D Up: Week 1
The logo-emblazoned 30-packs are back in stock, the traffic on StubHub is up, the second installment of the Sunday Ticket is due. It's football time, which for the fantasy realm means a departure from society. A time when we hibernate in our leagues and laptops, scouring for that edge, that slice of information that will lead us to victory.
The waiver wire is brimming with talent, potent production is available for free, right now. But who is it? Who is the next Marques Colston? The next Kerry Rhodes or Chris Hope? The addition who makes your season? We simply don't know. But we can postulate, consider scenarios and discuss where potential lies. On the offensive side of the ball, only a handful of superstars emerge from the post-draft abyss each season, the rare Maurice Jones-Drew. On the defensive side, there is more opportunity. An informed individual defensive player (IDP) league manager can really make up ground with savvy wire work. Aaron Kampman was free for most owners last year on his way to an elite 89-tackle, 15½-sack campaign, and all you had to do was click a plus sign two years ago to get Adrian Wilson. The examples go on and on. Now let's try to find this year's crop.
It's safe to assume that you'll be starting Keith Bulluck and Shawne Merriman every week, but we aren't all so lucky to have such bankable names. So instead of suggesting that you start your established commodities, D Up will peruse the league each week for under-the-radar players to consider as starters and sleepers and advise you which players to avoid. For this first week in particular we'll focus solely on the impact players whom you can add to make your team stronger, players left undrafted for no good reason. In the coming weeks we'll include more matchup-based analysis as well, keying in on the players apt to produce thanks to a sweet matchup against a weak offensive line or turnover-machine QB.
Consider using these players if you're in immediate need of impact defenders, especially in deep leagues. The final rounds of an IDP draft are for many a guessing game, making depth an issue for your defensive roster. Instead of holding on to that Marlon Rando of a player only because you drafted him, be open to shopping the wire for a more potential-laden player, as it may actually turn out to be an impact move down the road.
Linebackers and Linemen: It's nearly criminal that Arizona's Karlos Dansby is rostered in fewer than 30 percent of ESPN IDP leagues. Add the former Auburn stud now if you can afford to, as he's a legit sack and tackle threat. Coach Ken Whisenhunt is employing more 3-4 looks in this defense in addition to the traditional 4-3 scheme, moving Dansby inside and providing both him and Gerald Hayes (35 percent) with ample tackle and fumble opportunities. Atlanta's Michel Boley is the team's starting strongside 'backer and could provide nice tackle numbers on a defense that will have trouble stopping the run at the line. Highly touted rooks Paul Posluszny and Jon Beason have secured starting gigs on their respective squads and are available in the majority of ESPN leagues. Despite the studies on the long-term effects of concussions that have come to light in the past year, Dan Morgan is forging on with his career and could provide elite tackle numbers if he can stay on the field -- that's if. Mark Anderson was an elite sack specialist last year with 12 sacks and only 28 tackles, a truly absurd ratio. This year however, he's a starting end and will see much more time, leading to more sack and tackle potential. Cleveland's Kamerion Wimbley slipped past fellow Dawg Pounders Willie McGinest and Andra Davis in most drafts, but he's the front seven's best IDP prospect. D.J. Williams is in the middle in Denver as team leader Al Wilson was jettisoned due to a lingering neck injury. Although Williams never really played up to his first-round expectations, the move to the middle in a good scheme could make him an immediate value. Napoleon Harris mans the middle in K.C. and is available in most leagues. The dismissal of Jeremiah Trotter leaves Omar Gaither to police the middle and rack up the solos in Philly. Shaun Phillip's incredible 2006 campaign went relatively unnoticed next to the lights-out show in San Diego, but don't sleep on him.
Defensive Backs: Donte Whitner is primed to blow up this year, yet he's owned in fewer than 37 percent of ESPN leagues. Adam Archuleta's fall from grace was about as drastic as we've ever seen in the league. Last summer he was the highest-paid safety in NFL history; by the end of the season he wasn't getting any downs. Now in Chicago, a haven for safeties, he's a value in both real and fantasy regards. Ken "The Hammer" Hamlin is the safety who Roy Williams has been pleading for in Dallas. He should produce immediately. First-round safety Reggie Nelson will put up numbers right away as Jacksonville is relying on him to produce from the first snap. I'm admittedly a sucker for crazy names, who isn't? Oshiomogho Atogwe fits the bill and is a nice tackle and fumble value to target.
Target these guys for depth and bye-week plug-ins with an eye on their potential to be full-fledged starters.
Linebackers and Linemen: Jets linebacker Eric Barton is my sleeper of the week. He quietly, almost silently, put up 100 tackles and 4½ sacks last season. A repeat performance is quite possible. Antwan Barnes is a relatively unknown rookie worth considering thanks to his new role in a Ravens system famous for taking no-name 'backers and making them elite, a la Bart Scott and Adalius Thomas. Nate Webster is the starting strongside 'backer in Denver and could provide cheap tackles for those in need of depth. A linebacker's name if ever there was, Rocky McIntosh has turned heads all preseason. The Skins are anticipating big things and you should too. Ridiculous as it seems, Michael Strahan is available in most leagues and should contribute in the coming weeks as he gets his legs back. Mario "it ain't my fault" Williams still has the potential to be a very productive end. Consider this week against a reshuffled Kansas City line his first chance to earn fantasy trust.
Defensive Backs: Torry's bro Terrence Holt is starting next to his college roommate Adrian Wilson in the desert and should put up solid tackle totals playing next to fantasy's top DB. Atari Bigby has a simply awesome name, and a starting safety gig in Favreville. Keep an eye on his early numbers. Richard Marshall is a starting corner in Carolina worthy of your attention. Same goes for Baltimore's young safety, Dawan Landry.
It's tough to say which specific players to sit, but I'll go ahead and say that you should avoid guys like DeAngelo Hall and Rashean Mathis, who make most of their numbers up in multipick, touchdown-return type performances. Same thing goes for those sack specialists out there like Warren Sapp, Bobby McCray and Elvis Dumervil. These types will leave you starving when they don't record their picks and sacks. Instead, focus on the high-tackle ends, linebackers and safeties who are still floating on the wire who can provide you with solid and even spectacular production at a more consistent clip.
Jim McCormick is a fantasy IDP expert for TalentedMrRoto.com and ESPN.com.
