As any Individual Defensive Player (IDP) fantasy owner can attest, the defensive lineman position has become quite the fickle mistress. With the proliferation of hybrid 3-4 defensive schemes leading to the position designations of players once deemed to be a defensive end being switched to outside linebacker, it is becoming harder and harder to secure high-scoring defensive lineman talent in IDP formats.

Even more difficult to find are rookie defensive lineman prospects that have a relevant fantasy impact on their IDP squads.

Adjusting to the speed of the NFL game as well as getting the number of snaps to put up decent numbers is a difficult task for most rookies and it generally takes a year or two for them to develop and blossom into viable fantasy options. While each of the players on this list is a dynasty draft selection for certain, some may be avoidable in redraft formats depending on the size of the league and roster limits.

1. Dion Jordan, DE, Miami: The Dolphins traded up to the third position to land the athletic 6-foot-6, 250-pound Jordan and will be able to utilize him in a number of ways. First and foremost, he can be the edge rusher lining up opposite defensive end Cameron Wake that the Miami defense has lacked the past few seasons.

Jordan already possesses excellent edge rush skills, and, while he needs to add some bulk to his frame, he has also shown the versatility to be able to drop into coverage. The ability to hold his own in coverage will serve him Jordan well in both Miami's 4-3 base defense as well as a hybrid 3-4 should the Dolphins employ it. He will see a lot of snaps as a rookie and holds solid DL4 fantasy value with the definite upside to reach high-end DL2 numbers.

2. Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah, DE, Detroit: Ansah fills an immediate need on the Detroit defensive line, as the Lions are desperate for an edge rushing threat from the defensive end position. With his limited exposure to football having been well documented (dare I say, beat to death), Ansah does know one thing already and that is how to get up the field.

He is freakishly athletic at 6-foot-5 and 271 pounds with an explosive burst off the snap and will have little competition from Jason Jones, Willie Young and Ronnell Lewis in landing a starting job for Detroit. The duo of Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley at the defensive tackle position will force offensive lines to focus attention on the interior, freeing up Ansah to do what he does best in 2013 - get after the...

1 Month Detroit Lions Comment

Lions DE Willie Young's one-year deal is worth $1.5 million.

That's $500,000 less than the second-round level Young was tendered at as a restricted free agent. It's a sneaky tactic by the Lions, though Young could have forced his way to the open market by calling the Lions' bluff and refusing to sign for less than his tender amount. The deal includes a $300,000 signing bonus. Young will compete for a starting job in camp, and should have the inside track on starting opposite Jason Jones.

1 Month Detroit Lions Comment

Lions re-signed DE Willie Young to a one-year contract.

2 Months Detroit Lions Comment

Lions extended restricted free agent DE Willie Young a second-round tender.

With Cliff Avril and Lawrence Jackson on the free agent market and Kyle Vanden Bosch run out of MoTown, 27-year-old Young is currently the best defensive end on the Lions' roster. Expect that to change dramatically before Week 1.

5 Months Detroit Lions Comment

Lions DE Willie Young smashed his middle finger so bad in Week 11 that he considered having it amputated.

We typically don't post information like this, but it's an excuse to talk about Young, who was deemed Detroit's "biggest breakout of this year's preseason." Head coach Jim Schwartz gave his third-year player a lot of love, and some thought Young could be the fallback plan to pending free agent Cliff Avril. Young has played in roughly 25-33 percent of the defensive snaps this season and has amassed a whopping seven tackles with zero sacks. The Lions don't have an heir apparent to Avril on the current roster.

9 Months Detroit Lions Comment

Lions DE Willie Young has been the team's "biggest breakout of the preseason."

Young has recovered a fumble, forced a sack, blocked a punt and intercepted a pass, following up an impressive offseason and training camp. "Let's not put him in the Hall of Fame yet," quipped coach Jim Schwartz while acknowledging that Young "makes a lot of plays." While the Lions still have "every intention" of locking up franchise player Cliff Avril, Young is emerging as a fine fallback plan.

10 Months Detroit Lions Comment

Coach Jim Schwartz says DE Willie Young was one of the "most consistent players" during the first week of Lions camp.

Young split first-team reps at left end before Cliff Avril reported on Sunday. "We expect a lot from him," Schwartz said. "He's made plays for us, He's come a long way. ... (He needs to) keep grinding that attitude, not feel as though we've accomplished anything the first week in camp." Young was efficient as a situational pass-rusher last season, and could grease the skids for Avril's departure in free agency if he's similarly productive in 2012.

  Next »