Offensive players usually take a while to develop into quality fantasy prospects, Individual Defensive Players usually do not. It’s not that a player won’t break out in year two or three as it takes most offensive players to do, it’s that quality defensive players play earlier and have more opportunities to show what they can do as rookies. Here is a list of quality IDP rookies you should be keeping an eye on as training camps get started. If you can pick some of these guys up in your rookie draft, you may hit a home run in the first inning.
No Brainers
Rolando McClain – LB – Oakland – Picked 9th in the draft and the Raiders traded their former starting Middle Linebacker during the draft to make room for him. He’s smart, fast, big and strong and will be the starting LB in the middle of the Raider defense for many years to come.
Eric Berry – SS – Kansas City – Staying in the AFC West, Eric Berry was actually taken before McClain, 5th in the draft and could be a transformative figure on the KC defense. He’s quick, a hard hitter and a playmaker. You may not get him after the 3rd round of your rookie league, so you’re going to have to pick him up early.
Likely Starters
Earl Thomas – FS – Seattle – Thomas will start at FS for the birds and while he’s not as accomplished as Eric Berry and he’s not a strong safety, which usually garners more fantasy stats, he will be a starter on a defense that probably will see the field quite a bit.
Tyson Alualu – DT – Jacksonville – He’s going to start undoubtedly, the question is how much fantasy value will he have. DTs typically don’t have much value but once in a while a Warren Sapp pops up and is worth holding. My guess is that it won’t happen here, but Alualu does have an opportunity to start.
Koa Misi – LB – Miami – This guy has a motor and will start for the Fins what with the release of aging Joey Porter and Jason Taylor. He’ll be an OLB in a 3-4 scheme that is planning on being very aggressive this season, so Misi could be in for a lot of disruptive plays. Think of what Mike Nolan’s defense did for Elvis Dumervil last season. Nolan is Miami’s DC this season.
Jared Odrick – DE – Miami – Don’t get too excited, he’s a DE in a 3-4 scheme which usually doesn’t garner much fantasy points. That being said, he will start most likely and get an opportunity to make plays. Pick him up in deeper leagues.
Brandon Spikes – LB – New England – It remains to be seen whether he starts or not but Belichek tends to favor playing young talent over veteran bit players. Spikes was very highly regarded coming out of College. He’s big and strong and had 6 interceptions, 4 for TDs during his time at Florida. Spikes will be an ILB in the Patriots 3-4 scheme.
Brandon Graham – DE – Philadelphia – Graham has only Juqua Parker to beat in order to start for Philly as a 4-3 DE. As the 13th pick in the draft you can bet on him getting his chance. The Eagles defense is always aggressive and up the field so Graham is in a great situation to pick up some decent stats as a rookie.
TJ Ward – FS – Cleveland – Ward will be playing on a defense that will see the field a lot. He’s talented and fast and can make a splash this season.
Nate Allen – FS – Philadelphia – Philly was aging in the defensive backfield but just got younger with this guy. Remember how productive Brian Dawkins was in Philly? Nate Allen could be that guy in a couple of years. In the meantime he will be learning the game as a starter.
Daryl Washington – LB – Arizona – With Karlos Dansby gone, Washington will take over as a starting ILB in Arizona’s 3-4 scheme. Washington seemed more fitting for a 4-3 MLB as he was in college at TCU. He’s undersized and quick as lighting so he will have his changes to produce in this defense.
Getting Minutes
Jason Worilds – LB – Pittsburgh – Worilds is stuck behind the best pair of OLBs in the game in Pittsburgh’s James Harrison and Lamar Woodley. That being said, He’s one injury away from being a starter most likely on a very good defensive team. He will also undoubtedly get spot duty in relief of the starters in order to continue his development.
Derrick Morgan – DE – Tennessee – Morgan has been slowed by injuries this summer so it remains to be seen whether he will start. If he doesn’t, look for him to play a lot and also develop into a starter by next season. He’s fast, relentless and the Titans didn’t draft him to sit on the bench!
Rennie Curran – LB – Tennessee – Curran is stuck behind Stephen Tulloch in Tennessee at MLB so it’s unlikely that he gets a ton of playing time this season. The reason he is on this list is that he was very highly regarded coming out of Georgia and it Tulloch doesn’t produce or gets injured Curran will be the main man in the middle.
Jason Pierre-Paul – DE – NY Giants – Pierre-Paul is a physical specimen but also a work in progress. He started in football late and only played at South Florida for one season. He is behind Justin Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka and Osi Umenyiora but he will be in the rotation. If injuries occur as they did last year, JPP will be there to pick up the slack.
Sean Weatherspoon – LB – Atlanta – Another guy stuck behind two pretty good OLBs in Atlanta but will get some minutes this season and is an injury away from starting. Weatherspoon is fast and agile and can be distruptive if given the chance.
Jerry Hughes – DE – Indianapolis – Much like Jason Worilds, Hughes is stuck behind the best pair of DEs in the game in Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. But again, both were injured during the Super Bowl run last season and Hughes is in line for plenty of reps as these guys get older. In a year or two he could well replace Mathis.
Sergio Kindle – LB – Baltimore – Will be moving from a 4-3 DE in college to a 3-4 OLB in the NFL and will be in the rotation in Baltimore. He slid in the draft but landed in a great situation.
Jermaine Cunningham – LB – New England – Other mover from 4-3 DE in college to 3-4 OLB in the NFL, his only competition to start at this point is Derrick Burgess. Look for Cunningham to be in the rotation to start the season but could be the starter by the end of it.