Interceptions are down across the league; quarterbacks are doing a better job of taking care of the football (and winding up on the bench when they don't). We've showed those team interception numbers recently. It's lesser production which, naturally, filters down to the individual players.
Over the last 10 years, 65 different defensive players have had more than 5 interceptions in a season. Just 10 of those players (15 percent) came in the last three seasons: 5 in 2015, 2 in 2014 and 3 in 2013. Not one of the top nine seasons -- the nine guys who had more than 8 interceptions -- has come since 2012.
If you're in an IDP league, then, there's probably not much need to target players based on interception potential. There isn't enough annual production to warrant it, with most of the top performers likely to be in the 5-7 interception range -- at best.
The table below shows the top interception performances over the last decade. The leaders from 2015 are in bold.
INTERCEPTION LEADERS, 2006-2015 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year | Pos | Player, Team | Int |
2007 | CB | Antonio Cromartie, S.D. | 10 |
2006 | CB | Champ Bailey, Den. | 10 |
2006 | CB | Asante Samuel, N.E. | 10 |
2012 | CB | Tim Jennings, Chi. | 9 |
2009 | CB | Charles Woodson, G.B. | 9 |
2009 | FS | Darren Sharper, N.O. | 9 |
2009 | FS | Jairus Byrd, Buff. | 9 |
2009 | CB | Asante Samuel, Phil. | 9 |
2008 | FS | Ed Reed, Balt. | 9 |
2015 | FS | Reggie Nelson, Cin. | 8 |
2015 | CB | Marcus Peters, K.C. | 8 |
2013 | CB | Richard Sherman, Sea. | 8 |
2012 | SS | Stevie Brown, NYG | 8 |
2012 | CB | Richard Sherman, Sea. | 8 |
2010 | FS | Ed Reed, Balt. | 8 |
2007 | FS | Oshiomogho Atogwe, St.L. | 8 |
2006 | CB | Nnamdi Asomugha, Oak. | 8 |
2006 | CB | Walt Harris, S.F. | 8 |
2006 | CB | Rashean Mathis, Jac. | 8 |
2006 | CB | Charles Woodson, G.B. | 8 |
2015 | FS | Kurt Coleman, Car. | 7 |
2015 | CB | Trumaine Johnson, St.L. | 7 |
2014 | FS | Glover Quin, Det. | 7 |
2012 | CB | Patrick Peterson, Ariz. | 7 |
2011 | CB | Kyle Arrington, N.E. | 7 |
2011 | FS | Eric Weddle, S.D. | 7 |
2011 | CB | Charles Woodson, G.B. | 7 |
2010 | CB | Devin McCourty, N.E. | 7 |
2010 | SS | Troy Polamalu, Pitt. | 7 |
2010 | CB | Asante Samuel, Phil. | 7 |
2008 | CB | Charles Woodson, G.B. | 7 |
2008 | FS | Michael Griffin, Tenn. | 7 |
2008 | SS | Troy Polamalu, Pitt. | 7 |
2008 | FS | Nick Collins, G.B. | 7 |
2007 | FS | Ed Reed, Balt. | 7 |
2007 | CB | Marcus Trufant, Sea. | 7 |
2015 | CB | Marcus Williams, NYJ | 6 |
2014 | FS | Tashaun Gipson, Clev. | 6 |
2013 | CB | Brandon Boykin, Phil. | 6 |
2013 | OLB | DeAndre Levy, Det. | 6 |
2013 | SS | Antrel Rolle, NYG | 6 |
2012 | FS | Thomas DeCoud, Atl. | 6 |
2012 | CB | Casey Hayward, G.B. | 6 |
2011 | FS | Dashon Goldson, S.F. | 6 |
2011 | CB | Brandon Browner, Sea. | 6 |
2011 | CB | Corey Webster, NYG | 6 |
2011 | CB | Carlos Rogers, S.F. | 6 |
2010 | CB | Joe Haden, Clev. | 6 |
2010 | CB | Tramon Williams, G.B. | 6 |
2010 | CB | DeAngelo Hall, Wash. | 6 |
2010 | CB | Aqib Talib, T.B. | 6 |
2009 | FS | Nick Collins, G.B. | 6 |
2009 | CB | Leon Hall, Cin. | 6 |
2009 | CB | Johnathan Joseph, Cin. | 6 |
2009 | CB | Zack Bowman, Chi. | 6 |
2009 | CB | Brent Grimes, Atl. | 6 |
2009 | CB | Darrelle Revis, NYJ | 6 |
2009 | CB | Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Ariz. | 6 |
2007 | CB | Leigh Bodden, Clev. | 6 |
2007 | CB | Anthony Henry, Dall. | 6 |
2007 | OLB | Thomas Howard, Oak. | 6 |
2007 | CB | Asante Samuel, N.E. | 6 |
2006 | DB | Kevin Kaesviharn, Cin. | 6 |
2006 | CB | Chris McAlister, Balt. | 6 |
2006 | CB | Lito Sheppard, Phil. | 6 |
--Andy Richardson