The key to fantasy production is finding players who combine talent with opportunity. The 2024 NFL Draft brought the excitement of new talent into the league. But players need the opportunity to produce, and opportunity is all about landing spots.
Two rookie interior defensive linemen stand out in terms of landing spots. They happen to have played together in college.
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Byron Murphy II, Seattle Seahawks
This is likely not your first time reading this name. Murphy has been talked about for quite some time now, and rightfully so. He produced enough in college to be a Second-Team All-America and was the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year. The only potential issue that could derail him was the fact that although he was drafted higher, he was seemingly overshadowed by his teammate at the same position (T'Vondre Sweat, who will be discussed next). Was Murphy the product of a greater player next to him? We will find this answer almost immediately. He joins a Seattle team that has opportunities on the defensive line for production with no real household names unless you count Leonard Williams. Expect Murphy to bring juice to this line, be one of the top rookie interior defensive linemen, and contribute to wins in IDP fantasy.
T'Vondre Sweat, Tennessee Titans
There is a lot to love about Sweat, but one of my favorites is his confidence in his ability, while also being self-aware enough to acknowledge opportunities in his game. This sentiment can be summed up by his direct quote: "If I go to 355, 350, most likely I am going to be a Hall of Famer." This was about his weight which was a bit of a red flag for scouts when evaluating his game and may be the main reason he slipped to the 38th overall pick. You'll be astounded if you can get past his weight and simply look at his on-field accomplishments in Texas. He won the Outland Trophy, which celebrates the best defensive lineman in the NCAA, and was a first-team All-America. The Titans believe he can be a three-down player for them, which is key for any defender drafted, and this spells an opportunity for this rookie interior defensive lineman to contribute points to your roster early and often. Hall of Fame is a very big check to cash, but he has as good a path as any for NFL success and has proven an ability to produce thus far in his career.
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