• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Defensive Notes

Middle linebackers are typically the most productive IDP players, accounting for the vast majority of our top 20 overall. With that in mind, there are a couple of camp battles we’ll be keeping a close watch on.

Denver: The team signed former Seattle backup Niko Koutouvides in the offseason, projecting him as the starter in the middle. But Nate Webster is also in the mix; the two have split opportunities with the first-team defense at the start of training camp. We’re grading both conservatively until a front-runner emerges; the starter could be a top-30 linebacker, while the backup will have minimal value. Denver’s other linebacker spots are set, with D.J. Williams a great option on the weak side and Boss Bailey the starter on the strong side. Bailey has an injury history, so maybe the loser in the middle will end up starting some games for Bailey.

Detroit: Paris Lenon is the incumbent, but he’s only average. The team hopes rookie Jordon Dizon, who made 160 tackles at Colorado last season, wins the job. One of these players will be the team’s 2nd-best IDP options behind the starter on the weak side, Ernie Sims. We’re giving Dizon the edge, but this too is a battle whose winner won’t be apparent for a little while.

Other news and notes:

- The Bengals’ defense can’t catch a break. Last in the league in sacks a year ago (22), the team gave Tennessee pass-rushing specialist Antwan Odom (8 sacks last year) a huge contract in free agency. Odom had sleeper potential and still does, but he sprained his foot on the first day of training camp and has been sidelined indefinitely. Of perhaps even more IDP relevance, the team’s top draft pick, rookie linebacker Keith Rivers, is a holdout. Apparently he hasn’t noticed that the Bengals are stubborn when it comes to contract negotiations. Make sure he’s in camp before spending a high pick on him in your fantasy drafts, and either way don’t expect much out of Cincinnati’s defense this season.

- Young players don’t tend to make an impact in Bill Belichick’s Patriots defenses, especially at linebacker. There’s just too much to learn. But top pick Jerod Mayo is getting a crash course as the team tries to get him ready to contribute as a rookie, even taking reps with the first team in training camp thus far. Mayo bears watching in IDP drafts; if he lands a starting job, he could be very productive this season.

—Andy Richardson

• Comments [0]

Readers' Comments

Add a Comment

Already a registered user? Please sign in to add comments.

To add comments, you must become a registered user of our site. To register, please click here.