Can Azeez Al-Shaair Rebound in 2023?

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Everyone has heard the expression big fish in a small pond. Have we ever thought about the small fish that may reside in the big pond? Fans of George Costanza know that Marine biology is no laughing matter! For these little fish to survive, they must allow for the big fish to feed first. Such is life in the vast ecosystem that is a pond. Some little fish just don’t have what it takes to compete with the largemouth bass or the huge catfish you once caught when no one was watching. Some fish just need a new spot and to mature. Enter Azeez Al-Shaair, the forgotten man formerly of the San Francisco 49ers linebacker corps. Make sure to practice pronunciation and spelling, this is a name you need to familiarize yourself with in IDP formats. It may sound fishy… but he could compete as a top dynasty asset in IDP!

What Have We Seen So Far?

Fans of IDP and the NFL alike have likely heard of the name Fred Warner, the star middle linebacker for the 49ers. He recently signed a five-year $95 million, the largest per year salary for a linebacker prior to Roquan Smith’s deal with the Ravens. Alongside him, an up-and-coming IDP star in Dre Greenlaw, who himself had just seven fewer tackles than Warner. With that much production and star power, there are going to be fewer opportunities for guys. Al-Shaair was a prime example of this. When he was given the opportunity to shine, he did just that! In 2021 at the age of 23, Al-Shaair had a career year of 104 total tackles, two sacks, and two turnovers created. Not too shabby for an undrafted man from Florida Atlantic. Last season we got about what his average would be for the 49ers, 40+ tackles, and not too much else to report. Things have changed, though. This past offseason, Al-Shaair signed to play for the Tennessee Titans, where he is slotted as an inside linebacker. With new opportunity comes new value!

What Do We Know About the Titans Defense?

When evaluating the rebound opportunity for Al-Shaair, we must first look at his team and coaching structure. To start, he will finally have an opportunity to start and play a high volume of snaps. A high volume of snaps will turn into points in a hurry. This opportunity pairs well with defensive head coach and former linebacker Mike Vrabel. There may be no better coach for an inside linebacker in the entire NFL. We have seen a track record of success for linebackers in Tennessee. Last season, David Long, in 12 games, compiled over 80 tackles, roughly seven per game! When Long went down with an injury, Monty Rice averaged nine tackles per game, with 54 from Week 12 forward. This shows us that there is a precedent set for the man in the middle to compile those precious tackles. This won’t go away just because we have new faces back there. Al-Shaair will get these points so long as he is the starter in this defense.

Our Newest Dynasty Darling

It’s not often we see a starting inside linebacker that’s 25 years old that wasn’t immediately drafted in rookie IDP drafts in dynasty leagues. Al-Shaair has already played five years in the NFL, which will help him to catch on to a more defensive system than he was in with the offensive-focused San Francisco 49ers. The Titans let some linebackers go, including IDP legend Zach Cunningham, and although Monty Rice played well in limited opportunities, he is still a fresh face in IDP. Al-Shaair is a name we are familiar with, and he has experience playing with greats at the position. He is poised to be a piece of this defense for a while, and in Dynasty, this equates to high value. I believe he’s at the peak of his value so far in his career, but there is an opportunity here for it to rise even higher. At his current state, he is worth a second- to third-round pick, depending on your situation at hand. He is a starting inside linebacker for a defensive-minded head coach. If he proves he can swim in the large pond that is the NFL, he could be one of those set-and-forget guys you build your defense around. I think if you have him, you keep him unless the deal is too good to pass up.

A Redraft Reward

Maybe you’re not in the deep waters of IDP dynasty leagues (which you need to try if you haven’t, take it from an obsessed man). What does that mean for where you should get Al-Shaair? He isn’t in the LB1 draft range this season, so you should be able to wait on him. This is the best-case scenario for your team. If he’s your second linebacker taken or your low-end LB1, you’re going to have a great season. He has all the makings of a week-to-week seven tackle player with nine or ten tackle upsides. He also has shown us an ability to affect the passing game with 4 interceptions in his limited playing career. So long as you don’t take him as the fifth or sixth guy off your linebacker board, you are getting good value. Anything above is a reach but could payoff; the price is just too steep at this time for me.

Conclusion

Azeez Al-Shaair has a chance to be one of the surprises of the season. He is still in his prime athletic years and will get a fresh opportunity where he is the day-one starter. Factor this in with a defensive head coach and lack of credible competition, and he is worthy of the rebound moniker. Whether he is a target in your redraft or a dynasty hold in your keeper league, he is without a doubt going to be a name to monitor in IDP. The next time you’re fishing and you catch that little guy on your hook, remember there is always a chance to grow and mature into the big fish. Al-Shaair is well on his way to doing so, and this is your early sign to start casting out!

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