darin3 Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 I'm using this league as a guide, highlighting some IDPs that finished outside the top-30 at their position, but better than #60, in the 2008 season. I'll try to do DBs and DLs later on. Feel free to comment, or add some comparable players using your leagues' scoring systems. #41 - Lofa Tatupu (SEA): Just a hunch but I think he'll be ranked higher come preseason rankings, and justifiably so. He only missed one game due to injury, so the numbers aren't skewed based on health issues. He just had a down year in 2008. He's the centerpiece of the Seahawk defense, a defense that had a tremendously disappointing 2008. They'll rebound, and Tatupu will be a driving force. #39 - Antonio Pierce (NYG): Like Tatupu, Pierce was rated high going into 2008, will be ranked higher than where he finished in 2008, and deservedly so. He just had an off year. Age may start being a concern, but the Giant defense is going to be very good again next season, and Pierce should again be an adept tackler. He's been over 100 tackles in the four seasons prior to 2008, and will likely reach and surpass that plateau in 2009. #60 - LaMarr Woodley (PIT): Woodley had a solid 2008 season, breaking out with 11.5 sacks and a couple of forced fumbles. James Harrison will likely be the top dog on the Pittsburgh linebacker list, but watch out for Woodley as a solid sleeper in 2009. Harrison will be 31 come the start of camp, and the "other" James is no spring chicken either. Could Woodley slide into Harrison's spot if he were to go down? Probably not, but you'd still see an increase in Woodley's overall stats. Either way, Woodley could be in for a big 2009. Expect more solos (projecting over 50) and double digit sacks once again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tford Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 Couple guys I think will score much better next year simply based on getting in a 16 game season. Stephen Cooper SDC LB (#30) - stud numbers when he played. His weekly average puts him in the top 5 of LB scoring. The steroid suspension looks to be a one-off. Gary Brackett IND LB (#34) - Usually under appreciated when it comes to LB2s but given the inexperience of the Colt OLBs this year, I'm liking Brackett's numbers to take an upswing if he can stay healthy. DJ Williams DEN LB (#42) - Guy has had trouble staying healthy but he plays like a stud when he is. Denver's move to a 3-4 probably swings him inside and I would expect to see something similar to 2007 numbers if he does. AJ Hawk GBP LB (#48) - Moved to SILB in GB's new 3-4 scheme. Should see a number improvement due to sheer opportunity increase. Needs to stay healthy. Leroy Hill SEA LB (#56) - Franchise tagged, incentive to produce. Needs to stay healthy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darin3 Posted March 12, 2009 Author Share Posted March 12, 2009 Couple guys I think will score much better next year simply based on getting in a 16 game season. Stephen Cooper SDC LB (#30) - stud numbers when he played. His weekly average puts him in the top 5 of LB scoring. The steroid suspension looks to be a one-off. Gary Brackett IND LB (#34) - Usually under appreciated when it comes to LB2s but given the inexperience of the Colt OLBs this year, I'm liking Brackett's numbers to take an upswing if he can stay healthy. DJ Williams DEN LB (#42) - Guy has had trouble staying healthy but he plays like a stud when he is. Denver's move to a 3-4 probably swings him inside and I would expect to see something similar to 2007 numbers if he does. AJ Hawk GBP LB (#48) - Moved to SILB in GB's new 3-4 scheme. Should see a number improvement due to sheer opportunity increase. Needs to stay healthy. Leroy Hill SEA LB (#56) - Franchise tagged, incentive to produce. Needs to stay healthy. Cooper was a guy I wanted to add to my list o' three... but decided to put Woodley in instead. Thought of adding Hawk, too, as he's another guy with injury concerns that should/could stay healthy in '09. I'm not liking Brackett in '09. Williams' numbers could rise, but I'm not sold. Not a big fan of Hill, especially with Tatupu set to improve and Peterson still playing well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tford Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 Cooper was a guy I wanted to add to my list o' three... but decided to put Woodley in instead. Thought of adding Hawk, too, as he's another guy with injury concerns that should/could stay healthy in '09. I'm not liking Brackett in '09. Williams' numbers could rise, but I'm not sold. Not a big fan of Hill, especially with Tatupu set to improve and Peterson still playing well. Care to elaborate why? Look at his historical production. #15 last year, #17 the year before that (even while missing two games), 92 solos the year before that. Solid LB2 numbers. If that weren't enough, PPG last year had him top 10 at over 15+. Is there a scare with the defensive scheme and Dungy leaving? If anything, a fade away from a traditional Tampa 2 would be beneficial to the Mike, would it not? Keiaho and Hagler are both likely gone and while neither were world beaters, my guess is that the inexperience on the OLB positions probably spills over into extra opportunity for Brackett. Health has always been a concern but it is remarkable how Brackett continues to be ignored in fantasy drafts and RFA periods alike. Many LBs in the top 30 that I would choose Brackett over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darin3 Posted March 13, 2009 Author Share Posted March 13, 2009 (edited) Care to elaborate why? Look at his historical production. #15 last year, #17 the year before that (even while missing two games), 92 solos the year before that. Solid LB2 numbers. If that weren't enough, PPG last year had him top 10 at over 15+. Is there a scare with the defensive scheme and Dungy leaving? If anything, a fade away from a traditional Tampa 2 would be beneficial to the Mike, would it not? Keiaho and Hagler are both likely gone and while neither were world beaters, my guess is that the inexperience on the OLB positions probably spills over into extra opportunity for Brackett. Health has always been a concern but it is remarkable how Brackett continues to be ignored in fantasy drafts and RFA periods alike. Many LBs in the top 30 that I would choose Brackett over. Sure. Because he's generally been the model of consistency prior to last season's 12 games. He still reached 100 tackles, but only defended one pass and had no picks. This is following an anomalistic 2007 season where he defended 7 and picked off 4. I'm usually not one to ignore Brackett, but his missing 12 games last season and the general loss of non-tackle stats scares me off a bit. Perhaps my line of thinking is due to the fact that in many leagues I play in, he's considered a #1 LB. I would just be fearful of that. Decent - to possibly solid - #2? Sure. If Keiaho does get signed elsewhere - which looks like a huge possibility - and the Colts ditch the Cover-2, then Brackett could be a surprise, if he's able to stay on the field for 15-16 games. Edited March 13, 2009 by darin3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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