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:
- Tyrone Crawford, DAL DE
- Taco Charlton, DAL DE
- Benson Mayowa, DAL DE
- Xavier Woods, DAL S
- Keenan Robinson, NYG LB
- BJ Goodson, NYG LB
- Devon Kennard, NYG LB
- Derek Barnett, PHI DE
- Preston Smith, WAS LB
- Ryan Anderson, WAS LB
Dallas Cowboys
Anthony Hitchens, DAL LB. I am going to say this over-and-over, or until his ownership goes up. The Dallas coaching staff trusts him. While he is not going to be your LB1 or LB2, he is always going to put up safe numbers year-over-year because (1) the coaches trust him, (2) he is versatile (playing WLB, MLB, SLB) and (3) Dallas and your IDP squad cannot count on the health of Jaylon Smith or Sean Lee. If you can roster him in a deeper league, make sure you do. You can use him if you’re competing, or flip him if you’re not.
New York Giants
Eric Pinkins, NYG LB. There are few players between the usual studs and potential sleepers on the NY roster. As a result, I have to go to a deep sleeper out of the gate for the Giants deep.
Pinkins is an undersized LB and oversized S that was drafted by Seattle as one of their athletic and long limbed CB’s that they attempted to convert to a S. Pinkins has bounced on and off the Seattle roster, and the last time Seattle attempted to cut him and get him back on their practice squad the Giants swooped in to grab him (sniping him from both Seattle’s practice squad and the Washington Redskins). He is presently the 2nd string WLB behind Jonathan Casillias and he can both cover and tackle. The Giants have shown they are not interested in drafting or paying LB’s in free agency. If he gets a shot, he could score well and earn a string role for 2017. Admittedly though, he’s a long shot.
Philadelphia Eagles
Vinny Curry, PHI DE. I am still a believer, and he fits Schwarts’ scheme well. Rumor is that he had a knee injury from week 2 on last year, and that slowed him. I just saw him go undrafted in a 16 team, 53 roster spots, full IDP league (DT, 2 DE, 2 LB, 2 CB, 2 S). That is just way too undervalued for me. He has the potential to be a DE2 for your fantasy squad, but Philly drafted Derek Barnett to both compete and push Curry. I believe he will have a solid 2017, with the potential to surprise.
Washington Redskins
Mason Foster, WAS LB. Foster is pretty vanilla, but he’s a solid LB that can do everything (just not excel at any 1 trait). He is a safe play for both WAS and your IDP team, especially if an ILB goes down on the Redskins. In limited snaps last year he graded out extremely well in PFF’s grades/scoring.
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