As we enter Week 3 of the fantasy football season, some key injuries are already affecting the defensive side of the ball. Colts linebacker Darius Leonard, typically a lock as a top-five IDP pick, will miss the contest against Atlanta, as will teammate Jabaal Sheard. On the other side, Falcons LB Deion Jones is asserting himself as a top-10 linebacker. The top of these rankings is still largely dominated by tackle consumption artists at LB and DB, as few pass rushers outside of Myles Garrett ...

Indianapolis Colts pass rusher Jabaal Sheard (knee) underwent a procedure on his knee which will keep him sidelined for an undetermined amount of time. He moved full-time to defensive end during the 2018 season and was explosive, posting 5 1/2 sacks while being a major disruption. Even with his inclusion, the Colts are a borderline low-end No. 1 DST or solid No. 2 unit. For IDP players, still consider drafting him, but make sure to have plenty of depth on hand in the event he is not ready for th[...]

This article references and more! Indianapolis Colts linebacker Jabaal Sheard will switch to defensive end this season. This became obvious after the Colts hired DC Matt Eberflus, who runs a 4-3 scheme. Sheard had 5.5 sacks last year and should benefit from the move to end. The Colts need to find a true pass rusher to bookend with Sheard.Keep on reading: Jabaal Sheard Switching Positions

This article references A, C, Cleveland Browns, OF, RB, SP, SS, TE and more! BALLER MOVE: Target in Late Rounds Current ADP: 264 STD ANALYSIS: The Cleveland Browns make for an interesting D/ST unit because, while they have the second hardest schedule of opposing run games, they also have the fourth easiest schedule in terms of passing. The Browns gave up 2,265 rushing yards, the most in the league last year. Their best run defender, defensive end Jabaal Sheard, is now on the Patriots, but Cleveland selected three defensive linemen in the first three rounds of th[...]Keep on reading: Cleveland Browns (DEF, CLE) – 2015 Fantasy Football Sleeper

Forget about March Madness as the NFL has already staked it’s claim to this month with a frenzied start to free agency. Players are moving from team to team quicker than green beer will flow on St. Patty’s day. A week into free agency and it feels like we may have a minute to catch our breath before the wave of second-tier signings kick into high gear. Here is a quick-hitting look at some of the IDP signings so far that will most affect the fantasy football landscape in 2015. No, I am not addressing every single signing to date because not every single signing merits analysis. For the most part, if you don’t see a name covered here it means I don’t see his value going up or down enough on his new team to warrant addressing. Some of that may change as schemes and positions become solidified but as of now these are the signings that make me some…hmmmm. Ndamukong Suh, DT, MIAMI: The Dolphins landed the biggest fish in free agency (see what I did there) even if took a little extra time to get finalized. Suh remains an elite DT option for fantasy purposes and immediately raises the stock of both Cameron Wake and Olivier Vernon. Kiko Alonso, ILB, PHILADELPHIA: As long as the knee checks out, the kid will definitely improve the Eagles defense. The presence of DeMeco Ryans could eat into his tackle totals so I'm not convinced that his fantasy stock goes up at all. Curtis Lofton, ILB, OAKLAND: Lofton may not be an upper echelon (or even middle echelon for that matter) NFL linebacker but he consistently puts up triple-digit tackle numbers. Yeah, we like that for fantasy purposes on a defense that figures to be on the filed a lot. Tramon Williams, CB, CLEVELAND: Williams should get tested a lot playing opposite Joe Haden and that should translate into some decent fantasy production. He has posted three or more interceptions in six of his last seven seasons. Sean Weatherspoon, ILB, ARIZONA: Don’t sleep on ‘Spoon’ this season as he figures to slot into Larry Foote’s role. Foote put up 84 total tackles last season and is 137 years old. Brandon Browner, CB, NEW ORLEANS: Unless your league awards points for penalties or suspensions, Browner is best left alone on fantasy draft day. He had six interceptions back in 2011 and has totaled five...

Round 1 of the 2013 NFL draft is in the books and the Individual Defensive Player (IDP) landscape has been shifted yet again as we look forward to next season. Positions of need have been addressed and the big name talents we have been evaluating and pontificating over for months are now finding their NFL homes. Just where their fantasy value lies is yet to be truly determined as there are veterans who will not give their jobs up easily and rookie prospects that fade under the pressure of being in the big show. Here is an initial quick-hitting look at the IDP prospects drafted in the first round and just what fantasy value they may hold heading into the 2013 season. Dion Jordan, DE/OLB, Miami: The Dolphins jumped up to the third overall pick to secure their bookend pass rushing threat opposite Cameron Wake. Jordan can also drop into coverage or be a pass rushing outside linebacker option when the Dolphins run their hybrid 3-4 defensive look. Jordan may start training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list (shoulder surgery) but will be ready to go for Week 1 and figures to log plenty of snaps as a rookie. He is a superb athlete with a burst off the edge that will enable him to rack up nice sack totals and has the sideline-to-sideline speed to also be effective in defending the run. His designation will determine his fantasy value and it would suit IDP owners better if he is designated as a defensive end as his tackle totals as an outside linebacker may put a cap on his value. Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah, DE, Detroit: The Lions stood pat at No. 5 and watched the big three offensive tackles go off the board before their selection. As a consolation prize, the freakishly athletic 6-foot-5, 271-pound Ansah will do just nicely, thank you. Ansah fills an immediate need at the defensive end position with the loss of Kyle Vanden Bosch and Cliff Avril as pass rushers. He is still a bit raw as a latecomer to football but his 62 tackles (13 for a loss) and 4� 1/2 sacks last season illustrate what Detroit sees in him. Pencil him in as a starter from Day 1 as a pass rushing specialist who is solid against the run along the defensive front for the Lions and a DL3 out of the gate. Barkevious Mingo, OLB/DE, Cleveland: Mingo is an ideal fit for new defensive coordinator Ray Horton's defense and teams with the newly acquired Paul Kruger and Jabaal Sheard (unless the Browns deal him) to give the Browns three athletic, edge speed rushers. He will assume an outside...

It's Week 16 of the 2012 fantasy football season, and that means in most Individual Defensive Player (IDP) leagues it's championship week. Many teams entered, but only two remain, and this week those two teams will do battle with the league title on the line. Odds are pretty good that if you made it this far your starters are pretty much set, and given the slim pickings left on many IDP waiver wires there's probably not a lot out there that can help you in the here and now. However, that doesn't mean that there's nothing out there. In many keeper and dynasty and formats, this week brings with it the "closing up" of shop for the offseason, giving forward-looking IDP owners one last chance to add an underperforming player who should be set to bounce back next season. Here's a look at some players that fit that bill. Jabaal Sheard, DE, Cleveland: After leading all rookie defensive linemen in sacks in 2011, much was expected of Jabaal Sheard in 2012, but all IDP owners got was a sophomore slump, as Sheard's stats are off his pace from a season ago across the board. However, the Cleveland front seven was hit hard by injuries this season and Sheard's play has picked up of late, so, if an impatient owner cut the cord on Sheard, the youngster is well worth a look-ahead stash. Osi Umenyiora, DE, New York Giants: The 31-year old is on a pace that would result in his lowest sack total since 2009, but with Umenyiora it's all about location, location, location. It's hard to envision Umenyiora remaining with the Giants after this season given his acrimonious contract disputes with New York and impending free agency, and if Umenyiora moves on to a team where he sees more playing time we could easily see an uptick in stats next season that more than makes up for the minimal investment needed to acquire him right now. Pat Angerer, ILB, Indianapolis: Angerer was another young player of whom much was expected in 2012, but a broken foot in the preseason knocked the hype train off the tracks and the emergence of Jerrell Freeman made sure it stayed there. The third-year pro has played very sparingly and actually notched his season high of five tackles in last week's loss to the Houston Texans, but young players with 148-tackle seasons on their resumes such as Angerer are worth a look from dynasty IDP owners in the hopes that he works his way back into a prominent role next year, whether it's with the Colts or elsewhere. Demario Davis, ILB, New York Jets: At first ...

It's Week 17 of the 2011 National Football League season, and while the majority of IDP leagues were wrapped up a week ago there's still one more game to go in some leagues, and it's for all the proverbial marbles. To help you prepare for this very important week's action here's a look at my Top 30 defensive linemen, linebackers, and defensive backs for Week Seventeen of the 2011 season in IDP leagues. These rankings are based on Default IDP Manor Scoring, which awards 1 point for solos, .5 points for assists, 2 points each for fumbles forced and recovered, 4 points for interceptions, sacks, and safeties, 6 points for defensive touchdowns, and 1 point for passes defensed. It's a balanced scoring system, so if your IDP league is especially tackle-heavy or big play-heavy some players may move up (or down) a few spots. DEFENSIVE LINEMEN 1.) Jason Pierre-Paul - NYG vs DAL 2.) Jared Allen - MIN vs CHI 3.) Terrell Suggs - BAL at CIN 4.) Jason Babin - PHI vs WAS 5.) Julius Peppers - CHI at MIN 6.) Elvis Dumervil - DEN vs KC 7.) Trent Cole - PHI vs WAS 8.) Justin Tuck - NYG vs DAL 9.) Chris Clemons - SEA at ARI 10.) Justin Smith - SF at STL 11.) Robert Mathis - IND at JAX 12.) Calais Campbell - ARI vs SEA 13.) Chris Long - STL vs SF 14.) Will Smith - NO vs CAR 15.) Jeremy Mincey - JAX vs IND 16.) Cliff Avril - DET at GB 17.) Greg Hardy - CAR at NO 18.) Haloti Ngata - BAL at CIN 19.) Jabaal Sheard - CLE vs PIT 20.) J.J. Watt - HOU vs TEN 21.) Darnell Dockett - ARI vs SEA 22.) Kyle Vanden Bosch - DET at GB 23.) Ndamukong Suh - DET at GB 24.) Brandon Deaderick - NE vs BUF 25.) Michael Johnson - CIN vs BAL 26.) Charles Johnson - CAR at NO 27.) Israel Idonije - CHI at MIN 28.) James Hall - STL vs SF 29.) John Abraham - ATL vs TB 30.) Geno Atkins - CIN vs BAL LINEBACKERS 1.) London Fletcher - WAS at PHI 2.) Derrick Johnson - KC at DEN 3.) Ray Lewis - BAL at CIN 4.) D'Qwell Jackson - CLE vs PIT 5.) Navorro Bowman - SF at STL 6.) James Laurinaitis - STL vs SF 7.) Curtis Lofton - ATL vs TB 8.) Nick Barnett - BUF at NE 9.) Pat Angerer - IND at JAX 10.) Colin McCarthy - TEN at HOU 11.) Daryl Washington - ARI vs SEA 12.) Jerod Mayo - NE vs BUF 13.) Karlos Dansby - MIA vs NYJ 14.) Desmond Bishop - GB vs DET 15.) David Hawthorne - SEA at ARI 16.) Sean Lee - DAL at NYG 17.) Paul Posluszny - JAX vs IND 18.) Chad Greenway - MIN vs CHI 19.) DeMarcus Ware - DAL at NYG 20.) Brian Urlacher - CHI at MIN 21.) Sean Weatherspoon - ATL vs TB 22.) David Harris - NYJ at MIA 23.) James...

undefinedundefinedundefinedundefinedundefinedundefinedundefinedundefinedundefinedundefinedundefinedundefinedundefinedundefinedundefinedundefined IDP CHEATSHEET: Week Sixteen Week 16 of the 2011 fantasy football season has arrived, which means that in the majority of IDP leagues one more game remains to determine who is crowned king of the league...it's Championship Week. To help you prepare for this most important week's action here's a look at my Top 30 defensive linemen, linebackers, and defensive backs for Week 16 of the 2011 season in IDP leagues. These rankings are based on Default IDP Manor Scoring, which awards 1 point for solos, .5 points for assists, 2 points each for fumbles forced and recovered, 4 points for interceptions, sacks, and safeties, 6 points for defensive touchdowns, and 1 point for passes defensed. It's a balanced scoring system, so if your IDP league is especially tackle-heavy or big play-heavy some players may move up (or down) a few spots. DEFENSIVE LINEMEN 1.) Terrell Suggs - BAL vs CLE 2.) Jason Pierre-Paul - NYG at NYJ 3.) Jared Allen - MIN at WAS 4.) Jason Babin - PHI at DAL 5.) Chris Clemons - SEA vs SF 6.) Trent Cole - PHI at DAL 7.) Julius Peppers - CHI at GB 8.) Justin Smith - SF at SEA 9.) Chris Long - STL at PIT 10.) Kyle Vanden Bosch - DET vs SD 11.) Justin Tuck - NYG at NYJ 12.) Elvis Dumervil - DEN at BUF 13.) Haloti Ngata - BAL vs CLE 14.) Jeremy Mincey - JAX at TEN 15.) Cliff Avril - DET vs SD 16.) Will Smith - NO vs ATL 17.) Greg Hardy - CAR vs TB 18.) Dave Ball - TEN vs JAX 19.) J.J. Watt - HOU at IND 20.) Charles Johnson - CAR vs TB 21.) Jabaal Sheard - CLE at BAL 22.) Calais Campbell - ARI at CIN 23.) Mark Anderson - NE vs MIA 24.) Robert Mathis - IND vs HOU 25.) Israel Idonije - CHI at GB 26.) Ndamukong Suh - DET vs SD 27.) John Abraham - ATL at NO 28.) Marcell Dareus - BUF vs DEN 29.) Lamarr Houston - OAK at KC 30.) Ahtyba Rubin - CLE at BAL LINEBACKERS 1.) D'Qwell Jackson - CLE at BAL 2.) Nick Barnett - BUF vs DEN 3.) Navorro Bowman - SF at SEA 4.) London Fletcher - WAS vs MIN 5.) Derrick Johnson - KC vs OAK 6.) David Hawthorne - SEA vs SF 7.) James Laurinaitis - STL at PIT 8.) Pat Angerer - IND vs HOU 9.) Sean Lee - DAL vs PHI 10.) Curtis Lofton - ATL at NO 11.) Paul Posluszny - JAX at TEN 12.) Ray Lewis - BAL vs CLE 13.) Daryl Washington - ARI at CIN 14.) Brian Urlacher - CHI at GB 15.) Colin McCarthy - TEN vs JAX 16.) Chad Greenway - MIN at WAS 17.) Karlos Dansby - MIA at NE 18.) Jerod Mayo - NE vs...

It's Week 15 of the 2011 season, and that means one thing. If you're still reading this you've likely advanced to the fantasy playoffs, quite possibly in spite of, and not because of, the recommendations I've offered here this season. However, someone has to tell you what not to do, so as you get your playoff affairs in order here's a look at some players you should give serious consideration to getting into your lineups or who could outperform expectations (Studs) and some that, for whatever reason, you may want to consider leaving alone, or at least take into account that they may be a relative disappointment this week. (Duds) STUDS Darnell Dockett -- DE, Arizona Cardinals (vs. CLE): Dockett's stats have suffered in his move to a role as more of a "true" 3-4 DE, but the eighth-year veteran should be in for a big day against a Cleveland Browns team that has fallen apart offensively. Michael Johnson -- DE, Cincinnati Bengals (at STL): After falling out of favor and from the starting lineup in Cincy Johnson has bounced back, has a sack in each of the past two games, and possesses a very favorable IDP matchup with the Rams this week. Jabaal Sheard -- DE, Cleveland Browns (at ARI): There seems to be no "rookie wall" for Sheard, who has 14 tackles and two sacks in his past three games and faces an Arizona Cardinals squad this week that has allowed the third most sacks in the NFL this year. London Fletcher -- ILB, Washington Redskins (at NYG): It goes without saying that you should start Fletcher this week, but I wanted to give the old man props for leading the National Football League in tackles at 36 years young. David Harris -- ILB, New York Jets (at PHI): Harris has been something of a disappointment IDP-wise this season, but he should have a solid shot at a big day in a top 10 fantasy matchup with the even more disappointing Eagles Sunday. Jerod Mayo -- WLB, New England Patriots (at DEN): Mayo appears to have rounded back into form at the perfect time for his IDP owners and matches up at Mile High this week with a Fighting Tebows team that loves to run the ball. DeAngelo Hall -- CB, Washington Redskins: Hall is just good enough to occasionally make the big play but not so good that opposing quarterbacks have any reservations about throwing his way, which makes him an intriguing IDP option, especially in favorable matchups such as this one. Darian Stewart -- SS, St. Louis Rams (vs. CIN): The second-year pro was one of the few bright spots in the Rams ...