With the 2015 NFL Combine in our rear view mirror and the NFL Draft just over two months away, it’s time to continue looking ahead to Individual Defensive Player (IDP) fantasy drafts. Yes, some folks may be inclined to say it’s a wee bit early to be dissecting players and making preliminary draft rankings. To those folks I say, “I live in Michigan and am trying to survive another Polar Vortex so cut a guy some slack!” There, I feel so much better. So let’s take look at some more young linebackers (I know you have already checked out the first installment of this series) who are poised to take that next step in helping to lead IDP squads to fantasy championships. I’ve often joked in past articles that the University of Kentucky is becoming ‘Linebacker U’ over the last few years. Wesley Woodyard and Danny Trevathan have both had varying degrees of fantasy success over the past few seasons. Tennessee’s fifth-round selection in the 2014 draft Avery Williamson is the latest Kentucky linebacker to arrive on the IDP scene. A season ending injury to inside linebacker Zach Brown opened the door for Williamson to hit the field and he acquitted himself very well. According to Pro Football Focus, he graded out as the 18th-ranked inside linebacker out of a possible 60 graded players. He finished his rookie season with 79 total tackles along with three sacks and two fumble recoveries. More importantly is the fact that over the season’s final eight games Williamson was a three-down linebacker playing 95.2 percent of the snaps. He was credited with four passes defended on the season and reached double-digit tackles in a pair of games. Williamson showed big play potential, racking up those three sacks and being credited with seven quarterback hurries and another three hits. While his coverage skills could use some work, he was serviceable in that capacity and will continue to improve. Williamson is in a great position to flourish as a fantasy option playing under newly signed Dick LeBeau (who was named assistant head coach) as well as returning defensive coordinator Ray Horton, who worked under LeBeau in Pittsburgh from 2002-10. In New York, the Giants had a bit of a revolving door situation at the linebacker position as they scrambled to replace the injured Jon Beason. Beason managed to play only 162 snaps in four ...

Here we are. After a season that has seen the IDP landscaperavaged by injuries and suspensions we've reached the fantasy playoffs. If you've made it this far then a hearty congratulations isin order because the waters were hard to navigate this season. It doesn't get any easier moving forward and that's the waywe like it. Anything worth winning isworth putting in the work. Here at 53-Deep we have done the heavy lifting for IDPowners and come up with the following players heading into Week 14. DEFENSIVE LINEMEN Akiem Hicks, DT, NEWORLEANS vs. Carolina (54): Hicks has not had the year that I expected andhas totaled only one sack through 12 games. So whom did that sack come againstyou ask? Yep. The Carolina Panthers in week nine. The Panthers have allowed 18½ sacks to the defensive line this season and Hicks is set up to get back onthe sack train this week. Wallace Gilberry, DE,CINCINNATI vs. Pittsburgh (43): Gilberry is the epitome of a player that isdue to break out this week. He failed to register an assist or a solo tacklelast week against Tampa Bay. He was credited with two quarterback hurries and ahit last week according to Pro Football Focus and will look to cash in on thatpressure this week. The Steelers have allowed 11 sacks in their last four gamesand are a great matchup for Gilberry to shine against. Mike Daniels, DE,GREEN BAY vs. Atlanta (53): The Falcons offensive line continues tostruggle especially away from home. In his last three road games Matt Ryan hasbeen sacked eight times and the Packers will be pinning their ears back thisweek. Daniels has racked up 1 ½ sacks in his last two outings and has played84% of the snaps in those games. He should have a solid game this week at home. Malik Jackson, DE,DENVER vs. Buffalo (53): Jackson was held off the stat sheet last weekagainst the Chiefs but was credited with two hurries and one quarterback hit.This week he gets to face a Buffalo offense that has given up four sacks todefensive linemen in the last three games. Look for Jackson to be a thorn inKyle Orton's side all game long. LINEBACKERS Jameel McClain, MLB,NEW YORK GIANTS at Tennessee (46): McClain has racked up 28 total tacklesand a sack in his last three games while playing 193 of a possible 194 snaps.With Zach Mettenberger nursing a shoulder injury look for the Titans to run theball a bit more than they have in the past and for McClain to reap the benefitsof that game plan. Perry Riley, ILB,WASHINGTON vs. St Louis (51)...

Welcome to another edition of the Dynasty Dime Package as we look at more second-year Individual Defensive Player (IDP) prospects and what the future may hold for them from a fantasy standpoint. There is an air of electricity as free agency has opened (officially) and teams are enjoying the unexpected extra cap space to raid the market. ‘Dream teams' are being put together piece by expensive piece. Of course, that doesn't always translate into success on the field. Just ask the Philadelphia Eagles of a couple years ago. Sorry, it was just too easy, Eagles fans. What does translate into IDP dynasty fantasy success is hitting it big with early-round selections (hey, I believe that works in the NFL, too) and having the patience to ride out a rocky beginning to a young man's career. The two names that we will look at are prime examples of player's that were expected to fire out of the gate and be fantasy relevant immediately. Well, according to an aptitude test I took in ninth grade, I was supposed to be a doctor. Hey, it happens. Let's get to it... Arthur Brown, ILB, Baltimore I'm guessing that just reading this young man's name has the blood of many an IDP owner boiling. There was no more hyped IDP rookie prospect than the second-round selection out of Kansas State (via the University of Miami) heading into the 2013 season. The stars were aligned for Brown to have an excellent season and to possibly vie for Defensive Rookie of the Year while posting great fantasy numbers. Ray Lewis had just retired and it appeared that Brown would step right into a starting inside linebacker position for Baltimore after racking up more than 200 tackles during his final two years in college. It also appeared at one time that the world was flat. Not as flat as the rookie season that Brown would have as it turns out. After being drafted in the top 10 of many redraft and dynasty leagues, Brown would finish the year with 15 total tackles. Yes, you read that right -- 15 total tackles. Brown was relegated to purely a reserve role and ended the season having played only 211 snaps. His best game came in Week 14 when he put up three solo tackles and forced a fumble in a win against Minnesota. He forced an Adrian Peterson fumble but the ball went out of bounds. In that game, Brown played 11 snaps. Yeah, redraft owners had given up on him way before that (and should have) while dynasty owners were cursing every ‘expert' who had predicted high-level production for Brown (...

It's Week 15 of the 2012 fantasy football campaign, and that means that only a handful of teams in each league are still alive in the hunt for their league's championship with the playoffs underway in earnest. Many of those teams didn't get to where they are by starting a team filled with options off the waiver wire. However, injuries continue to take their toll on the defensive side of the ball and in at least one IDP league I was able to secure a playoff win by doing just that, so it pays to stay apprised of potential additions available in your league. My plan originally was to begin focusing on the future with some keeper and dynasty league additions this week, but after receiving several e-mails from IDP owners still in need of short-term fixes I have decided to eschew that plan for one more week and keep the focus of this week's column on the here and now. PICKUP OF THE WEEK Anthony Spencer -- OLB, Dallas Cowboys: Spencer makes his second appearance in this column over the past few weeks, and for good reason. With the Dallas Cowboys linebacker corps decimated by injuries Spencer has made the most of the additional opportunities for production, posting some of the best numbers of his six-year career. Over the past three games Spencer has tallied 29 total tackles and four sacks, and that's the sort of fantasy production that any IDP owner in need of linebacker help would be glad to have. Michael Brockers -- DT, St. Louis Rams: As Brockers' rookie season has progressed the former LSU standout appears to be adjusting quite well to the NFL, and it's showing up on the stat sheet. Brockers had one of his best games of the year in Sunday's win over the Buffalo Bills, racking up seven total tackles, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble, and those sorts of numbers should be plenty to appealing to IDP owners in DT-required leagues that want to improve up front. Frostee Rucker -- DE, Cleveland Browns: Rucker is the sort of defensive end that's solid in every area while not being spectacular in any area. The seventh-year veteran has logged 15 tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble over the past four games, and while Rucker likely isn't going to post eye-popping numbers his seven stops with a sack in last week's win over the Kansas City Chiefs demonstrates that Rucker can be a viable spot starter in the right situation, such as this week's top five IDP matchup with the Washington Redskins. undefinedundefinedundefinedundefinedundefinedundefined Ray Lewis -- ...

This is the week with the most teams on bye (six) all season. No other week has this many teams on bye, so this should be the thinnest you'll be all year as for you choices for your starting lineup. That being said, if you've got a player on your roster and you're not starting him this week when your other players are on bye, you might as well just drop him. If you're not starting him as a bye week filler, when are you going to start him? Now, if that guy you're hanging onto is a handcuff for another player on your roster, or a player that would see their playing time shoot up drastically if the guy in front of them gets hurt, keep hanging on to that guy. If you're hanging onto a player thinking that you'll use them when the time is right, this is that time. Otherwise, they're just taking up space on your roster. Now onto the calls for the week. Quarterbacks If you grabbed Andrew Luck in your draft and you're wondering if you should start him this week, the answer would be yes. Luck is playing against a Cleveland defense that is allowing an average of over 300 yards passing and 2.5 touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks on the season. Cleveland's defense is the second worst in the league at giving up fantasy points to quarterbacks. Getting Luck in your lineup would be a ‘good call' this week. Andy Dalton is slowly becoming one of my favorite young quarterbacks. He's not hitting that sophomore slump that most young quarterbacks hit. He's had three 3-touchdown games already this year. He had just one three touchdown game all of last year. Dalton's matchup with Pittsburgh this week, seems to look tough of paper, but the Steelers defense has only seen two Top 10 quarterbacks this year (Peyton Manning and Michael Vick). Dalton is improving every week, and he looks to be a strong play that would be a ‘good call' to be in your lineup this week. If you've got another option besides Matthew Stafford this week, I'd use him. Stafford has only thrown four touchdown passes all year, and the Chicago defense he'll be going against in Chicago has only allowed four touchdown passes all year. If you think Stafford is going to throw more than one into the end zone this week, you're going to be sorely disappointed. Stafford might have a decent week for yardage, but an interception or two and just one touchdown just isn't going to get it done this week. Stafford is a ‘bad call' and I'd sit him if you've got another decent option. Another quarterback who's going against a ...

It's Week 7 of the 2012 NFL season, and once again Individual Defensive Players (IDP) were hit hard by injuries over the weekend, with linebackers Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens and D.J. Smith of the Green Bay Packers suffering significant injuries that may well have ended their seasons. Those injuries, and the fact that no fewer than six teams will be on a bye this week, have left IDP owners scrambling to find replacements for the upcoming week's games, and here's a look at some players who should be available in the majority of fantasy football leagues. PICKUP OF THE WEEK Bobby Wagner, MLB, Seattle: As the rookie from Utah State has become more and more acclimated to the NFL, Wagner's role has grown in the Seattle defense. The youngster responded Sunday by racking up 14 total tackles in the win over the New England Patriots. Wagner seems entrenched now as a three-down player in Seattle, and with a favorable matchup upcoming with the San Francisco 49ers Thursday night, Wagner is absolutely worth a look from IDP squads with a need at linebacker. Cliff Avril, DE, Detroit: After entering the season as a low-end DL1, a woefully slow start to the 2012 season got Avril the boot from many IDP teams, but it appears that the fifth-year pro may finally be waking up, statistically. After a big game against the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday, Avril now has seven tackles and 2½ sacks in his past two games, and, given how many defensive linemen have underperformed this year, Avril definitely merits consideration from IDP teams looking for a boost up front. Chris Kelsay, DE, Buffalo: A knee injury suffered by defensive end Mark Anderson thrust Kelsay into the starting lineup against the Arizona Cardinals, and the 10th-year veteran came up big, notching seven tackles and sacking quarterback Kevin Kolb for a safety. Kelsay's more of a run stuffer than pass rusher, and he's not going to post those sorts of numbers every week, but his solid tackle production should be enough to at least make Kelsay a viable bye week fill-in. Miles Burris, OLB, Oakland: There was a change in game plan for the Oakland Raiders in their loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, as Burris supplanted middle linebacker Rolando McClain in the team's nickel package. The rookie managed only four total tackles against the Falcons, but, if this switch sticks, both Burris' snap counts and IDP value should see a significant upswing as we head into the second half of the 2012 season. Jameel McClain...

Only four teams remain standing in the 2012 NFL playoffs, so the pool of available Individual Defensive Player (IDP) talent is getting pretty shallow, and last week's upset of the Green Bay Packers by the New York Giants likely cost many fantasy owners quite a few players they were hoping to save for this week's lineup. However, upsets or no, we have to keep on keeping on, so let's get down to the business of getting down to business and take a look at this week's IDP rankings. That said, we're still playing in a different format than "usual" here, using the scoring and rules for the BTR Listeners League sponsored by Fantasy Sharks and run by FSWA Hall of Famer Greg Kellogg, who I have the distinct pleasure of co-hosting Kellogg's Komments with twice a week on Fantasy Sharks Radio. If you haven't given a listen, you absolutely should, as Greg, Mike Pisani and Chris Nunes are damned near capable of drowning my drivel out. Well, almost. These rankings are based on the scoring for that contest, which awards one point for solo tackles, ½ point for assisted tackles, two points each for fumbles forced and recovered, three points for interceptions and sacks, six points for defensive touchdowns, four points for safeties, and one point for passes defensed, as well as return yardage for picks and fumbles, but those are fluke points best not chased. It's also a "one and done" format, which means that once you use a guy he's through, so what may look like a great play this week may also involve a player you want to save for the Super Bowl. That makes it more important that you try to balance scoring and who you think will advance, so keep in mind that my rankings may reflect biases you may not share, and a bit of "bet-hedging." No need to go more than 10 deep, so without further ado ... DEFENSIVE LINEMEN 1.) Jason Pierre-Paul -- New York Giants at San Francisco 2.) Terrell Suggs -- Baltimore at New England 3.) Justin Tuck -- New York Giants at San Francisco 4.) Justin Smith -- San Francisco vs. New York Giants 5.) Haloti Ngata -- Baltimore at New England 6.) Osi Umenyiora -- New York Giants at San Francisco 7.) Brandon Deaderick -- New England at Baltimore 8.) Mark Anderson -- New England at Baltimore 9.) Chris Canty -- New York Giants at San Francisco 10.) Ray MacDonald -- San Francisco vs. New York Giants LINEBACKERS 1.) Ray Lewis -- Baltimore at New England 2.) Patrick Willis -- San Francisco vs. New York Giants 3.) NaVarro Bowman -- ...