While IDP is such a volatile and sometimes fickle aspect of fantasy football, it’s quite possibly one of the most enjoyable to see being played out.
The same can be said of projecting which rookies will hit it big and fit in with their new teams.
Playing in so many dynasty leagues, most of which are IDP, it’s become essential to rank the rookie class in preparation for an all-rookie draft. You can read the offensive version here: LINKAGE.
This top-50 is set for a more tackle-heavy scoring system and caters to dynasty leagues. These rankings are more for the next 2-3 years, as opposed to 2010’s re-drat value.
Having said that, let’s break these rooks down!
1. Rolando McClain - LB - Oakland: Duh! Sorry Kirk Morrison but the Raiders just gave your car keys to McClain and he’s going to drive right away with them. The Raiders defense will still be on the field a lot, regardless of the improvements made on the offensive side of the ball and McClain should easily be the team’s leading tackler in his rookie season.
2. Daryl Washington - LB - Arizona: This appears to be a similar situation to Oakland, as Dansby exits stage right and Washington enters stage left. The Cardinals defense lost a lot this off-season and I think it’s safe to say that Washington will get a lot of playing time right out of the gate. His only competition for playing time on the inside looks to be Gerald Hayes and Paris Lenon, solid backers but not exactly world beaters. Washington should make an instant impact.
3. Sean Weatherspoon - LB - Atlanta: I really like this guy and he should get into the lineup sooner rather than later at one of the outside spots this year. I’m still of the opinion that he could play inside, but there’s nobody moving Curtis Lofton out of that spot just yet. The bottom line is that Spoon offers up great read and reaction skills, combined with his terrific athleticism and playing strength. He will be a great locker-room presence and a leader on this defense.
4. Derrick Morgan - DE - Tennessee: I know; “a defensive end???“. No it’s not conventional but, not only will this guy hit the ground running in the Titans’ 4-3 scheme, I think he’s going to be a perennial all-pro. Morgan has the size, playing strength, and quickness to dominate at the pro level. He’s a perfect fit in Tennessee, so don’t be surprised to see him racking up sacks on a regular basis at an NFL stadium near you.
5. Donald Butler - LB - San Diego: I’m not as high on the fit as I am the player, but that won’t stop me from ranking Butler in my top-5. He’s a rangy backer that knows how to read a quarterback in pass coverage and he enjoyed a stellar senior campaign where he was all over the field for the Huskies. He has a chance to play middle linebacker in San Diego for a long time.
6. Sean Lee - LB - Dallas: Lee is one heck of an athlete that plays very physical and has a lot of ability in coverage as well. The Cowboys actually had Lee graded as a 1st round prospect, so you know they’ve got big plans for the Penn State product. Lee might have to spend a year learning behind Keith Brooking, but it won’t be long before he’s a regular starter in Big-D.
7. Jason Pierre-Paul - DE - New York (G): I know that Pierre-Paul is only a one-year wonder and I’m fully aware that he has a ton of bust potential to go along with his upside, but I simply can’t ignore the guy’s freakish athleticism. While most scouts will scream; “Vernon Gholston”, I’d like to take a chance on a guy that could become a double-digit sack-master for the G-Men.
8. Rennie Curran - LB - Tennessee: Curran absolutely destroys Gerald McRath’s already putrid fantasy value, as he’s an ideal fit for the weak-side in Tennessee. He’s a very smart player who will be a natural leader and coach on the field. Curran is a package of dynamite that flies all around the football field making plays, so look for him to land a starting spot before the year is out.
9. Brandon Graham - DE - Philadelphia: The Eagles traded up to get Graham and while it addresses a need, it’s still somewhat of a surprise. They’re obviously planning for the future at defensive end and you should to with the Wolverine standout. The most impressive aspect of Graham’s game is that he produced year in and year out, even though Michigan changed defensive coordinators on him three times.
10. Phillip Dillard - LB - New York (G): Dillard is in a terrific spot to take charge in the middle with only Jonathan Goff and Chase Blackburn in his way. Whoever wins the job will definitely be in store for some stats, but Dillard still has great dynasty value because he can also play all three linebacker positions. While he was only a one-year starter at Nebraska, he does have the coverage ability and instincts needed to play the middle.
11. Jamar Chaney - LB - Philadelphia: Crazy right? Crazy like a FOX! I know ranking a 7th rounder this high is a huge reach, but I’m completely sold on Chaney making an impact at the pro level. He’s a phenomenal athlete that has great instincts vs the pass and he possesses the ability to make plays all over the field. Call me crazy now, but please try to be around when Chaney is racking up tackles for the Birds to say; “You’re not so dumb after all”.
12. Navarro Bowman - LB - San Francisco: I know that the 49ers have Patrick Willis and that Navorro Bowman is an outside linebacker but he’s going to be lining up at middle linebacker for San Francisco for years to come. Takeo Spikes won’t be around for much longer, so look for Bowman to establish himself in that rotation this year but expect him to be a starter by 2011 right next to Willis on this inside.
13. Jerry Hughes - DE - Indianapolis: When the Colts take a player in the first round, they’ve got a plan in place to get them on the field early. While Freeney and Mathis aren’t going anywhere, I see Hughes getting into the rotation at some point this year and he could be a starter in a couple of years if Freeney’s health continues to be an issue. Regardless, I think Hughes will be a good player for the Colts with his quick first step and high motor play.
14. Taylor Mays - S - San Francisco: While I don’t think Mays is a good safety coverage-wise, I know he’s a good tackler that has elite speed. I could see him taking over at strong safety where the 49ers could cover up his sub-par coverage skills, but they could also keep him close to the box and use his speed to terrorize ball-carriers all over the field. He could be a solid starter in a tackle heavy league.
15. Pat Angerer - LB - Indianapolis: I’m fully aware that the Colts have three experienced starters already in place, but I think they really like Angerer’s smarts, instincts, and intangibles. Angerer doesn’t fit the traditional ultra-athletic Colts mold, but he more than makes up for a lack of quicks with his extra effort, character, and playing strength. The standard Polian rule applies here as well, as the Colts don’t select a player in second round without having intentions of them contributing in the very near future.
16. Morgan Burnett - S - Green Bay: Burnett has a tremendous opportunity in Green Bay, with only Atari Bigby in his way for playing time at strong safety. The Packers weren’t satisfied with Bibgby’s play last year and they selected Burnett with the 71st overall pick, so there’s definitely a plan in place to get him on the field quickly. This guy really has a great chance to make an instant impact.
17. Koa Misi - LB - Miami: Misi is entering an excellent situation with only Charlie Adams and Cameron Wake standing in his way at outside linebacker. Koa Misi is a collegiate defensive end that will be a pass rushing presence for the Dolphins and should be a nice fit for Mike Nolan’s 3-4 scheme with his versatility. Misi should give fantasy owners great value in big-play leagues that reward more points for sacks.
18. T.J. Ward - S - Cleveland: What!?!? “Ward was a reach” you say? I would tend to agree that the Brownies did indeed reach for Ward, but that won’t prevent him from being a big-time source of tackles. He’s a natural strong safety type of player that will be just outside of the box and help enforce the run game, while disrupting the short passing lanes. It won’t be long before Ward is a fixture in the defensive backfield for the Browns.
19. Eric Norwood - LB - Carolina: Norwood holds school records at South Carolina for all-time sacks and tackles behind the line of scrimmage. He’ll fit in nicely on a Carolina team that needs help at outside linebacker, after being hit with a rash of injuries last season. Norwood is a solid tackler and has the ability to be a very effective blitzer at the next level with his great first step and tremendous quickness.
20. Perry Riley - LB - Washington: With Washington’s brand new coaching staff and a change to the 3-4 scheme, expect to see some new faces on defense for the Redskins. While London Fletcher-Baker looks to be starting alongside Rocky McIntosh in the middle, don’t be surprised to see Riley find some playing-time this season and work his way into the starting lineup by next season. He comes from a great college program and should be able to excel as an inside ‘backer in Jim Haslett’s defense.
21. Eric Berry - S - Kansas City: I know this might seem low for a player of Berry’s caliber, but I honestly see Berry doing a lot of work playing center-field in deep coverage. He’s going to be a dynamic free safety and a true leader for the Chiefs defense for years to come. In my opinion Berry will be a classic case of a great NFL player that won’t have the stats to translate as an IDP star.
22. Gerald McCoy - DT - Tampa Bay: If there was an incarnation of Warren Sapp, then McCoy is it because he’s the prototype for Tampa Bay’s aggressive one gap scheme. McCoy is a naturally powerful big man who has very quick feet to beat would be blockers with his pass rushing ability and his brute strength. He could be a very valuable source for of sacks and tackles for loss in leagues that require a starting DT.
23. Jason Worilds - LB - Pittsburgh: The Steelers really went out of their way to add a lot of depth at outside linebacker and it starts with Worilds. He’s a classic hybrid athlete that might be able to contribute early in nickle/dime pass rushing roles and special teams. The Steelers like Worilds’ dynamic first step and quick twitch moves, but look for more of a dynasty impact a couple of years down the road here.
24. Jermaine Cunningham - LB - New England: He could either be Vernon Gholston part II or he might be a younger version of Shaun Phillips with more speed. Cunningham has the versatility that the Pats desire in their players and he should be worked into the rotation quickly with New England in need of some playmakers coming off the edge. Cunningham has great dynasty value.
25. Sergio Kindle - LB - Baltimore: Kindle is a phenomenal athlete that not only possesses great pass rushing potential, but he’s also very good in coverage with his elite speed. Kindle likely fits in as a hybrid outside linebacker in the Ravens defense in the mold of Adalius Thomas and he should do very well in that role if his trick knee holds up. His injury history is concerning, but don’t be shocked to see him making plays all over the field for the Ravens sooner rather than later.
26. Joe Haden - CB - Cleveland: Haden looks to start right out of the gates and has potential playing opposite Eric Wright, which should result in a lot of attention from opposing quarterbacks. Haden is a physical corner back that should be able to hang with receivers, but still experience a large enough learning curve that he’ll end up with some respectable tackle numbers. Smart player that will be involved early.
27. O’Brien Schofield - LB - Arizona: Schofield has a true NFL pedigree, he has two cousins that were former NFL players.(Vonnie Holiday & Bobby Engram) He’s a smallish defensive end with a excellent first step and a very high motor. The downside is that he tore his ACL in Senior Bowl practice and might spend the first 6 games of his rookie year on the PUP. Still, he’s got tremendous potential as a pass rushing outside linebacker in the Cardinals 3-4 system.
28. Carlos Dunlap - DE - Cincinnati: Dunlap has all-world potential with his size and speed combination but his effort and maturity have also been questioned, resulting in his draft-stock taking a big hit. I just can’t get past his potential as an every down player if the light turns on and he takes advantage of his opportunity by taking his life more seriously. Dunlap is a classic Boom/Bust player.
29. Brandon Spikes - LB - New England: This is another case of a guy that might have actually done better coming out last season, because there’s a good chance he may have fit somewhere in the back half of the first round in last year’s draft. Either way, with Jerod Mayo firmly entrenched as the starting middle LB, he will have to compete with Gary Guyton and Tyrone McKenzie for the rights to the other starting middle linebacker spot. He remains a two-down backer with his lack of speed and elite athleticism.
30. Dekoda Watson - LB - Tampa Bay: Watson doesn’t have a clear alley to a starting spot at the moment but he’s a really nice fit on the weak-side in Tampa’s scheme, so there’s definitely potential to be a factor IDP-wise because the team doesn’t look to have any long-term answers on the outside. Bottom Line, you’ll have to hang on to him a year or two before he gets his shot.
31. Earl Thomas - S - Seahawks: Thomas is likely to step right into the starting lineup from day one for the Seahawks and while that playing time could translate into some instant fantasy points, I still see Thomas as the traditional center-fielder that will have more assignments coverage-wise than anything else. Regardless, Thomas isn’t a bad dynasty pick and he’ll be playing free safety for the Hawks for a long time because he’s solid in coverage.
32. Ricky Sapp - DE - Philadelphia: This is another guy that I’m still shocked to have seen fall so far in the draft, but it’s not going to keep me from targeting him late in my dynasty drafts. Sapp is a special athlete with blazing speed, having been a track phenom in high school and something tells me that Philadelphia will find a way to use his explosiveness come Sundays.
33. Tyson Alualu - DE - Jacksonville: Alualu is one hell of a player, but that doesn’t mean that Jacksonville didn’t totally reach by selecting him with the 10th overall pick. Regardless, he’s going to get on the field and be given every opportunity to be a playmaker on Jack Del Rio’s defense. Exactly “where” that will be could change if the coaching staff gets fired, but Alualu’s versatility playing multiple positions at Cal will only benefit him in the event of a coaching change.
34. Kareem Jackson - CB - Houston: While I never advise selecting a cornerback high, Jackson is almost assured a starting spot with the absence of realistic competition on Houston’s roster at the cornerback position. With only Jacques Reeves, Glover Quinn, and Brice McCain as his main competition it’s highly likely that Kareem Jackson will not only be starting by year one, but he’ll also be in the position to play quite a few years in the Texans’ starting lineup.
35. Nate Allen - S - Philadelphia: Philadelphia’s defense did not weather the departure of Brian Dawkins well. Their defense needs a true ball-hawk to play free safety and that’s exactly what Nate Allen excels at. He’s a very good athlete that possesses superior coverage skills. While there’s not going to be another Brian Dawkins, Allen has a chance to cement his own legacy in the Eagles backfield.
36. Devin McCourty - CB - New England: Devin McCourty, the brother of Titans’ cornerback Jason McCourty, is a very good cover corner that has excellent kick return ability. While he won’t be a starter right out of the gates, he will be starting by next year but he should see immediate action on special teams and in obvious passing situations. He should make an instant impact in leagues that reward return yardage.
37. Ndamukong Suh - DT - Detroit: I really love this guy and I’m ashamed to have him ranked so low, but I expect offensive coordinators to game plan around him. YES, I said game plan for a rookie DT! I’m thinking Suh will see a lot of double teams, but he’ll find his way to some tackles and a few sacks. Still, Suh’s biggest impact will be to free up his teammates, help in run support, and disrupt the pocket.
38. Chad Jones - S - New York(G): The Giants had a leaky secondary last season that was compounded by inefficiencies in the linebacker corps. Jones is an outstanding box safety that not only hits like a ton of bricks, but has excellent straight-line speed for a man his size. We know that Antrel Rolle will be in the starting lineup at free safety, but the starter opposite him has yet to be decided and Jones could make a case for himself with a strong showing in training camp.
39. Greg Hardy - DE - Carolina: Talk about worlds of potential. Hardy was dubbed a future all-pro after a standout sophomore year in which he racked up 10 sacks and practically lived in the opponent’s backfield. Injuries and off-field issues plagued his junior & senior years, but if he can possibly regain some of that form, the Ole-Miss standout could be an impact player for Carolina off the edge.
40. Chris Cook - CB - Minnesota: Cook is a massive corner that the Vikes want to feature in their cover-2 defense. Their starting cornerbacks are surrounded by question marks, as Cedric Griffin and Antoine Winfield are both coming off of major injuries. While it’s not likely that Cook will be a starter in his first year, don’t be surprised if he’s in the lineup as a regular by the beginning of next season.
41. EJ Wilson - DE - Seattle: Wilson is a player that was a bit over-shadowed by some of the other big names at North Carolina, but coming into the draft process Wilson really started to show why he may be a better pro than a collegiate. He’s got the size & base strength to survive as a 4-3 end and he’s also extremely quick off the edge. Right now, he’s more of a project but his upside and potential are more than intriguing enough to garner interest as a late round pick.
42. Kyle Wilson - CB - New York(J): Wilson is a very good corner in man coverage and he is a very smart player when asked to sit in a zone. He’s locked out of a starting job at this point with Antonio Cromartie inked in as the starter opposite Darrelle Revis, but Cromartie is merely keeping Wilson’s seat warm for him in my opinion. Look for Kyle Wilson to earn a starting job by next season.
43. Everson Griffen - DE - Minnesota: Griffen has ideal size and a nice first step, but his best asset is his hand strength, able to re-direct blockers at will. The Vikings may have snagged a gem here, especially since he could be very effective as a rotational pass-rusher right now. The reason he slipped is questionable motivation and inconsistent tape, especially in games he should have dominated. The concern is that he plays down to the level of his competition but if properly motivated, he has a lot of potential.
44. Daniel Te’o-Nesheim - DE - Philadelphia: Te’o-Nesheim is a high-motor player who converted a lot of plays with extra effort and intensity for the Huskies. The Eagles love to collect depth and talent for their defensive line, doing so with Te’o Nesheim in the 3rd round. He’ll likely be a rotational player in year one with upside to be much more down the road.
45. Jerome Murphy - CB - St. Louis: Murphy is another member of the talented South Florida class that entered this year’s draft. He’s a very physical corner who has great coverage skills, but has been known to take too many risks. His aggressive style of play sounds like exactly what the Rams need for their 25th ranked secondary.
46. Corey Wootton - DE - Chicago: Wootton fell to the 4th round due to a torn ACL that took his level of play down last season at Northwestern. Regardless, Wootton has great size and good explosion off of the edge to be a quality pass-rushing defensive end. He’s a great pick in the 4th since he has an excellent chance to outplay his draft position.
47. Keenan Clayton - LB - Philadelphia: The Eagles really went out in this year’s draft to address the depth and talent at the linebacker position which was a disappointment last season. Clayton is very quick and shifty enough to weave through traffic, avoiding would-be blockers effectively. Could be a fit on the weakside or at middle with his read/reaction skills.
48. Austen Lane - DE - Jacksonville: Lane is a monster of a man who should be groomed as a pass rusher behind Aaron Kampmann and Derrick Harvey but has some versatility if the Jags do switch to a 3-4 which I keep getting the sneaking suspicion that they’re preparing to do. Either way, Lane is a very interesting small school product from Murray State that is loaded with upside.
49. Hall Davis - DE - St. Louis: Davis is a very raw player that has a ton of athleticism being a former basketballer. He’s going to need a lot of coaching up, but he’s got a ton of potential with his great speed and terrific range. He could be a great pass rushing end for the Rams if the light turns on and he devotes himself to the game.
50. Darrell Stuckey - S - San Diego: Stuckey is a true ball-hawking safety that can read the quarterback’s eyes and cover a lot of ground quickly to react to the thrown ball. The Chargers haven’t had an answer opposite stud safety Eric Weddle, but Stuckey could end up starting a lot of games after he learns the system. Great sleeper pick late.
Thanks a ton for reading and please bang out some feedback or comments below. You can also e-mail me questions, comments, and even complaints to joe@idpreport.com
Tags: 2010 Fantasy Football, idp, Independant Defensive Players, Rookie Draft
Great Stuff, as usual, Joe!
Where’s Everson Griffen?? Just overlooked? Or do you think that little of him??
D’Oh!!!
Thanks very much Flip.
I’m not that high on Griffen, but I certainly didn’t mean to omit him from the list entirely. He’s got the skills, it’s all a matter of the light turning on. Still, very worthy of a dynasty pickup later on in your draft.
Thanks for reading,
-Joe B-)