Written By: Eric Olinger
I don’t know if it’s because of
the lockout or the new trend in the NFL becoming a passing league, but IDP LBs
have been disappointing so far. With 4(!!!) QB’s still on pace to break or
shatter (Tom Brady) Dan Marino’s single season passing yards records, we have
seen a huge bump in CB's and safety’s tackle numbers and steep decline, in most
cases, in the traditional MLB’s numbers. Guys that we were high on have been
hit with injuries, some severe and some of the more stressful nagging variety.
Personally, I’d rather you sit out and get healthy than drag your broken rear
end up and down the field. Because if you’re playing, I assume you’re healthy
enough to make an impact. Nothing stinks worse than playing a guy that says he
is healthy and he plays one quarter or he half asses the whole game. Anyone out
there tired of waiting on Hawthorne
to produce? Ya, us too! Take a page out of the Arian Foster playbook and shut
it down until you’re right. And another thing, the official score keeper in San
Diego has got to be one of these new age hippies preaching the “Sharing is
Caring” B.S. Takeo Spikes has 24 total tackles this year, 8 solo, 16
assists…really? Indianapolis’
score keeper is from the same school of thought. Pat Angerer has 24 solo and 18
assists for a ridiculous 42 total through 3 games. Obviously, there are always
going to be “pile jumpers” who rack up unearned assists. Now that’s out of my system, on to the “meat
and potatoes”…
BUY
Pat Angerer- MLB- Indianapolis Colts
“What
are you doing?” “I’m announcing my presence with authority!” Yes. Yes, you
are. With Gary
Brackett placed on IR Wednesday, Pat Angerer could be the IDP Waiver addition
of the year. Angerer plays FAST. Like 4 packs of Fun Dip and a 6 year old fast.
Coming off a 21 tackle game, 12-9-0, it’s going to be hard to trade for him. I
tried in one of my leagues and I was too late. This guy is going to be the real
deal. The Colts Offense is stuck in neutral and the D is going to be on the
field a ton. If he’s on your waiver wire, go get him. I would drop all the underperforming “names” for him: Poz, Rudd, Hawthorne,
etc.
Jason Williams- WLB- Carolina
Panthers
Let’s not kid ourselves, Dan Connor is
not getting it done from an IDP stand point. He’s just a guy. He’s barely
getting you more points than the Dan Connor from “Roseanne”. The guy replacing
Thomas Davis is Jason Williams and his first week on the job, he performed
admirably, producing a 7-1-0 stat line. There were rumors of Jason Williams
coming off the field in Nickel packages, but it didn’t appear so. The bottom
line is, Thomas Davis will not return to the team next season. If
Williams performs well he could be the guy moving forward. Definitely worth a
shot in deeper leagues.
LaRon Landry- SS- Washington
Redskins
Coming off of the dreaded
Achilles injury, Landry missed 6 games last year, all off season, and the first
2 games of this year. But the thing is, this IDP Monster looks right. He
doesn’t appear to have the hesitant look that DeMeco Ryans had and so many
other players returning from an Achilles always seem to have. Monday night he
was flying around flat out laying the wood to the Dallas wideouts. If this guy is somehow
available, he’s a must add in a Jim Haslett D that will feature his playmaking
abilities. Anyone who had him last year pre-injury knows, this guy is a
MANimal.
Brian Robison- DE- Minnesota
Vikings
Once Ray Edwards left, there
became an opportunity for IDP success across from one of the craziest S.O.B’s
in the NFL, Jared Allen. With 2.5 sacks through the first 3 games, it appears
Robison has a real shot of being that replacement. He had 2 sacks on Matthew
Stafford last week and coming into that game Stafford
had been sacked ZERO times in two games. I really like his long term value, but
here are his next 3 games, @KC, ARZ, @CHI!!! Can anyone name me the left
tackles on these teams? Exactly, he has a great stretch coming up. Definitely
worth a DL3 stash. With the right matchups, he can safely be used as a DL2.
The sack potential is there.
Greg Hardy- DE- Carolina
Panthers
On each team that has lethal bona fide
stud at DE, there is a slightly above average guy on the other side that will
“Carpe the Diem, Seize the Carp!” (Movie quote…anyone…?) Greg Hardy is that
guy. Carolina
was considered crazy for not paying Julius Peppers and letting him walk, and
they might be, but Charles Johnson is the truth and Greg Hardy is a perfect
compliment on the other side. He has a sack in 2 of the 3 games so far and as
long as Cam Newton and the offense can put points on the board and give the
other team a need to throw the ball Johnson and Hardy will be pinning there
ears back and in kill-mode.
Sell
Barrett Ruud- MLB- Tennessee Titans
Maybe we should have realized
something when this guy was a Free Agent and nobody rushed to sign him. Truth
is, he had a couple decent years in TB and developed a name. His name is worth
more than his production. A MLB that plays the pass better than the run is NOT
what you’re looking for in Fantasy Football. Find someone who is a name chaser
and exploit their ignorance. I would rather have a young up-and-comer than a
guy that will probably beat an annual “one year contract” guy.
Dan Connor- MLB- Carolina Panthers
A swing…and a…MISS! Talk about wasting
an opportunity. He is approaching Casey Matthews status. You can’t say it’s the
scheme because Jon Beason puts up the numbers in the same spot. In a game
against JAX where he should have put up very good numbers, he “sh*t the bed”,
so to speak with a 4-2-0 stat line. He is coming off the field on passing downs
and just isn’t that effective. Don’t bother wasting your time with his pretty
much non-existent “upside”.
Bob Sanders- SS- San Diego Chargers
I really don’t know why I bothered
including this guy. In Dynasty Leagues that allow IR spots, he might be a guy
that has been held on to. Don’t bother. He was put on IR in real life yesterday
again by the Chargers and GM AJ Smith flat out said it didn’t work out for the
team or the player and he wished him well. This guy used to be a MONSTER, he
hit like a LB and was built like a Kicker. His body just couldn’t hold up to
the extreme punishment. There is absolutely no point in even holding onto him.
The Bob Sanders of old is not coming back.
Casey Matthews- MLB/WLB/Towel
Guy- Philadelphia Eagles
Short and sweet. MLB= FAILURE.
WLB=EPIC FAIL. Remember the Brandon Jacobs 40 yard TD reception last week?
Guess who blew the assignment…Mr. Casey Matthews. Get a haircut hippie!
Wesley Woodyard- WLB- Denver Broncos
One of the very best backups in
the league, he has been starting in the place of injured DJ Williams. The bad
news is DJ Williams is about to return. The best news from an IDP standpoint
would be put Williams back in the middle and send Mays to the bench leaving
rookie Von Miller, DJ Williams, and Wesley Woodyard as the LB Corp, but
unfortunately there have been no indications from the Broncos that this is the
plan. Woodyard is most likely a top 12-18 LB in your league and I’m a believer
in selling a week too early than a week too late. Try to move him prior to
Williams making his return.
Thanks for reading! Comments, suggestions or questions are welcome below or by email at ericolinger@idpguru.com. You can also follow my active Twitter feed @Olinger3781.
Last Updated: September 29, 2011
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4 comments:
Carpe Diem - Seize the day! - it was from Dead Poets Society - good movie
@Anonymous Wrong! Read the quote again. But I agree that Dead Poets Society was a great movie.
I have to start 1 DL, 1 DB, and 2 other defensive players. I've been starting LB's for my 2 other defensive players because they traditionally produce the most points. Do you think the trend of DB's getting tons of points will continue? Should I be starting 3 DB's instead?
@ImperialCommander It all depends on who you have and your scoring system obviously. There is one of my leagues that I have 3 really great DB's who all score more than my LB3 and LB4 so I never say you HAVE to start LB's at your flex.
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