In one embodiment, a device in a network joins an Information Centric Networking (ICN)-based directed acyclic graph (DAG) based on the device being able to act as an ICN cache in the network. The device receives ICN content data for forwarding between a content provider node in the network and a destination node in the network. The device forwards the ICN content data towards the destination node in the network. The device coordinates, with one or more other members of the ICN-based DAG, caching of the ICN content data by the device or by one of other members of the ICN-based DAG.