This article references Darren Sproles, Jay Cutler, Matt Forte, Robert Griffin Iii and more! BALLER MOVE: Target in Last Round CURRENT ADP: 228 ANALYSIS: The Eagles? defense is not considered to be a particularly appealing unit in fantasy football. It was incredibly permeable in 2015, yielding the fifth-most passing yards and the most rushing yards? third most yards of total offense. Linebacker Stephen Tulloch is the only notable addition on the defensive side of the ball, and they did lose Kiko Alonso, Byron Maxwell and Walter Thurmond. However, they also brought in Jim Schwartz [...]Keep on reading: Philadelphia Eagles (DEF, PHI) - 2016 Fantasy Football Sleeper

This article references and more! Veteran linebacker Stephen Tulloch agreed to one-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, according to a report by ESPN's Adam Schefter. The 31-year-old Tulloch will be reunited with defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who served as the Detroit Lions' head coach from 2009-2013. Tulloch doesn't have much left in the tank at this point, but he is still a quality linebacker on rushing downs and has topped 100 tackles in each of his last six full seasons. The Eagles linebacker corps include[...]Keep on reading: Stephen Tulloch Agrees With Eagles, Adds Small Boost to Middling D/ST

As thetemperatures continue to fall along with the dreaded snow here in Michigan, many are looking forward to warmer times when their closest friendis not the shovel. For my IDP brethren, that time will be the end of summerwhen fantasy draft day beckons. The lucky jerseys we don to help bring thatmojo needed for the perfect draft replace the layers of clothes we've worn allwinter long. Of course,the perfect draft requires the time and effort exerted during the winter monthsto stay ahead of our leaguemates. Finding the hidden gems who are poised tobreak out and landing them at a position of value come draft day. Sure thatpreamble was just a fancy way of saying that as the gray days of winter growcolder I will be passing the time by looking at a collection of IDP prospects whoI am particularly high on entering next season. There was nogroup of players more decimated by injuries and suspensions in 2014 than thelynchpin position of linebacker. It started in the preseason with the loss of Arizonastud inside linebacker Daryl Washington due to suspension. That newswas quickly followed by season ending injuries suffered by Sean Lee (Dallas), Kiko Alonso (Buffalo) and Sean Weatherspoon (Atlanta) before aregular season snap had even taken place. What ensuedwas a season marred by the loss of productive fantasy talent as knee injurieswould limit Cincinnati's tackling machine Vontaze Burfict to five gamesand Detroit's Stephen Tulloch would suit up for only three. Instead ofgiving you the complete list of linebackers who missed significant time (thatpiece would rival ‘War and Peace'), we will instead take a look at someyoungsters who will help IDP rosters in 2015. Hey. Whatcan I say? I am a glass half-full kind of guy. With the sunsetting on the careers of veteran weakside linebackers Lance Briggs and D.J.Williams in Chicago, there was a changing of the guard at the linebackerposition late last season. Undraftedrookie free agent Christian Jones out of Florida State found himselfstarting at weakside linebacker over the last three weeks of the season. Heplayed a three-down role for Chicago and put up 31 total tacklesfrom Weeks 15-17. Jones alsoregistered a sack in both Weeks 16 and 17 and was credited with a fumblerecovery, flashing the big play potential that IDP owners covet. A faileddrug test at the combine contributed to the athletic Jones being passed over inthe 2014 NFL Draft and allowing Chicago to grab a talented player for next tonothing. At 6-...

This is how remote control gets broken. I had just settled in to watch some NFL action Sunday, and after perusing the early slate (thank you Sunday Ticket) I decided on some NFC North fun with the Green Bay Packers travelling to face the Detroit Lions. It would give me a chance to watch an exciting divisional affair, see how the Packers are using linebacker Jamari Lattimore and watch Lions' middle man Stephen Tulloch, a perennially undervalued player who was on several of my IDP teams. What could go wrong? Well, for starters, this could. That's right. In a season where big-name linebackers are dropping like flies, a player who ranked 12th among linebackers in Fantasy Sharks Default IDP Scoring entering Week 3 suffered a season-ending ACL injury celebrating a freaking sack. That injury (and the sprained MCL suffered by Ryan Shazier of the Pittsburgh Steelers) leaves IDP owners scrambling at the linebacker spot (again), so it's only fitting that the Week 4 IDP Pickup of the Week hails from that position. IDP PICKUP OF THE WEEK Jelani Jenkins -- OLB, Miami Dolphins Before we go any farther, go check and see if Miami Dolphins outside linebacker Jelani Jenkins is on your waiver wire. If he is, put a claim for him. Go ahead. I'll wait. Jenkins was grabbed in a lot of leagues after putting up 14 total tackles two weeks ago against the Buffalo Bills. The second-year pro followed that up with 15 stops (including 11 solos) and 1.5 sacks against a Kansas City Chiefs, a performance that impressed James Walker of ESPN . "Jenkins' stock is on the rise," Walker wrote. "In his second career start, Jenkins recorded 15 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Jenkins also was credited with a safety in the third quarter. Jenkins led the Dolphins with 14 tackles in Week 2 against the Buffalo Bills. With the way Jenkins has played since replacing the injured Dannell Ellerbe (hip) in the starting lineup, the Dolphins might be on to something." IDP owners might be onto something too, like the top-scoring linebacker in fantasy football through three games. That sound like a guy you might want on your IDP team? Thought so. WEEK 4 IDP WAIVER WIRE TARGETS Corey Liuget -- DE, San Diego Chargers Liuget was pegged as a rising young star heading into 2013, but he suffered through a disappointing third season. So far this year, however, Liuget is feeling his oats, telling Kevin Acee of U-T San Diego "When you're playing your best game . . . what are you thinking about? You can't ...

It's been one hell of a wacky year in 2013. If there's been a predominant storyline this year in Individual Defensive Player (IDP) leagues, it's been to expect the unexpected. The top end defensive linemen, much like running backs, have been something of a dumpster fire. Youngsters like Cincinnati's Vontaze Burfict and surprise vets like Detroit's DeAndre Levy have stolen the thunder among the linebackers, and good luck figuring the defensive backs out. OK, the defensive backs are like that every year. Every week during the 2013 season has been fraught with peril and uncertainty, but, if you've made it this far, you're only a couple of wins away from the sweet taste of IDP glory. In the playoffs, against good teams, every point is critical. One goose egg can mean the end of the season. One false step can mean certain, agonizing death. Or something. Each week during the 2013 season, I'll point out some individual defensive players who could be set to exceed expectations this week (studs) and some that for whatever reason are riskier plays than usual (duds). This isn't necessarily to say that every "stud" is a must-start (it depends on your other options) or that every "dud" should be glued to your bench (just that the odds of a letdown week are greater than usual). Now let's win some playoff games! STUDS Jason Babin, DE, Jacksonville (vs. Buffalo): There's some risk in trusting the 33-year-old Babin in a fantasy playoff game. However, Babin does have a sack in back-to-back games for the surging (no really, they are) Jaguars, who face a Buffalo Bills team this week giving up the most fantasy points to defensive linemen in Fantasy Sharks Default IDP Scoring . Jason Hatcher, DT, Dallas (vs. Green Bay): Hatcher leads the Cowboys with nine sacks, but with only three solos over the past two games some IDP owners may be antsy about starting the eighth-year-veteran this week. Don't be, not against a Green Bay offensive line allowing the second-most fantasy points to defensive linemen in 2013. Michael Johnson, DE, Cincinnati (at Pittsburgh): Johnson's contract year hasn't exactly gone according to plan, as the fifth-year pro has only three sacks in 12 games. However, Johnson's tackle numbers have been solid this season, and the Pittsburgh offensive line isn't exactly stout. Jerrell Freeman, ILB, Indianapolis (vs. Houston): Although Freeman is still a top-20 fantasy linebacker for the season, the former Canadian Football League star has been in ...

"The rankings are here! The rankings are here!" In the grand tradition of Navin R. Johnson and his excitement over the newly published phone books, I am giddy with excitement that post-draft Individual Defensive Player (IDP) rankings are beginning to crop up. If that reference is throwing you, I can only assume you have yet to see the cinematic classic, "The Jerk." If that's the case, you must immediately go rent, borrow or Netflix it and enjoy. Seriously, go now ... I'll wait. Done? OK, you're welcome. One of the many joys fantasy football brings is the chance to discuss and dissect the latest rankings with our league mates, friends or even strangers on the streets (I'm not going to lie, that last one has gotten me some sideways glances). While standing around the virtual water cooler recently and having one such discussion with a peer in the IDP community (as well as a friend I daresay), it occurred to me that maybe some other folks out there may enjoy our thoughts and ideas on these initial ranks. If not enjoy then at least be enraged by and either way it gets the IDP fantasy juices flowing ... a win/win. If you play IDP football and are not acquainted with Joe Buccalleto and FantasyleagueGM, you should be. He is what I would deem an IDP savant, and when he has something to say that's IDP related, my radar goes up. We recently bounced some underrated and overrated names that jumped out in some of the most recent IDP rankings off of each other. In the same vein as one of those awesome "Law and Order" episodes that crossed over with "Homicide Life on the Street," here are those players. We will start with Buccalleto's thoughts: Underrated Justin Tuck, DE, N.Y. Giants: Formerly a premier fantasy defensive lineman, Tuck has suffered through consecutive subpar seasons. However, I'm not ready to dismiss him. Injuries have caused his play to lag, but he's only 30 years old. I'd rather add him to my team and hope for a rebound. If Tuck is washed up, useful linemen are easy to find on the waiver wire. Patrick Willis, ILB, San Francisco: Willis was injured in 2011, and suffered through a "down" year in 2012. The presence of NaVorro Bowman in San Francisco and sexier, younger linebackers around the league have caused Willis' value to drop. In reality, his worst games were Week 13 (four solo tackles) and Week 1 (four solo tackles, two assists). That's his floor! Just like the NFL draft, you don't hit home runs in Round 1. You want safe, productive ...

Since this is an article geared towards the best fantasy landing spot for a particular player we will forego the pleasantries of whether or not a team can actually afford to sign a certain player and focus on why he would be an ideal fit. Let's leave the financial situations to the real general managers and enjoy an unencumbered look at Individual Defensive Player (IDP) fantasy fits for teams while not being bothered by such trivial matters as a salary cap. Hey, it's called fantasy football for a reason. Nick Barnett, OLB, Buffalo: The Detroit Lions recently brought in former Buffalo strong safety George Wilson for a free agent visit and would be wise to keep that Buffalo pipeline open and get on the phone with another cap casualty in Barnett. Both DeAndre Levy and Justin Durant are free agents heading into 2013, and, rather than dance with the devil, you know the Lions would be well served to bring in Barnett and his versatile skill set. After suffering a wrist injury that would limit him to only playing four games back in 2010 (his last season in Green Bay) Barnett has racked up 150 solos and 242 total tackles over the past two seasons in Buffalo. He's also added five sacks; four forced fumbles while intercepting three passes and returning one for a touchdown. In that same two-year time frame Levy and Durant have combined for only 2.5 sacks, two interceptions and a pair of forced fumbles on a Detroit defense that has struggled mightily against the run. While the obvious choice for Barnett to replace would be Levy as both have manned the WLB over the past couple of years, Barnett is capable of adjusting to any scheme and manned an inside linebacker position for years in Green Bay. Barnett will be 32 in May but still has some tread on his tires and actually finished as a Top 10 4-3 outside linebacker in Pro Football Focus' 2012 rankings. He would be a perfect stopgap signing for the Lions as youngsters Travis Lewis and Tahir Whitehead continue to develop. Lining up next to Stephen Tulloch in 2013 would give the Lions a pair of solid, proven linebackers to mentor the youngsters while racking up very nice tackle numbers. Barnett would have the real possibility of finishing as a Top 20 fantasy linebacker in 2013 if he should sign in Detroit. Anthony Spencer, OLB, Dallas: Spencer finally emerged from the shadow of DeMarcus Ware and posted a career-high 11 sacks last season while playing with a pectoral strain that limited him to 14 games. He would...

It's Week 8 of the 2012 NFL season, and as we head into the second half of fantasy football's regular season some IDP teams are sitting pretty, others are struggling mightily, and some are just trying to figure out where to find three healthy linebackers to put in their starting lineup. Last week was actually pretty kind to me so far as my recommendations went, as while Baltimore Ravens linebacker Jameel McClain let fantasy owners down, defensive end Brian Robison of the Minnesota Vikings made me look like Nostradamus by single-handedly winning many IDP squads their games with his three sack explosion against the Arizona Cardinals. However, just as I shake off my losses I don't waste time basking in my wins, and with both eyes squarely focused towards the future it's time for another week of IDP Studs and Duds, where I'll point out some Individual Defensive Players who could be set to exceed expectations this week (Studs) and some that for whatever reason are riskier plays than usual (Duds). That isn't necessarily to say that every "Stud" is a must-start (it depends on your other options) or that every "Dud" should be glued to your bench (just that the odds of a letdown week are greater than usual). Don't forget that we're still smack in the middle of the bye weeks, so IDPs from the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, and Houston Texans will all be taking the week off. Finally, before we get on with the show, if you have a specific IDP Start/Sit question you'd like my take on you can e-mail me at askgary@fantasysharks.com or post the question in the "Kilroy Krystal Ball" thread in the Fantasy Sharks IDP Forum. I can't promise I'll get to every question, but I'll do the best I can. STUDS Jeremy Mincey -- DE, Jacksonville Jaguars (at GB): After racking up eight sacks last year the fifth-year pro didn't get his first of 2012 until last week. Mincey should make it two weeks in a row with a sack against a Green Bay Packers team giving up the fourth-most fantasy points to defensive linemen this year. Jabaal Sheard -- DE, Cleveland Browns (vs. SD): Sheard is experiencing the dreaded sophomore slump, with only one sack in seven games. The youngster could be in for a rebound game against a San Diego Chargers club that has been a top-five fantasy matchup for defensive linemen this season. Justin Smith -- DE, San Francisco 49ers (at AZ): Smith has tallied an impressive 17 tackles over his past two games but still hasn't recorded a sack this year...

It's Week 6 of the 2012 NFL season, and by the time this week's games have concluded we'll be nearing the halfway point of the fantasy football campaign, with some IDP teams humming right along and others scrambling to salvage their season before their championship dreams go up in smoke. Last week wasn't exactly my best ever where IDP recommendations are concerned, as although I correctly predicted that Carolina Panthers strong safety Charles Godfrey would struggle linebacker Nick Barnett of the Buffalo Bills disappointed in a very favorable matchup and D. J. Smith of the Green Bay Packers had a very solid showing in a bad one with the Indianapolis Colts. These things happen though, especially with IDPs, so after shaking off the beating I took it's time for another week of IDP Studs and Duds, where I'll point out some Individual Defensive Players who could be set to exceed expectations this week (Studs) and some that for whatever reason are riskier plays than usual (Duds). That isn't necessarily to say that every "Stud" is a must-start (it depends on your other options) or that every "Dud" should be glued to your bench (just that the odds of a letdown week are greater than usual). We're also smack dab in the middle of the bye weeks, so IDPs from the Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars will all be taking the week off. Keep them on your bench. Finally, before we get on with the show, if you have a specific IDP Start/Sit question you'd like my take on you can e-mail me at askgary@fantasysharks.com or post the question in the "Kilroy Krystal Ball" thread in the Fantasy Sharks IDP Forum. I can't promise I'll get to every question, but I'll do the best I can. STUDS Michael Bennett -- DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. KC): The fourth-year pro comes out of his bye week on a hot streak, with three sacks in his past two games, and Bennett should have every opportunity to keep that momentum going against a Kansas City Chiefs team giving up the second most points to opposing defensive lineman this year. Everson Griffen -- DE, Minnesota Vikings (at WAS): Griffen has seen his playing time increase and has made the most of it, and the third-year pro could be a sneaky play this week for IDP owners in a pinch up front in a very favorable fantasy matchup with the Washington Redskins. Mario Williams -- DE, Buffalo Bills (at ARI): IDP owners who spent a high draft pick on Williams have to be tearing their hair out over his slow start,...

Well, the long, dark days of the offseason have come and gone, and after training camps, preseason, roster cuts and about 137 injuries to prominent linebackers (approximately), the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants got the 2012 NFL season underway Wednesday night. That also means it's time for yet another season of Individual Defensive Player (IDP) "Studs and Duds," where yours truly attempts to point out (many times with the acuity of Mr. Magoo) some players who could be set to exceed expectations this week (studs) and some that for whatever reason are riskier plays than usual (duds). That isn't necessarily to say that every "stud" is a must-start (it depends on your other options) or that every "dud" should be glued to your bench (just that the odds of a letdown week are greater than usual), but forewarned is forearmed and all that happy nonsense. Finally, before we get on with the show, if you have a specific IDP start/sit question you'd like my take on it, you can email me at askgary@fantasysharks.com or post the question in the "Kilroyz Krystal Ball" thread in the Fantasy Sharks IDP Forum. I can't promise I'll get to every question, but I'll do the best I can. STUDS Mark Anderson, DE, Buffalo (at New York Jets): The Bills have completely re-tooled their defensive line, the Jets were a favorable IDP matchup for defensive linemen in 2011, their offensive line may well be worse, and Mario Williams will be wreaking havoc on the other end. Not much to not like here. Cliff Avril, DE, Detroit (vs. St. Louis): No team in the National Football League allowed more sacks in 2011 than the St. Louis Rams, who were also a Top 10 fantasy matchup for defensive linemen. Toss in that St. Louis quarterback Sam Bradford is still favoring his ankle and you have the makings of IDP tastiness. Matt Shaughnessy, DE, Oakland (vs. San Diego): The same San Diego offensive line that was the team's undoing last year is already springing leaks before the season even starts, and Shaughnessy appears fully recovered from the injury that cost him most of 2011. The fourth-year pro's breakout season starts in Week 1's final game. Nick Barnett, OLB, Buffalo (at New York Jets): I'll admit that I don't share the reservations of some about Barnett's switch to WLB in a 4-3, given that he showed the ability to produce in that slot while with the Green Bay Packers. Meanwhile, the Jets gave up the third-most fantasy points in the NFL to opposing linebackers last year. Kevin Burnett...