My IDP leagues are all very deep. They’re all 16-team equivalent with full IDP starters, 1 DT, 2 DEs, 3 LBs, 2 CBs, 2 Ss and 1 Defensive Flex. Most “sleepers” are already owned. You have to dig a little deeper to find potentially useful players. Full disclosure, most of these guys will never produce enough to be relevant.
DT
Deon Simon, NYJ – I forget who mentioned Simon at the end of last year. The Jets signed Steve McLendon to a 3 year, $10.5 million deal last offseason. He started the first 11 games last year at NT. He put together 20 solos, 7 for a loss, 8 assists, 3.5 sacks and forced a fumble. An injury to McLendon last year gave Simon the opportunity. In the final five games, Simon started and earned legitimate snaps. Simon put up 9 solos, 1 for a loss, 9 assists and 1.5 sacks. The Jets have moved on from Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker and David Harris, leaving McLendon as one of four players over 30 on their roster. Many speculate, Simon, the former 7th Round pick, has already beat out McLendon for the starting spot. It’s also safe to assume that the Jets, with the QB trio of Josh McCown, Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg, will be run on in a lot of second halves this season.
Verdict: End of the roster stash
DE
Armonty Bryant, DET – Bryant has gotten a little pub this offseason. Bryant has had an up and down start to his NFL career. Drafted in the 7th round by Cleveland. The Lions claimed him from waivers last season, knowing he had to serve a 3-game suspension for substance abuse. He played 5 games before ending up on IR with a knee injury. In 104 total snaps last year, Bryant tallied 3.0 sacks. Last year, Ziggy Ansah and Devin Taylor started at DE for the Lions. Kerry Hyder had a bit of a breakout early in the season. Ansah and Hyder return. Taylor signed on with the Giants. Bryant is 3rd or 4th on the depth chart depending on who’s depth chart you check. Hyder plays on the edge in base but moves inside on passing downs. This could give ample opportunity to the former 7th Rounder Bryant, especially when they play teams that pass a lot, like GB.
Verdict: End of the roster stash
Nate Orchard, CLE – Orchard has flown under the radar throughout his NFL career. A 2nd round draft pick in 2015, Orchard played OLB in the Browns 3-4 defense in 2015. He ended up on IR after 3 games in 2016. With the Browns switch back to the 4-3 this offseason, Orchard is back to a DE. Obviously Myles Garrett sits alone on the top of that depth chart. The rest will be settled during training camp and the preseason. Emmanuel Ogbah and Carl Nassib were both drafted last year, in the 2nd and 3rd rounds, respectively. Orchard still has a chance to earn snaps. DEs are the defensive equivalent of TEs. They often take multiple seasons to develop. This development can be further stunted by OLB/DE transitions. Orchard could easily end up too low on the depth chart to earn useful snaps, or he could earn enough snaps to be fantasy relevant. The Cleveland defense will be on the field more than most this year.
Verdict: Watchlist.
LB
Jon Bostic, IND – Bostic was a 2nd round draft pick by Chicago back in 2013. After a solid 2014 season, he’s missed the last two seasons with injury. He signed with Indy this offseason to compete at ILB. Sean Spence has been getting all the buzz as a free agent signing ready to start. Edwin Jackson, Antonio Morrison and Anthony Walker all have their fans among the IDP community as potentially starting ILBs. But Spence and Bostic have been getting first team reps in OTAs and minicamp. Even if he ends up starting, Bostic may end up a 2-down banger. Last season, Clayton Geathers played LB on 3rd downs. Bostic can still have value though in deep enough leagues. There hasn’t been much buzz about Bostic but people have been starting to pick him up.
Verdict: End of the Roster Stash
Alex Okafor, NO – Okafor is a little bit of a cheat. He’s still listed at LB on MFL because he played OLB at Arizona last season and he’s listed as a backup SAM on Rotoworld’s depth chart. He was brought in, however, to compete at DE. Cameron Jordan will lock down one end of the Saints D-Line. The opposite spot is still up for grabs. Hau’oli Kikaha is the expected starter, after missing all of last season recovering from his 3rd ACL tear. Add to that Kikaha is undersized to begin with, starting out at SAM as a rookie. 2015 6th Round pick, Obum Gwacham, and this year’s 3rd Round pick, Trey Hendrickson, will round out the competition. Whoever gets the most snaps, even with the loss of Nick Fairley, Jordan and Sheldon Rankins will require the majority of any offense’s attention.
Verdict: Watchlist
Nate Gerry, PHI – Gerry was a Safety at Nebraska. He was drafted by the Eagles in the 5th Round this year. They’ve already said the rookie will play LB for them. At 6’2”, 218 lbs, he’s got the size to be a Deone Bucannon-type. He’s listed on the Rotoworld depth chart as being the #2 WILL behind Nigel Bradham. Bradham has put together a felony battery charge and a misdemeanor gun charge from two separate incidents this offseason. He’s gotten a deferred prosecution deal for the battery charge. He could still face punishment from the league. If Bradham is suspended a game or two and Gerry gets the start, he wouldn’t be in my lineup. But Bradham is a UFA at the end of the year and if Gerry plays well enough, he could be starting at WILL next year. Don’t get too excited because Jim Schwartz loves Bradham, having brought him over from Buffalo.
Verdict: Watchlist
CB
Rashard Robinson, SF – Last year, the 49er’s started Tramaine Brock and Jimmie Ward at CB. Brock has since been charged with a felony domestic violence charge and been released. Ward has transitioned back to Safety. That leaves Rashard Robinson. Robinson played substantial snaps in Weeks 4, 5, and 6 because Ward was out with an injury. In those 3 games, he put together 12 solos, 1 assist and 4 pass defensed. The 49ers defense will be on the field a ton this season as their offense is relying on Brian Hoyer and Pierre Garcon.
Verdict: End of the Roster Stash
Kayvon Webster, LAR – Trumain Johnson will start at CB for the Rams. Without a long-term extension, however, 2017 may the last season Johnson starts for the Rams. E.J. Gaines started most of last season at the opposite corner. Most would say Gaines didn’t play well… Wade Phillips came over as the new DC for the Rams. He brought Webster with him from Denver. A former 3rd Round draft pick by the Broncos, Webster was forced into action as a rookie. As a sophomore, Webster was suddenly lost in a very crowded depth chart, as the Broncos signed Aqib Talib and drafted Bradley Roby in the 1st Round. Webster earned his keep by being a core special teams player. Phillips brought him to LA to compete with Gaines to be the starting CB across from Johnson.
Verdict: Watchlist
S
Kavon Frazier, DAL – Byron Jones will be starting at Safety for every game he’s healthy for the Cowboys this year. Letting both Barry Church and J.J. Wilcox walk in Free Agency this offseason, has left the second spot up for grabs. There are questions whether the open spot will be fantasy relevant, Jones has the physical capabilities to play either safety position, so take this all with a grain of salt. Jeff Heath is the presumed starter. Heath was a 2013 UDFA. He’ll face competition in training camp and the preseason. That competition will come from Robert Blanton, Xavier Woods, Chidobe Awuzie and Kavon Frazier. Blanton was a FA pickup who has started 19 games over the last 5 years for the Vikings and Bills. Woods is everyone’s favorite “sleeper.” A 6th rounder this year, he’s already owned in all deep leagues. Awuzie was drafted as a corner this year, but has the flexibility to play Safety as needed. Frazier was a 6th Round pick last year. He played mainly special teams last year, when he was active. He’s got the physical tools. He just needs to put the mental part of the game together. Odds are, he plays special teams again this year, but with a depth chart this muddy, he’s at least worth keeping an eye on.
Verdict: Watchlist
Rayshawn Jenkins, LAC – Jahleel Addae will be the SS for the Chargers this season. With Gus Bradley as the new DC, the starting SS is the role that allowed Johnathan Cyprien to produce 96 solos and 31 assists in Jacksonville’s defense. Addae will be playing in the box and producing Top 10 numbers. Addae hasn’t played 16 games since his rookie season in 2013. The 4th Round rookie, Jenkins, should be Addae’s primary backup. Any game Addae misses, Jenkins will be a surefire starter. There are a few other Safeties kicking around on LAC’s depth chart, last year’s preseason stud and former CFL player, Dexter McCoil and undrafted Adrian Phillips. Jenkins has been getting a little buzz and may not be available so he needs to be picked up and stashed before any potential Addae injury.
Verdict: End of the Roster Stash/Handcuff
Dynasty Rookies 