As the college football season draws closer, you may be looking to add some individual defensive players — players who will have the most impact — to your college or C2C leagues. Here are my top three IDPs for 2021.
If you are in a Devy or Campus 2 Canton (C2C) league, you may need to do a little more research to find players with a low price tag but high value. In this article, I will give you my top three Devy IDP stashes.
1. Will Anderson Jr, LB, Alabama
Ranked #2 overall in my Top 100 IDP Devy rankings.
It’s extremely hard for a true freshman to receive significant playing time, and rarely do they get a chance to start. Especially at a powerhouse like Alabama. Though it was unlikely, that’s exactly what Will Anderson Jr. was able to do last year. He won the starting job in the fall and started all 13 games for the Crimson Tide in their championship run.
Anderson Jr. finished second on the team in both TFLs (10½) and sacks (7), both of which were third-best in the SEC, earning him Freshman All-American honors. What he will do for an encore as a true sophomore remains to be seen, but the expectations are crazy high. What’s even crazier is that Anderson Jr. may just exceed those expectations.
At 6’4”, 235 lbs, he has everything you look for in an impact IDP. Anderson Jr. has the complete package (size, speed & talent) to not only be one of the best pass rushers but one of the best IDPs in the country. He has been nicknamed the “Terminator” for his tenacious defense and his methodical annihilation of opposing offenses.
https://twitter.com/alloutofsleeves/status/1342343037532467201
Anderson Jr. is exactly the type of player you are looking to roster for your college or NFL IDP fantasy teams. Expect him to be among the nation’s leaders in sacks and tackles for a loss and to fill the boxscore each week. With Anderson Jr. being a true sophomore, you will have at least two, maybe three, more years of eligibility for your college teams.
2. Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
Ranked #15 overall in my Top 100 IDP Devy rankings.
It’s not often that defensive tackles are talked about as impact IDPs in fantasy, but Bryan Bresee isn’t your normal defensive tackle. As I mentioned above with Will Anderson, it’s rare for incoming freshmen to be stars on national powerhouse teams and even more difficult for interior defensive linemen.
Despite the odds, Bresee stood out right from the get-go and never looked back. How good was he? The former #1 overall recruit in the country burst onto the scene as a Freshman All-American and became just the second ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year in Clemson history.
Bresee played in all 12 games, starting 10 for the Tigers. He continuously made big play after big play on a weekly basis. Bresee produced 33 tackles, 6½ TFLs, 4 sacks, 2 PBUs, 1 forced fumble, and 1 safety. What’s more impressive is that he accomplished all of this in just 432 snaps played.
Even with all the star talent surrounding him on the defensive unit, Bresee shined as bright as any. I once described Bresee as an “Elephant among cats,” while watching his high school tape. I can’t wait to see what he does for an encore.
https://twitter.com/bryan_bresee/status/1355244911306543107
In the fantasy community, defensive ends are looked at as the red-headed stepchild of IDP. However, there are a few who stand out from the rest, especially in specific-position leagues. Bresee will be a true sophomore heading into this season, so you’ll have at least two more years of eligibility for your college teams, as he’ll likely leave school early for the draft. With his size, speed, and ferocious play, he’s destined to be a star for years to come.
3. Tony Grimes, CB, North Carolina
Ranked #16 overall in my Top 100 IDP Devy rankings.
Next on my impact IDPs list, I continue with the true sophomore theme. This time, we look at cornerback Tony Grimes. The five-star, #7 overall recruit of the 2020 class, chose the Tarheels over schools such as Georgia and Ohio State. As a true freshman, Grimes played in all twelve games making four starts.
Like most freshmen, Grimes started off a little shaky but made major strides and progression by the season’s end. He saved his best game for last with a three tackle, two PBU, and one sack performance vs #5 Texas A&M in the Orange Bowl.
With a full season and off-season under his belt, Grimes will look to take that next step and help lead the Tarheels' secondary. He has the size (6’1",190 lbs), speed (track star in HS), instincts, and physicality to be a star. Depending on how his frame and body fill out, Grimes could transition to safety at some point in the future. As of now, he has a bright future as a cornerback.
TONY GRIMES SAID GIMME THAT!!! FIRST CAREER INTERCEPTION. pic.twitter.com/dNrpQH6POW
— Taylor Vippolis (@tvippolis) December 12, 2020
In the world of fantasy football, cornerbacks rarely become impact IDPs. However, college fantasy football is different. It’s a completely different game both in real life and fantasy, so cornerbacks have a higher value in this format. With that said, Grimes will be one of the best options for your fantasy teams, especially in position-specific leagues. He will fill the box score on a weekly basis and help your fantasy teams win a lot of games.
Thanks for reading my article. I am a member of the FSWA (Fantasy Sports Writers of America), and you can read more of my articles on my author page at IDP Guys. Follow me on Twitter at @HollywoodTitan, on Facebook on my IDPNation page, on Reddit in the fantasy football IDP sub — I’m user KingTitan1 — and tune in each week and listen to IDP Nation and Devy IDP Grind, the podcasts that I co-host, on several different platforms. Feel free to hit me up with any questions that you have, as I’m always glad to help fellow IDPers. #IDPNation #IDP #IDPDevy
