks.com)

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IDP CHEATSHEET: Week Twelve

It's Week Twelve of the 2011 fantasy football season, which means the bye weeks are in the rearview mirror, there are a trio of games to enjoy on Thanksgiving Day, and the fantasy playoffs are just around the corner.

To help you prepare for another week's action here's a look at my Top 30 defensive linemen, linebackers, and defensive backs for Week Eleven of the 2011 season in IDP leagues.

These rankings are based on Default IDP Manor Scoring, which awards 1 point for solos, .5 points for assists, 2 points each for fumbles forced and recovered, 4 points for interceptions, sacks, and safeties, 6 points for defensive touchdowns, and 1 point for passes defensed. It's a balanced scoring system, so if your IDP league is especially tackle-heavy or big play-heavy some players may move up (or down) a few spots.

Have a Safe and Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

1.) Jared Allen - MIN at ATL

2.) Terrell Suggs - BAL vs SF

3.) Trent Cole - PHI vs NE

4.) Chris Clemons - SEA vs WAS

5.) Julius Peppers - CHI at OAK

6.) Jason Pierre-Paul - NYG at NO

7.) Jeremy Mincey - JAX vs HOU

8.) Andre Carter - NE at PHI

9.) Justin Smith - SF at BAL

10.) Osi Umenyiora - NYG at NO

11.) Chris Long - STL vs ARI

12.) Calais Campbell - ARI at STL

13.) Haloti Ngata - BAL vs SF

14.) Greg Hardy - CAR at IND

15.) Kyle Vanden Bosch - DET vs GB

16.) Charles Johnson -- CAR at IND

17.) Jason Babin - PHI vs NE

18.) Ndamukong Suh - DET vs GB

19.) Will Smith - NO vs NYG

20.) Cliff Avril - DET vs GB

21.) Robert Mathis - IND vs CAR

22.) James Hall - STL vs ARI

23.) Ahtyba Rubin - CLE at CIN

24.) Darnell Dockett - ARI at STL

25.) Ray Edwards - ATL vs MIN

26.) Israel Idonije - CHI at OAK

27.) Justin Tuck - NYG at NO

28.) Michael Bennett - TB at TEN

29.) Desmond Bryant - OAK vs CHI

30.) Brian Robison - MIN at ATL

LINEBACKERS

1.) Patrick Willis - SF at BAL

2.) Desmond Bishop - GB at DET

3.) Paul Posluszny - JAX vs HOU

4.) London Fletcher - WAS at SEA

5.) Nick Barnett - BUF at NYJ

6.) Brian Urlacher - CHI at OAK

7.) Derrick Johnson - KC vs PIT

8.) D'Qwell Jackson - CLE at CIN

9.) Navorro Bowman - SF at BAL

10.) David Hawthorne - SEA vs WAS

11.) D.J. Williams - DEN at SD

12.) Curtis Lofton - ATL vs MIN

13.) Pat Angerer - IND vs CAR

14.) Daryl Washington - ARI at STL

15.) Karlos Dansby - MIA at DAL

16.) James Laurinaitis - STL vs ARI

17.) Donald Butler - SD vs DEN

18.) Sean Weatherspoon -...

IDP Cheatsheet: Week 11 (fantasysharks.com)

It's Week 11 of the 2011 fantasy football season, which means the stretch run has arrived, making every game and lineup choice vitally important as teams jockey for position or try to keep their sinking playoff aspirations afloat.

This is also the last of the bye weeks, so don't go starting any players from the Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints or Pittsburgh Steelers, because that would be bad.

To help you prepare for another week's action, here's a look at my Top 30 defensive linemen, linebackers and defensive backs for Week 11 of the 2011 season in IDP leagues.

These rankings are based on Default IDP Manor Scoring, which awards 1 point for solos, .5 points for assists, 2 points each for fumbles forced and recovered, 4 points for interceptions, sacks, and safeties, 6 points for defensive touchdowns, and 1 point for passes defensed. It's a balanced scoring system, so if your IDP league is especially tackle-heavy or big play-heavy some players may move up (or down) a few spots.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

1.) Jared Allen - MIN vs. OAK

2.) Andre Carter - NE vs. KC

3.) Trent Cole - PHI at NYG

4.) Julius Peppers - CHI vs. SD

5.) Terrell Suggs - BAL vs. CIN

6.) Justin Smith - SF vs. ARI

7.) Jason Pierre-Paul - NYG vs. PHI

8.) Chris Clemons - SEA at STL

9.) Chris Long - STL vs. SEA

10.) Jeremy Mincey - JAX at CLE

11.) Justin Tuck - NYG vs. PHI

12.) Cliff Avril - DET vs. CAR

13.) Charles Johnson - CAR at DET

14.) Osi Umenyiora - NYG vs. PHI

15.) Haloti Ngata - BAL vs. CIN

16.) Jason Babin - PHI at NYG

17.) Calais Campbell - ARI at SF

18.) Richard Seymour - OAK at MIN

19.) James Hall - STL vs. SEA

20.) Greg Hardy - CAR at DET

21.) Marcell Dareus - BUF at MIA

22.) Ahtyba Rubin - CLE vs. JAX

23.) Kyle Vanden Bosch- DET vs. CAR

24.) Ndamukong Suh - DET vs. CAR

25.) Israel Idonije - CHI vs. SD

26.) Ray Edwards - ATL vs. TEN

27.) Jabaal Sheard - CLE vs. JAX

28.) Michael Bennett - TB at GB

29.) Darnell Dockett - ARI at SF

30.) Carlos Dunlap - CIN at BAL

LINEBACKERS

1.) Desmond Bishop - GB vs. TB

2.) Brian Urlacher - CHI vs. SD

3.) Patrick Willis - SF vs. ARI

4.) D'Qwell Jackson - CLE vs. JAX

5.) Nick Barnett - BUF at MIA

6.) Ray Lewis - BAL vs. CIN

7.) Navorro Bowman - SF vs. ARI

8.) David Hawthorne - SEA at STL

9.) James Laurinaitis - STL vs. SEA

10.) London Fletcher - WAS vs. DAL

11.) Curtis Lofton - ATL vs. TEN

12.) Derrick Johnson - KC at NE

13.) Paul Posluszny - JAX at CLE

14.) Karlos Dansby - MIA...

11/15/2011 Washington Redskins Comment

Redskins OLB Ryan Kerrigan recorded two sacks, two forced fumbles and five tackles in last Sunday's loss to the Dolphins.

The Redskins are a mess on offense, but they have two major defensive building blocks in Kerrigan and Brian Orakpo. Kerrigan, the No. 16 overall pick, played all 67 snaps Sunday and was in the backfield all day. He's up to five sacks, four forced fumbles and one interception on the season.

9/20/2011 Washington Redskins Comment

Redskins rookie OLB a sack, a tackle for a loss, a quarterback hurry and two passes defensed against the Cardinals in Week 2.

This is on top of one pass defensed and a pick-six against the Giants in Week 1. Kerrigan is still making a few rookie mistakes, but he's more than compensated with his playmaking ability. The early results are highly promising on the switch from college defensive end to NFL outside linebacker.

9/9/2011 Washington Redskins Comment

First-round OLB Ryan Kerrigan has nailed down the starting job opposite Brian Orakpo.

Redskins DC Jim Haslett said last month that Kerrigan would be eased in with the second team, but the No. 16 overall pick is playing faster now that he's comfortable with the scheme. Kerrigan tied for the team lead with two sacks in preseason action.

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