The IDP Dating Game - Ideal Landing Spots for Free Agent DL fantasysharks.com Mon 3/4/13 4:00 AM

The NFL Combine is in our rearview mirror, and it is time to look ahead to the start of NFL free agency in early March and then the draft in April. Yes indeed, it is that time of year when Individual Defensive Player (IDP) owners get to look around the league and play the age-old game of ‘who should sign where' to offer the best fantasy production. When compiling this initial list of defensive linemen and where they could best flourish from a fantasy perspective, I made a conscious effort to disregard whether or not the matchup would be an ideal one from a NFL standpoint. As IDP owners, we are more concerned with what stats the individual amasses as opposed to how he would or wouldn't help a NFL team to make the playoffs. The following assessments were made with that in mind, and, while they may not come to fruition, they would be very fantasy friendly landing spots for 2013. Dwight Freeney, DE, Indianapolis : Freeney struggled as an outside linebacker last season for the Colts, finishing the 2012 season with only five sacks in 14 games played. That is the lowest total since he totaled 3½ sacks back in 2007 when he missed the final seven games of the regular season. Indianapolis has already decided to move on from the 33-year-old, 11-year veteran, so look for Freeney to sign with a team that will utilize him at his more familiar and productive defensive end position. A very favorable destination for Freeney would keep him in the AFC South by signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars. While it is more likely that Freeney decides to sign with Denver, Dallas or Atlanta (as they are contenders), the Jaguars could be the better landing spot from a fantasy perspective. It depends on if Freeney is looking to be a rotational type of player on a contending team or is looking to land where he'll get the most playing time. In Jacksonville he would be the big fish in a little pond and potentially line up opposite another veteran sack specialist Jason Babin while seeing his defensive snap count rise above 800 again. The Jaguars have selected numerous players at the defensive end position over the years (Andre Branch, Derrick Harvey, Quentin Groves) with high round draft choices and have nothing to show for it. It may be time for Jacksonville to look for veteran proven pass rushers to bolster their anemic pass rush. The Jaguars finished last in the league with 20 team sacks last season, and, let's face it, could use a big name signing or two to get the fan base ...