IDP Analysis: Week 17 Analysis

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Updated on June 8, 2010 12:12PM EST

For those of you in an IDP league, 2009 was a very good year. With eleven players registering double-digit sacks, four DBs with at least eight interceptions and 31 defenders making triple-digit tackles, points were plentiful and available among defensive players. Here are some of the MVPs among the IDPs this year:

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN:

MVP (tie): Jared Allen (DE Minnesota) and Elvis Dumervil (DE Denver): Allen and Dumervil finished neck-and-neck in most IDP leagues. Dumervil led the league with 17.0 sacks, with Allen finishing second with 13.5. Both players finished with 48 total tackles. Both forced four fumbles. However, Allen made up the missing sacks with an interception returned for a touchdown, which he scored against the Bears in Week 12. Allen's interception and touchdown brings him close to Dumervil, and may have even put him over the league's sack leader in many fantasy formats.

Honorable mention: Dwight Freeney DE Indianapolis (13.5 sacks), Julius Peppers DE Carolina (10.5 sacks, 1 TD, 5 FF), Andre Carter DE Washington (11.0 sacks, 47 tackles), Will Smith DE New Orleans (13.0 sacks)

LINEBACKERS:

MVP: Patrick Willis LB San Francisco: Willis had a huge year, finishing above and beyond all defensive players in formats that count tackles. Willis racked up 147 total tackles, 13 more than anyone else in the league leading up to Week 17. Willis also found time to grab three interceptions (one for a touchdown) and rack up four sacks. He also defended seven passes and forced three fumbles. Among linebackers, Willis

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN:

LINEBACKERS:

Honorable mention: Jon Beason LB Carolina (134 tackles, three interceptions), Brian Cushing LB Houston (124 tackles, four sacks, four interceptions), David Harris LB New York Jets (126 tackles, 5.5 sacks), London Fletcher LB Washington (134 tackles)

DEFENSIVE BACKS:

MVP: Darren Sharper S New Orleans: Sharper narrowly edges out Green Bay CB Charles Woodson here. Both players had similar tackle numbers (74 for Woodson, 71 for Sharper) but Sharper's nine interceptions were one more than Woodson had. Most importantly however, Sharper led all defensive players with three touchdowns, though Woodson was second with two. Woodson did force four fumbles to Sharper's zero, but Sharper's lead in touchdowns and interceptions make him the defensive back MVP.

Honorable mention: Woodson, Asante Samuel CB Philadelphia (nine INT), Jairus Byrd CB Buffalo (nine INT), Brian Dawkins S Denver (108 tackles)

IDP MVP: We're going to have to give the nod to Patrick Willis here. His tackle numbers are the most impressive number, but the fact that he also was able to rack up points with sacks, interceptions and passes defended make him the best all-around defensive threat in the league. For those in leagues that give little or no points for tackles, we'd probably name Dumervil or Sharper the MVP, but Willis is the clear-cut choice for leagues that count tackles.