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...