By Steve Strange. Steve Strange, a graduate of Penn State’s Center for Sports Journalism in 2006, is currently writing Fantasy is Reality, a book geared around the commissioner aspect of fantasy sports. Steve has been playing fantasy sports of all sorts and sizes since 1997. Feel free to e-mail Steve questions and comments at [email protected].
These 2010 Fantasy Football IDP Rankings will be updated often throughout the summer, so make sure you check back from time to time. Also, be sure to check out the other 2010 Fantasy Football articles, which will include sleepers, busts, tons of 2010 Fantasy Football mock drafts and other material.
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Yeremiah Bell, DB, Dolphins. Bye: 5.
Bell had a massive 234 tackles over the last two seasons, a staggering two-season total for a defensive back. Bell is more than just a tackler; he had 10 passes defended last year.
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Charles Woodson, DB, Packers. Bye: 10.
Don’t allow Woodson’s real-life value to dilute his fantasy value. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year had 74 tackles, two sacks, four forced fumbles, 18 passes defended, nine interceptions and three touchdowns last season. Even a fraction of that dream season is valuable in all scoring systems.
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Charles Tillman, DB, Bears. Bye: 8.
I’m in love with the 29-year-old Tillman’s career numbers: 84 passes defended, 22 forced fumbles, 22 interceptions and three touchdowns. Look out if Tillman ever hits triple digits in tackles.
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Bernard Pollard, DB, Texans. Bye: 7.
One of the end results of Brian Cushing’s “over-training” will be more tackles for Pollard, who racked up 102 tackles in 13 games last season.
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Eric Weddle, DB, Chargers. Bye: 10.
Ranking Weddle this high is gambling he can return to 127-tackle 2008 form. But Jamal Williams’ departure should help running backs make it to Weddle, and he slightly improved in sacks, interceptions and passes defended last season. He’s worth the risk.
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Brian Dawkins, DB, Broncos. Bye: 9.
Dawkins always racks up passes defended and interceptions, but hit triple-digit tackles in his first season in Denver for the first time in his career. The 36-year-old probably won’t rack up 116 tackles again, but he’s guaranteed contribution.
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Adrian Wilson, DB, Cardinals. Bye: 6.
Wilson had 13 passes defended and five interceptions last year. Karlos Dansby is in Miami, which will help Williams’ tackle opportunities.
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Tyvon Branch, DB, Raiders. Bye: 10.
Sure, the Raiders front seven should be better, but don’t ignore Branch’s 124 tackles last season. If he did it once, he’s capable of doing it again.
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O.J. Atogwe, DB, Rams. Bye: 9.
Atogwe just signed a multi-year contract in June so he should be happy and healthy. Atogwe doesn’t rack up tackles, but makes up for it in the big-play categories.
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Eric Berry, DB, Chiefs. Bye: 4.
Eric Berry quarterbacked the Volunteers defense for three years in college football’s best conference. I’ve watched a ton of Tennessee football, and I’m certain he’s the real deal. Playing in the terrible Kansas City defense should be a fantasy goldmine for Berry.
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Roman Harper, DB, Saints. Bye: 10.
In 2009, Harper had 103 regular season tackles, and added 17 more in the postseason. But Harper hasn’t picked off a pass since 2007. Considering that most Saints games turn into shootouts, his lack of interceptions is concerning.
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Louis Delmas, DB, Lions. Bye: 7.
The 23-year-old impressed in his rookie season with 94 tackles and two touchdowns. Delmas’ groin slowed him this summer, but it sounds like he’ll be fine for Week 1.
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Cortland Finnegan, DB, Titans. Bye: 9.
Finnegan has 28 passes defended and 10 interceptions over the last two seasons. Finnegan’s had back-to-back seasons with less than 70 tackles, but had 95 tackles in 2007. The 26-year-old is loaded with talent, tenacity and upside.
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Antoine Bethea, DB, Colts. Bye: 7.
Bethea is solid in most categories, but has never recorded a sack or touchdown. The shootout nature of Colts games helps his fantasy production.
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Darrelle Revis, DB, Jets. Bye: 7.
The best corner in the game is underrated from a fantasy perspective. Six interceptions, 31 passes defended and a touchdown should compensate for low tackle numbers in any scoring system. Don’t worry about the holdout; one more Hard Knocks episode should take care of it.
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Troy Polamalu, DB, Steelers. Bye: 5.
Hall-of-Fame defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau uses Polamalu in the box, on the blitz and in coverage. If Polamalu can stay healthy, he’ll contribute in multiple categories.
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Erik Coleman, DB, Falcons. Bye: 8.
Coleman racks up the tackles (he’s had 100 tackles or more in four of six seasons), but hasn’t got a sack since 2004.
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Dashon Goldson, DB, 49ers. Bye: 9.
Goldson exhibited big-play ability (three forced fumbles) and consistency (94 tackles) in 2009, but he’s only played more than 10 games once in three seasons.
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Brandon Flowers, DB, Chiefs. Bye: 4.
I can live with 65 tackles if 23 passes defended, five interceptions and two forced fumbles are attached. The 24-year-old Flowers should only get better.
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Antoine Winfield, DB, Vikings. Bye: 4.
The 33-year-old Winfield has been a great corner for a long time, but his age and recent injury history concern me.
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More 2010 Fantasy Football Articles:
2010 Fantasy Football: Home
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings:
2010 Fantasy Football Playoff Rankings - 1/5 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Week 17 Fantasy Rankings - 1/2 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks - 8/31 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks - 6/6 (Steve)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs - 9/6 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs - 7/3 (Steve)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers - 9/7 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers - 7/14 (Steve)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends - 8/31 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends - 7/20 (Steve)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers - 6/10 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defenses - 6/11 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Auction Values - 9/2 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: IDP Defensive Linemen - 8/3 (Steve)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: IDP Linebackers - 8/7 (Steve)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: IDP Defensive Backs - 8/14 (Steve)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Team-by-Team - 6/7 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Dynasty Rookie Rankings - 4/30 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Rookie Rankings - 4/29 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets:
2010 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 150 Traditional - 9/6 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 150 PPR - 9/6 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 150 Touchdown League - 9/6 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Downloadable Spreadsheets - 9/7 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Mock Drafts:
2010 Fantasy Football Draft: WF.com Free League - 9/7 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Draft: Real Traditional Draft - 9/1 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Draft: Real PPR Draft - 8/26 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Draft: Real PPR Draft - 8/18 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Draft: Real Experts PPR Draft - 8/12 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Experts Mock Draft - 8/12 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Draft: Pros vs. Joes - 7/28 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR Draft with AKA - 7/20 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Mocking ESPN's Fantasy Mock Draft - 7/7 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: The Four-Man PPR Fantasy Draft - 7/1 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Articles:
2010 Fantasy Football Injury Reports: Week 17 - 1/2 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Start Em, Sit Em - 12/29 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Add/Drop - 12/20 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Stock Index - Week 8 - 10/29 (John)
2010 Fantasy Football Buffet: Week 8 - 10/28 (Steve)
2010 Fantasy Football Stock - 9/7 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Preseason Stock - 9/3 (Walt)
2010 NFL Preseason Recap, Fantasy Football Notes - 9/3 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: High-Upside Late-Round Sleepers - 8/25 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Top 12 Players to Avoid - 8/25 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Undervalued Players - 8/13 (John)
2010 Fantasy Football: Buy Low - 8/6 (Walt)
ESPN's 2010 Fantasy Football Magazine Errors - 8/3 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Defense Strategy - 8/2 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: My Round-by-Round Strategy - 7/27 (Walt)
Lack of 2010 Fantasy Depth: Blame the 2008 NFL Draft Class - 7/26 (John)
2010 Fantasy Football: Why You Should Pass on Chris Johnson - 7/14 (John)
2010 Fantasy Football: Draft Strategies - 7/13 (John)
2010 Fantasy Football: Wide Receiver Scarcity - 6/30 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Sleepers (Late-Round) - 6/2 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Sleepers (Mid-Round) - 6/1 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Busts - 5/31 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Mailbag - 5/29 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Quarterbacks with New Receivers - 5/1 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: 2010 NFL Draft Stock Up - 4/29 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: 2010 NFL Draft Stock Down - 4/29 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Free Agency Stock Up - 4/15 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Free Agency Stock Down - 4/12 (Walt)
Running Backs with Most Carries - 4/10 (Walt)
NFL Picks - Nov. 20
2025 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 20
NFL Power Rankings - Nov. 19
Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4
