IDP: DE Rankings

IDP: Spotlight DE’s

Now that we are nearing the start of the NFL season, Top Fantasy Football is feverishly working to provide you with all the insight you will need to bring home that fantasy championship.

In this article, we are going to take an in depth look at some of the more potent defensive ends in the game, and bring a little insight to the world of the IDP (independent defensive players).

 

1) Mario Williams (HOU)

If you are rounding out your rosters in this year's draft, and you are looking for double-digit sacks, look no further than the man-beast that is Mario Williams.

All this player has done the past couple years is light QB’s up, at an incredible pace for a young player. This young talent has the ability to get sacks in bunches with his elite quickness and non-stop motor.

I would put him first in seasonal and dynasty leagues, based on his potential and what he has accomplished so far at such a young age.

 

2) Jared Allen (MIN)

You could make a strong case for this Viking to sit at the top of this list. Allen is a relentless QB killer with a super high motor, and does not get fazed by double-teams. He is a true DE in a defense that boasts two of the better DT’s in the league, making it near impossible to stop Allen.

Don’t be afraid to pull the trigger on this stud, because he is one of the best at rushing the passer, and making big plays for your fantasy squad.

Jared Allen is a must have DE in seasonal and dynasty leagues, especially in leagues that reward heavy points for sacks and forced fumbles.

 

3) Julius Peppers (CAR)

I am sure everyone who uses the IDP format knows who this freak athlete is. Peppers was a bit of a mystery in the '07 season, setting a career low in sacks with 2.5.

But last year, he showed he was back on his game and is one of the fiercest DE’s in the game, posting 14.5 sacks, and cementing his status as one of the elite pass-rushers in the game today. He is another DE to target high in seasonal and dynasty leagues.

 

4) Justin Tuck (NYG)

Considering the fact that Tuck lost his partner in crime last year in Osi Umenyiora, he was still able to apply pressure to QB’s while being double-teamed and chip blocked.

This guy is the real deal, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he were to lead the league in sacks. Do you remember the Super Bowl against the Patriots? Tuck single handedly took the most potent offense in football and made holes in the field with Tom Brady, their best weapon on offense.

Watching this guy play gives you goose bumps, and with Osi back, Tuck should be a guaranteed 12-15 sacks, considering without him, he had twelve last year anyway.

 

5) Robert Mathis (IND)

This team boasts two very skilled edge-rushers, but I am giving the edge to Mathis.

This player is very skilled at getting to the QB, and with a good offense leading the way, it forces teams into passing situations, meaning lots of opportunity for Mathis to rack up sacks and continue to hit double-digits in the most important category when talking about fantasy lineman. 

With Freeney on the other side wreaking havoc, Mathis will have room to break into backfields and put pressure on opposing QB’s on a consistent basis.

 

6) John Abraham (ATL)

Last year, Abraham was a man possessed, posting career highs in the sack department with 16.5.  A natural for rushing the passer, and he plays the situational role about as well as Deangelo Williams does.

Abraham won’t post very good tackle totals, but he is a threat to get a sack every time he is on the field. In a seasonal league, he is a good bet to make plays, if healthy, and in dynasty leagues I would push him down in the rankings because of his age and injuries over the course of his career.

But you can’t ignore 16.5 sacks in any format.

 

7) Osi Umenyiora (NYG)

Let's forget about the fact that Umenyiora had season-ending knee surgery, and focus on his elite skills with Tuck on the other side, which will help ease Umenyiora back in to double-digit sacks, and some decent tackle totals.

This guy is a brute, and from '05-'07 he managed to manhandle QB’s for 33.5 sacks, and 10 forced fumbles.

If he is available in your drafts after people have soured on his injury-riddled season, take him and reap the rewards that will follow. This guy is a stud DE, when he is healthy.

 

8) Trent Cole (PHI)

This Philadelphia eagle can fly! 

Cole is very underrated in my opinion, and considering all the big names ahead of him on this list, he could be in line for a big season himself. With all the upgrades to the offense, Cole should be in a position to have many chances at getting pressure on the QB in passing situations.

He has shown in consecutive seasons he can get sacks, as well as excellent tackle totals. Double-digit sack totals are in the picture for this flying eagle. Dynasty leagues should be targeting this guy as well.

 

9) Dwight Freeney (IND)

Another weapon in which the Colts have a ton of confidence.  When healthy, he is a constant force on the outside edge. He uses incredible strength and amazing spin moves to beat tackles on a consistent basis, for a player who is considered short in stature.

With Peyton Manning controlling the offense, this guy should have plenty of opportunities (with Mathis) to destroy backfields.

The problem with Freeney has been injuries, and over the past couple seasons prior to '08, in '06 and '07, he tallied nine sacks combined, which would make him a middle of the road DE with low tackle totals.

One thing is for sure:  When healthy and inspired, he is a threat and can post double-digit sack totals, no problem.

 

10) Gaines Adams (TB)

I know he has yet to get double-digit sacks, but he has the potential to be a top five DE in the NFL.

Adams has been getting rave reviews lately, and I can understand why.  Raheem Morris is going to line Adams on the outside further down this year, in order to get Adams off the edge with his speed and bury people in the backfield. 

I think this is the year Gaines Adams becomes a pass rushing force, and should be on top for a while, considering he is only 26, so dynasty leaguers beware.

 

11) Chris Long (STL)

A young pass-rusher with tons of upside, with new head coach Steve Spagnuola, Long should be considered to better his sack production.

 

12) Kyle Vanden Bosch (TEN)

A groin injury hampered Kyle all season long, but now he is coming to '09 with something to prove and could post good sack totals, but it will be harder to do without Haynesworth in the middle taking on double-teams.

 

13) Mathias Kiwanuka (NYG)

A talented pass-rusher, it is unclear exactly how much time he will get with Umenyiora coming back, but I’m sure the coaching staff will find a way to use his skills on Sundays, and he'll post good totals.

 

14) Cliff Avril (DET)

Detroit found a gem in the '08 draft.  In a season where he only started four games, Avril had five sacks and four forced fumbles.

He will be a starter this year, and could vault up this list after the '09 season. Dynasty special!

 

15) Derrick Harvey (JAX)

Another young stud in the making, after his first year of seasoning, I expect Harvey to smoke QB’s in '09, and become the feature force they had expected when they drafted him in the first round.

 

16)  Trevor Scott (OAK)

He is pretty much the reason Oakland felt decent about letting Derrick Burgess go to the Patriots. Scott will be starting this year and has the motor and drive to be a sack machine.

 

17) Darryl Tapp (SEA)

Tapp is a young player with upside, and if he can maximize his potential, then the sky is the limit. He is also a very solid tackler and should be around the ball a lot.

 

18) Brian Orakpo (WAS)

With the addition of Haynesworth, Orakpo should be a QB killer for quite some time. If you are in a dynasty league, he has double-digit sack potential and a nose for the ball. In some cases you have to look at what they are capable of doing, and he is a true blue-chip prospect.

Brian Orakpo should be poised for an impressive rookie campaign, with Haynesworth taking all the double-teams.

 

19) Patrick Kerney (SEA)

If he can return from an injury plagued '08 season, Kerney could post very solid sack totals, and maybe find himself in the right position to get a handful of big plays.

 

20) Aaron Schobel (BUF)

In his last couple of years, Schobel has seen more injuries than Nancy Kerrigan. A onetime fantasy stud that has left a sour taste in the IDP world, I am giving him one more season to get back to form. Not a great dynasty IDP DE, but should start and contribute in a better Bills team.

 

Position watch: If your site allows you to flex LB’s and DE’s, then I would put Terrell Suggs, Demarcus Ware, Aaron Kampman and Shawn Merriman in my top ten rankings, but because they are playing OLB in a 3-4 scheme and are not considered DE’s in the usual fantasy formats.

DT’s are not usually the big play threats, but Albert Haynesworth, Darnell Dockett, Pat and Kevin Williams need to be considered as big play threats worthy of starting on your fantasy teams as lineman.

Player Watch:If you are in a dynasty league, then these are the players you should be watching:  Michael Johnson (CIN), Everette Brown (CAR), Jacob Ford (TEN), Aaron Maybin (BUF), Jason Jones (TEN), Connor Barwin (HOU), Quentin Groves (JAX), Philip Merling (MIA)