D Up: Week 13
The months of obsessive, tedious and often inane research lead up to these crucial playoff weeks. Add up sleep, work, commuting, bathroom time and fantasy research and I'm not sure I have much time left in the day (although there's considerably overlap in the last two). Soon enough we must hibernate in the offseason world of mock drafts and wildly inaccurate spring preview guides. These final weeks are a bittersweet reality for us fantasy nerds. Remember that regardless of your success (or lack of) this season, to enjoy it.
The reason you play individual defensive player (IDP) leagues is that you weren't satisfied with analyzing merely one side of the ball. That, or a friend dragged you into the league, either way we IDP folk are fans of the minutia of football. A tipped ball at the line, a seemingly meaningless tackle, a fumble recovery late in the half, the smallest of plays can sway our fantasy fortunes. Don't let the months of über-nerd dedication go wasted because you continue to start a disappointing defender. Adding a Patrick Kerney or even a Hamza Abdullah type could mean the difference between victory and defeat. Consider even the smallest of moves vital to your output.
Consider using these players if you are in immediate need of impact defenders, especially in deep leagues.
Linebackers and Linemen: Patrick Kerney is saving seasons with his simply dominant play of late. Kerney, available in an inexcusable 70 percent of ESPN IDP leagues, is making a late bid for a Pro Bowl berth. … A poor Week 10 saw Michael Boley dropped en masse. Boley has been prolific since and once again merits loyalty in 12-team leagues. … Jon Beason is an ideal keeper to target. Much like workhorse running backs, middle linebackers have a limited prime to covet, so get on the Beason train early … Whether it's simply lack of reputation or his ultimately unintimidating thumbnail pic, Gary Brackett doesn't get his due props in both the real and fantasy realms. Consider Brackett down the stretch as the Colts face some run-heavy opponents that should bode well for his tackle totals. … Karlos Dansby continues to play through injury and post elite numbers for his few fantasy owners. Target both Dansby and fellow Card Calvin Pace for cheap production in the fantasy playoffs. … With Vince Young and Reggie Bush having sub-par campaigns, the supposed legendary draft gaffe, "Super" Mario Williams, is starting to look like a semi-reasonable pick for the Texans. Williams is hot of late with consecutive sack outings and merits ownership in 10-team leagues. … Will Smith isn't quite a fresh prince like Adewale Ogunleye, but he is a potent sack value to target for the crucial coming weeks. With six sacks in his past four games, Ogunleye merits immediate ownership in even baby pool deep leagues. … If you like to win and are in need of a solid linebacker for the fantasy playoffs then Shaun Phillips is your man. … David Harris and Chad Greenway are stud linebackers entering their fantasy prime, making them coveted keeper commodities.
Defensive backs: The professional sports community is lucky enough to have two Vons in the Denver Nuggets' Von Wafer and the Texans' Von Hutchins. Too bad DNPs aren't a recognized fantasy hoops stat, otherwise Wafer would dominate. For IDP purposes, consider Hutchins a valid addition to your DB depth down the stretch. … Michael Lewis was a fantasy stud in Philly but has been quiet for much of his stay in the Bay. Look for Lewis to finish strong though, as he faces a string of shaky QBs over the next month. … Madieu "Mad Will" Williams has had, as the rest of the Bungals can admit, a disappointing season to say the least. His redeeming quality for fantasy owners is his consistent tackle clip, which should continue as the Bengals play some strong passing offenses in the coming weeks. … Apt to be burnt on occasion, Leigh Bodden may not be the most consistent coverage corner in the league, but he does offer his fantasy owners a nice mix of tackles, deflections and turnovers. … Although he's losing some time on passing plays to Jamal Fudge, that's right, Fudge, Sammy Knight remains a top fantasy DB thanks to his tackle production alone.
Target these guys for depth with an eye on their potential to be full-fledged starters.
Defensive backs: Roman Harper has quietly put together a solid season and is deserving of a look with some particularly sloppy offenses on the docket. … Donte Whitner has yet to prove worthy of his top-10 draft status in '06 but he is beginning to show signs of statistical life. Consider Whitner in deep leagues with an eye on his value in '08 fantasy drafts. … C.C. Brown is good for steady tackles, a rare attribute for a defensive back. … Hamza Abdullah is playing to keep his starting gig next season and that often translates into some nice numbers. ... Richard Marshall made fantasy noise last year as the nickel back in the Panthers secondary. In the same role this year, his numbers are decidedly down but he's due for a breakout now that he's starting due to Chris Gamble's injury. If you're into boom-or-bust options, Marshall is your man. … Abram Elam, no relation to Jason, is a nice plug-and-play to consider this week in a game that should prove be a grind in Miami.
Jim McCormick is an IDP analyst for ESPN.com Fantasy. He can be reached at jmccormick@TalentedMrRoto.com.
