2009 Fantasy Football IDP Linebacker Rankings

Fantasy Football's 2009 season is just around the corner and many fantasy team owners will be searching for lists and information to develop their 2009 cheat sheet. Several fantasy football leagues in 2009 will be using Individual Defensive Players or IDP during their fantasy draft. Here is a list of the top 20 fantasy football linebackers for your 2009 IDP cheat sheets.

2009 IDP Linebacker Rankings

1. Patrick Willis, LB San Francisco

Patrick Willis is just 24 years old and is a tackling machine. He was one of the top Linebackers taken in the 2008 fantasy football drafts and should be the number one linebacker taken in any 2009 fantasy football draft. Put Willis on the top of your cheat sheet and expect him to lead the league in tackles.

2. James Harrison, LB Pittsburgh

Harrison proved to be a top of the line fantasy football linebacker last season. He should be one of the top linebackers in sacks but also gets enough tackles along the way to make him a top five on any fantasy football IDP linebacker cheat sheet.

3. Barrett Rudd, LB Tampa Bay

Rudd is a solid play maker for Tampa Bay and will lead his team in tackles again in 2009. Although there might be fancier players out there, make sure to keep Barrett Rudd in your top five for your defensive player rankings at the Linebacker position.

4. Demarcus Ware, LB Dallas

My love of the Cowboys made it tempting to even put Ware higher on this list. Ware should lead all Linebackers in sacks again in 2009. He also has been improving on his tackle numbers and can be seen hustling downfield to make tackles by catching players from behind. Ware should be in the top five on any fantasy football cheat sheet for linebackers. Keep him circled on your rankings and don't let him slip to far down on draft day.

5. Demeco Ryans, LB Houston

Ryans was picked as the number one ranked linebacker in 2008 and was a slight disappointment. He should rebound in 2009 and rack up plenty of tackles. Ryans should be a sleeper pick for linebackers in those IDP fantasy football leagues. He could get back to his 2007 numbers and be at the top of the linebacker position again.

6. Jerod Mayo, LB New England

The Patriots did it again by getting Mayo in the 2008 draft. His second half numbers at the linebacker position showed he can be a top 5 performer in fantasy football leagues. Mayo is one of those players many astute fantasy owners will have on their radar this season. This might cause him to go earlier than he should in those IDP leagues.

7. Jon Beason, LB Carolina

Beason is another one of those young linebackers that should rack up the tackle numbers. If he stays healthy he can perform even higher than the defensive ranking I have him slotted at. Keep Beason on your radar and grab him if he slips too far in your fantasy football draft.

8. D'Qwell Jackson, LB Cleveland

Jackson just continues to put up solid numbers. You can do a lot worse than Jackson to fill your fantasy football teams Linebacker position. Your IDP rankings should have Jackson in the top 10 at linebacker.

9. D. J. Williams, LB Denver

Williams was one of the top Linebackers in football in 2008 before his injury. Expect him to again be at the top of the rankings for Linebackers if he remains healthy in 2009. At 27 years old Williams should have plenty of good years ahead of him.

10. James Laurinaitis, LB St. Louis

I am going out on a limb and putting a rookie in my top 10. Laurinaitis should rack up plenty of tackles at the middle linebacker position for the Rams. Expect him to be the top tackling rookie. Remember rookies have a history of doing well immediately at the linebacker position.

IDP Linebacker Rankings for fantasy football 11-20

11. Kirk Morrison, LB Oakland
12. E. J. Henderson, LB Minnesota
13. Jonathan Vilma, LB New Orleans
14. A. J. Hawk, LB Green Bay
15. David Harris, LB NY Jets
16. Keith Rivers, LB Cincinnati
17. Lance Briggs, LB Chicago
18. Karlos Dansby, LB Arizona
19. Bradie James, LB Dallas
20. Aaron Curry, LB Seattle

Top IDP Linebacker sleeper pick: Keith Rivers Cincinnati
Top IDP Linebacker Rookie: James Laurinaitis St. Louis
Top IDP Linebacker Bust: Ray Lewis, Baltimore

For those that are getting there defensive player rankings ready for their fantasy football draft, please check out my cornerback and defensive lineman rankings. Good Luck!