IDP is all about opportunity. The “next man up” mentality is not only prevalent in NFL coaching circles but is for your IDP squad. Below is a list of guys to keep on your radar, or grab in deeper leagues, because they are breakout candidates, undervalued or are true sleepers. Keep this list for trade and waiver wire targets. These acquisitions could fill in nicely for your IDP squad this year.
This article series is a true sleeper/undervalued player profiling. I will not be “cherry picking” from the easy answers on each team’s roster. With that said, what IDP help would I be if I just ignored the “low hanging fruit”, so make sure you watch out for these guys in smaller leagues and roster them in deep leagues:
- Whitney Mercilus, HOU LB
- Antonio Morrison, IND LB
- Anthony Walker, IND LB
- John Simon, IND LB
- Darius Butler, IND CB/S
- Dante Fowler, JAC DE
- Tashaun Gipson, JAC S
- Kevin Byard, TEN S
Houston Texans
Kevin Johnson, HOU CB. A.J. Bouye is gone, and they drafted Johnson in Round 1 to play. Now is his time. While CB’s have limited value, the Texans line is dynamic and will create pressure that will equate to DB big-plays. Johnson is an explosive athlete and should take a couple to the house this year.
Indianapolis Colts
T.J. Green, IND S. I am a big Clayton Geathers fan, but the news regarding his neck injury, surgery and slow recovery is concerning. Add to that his physical style of play and Green is a must add. Green had mental lapses in Year 1, but he should be improved this year. He may not give you the same production since Geathers will be an LB/S play, but he’s next up at a position that will score for your IDP squad.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Blair Brown, JAC LB. He is off peoples’ radars because of his lack of draft pedigree and the depth Jacksonville has acquired on the IDP side. Stash him now, or when one of your league-mates drops him to make roster space … and thank me in 2017. He’s already backing up Telvin, who is in a contract year at the productive WLB spot in the Jaguars system.
Tennessee Titans
Adoree Jackson, TEN CB. I was going to put Kevin Byard, S down here, but I think that’s too obvious – LeBeau knows how to use his S’s. Jackson is a rookie CB who has a knack for making plays. I don’t like his metrics, but I think he’ll score in IDP this year and will be a useful trading chip in the off-season. If you get points for KR yardage then this one is a no-brainer.
