Tag Archives: IDP

June Update 1.0: Dynasty Rookie IDP Rankings

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All 32 NFL teams will report for training camps in less than two months, and the excitement for the 2010 season is building.

We continually tweak our rookie rankings for you right up until the season begins, and it is time to release our latest update.

Here are four players who have made the biggest jump since our May IDP Rankings:

Nate Allen:

Marlin Jackson was lost for the season after he tore his right Achilles’ tendon at the Eagles OTA practice this week.  Nate Allen has already been installed as the starting free safety over veteran Quintin Demps.  Allen could have value as a low-end DB3 in deep leagues; however, he remains an excellent stash for your dynasty bench.

Morgan Burnett:

Morgan Burnett has also got some experience running with the first team defense in practice.  Atari Bigby has yet to sign his restricted free agent tender, and Burnett is already impressing coach Mike McCarthy.  Burnett will likely unseat Bigby at some point this season regardless; the Packers have been displeased with Bigby’s progress and propensity for injuries.

Phillip Dillard:

Phillip Dillard opened as the second-team middle linebacker for the Giants in practice.  His main competition for the starting job will be third-year linebacker Jonathan Goff.  This will be a training camp battle to watch closely: Antonio Pierce thrived in this role for the past five seasons.

BEREA, OH - MAY 01: T.J. Ward #2 of the Cleveland Browns runs a drill during rookie mini camp at the Cleveland Browns Training and Administrative Complex on May 1, 2010 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

T.J. Ward:

Head Coach Eric Mangini is not afraid to play rookies, and as reported by the National Football Post, T.J. Ward could find himself in the starting lineup over unsigned RFA Abram Elam.  Elam finished as a low-end DB3 in 2009, and Ward could easily match those totals in 2010 despite being a rookie.

The ranking score for each player is based on several factors:

  • Pre-draft scouting reports
  • Strength of team scouting department
  • Draft selection
  • Defensive scheme and Opportunity

Individual Defensive Player Rankings (IDP) – Previous Ranking in Parenthesis

  1. Rolando McClain, LB – Raiders 8.17 (1)
  2. Sean Weatherspoon, LB – Falcons 7.89 (2)
  3. Daryl Washington, LB – Cardinals 7.75 (3)
  4. Eric Berry, S – Chiefs 7.45 (4)
  5. Donald Butler, LB – Chargers 7.37 (6)
  6. Derrick Morgan, DE – Titans 7.34 (5)
  7. Brandon Spikes, LB – Patriots 6.90 (7)
  8. Sean Lee, LB – Cowboys 6.81(9)
  9. Sergio Kindle, LB – Ravens 6.70 (8)
  10. Brandon Graham, DE – Eagles 6.65 (11)
  11. Earl Thomas, S – Seahawks 6.62 (10)
  12. Jason Pierre-Paul, DE – Giants 6.54 (12)
  13. Taylor Mays, S – 49ers 6.30 (14)
  14. Joe Haden, CB – Browns 6.23 (13)
  15. Rennie Curran, LB – Titans 6.08 (15)
  16. Navorro Bowman, LB – 49ers 6.05 (16)
  17. Jerry Hughes, DE – Colts 5.98 (19)
  18. Gerald McCoy, DT – Buccaneers 5.88 (20)
  19. Ndamukong Suh, DT – Lions 5.88 (18)
  20. Nate Allen, S – Eagles 5.85 (23)
  21. Jason Worilds, LB – Steelers 5.83 (17)
  22. Patrick Angerer, LB – Colts 5.77 (25)
  23. Eric Norwood, LB – Panthers 5.63 (21)
  24. Koa Misi, LB – Dolphins 5.59 (24)
  25. Kyle Wilson, CB – Jets 5.58 (26)
  26. Morgan Burnett, S – Packers 5.56 (31)
  27. Patrick Robinson, CB – Saints 5.42 (22)
  28. Phillip Dillard, LB – Giants 5.39 (40)
  29. Carlos Dunlap, DE – Bengals 5.39 (30)
  30. T.J. Ward, S – Browns 5.24 (41)
  31. Dekoda Watson, LB – Buccaneers 5.14 (32)
  32. Devin McCourty, CB – Patriots 5.10 (27)
  33. Thaddeus Gibson, LB – Steelers 5.09 (28)
  34. Kareem Jackson, CB – Texans 5.09 (37)
  35. Major Wright, S – Bears 5.05 (38)
  36. Ricky Sapp, DE – Eagles 5.03 (29)
  37. Jermaine Cunningham, LB – Patriots 5.02 (33)
  38. Corey Wooton, DE – Bears 5.00 (39)
  39. Perry Riley, LB – Redskins 4.99 (UR)
  40. O’Brien Schofield, LB – Cardinals 4.96 (UR)
  41. Jared Odrick, DE – Dolphins 4.91 (36)
  42. Andrew Edds, LB – Dolphins 4.85 (50)
  43. Reshad Jones, S – Dolphins 4.79 (44)
  44. Darryl Sharpton, LB – Texans 4.79 (42)
  45. Perrish Cox, CB – Broncos 4.78 (34)
  46. Everson Griffen, DE – Vikings 4.78 (47)
  47. Darrell Stuckey, S – Chargers 4.77 (UR)
  48. Jerome Murphy, CB – Rams 4.76 (35)
  49. Kam Chancellor, S – Seahawks 4.63 (46)
  50. Greg Hardy, DE – Panthers 4.54 (43)

May Update: Rookie IDP Rankings

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NFL: Oakland Raiders Mini Camp

It has been almost a month since the conclusion of the 2010 NFL Draft and it is time to update our dynasty positional rankings for the rookie class.

Several teams have already held minicamps and the beat writers have been out in full force providing us with all the updates we need to further evaluate these prospects.

Here are the latest updates:

Rolando McClain:

The Raiders have raved about Rolando McClain so far and he remains the clear-cut No. 1 IDP player available in dynasty rookie drafts.  Not only is he the most talented linebacker from the 2010 NFL Draft class, but he inherits the middle linebacker position that made Kirk Morrison a top-15 linebacker the past two seasons.

Daryl Washington:

Daryl Washington is slated to start as a rookie and take over the role of Karlos Dansby in the middle of the Cardinals’ 3-4 defensive scheme.  Washington is a versatile player with more range than Dansby, and could have higher tackle numbers.

Donald Butler:

Stephen Cooper’s play dropped off dramatically in 2009 and Donald Butler was brought in to eventually replace him.  Butler could get in the lineup sooner than expected because both Kevin Burnett and Brandon Siler are delivered lackluster performances.  Butler is one of the best prospects to take in the late 2nd/early 3rd of your rookie draft as a roster stash that will be pay off huge for your fantasy team.

Sean Lee:

Sean Lee has seen a spike in value recently.  Lee will compete to replace Bobby Carpenter as the Cowboys’ nickel linebacker, and Keith Brooking is coming off knee surgery.

The ranking score for each player is based on several factors:

  • Pre-draft scouting reports
  • Strength of team scouting department
  • Draft selection
  • Defensive scheme and Opportunity

Individual Defensive Player Rankings (IDP) – Previous Ranking in Parenthesis

  1. Rolando McClain, LB – Raiders 8.02 (1)
  2. Sean Weatherspoon, LB – Falcons 7.75 (4)
  3. Daryl Washington, LB – Cardinals 7.59 (7)
  4. Eric Berry, S – Chiefs 7.31 (2)
  5. Derrick Morgan, DE – Titans 7.21 (3)
  6. Donald Butler, LB – Chargers 7.11 (11)
  7. Brandon Spikes, LB – Patriots 6.85 (9)
  8. Sergio Kindle, LB – Ravens 6.83 (6)
  9. Sean Lee, LB – Cowboys 6.60 (19)
  10. Earl Thomas, S – Seahawks 6.60 (5)
  11. Brandon Graham, DE – Eagles 6.47 (12)
  12. Jason Pierre-Paul, DE – Giants 6.38 (13)
  13. Joe Haden, CB – Browns 6.21 (10)
  14. Taylor Mays, S – 49ers 6.16 (8)
  15. Rennie Curran, LB – Titans 6.03 (36)
  16. Navorro Bowman, LB – 49ers 6.03 (25)
  17. Jason Worilds, LB – Steelers 5.94 (24)
  18. Ndamukong Suh, DT – Lions 5.88 (14)
  19. Jerry Hughes, DE – Colts 5.88 (16)
  20. Gerald McCoy, DT – Buccaneers 5.78 (20)
  21. Eric Norwood, LB – Panthers 5.77 (26)
  22. Patrick Robinson, CB – Saints 5.74 (15)
  23. Nate Allen, S – Eagles 5.73 (18)
  24. Koa Misi, LB – Dolphins 5.66 (31)
  25. Patrick Angerer, LB – Colts 5.60 (38)
  26. Kyle Wilson, CB – Jets 5.57 (17)
  27. Devin McCourty, CB – Patriots 5.51 (21)
  28. Thaddeus Gibson, LB – Steelers 5.50 (28)
  29. Ricky Sapp, DE – Eagles 5.39 (22)
  30. Carlos Dunlap, DE – Bengals 5.38 (23)
  31. Morgan Burnett, S – Packers 5.35 (34)
  32. Dekoda Watson, LB – Buccaneers 5.29 (39)
  33. Jermaine Cunningham, LB – Patriots 5.18 (48)
  34. Perrish Cox, CB – Broncos 5.17 (29)
  35. Jerome Murphy, CB – Rams 5.15 (32)
  36. Jared Odrick, DE – Dolphins 5.11 (27)
  37. Kareem Jackson, CB – Texans 5.10 (30)
  38. Major Wright, S – Bears 5.09 (35)
  39. Corey Wooton, DE – Bears 5.06 (33)
  40. Phillip Dillard, LB – Giants 5.06 (UR)
  41. T.J. Ward, S – Browns 5.04 (45)
  42. Darryl Sharpton, LB – Texans  4.96 (UR)
  43. Greg Hardy, DE – Panthers 4.91 (47)
  44. Reshad Jones, S – Dolphins 4.89 (49)
  45. Javier Arenas, CB – Chiefs 4.87 (41)
  46. Kam Chancellor, S – Seahawks 4.85 (UR)
  47. Everson Griffen, DE – Vikings 4.84 (37)
  48. Roddrick Muckelroy, LB – Bengals 4.84 (UR)
  49. Chris Cook, CB – Vikings 4.83 (40)
  50. Andrew Edds, LB – Dolphins 4.82 (UR)

Rolando McClain to the Raiders

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NFL: Oakland Raiders Mini Camp

Rolando McClain is now a member of the Oakland Raiders after being selected 8th overall (1st Round) in the 2010 NFL Draft.

The Raiders selected McClain to upgrade their defense after many experts thought they would address the offensive line with their first selection.  McClain was an unlikely selection after the Raiders had missed on workout warriors JaMarcus Russell, Darren McFadden and Darrius Heyward-Bey in recent drafts.  McClain might be the safest player in the entire draft.

McClain inherited the starting middle linebacker position as a rookie when the Raiders traded Kirk Morrison to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a 4th round selection on day three of the draft.

What McClain lacks in top-end speed, he makes up for it in intangibles on the football field with his leadership and instincts.  McClain asked for his playbook immediately after he got the call from the Raiders so he could begin preparations for team mini-camps.

Rolando McClain has the talent and opportunity to turn in a top-15 season IDP season as a rookie linebacker.  He should have no problem replacing Kirk Morrison from day one and his fellow starting linebackers are more effective as pass rushers (Kamerion Wimbley and Trevor Scott).

McClain deserves consideration in the mid to late first round of your rookie draft and could be a safer selection than some of the skill position players available at that point.

Rookie Rankings – IDP

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We have worked hard at Rookie Blitz headquarters to compile information and game tape for the 2010 NFL Draft class.

We are now ready to release our initial rookie fantasy rankings after reviewing college production, scouting reports, all-star games, and the scouting combine.  We have already reviewed the top tight ends, wide receivers, running backs and quarterbacks available.

Top-12 Tight Ends
Top-30 Wide Receivers
Top-30 Running Backs
Top-24 Quarterbacks

IDP (Individual Defensive Players)

Rolando McClain is the top middle linebacker in the 2010 NFL Draft.  He will have the best opportunity to succeed as a rookie regardless of the defensive scheme he plays in.  McClain reminds of us of Karlos Dansby.

Sean Weatherspoon is a versatile player and would best fit in a Cover-2 scheme because of his coverage skills.  Weatherspoon was impressive at the Senior Bowl and performed well in drills at the Scouting Combine.

This is a strong safety class: Eric Berry, Earl Thomas, and Taylor Mays could be selected in the first round.  Berry is a big hitter with excellent range and natural instincts.  Thomas is a versatile player and some teams are considering converting him to cornerback.  Mays has the size and speed that teams covet; however, there are concerns about his instincts and man-coverage skills.

Ndamunkong Suh and Gerald McCoy will be off the board in the top-five of the first round, but the value of defensive tackles in fantasy football is limited.  Both prospects are dominant enough to pressure the quarterback and could deserve consideration in your dynasty rookie draft.

Despite concerns about this speed, Brandon Spikes will succeed because of his leadership and intangibles.  Spikes is a similar player to Jets linebacker David Harris and should also excel as an inside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme.

With the proliferation of the 3-4 defense, NFL teams are looking for more hybrid players that can play both linebacker and defensive end. Sergio Kindle and Brandon Graham are two of the top 3-4 outside linebackers that will have more value in leagues that award more points for sacks.  Donald Butler and Daryl Washington round out the remaining top middle linebackers available.  Both are better long-term dynasty options because they may not become instant starters as rookies.

  1. Rolando McClain, ILB – Alabama
  2. Sean Weatherspoon, OLB – Missouri
  3. Eric Berry, S – Tennessee
  4. Derrick Morgan, DE – Georgia Tech
  5. Brandon Spikes, ILB – Florida
  6. Earl Thomas, S – Texas
  7. Donald Butler, ILB – Washington
  8. Daryl Washington, ILB – TCU
  9. Sergio Kindle, OLB – Texas
  10. Taylor Mays, S – USC
  11. Brandon Graham, OLB/DE – Michigan
  12. Joe Haden, CB – Florida
  13. Jason Pierre-Paul, DE – South Florida
  14. Dekoda Watson, OLB – Florida State
  15. Ndamukong Suh, DT – Nebraska
  16. Sean Lee, ILB – Penn State
  17. Gerald McCoy, DT – Oklahoma
  18. Nate Allen, S – South Florida
  19. Carlos Dunlap, DE – Florida
  20. Ricky Sapp, DE/OLB – Clemson
  21. Devin McCourty, CB – Rutgers
  22. Patrick Robinson, CB – Florida State
  23. Jason Worilds, OLB – Virginia Tech
  24. Rennie Curran, OLB – Georgia
  25. Kyle Wilson, CB – Boise State
  26. Morgan Burnett, S – Georgia Tech
  27. Eric Norwood, OLB – Penn State
  28. Jerry Hughes, DE/OLB – TCU
  29. Major Wright, S – Florida
  30. Thaddeus Gibson, OLB – Ohio State
  31. Navorro Bowman, OLB – Penn State
  32. Greg Hardy, DE – Mississippi

Rookie Recap: Green Bay at Minnesota

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In the fifth edition of the Rookie Recap, I will breakdown the performances of Packers linebacker Clay Matthews and Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin.

Clay Matthews

Clay Matthews got the first start of his career against the Vikings, and he saw the majority of the snaps at outside linebacker.  Previous starter Brady Poppinga did not even make the box score as Matthews was constantly used as an edge rusher in an effort to get some pressure on Favre.    Matthews did not have a big day in the tackle department (1 tackle, 2 asst) but did score a defensive touchdown on Adrian Peterson’s fumble.  In an impressive display of athleticism and hustle, Matthews stripped Peterson of the football using only his left arm while the other Packers defenders kept Peterson upright.  Matthew’s 42 yard fumble return kept Green Bay within striking distance in the game.  Until Matthews starts getting more pressure on the QB, it would be best to keep Matthews reserved in your IDP leagues.  Matthews has the NFL pedigree to develop into a solid pro, but may never become a superstar.  A great comparison for Matthews would be a more athletic Mike Vrabel.

Percy Harvin

Percy Harvin finally got his chance to play in prime time in front of a national audience and he didn’t disappoint.  Harvin did not have a stellar day in the box score (2 rec for 39 yards, 3 returns for 51 yards) but made several plays that leads me to believe that he’s got a bright future in this league.  Harvin made an early impact with his run blocking, and he is quickly on his way to becoming one of the best run blocking wideouts in the league.  He completely took Packers cornerback Tramon Williams out of a play in the 1st Quarter with his aggressive style.  Harvin may be small, but he has a lot of strength and power in his frame.

Harvin is still learning the speed of the game.  He took a 4 yard loss on a bubble screen when he completely tried to reverse the field at the line of scrimmage.  That play worked often at the University of Florida, but he’ll need to learn to run more north and south in the pros.  Harvin did have a 43 yard reception on a go route from the slot and was tackled at the Green Bay 3 yard line.  Green Bay made stopping Harvin a focus, and as a result Bernard Berrian and Sidney Rice had big fantasy days with a TD grab each.

Since Harvin has joined the Vikings I have seen no evidence that he has any of the poor character traits that caused him to slip in the NFL Draft.  With Harvin’s skill set, desire to be great, and his focus on run blocking it leaves little doubt that he’ll be one of the next superstars in the NFL.  We haven’t seen the best from him yet.

Rookie Recap: Washington at Detroit

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In the fourth edition of the Rookie Recap, I will breakdown the performances of Lions Quarterback Matthew Stafford and Redskins Linebacker Brian Orakpo.

Brian Orakpo

Hybrid defender Brian Orakpo notched the first sack of his career against the Lions in Week 3.  Orakpo also added 4 total tackles after being shut out statistically versus the Rams in Week 2.  Orakpo will never be a force in fantasy football if he remains eligible at strong side linebacker in many leagues.  He does retain some value in his ability to put his hand on the ground on third down to rush the quarterback, but that role would be better utilized in a traditional 3-4 scheme.  London Fletcher, LaRon Landry, and Rocky McIntosh dominated the tackle opportunities in this game, and that likely won’t change going forward this season.  Orakpo’s dynasty value is tied to eventually becoming defensive line eligible as his body matures as a pro.  He’s been often compared to DeMarcus Ware because they are both hybrid defenders, but Ware is in another class by himself.  Orakpo is definitely someone worth watching early in his career.

Matthew Stafford

Matthew Stafford accomplished what Dan Orlovsky, Daunte Culpepper and Jon Kitna could not do in 2008; lead the Detroit Lions to victory.  The Number 1 overall draft pick in the 2009 NFL Draft helped the Lions snap their losing streak at 19 games with a 19-14 win over the Redskins.  Stafford had the best game of his young career as he played efficient football as the Lions controlled the clock for the majority of the game.  Stafford fired up his teammates by jawing with the Redskins defenders and displayed the enthusiasm and moxie that the Lions have been missing forever.  The talent level in Detroit is still subpar and the going will be rough at times in 2009, but the Lions do have some excellent building blocks in Stafford, Calvin Johnson and Head Coach Jim Schwartz.

Teams will continue to roll coverage to Calvin Johnson and Bryant Johnson will have to continue to make big plays like his 21 yard touchdown grab in the 1st Quarter for Stafford to have any use as a starter in Fantasy Football this year.  I compared Stafford to Jay Cutler before the season started, and I stick by that assessment.  Stafford will run hot and cold, but his limited game action makes it quite obvious why he was the top overall selection.  I had written both Stafford and Mark Sanchez off from having any fantasy value this year, and I may rethink that stance.  Both are light years ahead in their anticipated development, and you’ll want to stash away both on your bench and keep an eye on them in your dynasty leagues for the future.

RookieBlitz.com Top 50 Rankings

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RookieBlitz.com has updated their combined Offense and IDP Rankings into an updated Top 50 list. Rankings are based on a standard scoring system with a strong emphasis on Keeper and Dynasty League prospects. Listed in parentheses is the June 24, 2009 ranking.

1. RB Knowshon Moreno – DEN (1)
2. WR Michael Crabtree – SF (2)
3. RB Donald Brown – IND (3)
4. RB Chris “Beanie” Wells – ARI (4)
5. WR Hakeem Nicks – NYG (5)
6. WR Percy Harvin – MIN (7)
7. WR Jeremy Maclin – PHI (6)
8. RB LeSean McCoy – PHI (8)
9. QB Matthew Stafford – DET (10)
10. QB Mark Sanchez – NYJ (9)
11. WR Brian Robiskie – CLE (11)
12. WR Kenny Britt – TEN (14)
13. RB Shonn Greene – NYJ (12)
14. LB James Laurinaitis – STL (13)
15. LB Aaron Curry – SEA (19)
16. WR Darrius Heyward-Bey – OAK (15)
17. LB Rey Maualuga – CIN (16)
18. QB Josh Freeman – TBB (17)
19. WR Juaquin Iglesias – CHI (22)
20. WR Mike Thomas – JAX (20)
21. RB Gartrell Johnson – SD (21)
22. RB Andre Brown – NYG (30)
23. DB William Moore – ATL (29)
24. DB Louis Delmas – DET (32)
25. TE Brandon Pettigrew – DET (UN)
26. DE Brian Orakpo – WAS (31)
27. RB Bernard Scott – CIN (35)
28. LB Brian Cushing – HOU (UN)
29. RB Rashard Jennings – JAX (33)
30. WR Sammie Stroughter – TB (38)
31. TE Shawn Nelson – BUF (28)
32. DB Patrick Chung – NE (18)
33. WR Austin Collie – IND (UN)
34. RB Glenn Coffee – SF (36)
35. WR Jarrett Dillard – JAX (23)
36. WR Brandon Tate – NE (27)
37. LB Clint Sintim – NYG (37)
38. DE Robert Ayers – DEN (UN)
39. RB Mike Goodson – CAR (UN)
40. TE Travis Beckum – NYG (24)
41. TE Jared Cook – TEN (25)
42. LB Clay Matthews – GB (UN)
43. DB Michael Mitchell – OAK (UN)
44. QB Pat White – MIA (34)
45. WR Deon Butler – SEA (26)
46. RB Cedric Peerman – BAL (40)
47. WR Derrick Williams – DET (39)
48. DE Everette Brown – CAR (UN)
49. DE Paul Kruger – BAL (UN)
50. RB James Davis – CLE (UN)