2 Months Chicago Bears Comment

Bears signed LB James Anderson, formerly of the Panthers.

2 Months Chicago Bears Comment

Panthers will release LB James Anderson.

The cap-strapped Panthers are making some tough decisions. Although Anderson was due a relatively meager $2.9 million in 2013, he's entering his age-30 season and managed a mere 38 tackles in 12 games last season. Jon Beason is expected to kick to the strong-side linebacker spot now that Luke Kuechly is entrenched in the middle. The five-year, $22 million contract the Panthers gave Anderson in 2011 was another disaster from former GM Marty Hurney.

IDP Sleepers - Week 7 (fantasysharks.com)

Wow. With six teams on a bye this week, finding sleeper candidates was going to be an adventure, and the injuries suffered by big name defenders has made it even more fun. Figuring out what defenses are going to do in an effort to replace their injured starters is always an adventure, and some situations remain in flux and will require careful observing in the next couple of weeks.

That's why I love Individual Defensive Player (IDP) formats and the mysteries that it offers up on a weekly basis. Here are some Week 7 sleeper options that are primed for big fantasy outings.

LINEBACKERS

Zach Brown, OLB, Tennessee at Buffalo: Brown has been playing more physical of late and has put up eight solo tackles and a pass defended in the last two games. The Bills do not represent the best fantasy matchup for linebackers but they do run an offense that lends itself to an athletic player like Brown garnering more snaps. He could have a sneaky good fantasy week while chasing down Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller.

James Anderson, OLB, Carolina vs. Dallas: Anderson has been a productive fantasy option the last couple of seasons and started 2012 on a nice pace as well. In Weeks 4 and 5, he saw his snap count dip into the mid-40s range for Carolina, and that makes him sleeper material. The whole Panthers defense has struggled and they seem to be reaching for the best linebacker combination from week-to-week. Look for Anderson to have a surprisingly good fantasy week as he works his way back into the Carolina base defense. The Cowboys will afford Anderson plenty of opportunity to put up tackles (he has 37 total to date) as well as get some big plays on his 2012 resume.

Victor Butler, OLB, Dallas at Carolina: Butler has played well while filling in for Anthony Spencer and looks to fill-in for him again in Week 7. He put up five solo tackles last week and also knocked a pass down. Butler has yet to post a sack, but he does have three quarterback hurries over the past three weeks and is an adequate pass rushing option. He's solid against the run, and while he is not as explosive as Spencer off the edge, he can bring efficient pressure. Look for a good fantasy week for Butler as the Panthers offense offers up tackle and big play opportunities for linebackers. Should Spencer actually play this week, insert him into this sleeper spot.

Kavell Conner, ILB, Indianapolis vs. Cleveland: Conner remains fantasy relevant until Pat Angerer finally returns from injury. After a...

IDP Studs and Duds - Week 5 (fantasysharks.com)

We've hit Week 5 of the 2012 NFL season, and with the bye weeks now in full swing, Individual Defensive Player (IDP) teams run the gamut, from 4-0 juggernauts to 0-4 junkpiles, with squads of all shapes and sizes in between.

Last week's recommendations ran the gamut as well. I hit paydirt with my recommendation to give Miami Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake one more shot, my advice to do the same with defensive end Michael Bennett of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn't work out so well.

It's with that knowledge that you win some and lose others that I roll out another week of IDP Studs and Duds, where I'll point out 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).

Also, it's the second of the bye weeks, so IDPs from the Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions 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 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

John Abraham, DE , Atlanta (at Washington): The 13th-year veteran is coming off his best game of the season, with five tackles and a sack last week against the Carolina Panthers, and Washington has been a friendly fantasy matchup for defensive linemen, with the Redskins allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to the position.

Chris Clemons, DE, Seattle (at Carolina): Clemons came back to earth last week after a huge game against the Green Bay Packers, but the ninth-year pro should rebound against a Carolina Panthers squad giving up the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing defensive linemen.

Elvis Dumervil, DE, Denver (at New England): After a slow start to the season, Dumervil's play has picked up of late, with 2½ sacks in his last two games. That hot streak should continue Sunday when the Broncos face the New England Patriots, who have been a favorable IDP matchup for defensive linemen so far in 2012.

James Anderson, OLB, Carolina (vs. Seattle ): Once again injuries have led to...

4/12/2012 Chicago Bears Comment

Panthers SLB James Anderson expects the Carolina defensive to dial up more pressure in 2012.

It will be Sean McDermott's second year as defensive coordinator, and he comes from the blitz-heavy Jim Johnson school. "I'm quite sure when coach McDermott gets his whole, full system in, you'll see everybody going after the quarterback," said Anderson. McDermott only had about five weeks to install his defensive last season, after the lockout ended in late July.

2/24/2012 Chicago Bears Comment

Panthers coach Ron Rivera revealed that SLB James Anderson played the second half of the 2011 season with an ankle injury.

"He had that ankle that just constantly nagged him," Rivera said. "And every day he was out there practicing, doing the best he can. I really thought he stepped up in terms of his career." Anderson set a franchise record with 174 tackles, per coaches' film review, breaking MLB Jon Beason's mark of 169 set in 2009. Anderson will be a steal for his 2012 salary of $2.4 million.

IDP Cheatsheet: Week 17 (fantasysharks.com)

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...

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