Fantasy Football Sleepers: Aaron Ross and 4 Other IDP Sleepers

You aren't a real fantasy football player until you have been in an individual defensive player (IDP) league.  It is much more in-depth, and you need to know so many more players and all other kinds of stats. 

So if you are one of those hardcore fantasy footballers and do play in an IDP league, I have come to help you with your draft/free agent search with some IDP sleepers.

Aaron Ross, CB (New York Giants)

The New York Giants have had a ton of injuries this preseason, including star cornerback Terrell Thomas.  After an incredible season with 101 tackles, five interceptions, four fumbles forced, 21 passes defended and even a blocked kick, there is a huge void in the secondary for the Giants,

You may have figured this out already, but yes, Aaron Ross is the replacement for Terrell Thomas—and no, I do not expect him to accumulate those stats, but he should be a very viable replacement.

The former first pick, Ross will finally get a shot at redemption after losing his job to Thomas in 2009 when he was plagued with a hamstring injury and Thomas never looked back.  Ross has the chance to do the same thing to Thomas, so grab him and see if he will answer all the questions.

Patrick Peterson, CB (Arizona Cardinals)

Yes, everybody knows who Patrick Peterson is, but that does not deny the fact that he is still a fantasy sleeper. 

The former LSU prospect was sometimes rated the No. 1 player going into this year's draft and was scooped up by the Arizona Cardinals at pick five. He was only expected to play in nickle and dime packages, but after the season-ending injury to Greg Toler, he has been bumped up on the depth chart. 

Free agent acquisition Richard Marshall and former rookie free agent A.J. Jefferson, along with Peterson, are currently the projected starters, as Arizona looks like they will run a lot of three-corner packages. Peterson's talent is undeniable, so scoop him up late in your draft and reap the benefits that Joe Haden owners got last season.

Jason Pierre-Paul, DE (New York Giants)

Another injury for the Giants' defense is to Osi Umenyiora. Since Osi is still not fully recovered from his offseason knee surgery, in steps Jason Pierre-Paul. Pierre-Paul is the Giants' 2010 first-round pick (15th overall), and he already has a season of learning from stud defensive ends Justin Tuck and Umenyiora.

In sparse playing time last year, Pierre-Paul had five sacks, 30 tackles and showed flashes of greatness when he had back-to-back games with two sacks. So go ahead and grab Pierre-Paul, and watch him flourish in the time Osi is out—and watch his playing time increase throughout the year.

Earl Thomas, S (Seattle Seahawks)

Another 2010 first-round pick, Earl Thomas looks to burst onto the scene this season. 

Seattle's defense allowed 31 touchdowns last year, so Thomas and company have to be much improved.  As the field general position for the secondary at the free safety position, he will be one of the reasons they will indeed improve. 

The hard-hitting safety from Texas had a respectable 75 tackles to go with five interceptions last year, but I look for him to jump up to the elite level and go for more than 100 tackles this season.

Von Miller, LB (Denver Broncos)

If you haven't seen it yet, Von Miller's quickness off the ball is incredible. He is turning heads everywhere and can easily be a top 25 linebacker this season. 

The second overall pick in this year's draft is going to learn tons from D.J. Williams, another stud IDP linebacker, and has the ability to be a top linebacker in the near future.

Already an early favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year, Miller will be a viable asset and could have a comparable year to Tamba Hali's 2010 season.

So there you go, five IDP sleepers for this season. Good luck with your IDP league, because we all know that it's the only real way to play fantasy football.