• An sudden identify takes the highest prize: Nobody would have thought-about Andrew Van Ginkel within the IDP MVP dialog heading into this season, however he earned his technique to the highest and returned vital worth for all those that invested in him.
• Zack Baun’s exceptional 2024 season has him in consideration for a lot of awards: Another 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: Try PFF’s best-in-class Mock Draft Simulator and study 2025’s high prospects whereas buying and selling and drafting on your favourite NFL crew.
Estimated Reading 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 players safe an important award of all: a fantasy soccer championship.
PFF-Preferred IDP Scoring
| Position | 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 underneath these settings may be considered right here (minimal 100 snaps).
2024 IDP MVP
Starting 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 useful IDP in 2024.
WINNER: EDGE Andrew Van Ginkel, Minnesota Vikings
There are at all times a number of robust candidates for this award and, relying on the way you outline worth, possible a variety of affordable winners. However, 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 perfect return on funding at a place the place constant high-end scoring is tough to return by.
Van Ginkel was coming off a strong 12 months in 2023 however was set to hitch a brand new crew in Minnesota that additionally spent a first-round choose on a participant at his very place, so expectations had been understandably tempered for the previous fifth-round choose. However, Van Ginkel instantly put these issues 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 whole tackles, 5 cross breakups, 19 quarterback hits, a pressured fumble and two pick-sixes. It appeared like each week he was delivering a robust manufacturing ground on the very least, and he was continuously sprinkling in massive performs, serving to his fantasy managers pile up wins all season lengthy. Considering that Van Ginkel didn’t profile as an IDP who can be near this useful heading into the 12 months — after which was at a place the place consistency could be very arduous 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 aspect of the ball, however just one can take dwelling 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 very best taking part in time constantly allowed for him to be in fantasy beginning consideration each week, and he was usually capable of present worth within the type of a robust deal with ground. Verse averaged 78% of the Rams’ defensive snaps this season, which is rather a lot for a rookie defensive lineman, however he acclimated rapidly to the NFL and seems to be some of the 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 whole 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 decent manufacturing ground may be so useful for IDP on the defensive position place. Verse delivered 65 whole tackles, 18 quarterback hits, two pressured fumbles and two fumble recoveries to associate with his 4.5 sacks. Verse will possible be one of many high constructive regression candidates heading into 2025, so the longer term 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 had been a must-add in most IDP leagues. Candidates additionally needed to preserve their fantasy relevance for many 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 could have identified 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 appeared again.
Sherwood completed third within the league (Weeks 1-17) in whole 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 because of an elite 15.6% deal with fee. Many IDP managers spent as much as purchase Quincy Williams and/or Mosley this offseason, however it was Sherwood who got here by way 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 a minimum of 16 video games. He even outperformed three-time IDP LB1 Foyesade Oluokun in factors per sport this season.
Runners up:
2024 MOST IMPROVED IDP OF THE YEAR
This award goes to the participant who noticed the largest 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 possible no extra of an apparent choose than for probably the most improved IDP this season. First, Baun got here into this season mainly 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 is a exceptional feat for a participant with fewer than 200 NFL snaps on the place coming into the season.
Baun delivered 151 whole tackles, which ranked fourth within the league because of an elite 16.5% deal with fee, however he was a lot greater than a robust 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 some of the spectacular linebacker performances in a very long time and made him a simple 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 constantly delivered high-end fantasy performances for all three weeks of the fantasy playoffs and ended up being the first purpose 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 high-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 disenchanted relative to his place, totaling 14 by way of Weeks 15-17. He additionally notched 13 whole tackles, three of which had 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 technique 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 attributable to missed time with harm — and even simply being the DT31 in factors per sport — Heyward was a simple fade heading into his 14th NFL season. He went ignored in loads of leagues this offseason, whether or not in drafts or as somebody who could possibly be acquired cheaply off waivers early on. However, not solely did Heyward show that he nonetheless has some gasoline left within the tank, however he delivered among the best seasons of his whole profession in 2024 at 35 years outdated.
Heyward completed the season as the general DT2 and the DT4 in factors per sport (15.6), because of eight sacks, 20 quarterback hits, 70 whole 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 capability, that are the perfect 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. Meanwhile, Heyward’s 86.6 PFF pass-rush grade was the perfect mark of his profession and ranked third on the place, which once more, is all of the extra spectacular contemplating that is Year 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
Every 12 months, 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 irrespective of which Saints cornerback IDP managers wished 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 way of the primary seven video games of the 12 months. Adebo deserves recognition because the CB1 in factors per sport (19.1), even when his 12 months was reduce brief attributable to harm, 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 Year” as a participant who was largely undrafted and took over Adebo’s mantle for many of the remainder of the season. He did sufficient in that position to supply robust IDP worth on a weekly foundation for his place. While 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 whole tackles, together with 4 sacks and rating because the CB4 in factors per sport (13.1). Ultimately, 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 an enormous method in 2024, failing to stay as much as their ADP and constantly disappointing. The participant will need to have performed a minimum of 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 sport. The hope coming into the season, and why he was possible 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’ must rely closely on him can be sufficient for a great return on funding.
Unfortunately, Sweat got here nowhere close to that mark in 2024, regardless of taking part in 15 video games on the 12 months. He offered subsequent to no fantasy worth and managed a really poor 3.9% deal with fee, simply 5.5 sacks and eight.6 factors per sport (ED62). Sweat underperformed by a major margin, even relative to his play on the sector. He earned his lowest PFF total grade (65.6) since his 2019 rookie season.
It is tough to give you any excuses for Sweat, as he nonetheless averaged a robust 62% of snaps on the 12 months however simply hardly ever did something with that workload. IDP managers who invested in Sweat possible felt this burn fairly a bit; it’s troublesome to discover a alternative 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.