Top 2011 IDP Sleepers In Fantasy Football
Online, September 2, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Coming up with the top 2011 IDP sleepers in fantasy football has proven to be a very difficult task. It's truly exciting to see the amount of excitement that is surrounding Individual Defensive Player (IDP) fantasy football this year. Although it's still not mainstream, IDP leagues have kept participants fully entertained by having to pay close attention to both sides of the ball. Owners may find it hard to find online mock drafts to prepare for their league year, so here are just a handful of guys at each position (DL, LB, DB) whose current draft stock is undervalued compared to where they will finish the season statistically. If you love #IDP and want to follow the #IDPpusher follow me on Twitter @AndrewEggers
DL Defensive Lineman
Mario Williams, Houston Texans – New defensive coordinator Wade Phillips has moved the former No. 1 overall pick to outside linebacker which makes him extremely valuable ONLY with DL eligibility. Williams will face less double teams and prove to be more productive in his new position even if it takes him some time to get acclimated. This could be just the thing he needs to live up to the hype that surrounded him early in his career.
Glenn Dorsey, Kansas City Chiefs – With 51 tackles and 18 assists in 10', Dorsey is a proven run stopper and sure tackler, but that's not the concern. He's entering his fourth season as a professional and only has four career sacks in the previous three. The move from tackle to end in 2009 in the 3-4 defense has given him more tackles opportunities while he has failed to get to the quarterback. Dorsey could really make some noise if he can put it all together, but be happy if he has the same amount or more tackles and around a handful of sacks this season.
Chris Long, St. Louis Rams – Here's a player who has been thought to be a sleeper the past couple seasons and finally showed progress last season, registering 8.5 sacks. The tackle stats weren't very impressive and will have to go north if fantasy owners are going reap any kind of consistent reward. At age 26, the former Virginia Cavalier and son of Hall of Famer, Howie Long, is in his prime and ready to breakout (again) this year.
Jason Pierre-Paul, New York Giants – The 22-year-old out of South Florida will start in place of the injured Osi Umenyiora, who will be sidelined the first couple regular season games after recent knee surgery. It's a great opportunity for Pierre-Paul who will be fantasy relevant this year even with Osi back in the line-up rotating in on a fierce pass rushing team. There is a ton of upside here and you can get him with a flier pick in most IDP drafts.
Derrick Morgan, Tennessee Titans – Here is another 22-year-old potential fantasy stud¬â€ who is entering his second season in the league. The former first-round draft pick tore an ACL last season that ended his rookie season just three games in. Morgan managed 1.5 sacks in limited action after being a highly coveted prospect out of Georgia Tech where he had a prolific career. There will be growing pains which equals inconsistency, but that won't out-weight the good games in the long run.
LB Linebackers
Nick Barnett, Buffalo Bills – This tackling machine was released by the Packers and was picked up by Buffalo, putting him into a position to make a huge impact on the Bills'¬â€ defense¬â€ racking up big tackle numbers. Most of your buddies won't see this coming so wait to get him late in the draft. You'll end up reaping the benefits of an above average, every-down linebacker on team that will be playing defense the majority of each game. Barnett will likely be a low-end No. 1 option by season's end.
David Hawthorne, Seattle Seahawks – With Lofa Tatupa's release comes Hawthorne's opportunity to start at middle linebacker after tallying four games of at least 12 total tackles last season. Expect big things from him this year; around 100 tackles and 50 assists with a couple sacks and forced fumbles. There is great value in getting Hawthorne as your No. 2 backer because he could easily play his way into the top-10 this season given his ability and the situation as leader of the Seattle defense.
D'Qwell Jackson, Cleveland Browns – A fantasy stud up until his initial pectoral injury in Week 6 of 2009, Jackson is reportedly healthy now and ready to make a big impact. Jackson put up 95 tackles and 59 assists in 2008 and is poised to be a low-end No. 1 player if injuries don't set him back. He was a never a guy that was highly talked about even when playing well, but can be a very consistent producer and someone you can draft very late or may even go undrafted in shallow IDP leagues.
Rolando McClain, Oakland Raiders – It will be McClain's sophomore season after being highly touted out of Alabama being selected with the eighth overall pick in the 2010 draft. His rookie year didn't live up to expectations with only 59 tackles, 26 assists and an interception. Playing behind an above average defensive front will open up holes in opposing¬â€ offensive lines¬â€ to provide him plenty of tackle chances, it will be up to him to oblige. McClain's value is really dictated on how fast he learns how to lead an NFL defense, so he starts the year with No. 3/4 linebacker value and could end with high-end No. 2 upside.
Mason Foster, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Chad Ochocinco certainly knows this name after taking a brutal hit from the rookie out of Seaside High, which also produced former Bears' linebacker and current Carolina Panthers' Head Coach, Ron Rivera. That hit led to a $20,000 fine from the commissioner's office, but the wide receiver reimbursed Foster out of respect (and to grab some headlines I'm sure). Foster played his college ball at Washington and was an All-American his senior year with the second most tackles in the FBS. He has played above expectations so far this preseason, penciled in as the starter, and could very well be the Rookie of the Year when it's all said and done.
DB Defensive Backs
Donte Whitner, San Francisco 49ers – This is a player that you can get as your No. 2 safety who will be a top-10 season in tackle heavy formats. The Niners addressed their glaring need in the secondary getting Whitner through free-agency as he and Dashon Goldson are the likely starters. While playing in Buffalo last season, Whitner had 94 tackles and 44 assists playing in all 16 games for the first time in his five-year career. If injuries aren't an issue, which they have been before, the veteran should be right behind Patrick Willis in the team lead for tackles this season with the occasional big play.
Bernard Pollard, Baltimore Ravens – The newly signed Pollard has been a consistent fantasy producer the past few years and has landed with the Ravens after stints in Kansas City and Houston. He won't get a lot of attention from fantasy owners because he signed earlier this month and hasn't been named the starting strong safety yet, although he's clearly the leading candidate. Pollard will be the starting strong safety and¬â€ a low-end No. 1 fantasy defensive back playing alongside Ed Reed who will give up tackles to go after the big play.
Antoine Bethea, Indianapolis Colts - The Colts' starting free safety has averaged solid numbers the past three seasons, 74 tackles and 27 assists, and should have another consistent year in 11'. The steady tackler is undervalued in most IDP player rankings that I've seen which doesn't make much sense. Bethea could easily play himself into the top-15 in most IDP formats if he created a couple more turnovers.
William Moore, Atlanta Falcons – The third-year pro will leave camp as the starting strong safety for the first time in his career after intercepting five passes and supplanting veteran Erik Coleman on the depth chart last season. Moore will need to improve in the tackle department and better or maintain his number of picks to be a solid No. 2 safety, but he's primed to make it happen.
Brent Grimes, Atlanta Falcons – Usually cornerbacks aren't very relevant in leagues where they're not separated from safeties, but Grimes has enough big-play potential to do so. If you're league requires cornerbacks, don't expect him to be a ‘sleeper' as owners have taken notice of his play last season when he had 76 tackles, 11 assists, 5 interceptions and a whopping 23 passes defended. Grimes is young and will only get better with time and could be a very nice No. 2 defensive back on your team, while being a No. 1 cornerback in leagues that require one.
