IDP Rankings for the Rest of ’09

As we head into week 8 of the season, it’s time to evaluate your team and adjust your expectations from your pre-season projections.  It doesn’t appear that the 2008 version of Mario Williams will be walking through that door anytime soon.  Here are my IDP rankings for the rest of 2009.  Hopefully they help to make that last minute trade or make that waiver wire pickup:

Defensive Linemen

1. Jared Allen (MIN)
2. Trent Cole (PHI)
3 Justin Tuck (NYG)
4. Andre Carter (WAS)
5. Robert Mathis (IND)
6. Jimmy Wilkerson (TBB)
7. Terrell Suggs (BAL)
8. Julius Peppers (CAR)
9. Aaron Schoebel (BUF)
10. Cliff Avril (DET)
11. Marcus Stroud (BUF)
12. Chris Kelsay (BUF)
13. Robert Geathers (CIN)
14. Leonard Little (STL)
15. Mario Williams (HOU)
16. Osi Umenyiora (NYG)
17. Cullen Jenkins (GBP)
18. Richard Seymour (OAK)
19. Victor Abiamiri (PHI)
20. Greg Ellis (OAK)
21. Tommy Kelly (OAK)
22. Shaun Rogers (CLE)
23. James Hall (STL)
24. Brett Keisel (PIT)
25. Kevin Williams (MIN)
26. Albert Haynesworth (WAS)
27. James Hall (STL)
28. Lawrence Jackson (SEA)
29. Kyle Williams (BUF)
30. Will Smith (NOS)

The DL position, as a whole, can be extremely inconsistent.  Who would have thought that Andre Carter would be putting up top 3-4 numbers this season?  Jimmy Wilkerson has stepped up on the line for Tampa Bay, even before they shipped off Gaines Adams to Chicago.  There are some linemen with top 30 potential the rest of the season; Glenn Dorsey (KCC), Mathias Kiwanuka (NYG), Charles Grant (NOS), Ty Warren (NEP) just to name a few.  I’m really hoping, for the sake of Osi owners, that he picks his game and can finish as a top 20 end.  Some other guys to keep an eye on are Darnell Dockett and Calais Campbell.

Linebackers

1. Patrick Willis (SFO)
2. Kirk Morrison (OAK)
3. London Fletcher (WAS)
4. David Harris (NYJ)
5. Curtis Lofton (ATL)
6. James Harrison (PIT)
7. Barrett Ruud (TBB)
8. DJ Williams (DEN)
10. Will Witherspoon (PHI)
11. Brian Cushing (HOU)
12. Thomas Davis (CAR)
13. EJ Henderson (MIN)
14. Mike Peterson (ATL)
15. Keith Ellison (BUF)
16. Ray Lewis (BAL)
17. Stephen Tulloch (TEN)
18. James Laurainaits (STL)
19. Keith Bulluck (TEN)
20. Jon Beason (CAR)
21. Demeco Ryans (HOU)
22. Thomas Howard (OAK)
23. Eric Barton (CLE)
24. Lance Briggs (CHI)
25. Paul Posluszny (BUF)
26. Chad Greenway (MIN)
27. Elvis Dumervil (DEN)
28. James Farrior (PIT)
29. DeAndre Levy (DET)
30.  Aaron Curry (SEA)

There are some high upside backers that are just outside of the top 30; Scott Shanle (NOS), Kamerion Wimbley (CLE), Akeem Jordan (PHI) and Daryl Smith (JAC). There are quite a few of underperforming linebackers this season that were projected to be much higher than where they are.  Aaron Curry has tons of upside the rest of the season, as does David Hawthorne since he looks to be the everydown MLB for Lofa Tatupu.  Karlos Dansby is another underperforming LB that can have a huge 2nd half but, the entire defense is playing really well right now.  Some other guys that have been underachievers that could have big 2nd halves; Bart Scott (NYJ), Demarcus Ware (DAL).

Defensive Backs

1. Tyvon Branch (OAK)
2. OJ Atogwe (STL)
3. Cedric Griffin (MIN)
4.  Eric Weddle (SDC)
5. Abram Elam (CLE)
6. Brandon McGowan (NEP)
7.  Antoine Bethea (IND)
8.  Yeremiah Bell (MIA)
9. George Wilson (BUF)
10.  Danieal Manning (CHI)
11.  C.C. Brown (NYG)
12. Sabby Piscitelli (TBB)
13.  Brandon Meriweather (NEP)
14. Roman Harper (NOS)
15.  Mike Brown (KCC)
16.  Louis Delmas (DET)
17.  Darren Sharper (NOS)
18.  Antrel Rolle (ARI)
19. Erik Coleman (ATL)
20.  Chris Harris (CAR)
21.  Ryan Clark (PIT)
22. Dashon Goldson (SFO)
23.  Brian Dawkins (DEN)
24.  Chris Crocker (CIN)
25. Michael Lewis (SFO)
26.  Charles Woodson (GBP)
27. Gibril Wilson (MIA)
28. Chris Hope (TEN)
29.  Derek Cox (JAC)
30. Quintin Mikell (PHI)

Your guess is as good as mine on how the DBs will finish out the year.  Tyvon Branch was a huge sleeper coming into the season after winning the SS spot in Oakland and is the #1 DB, in most formats, at this point.