The 2024 NFL preseason is in the rearview mirror. In just 10 days, Kansas City and Baltimore will kick off the regular season—and another season of fantasy football will begin with it.
With just one more big weekend of fantasy drafts left to go, many IDP managers have already assembled their teams for the upcoming season. And in all those drafts that have already taken place, we have seen trends emerge. Some IDPs are being aggressively rostered—if you want Houston linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (one of the Godfather's favorite breakout candidates at the position this season), the sixth-year veteran is going to cost you.
But there are also some individual defensive players regularly falling into a position of value—guys who seem to be finding their way onto a lot of the Godfather's rosters so far this summer.
If your IDP draft follows the general script that many have this year, these are players to keep an eye on—because given their respective price tags they have a good chance of out-pointing their draft slot in 2024.
IDP VALUES
EDGE Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati
Hendrickson has been a highly productive player over his time in the Queen City, logging 39.5 sacks in three seasons, including a career-high 17.5 last season. The three-time Pro Bowler has also earned the respect of opponents, with Bills offensive lineman Dion Dawkins telling The Herd with Colin Cowherd that Hendrickson is his favorite defender to face.
“He is one of the best players that I think, just mentally, physically, just what he does on the football field. He comes out there, and he plays with no gloves on, Dawkins said. "That is one of those weird tells that when you come out on the football field and you see a player, and you're looking at him on snap one, and you're like, 'Alright, his helmet is tied up. He has his shoes, swag check. Let's see what type of player he is.' And then you look at his hands and he has no gloves on; for a player that plays with his hands all game, that means that you're just a little, he's a real football player. And then he comes, and he hits you every single play, boom, boom, boom, boom. Every rep, every play, he's coming at you. That tells you that you have to be on your P's and Q's no matter what."
Hendrickson admittedly isn't a huge tackle producer—last year's 43 total tackles were the first time in seven professional seasons that he has surpassed 40 stops. But he was seventh in fantasy points among defensive linemen last year and is regularly falling well into DL2 territory. He's a great draft target as a second starter up front and has the potential to be a serviceable DL1 for managers who hammer away at linebackers early.
EDGE Carl Granderson, New Orleans
Granderson was a pleasant surprise both for the Saints and IDP managers last year, piling up a whopping 78 total tackles and 8.5 sacks on the way to a DL16 finish in fantasy points. Now, the sixth-year pro enters the 2024 season as New Orleans' top edge-rusher, and he told reporters he's well aware that will equate to added attention from opposing offenses.
"You've just got to focus on your craft; that's the main thing,” he said. “Just focus on getting better in the offseason, working on what you have to work on during the offseason. You can't pay attention to (increased attention from opponents). They're going to send a double team, they're going to do what they've got to do but if you've got other guys on the D-line to back you up, they can't double you. Everybody is going to go hunt. So, looking forward to this season, I'm ready, and we've got a good group of guys.”
Granderson may be about to get additional attention from opposing defenses, but he isn't getting it from IDP drafters—he's dropping outside the top-20 defensive linemen with regularity in drafts. Granderson's tackle production offers a fantasy floor that's very appealing in a DL2, and if he can up his sack production a little this year, the 27-year-old could sneak his way into the top-12 this year.
EDGE Jaelan Phillips, Miami
One of the bigger surprises of the past several weeks has been the indications from the Miami Dolphins that edge-rusher Jaelan Phillips is on track to play in Week 1 despite tearing his Achilles tendon in Week 12 last season. While speaking to reporters, defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver said that the 25-year-old has looked great on the practice field—but Miami will be smart with his early-season workload.
"Yeah, I think we're going to have to listen to his body, right?" Weaver said. "Ultimately, I don't think you want to put a number count on that kid, but we know we have to be smart in how we approach it so that he can maintain and last throughout the entire season, but I'm certainly not counting that kid out of anything, right? You saw how fast he's gotten back from the Achilles, and he looks like a man-child out there when he has gone. He's looked great. He's great. He looks like the Jalen Phillips we all expect to see."
Were Phillips healthy, he'd easily be a top-15 selection at his position in IDP drafts—he was sixth in fantasy points per game among defensive linemen over the first 11 weeks of the 2023 season. But he's falling well outside the top 20 in most drafts. IDP managers with a pair of decent starters up front who add Phillips as a DL3 could reap huge dividends down the road if he's anywhere close to 100 percent as we move farther into the season.
LB Terrel Bernard, Buffalo
Last season, Bernard exploded into IDP prominence—in his second NFL season, Bernard logged 143 total tackles, added 6.5 sacks and three interceptions, and finished the season second in fantasy points among linebackers behind Foyesade Oluokun of the Jacksonville Jaguars. At the outset of training camp, Bernard told the media he plans to build in that success in 2024.
“We have a standard of how we execute and perform,” Bernard said. “Our expectations are rooted in a daily standard of operation and execution. It's about maintaining consistency and striving for excellence in our daily efforts. I focus on improving my communication, my bond, my relationship. Building the connection with my teammates is key, so that when challenges arise, we can rely on that foundation of trust and camaraderie to push through.”
That word salad aside (Bernard may have a future in coaching), there could be opportunities galore for Bernard to rack up fantasy points this year. Batterymate Matt Milano is out indefinitely with a torn biceps. The safeties in Buffalo are also something of a question mark after the departure of longtime starters Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer. That Bernard regularly falls toward the back end of LB1 territory is equally surprising and appealing.
LB Quincy Williams, NY Jets
Like Bernard, Williams had the best season of his career last year, posting a career-high 95 solos and 139 total stops (his third straight season with over 100 stops) on the way to being named a first-team All-Pro. Per Ryan Dunleavy of The New York Post, Williams said his goal for 2024 is simple—cement his status as one of the best linebackers in the NFL.
“My biggest thing this year is ‘Leave no doubt,' ” Williams said. “For me to leave no doubt that no one feels like I'm not the best linebacker, I have to get better every single day. My most important thing is, I'm the fastest linebacker in the league. So when we talk to the offensive linemen, I'll be like, ‘Listen, if you let this linebacker run past you and you never let me run past you, that's a problem. I'm going to be mad.'”
Williams may believe he's one of the game's best at the position, but IDP managers appear to be more skeptical—despite a top-10 fantasy finish last season, Williams is being drafted either just inside or just outside the top-20. That's solid value—frankly, both Williams and batterymate C.J. Mosley are being undervalued in 2024.
LB Josey Jewell, Carolina
After six seasons in Denver, Jewell joined the Panthers in free agency, where he will start next to fellow veteran Josey Jewell. Wins were few and far between for the Panthers a season ago, but while speaking to reporters from training camp, Jewell said that he thinks new head coach Dave Canales has the team headed in the right direction.
"I think we should be feeling pretty good," Jewell said. "We got a lot of good pieces this offseason. Coach [Dave] Canales has put a lot of good things together. I'm excited to play. I'm glad to be back with a defensive coordinator [Evero] and linebacker coach [Peter Hansen] I was with a couple of years ago. There are a lot of good things at camp, but of course, we have to keep on stacking those days to be able to get where we want to be."
Durability has admittedly been an issue with Jewell at times—he has missed at least four games in two of the past three years. His 108 total tackles in Denver last year also weren't especially impressive. But in 2022 (playing under Evero in Denver), Jewell has 128 total stops and was third among linebackers in fantasy points per game. That's considerable potential fantasy upside for a guy coming off the board in LB4 territory in most IDP drafts.
S Minkah Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh
Fitzpatrick's 2023 season was admittedly a disappointment—the four-time Pro Bowler missed seven games, his 64 total tackles were a career-low, and for the first time dating back to high school, Fitzpatrick failed to record a single interception. While addressing reporters, defensive coordinator Teryl Austin took some of the blame for Fitzpatrick's down year, stating that the Steelers didn't use the 27-year-old in a manner that allowed him to play to his strengths.
"The biggest thing is as coaches, our job is to try to get all of our guys in the best position as possible so they can play as well as they can and play up to their abilities," Austin said. "And so last year, I probably failed in that regard. We tried to have him do too much stuff, and I think I'm going to get back to really what makes him special."
Two years ago, Fitzpatrick intercepted half a dozen passes, topped 95 tackles, and was eighth among defensive backs in fantasy points per game. The year before that, Fitzpatrick recorded a career-high 124 tackles and was sixth among defensive backs in fantasy points. The seventh-year veteran has legitimate DB1 upside available well into DB2 territory and is a prime candidate for IDP drafters who fade the defensive back spot.
S Reed Blankenship, Philadelphia
The good news for IDP managers last year is that Blankenship led the Eagles with 113 total tackles, intercepted three passes, and finished the season as a top-10 defensive back. The bad news for the Eagles is that Blankenship played a part in Philly's defensive collapse late last season, struggling badly down the stretch. However, the Eagles thought enough of the former undrafted free agent to extend him this offseason, and Blankenship told reporters that he intends to show that faith in him was justified.
“It's all about growth,” Blankenship said. “I still have a long way to go and I'm fortunate enough to still have some of these great teammates to teach me and some of these great coaches. And I want to take that opportunity and run with it. I still feel like I have that chip on my shoulder. Even with this contract extension, it's a stepping stone. And it's something that I want to grow in. I want to learn from the best and play with the best. And that's what I want to try and do each day.”
Blankenship admittedly isn't an elite talent. But part of his 2023 struggles can be attributed to a groin injury that required surgery, and there's no real threat to his starting spot on the Eagles roster. Add in that the Eagles have a pair of new starters at linebacker this year, and there's a good chance that Blankenship can approach last year's production—and smash his modest asking price in drafts.
S Kevin Byard, Chicago
Over eight seasons in Tennessee and Philadelphia, veteran safety Kevin Byard has made it to a pair of Pro Bowls. Intercepted 28 passes. Surpassed 100 total tackles in a season three times. Despite changing teams in-season a year ago, Byard still managed a DB16 fantasy finish. Now in Chicago, Byard told reporters he signed with Chicago because he saw the opportunity for something special in the Bears defense.
"I really like what coach Matt [Eberflus] is building here just as a team," Byard said. "There's a lot of things to be excited about. This defense has a lot of great pieces here, for sure, especially in the secondary. "I see a hungry defense. I see guys who want to be successful. I see guys having fun together, making plays. You want to be part of something like that. That's what's exciting for me. Just having a lot of pieces already in place on this defense, I can just come in and do what I need to do to help this team and help this defense take it to the next level."
Byard is being faded by many IDP drafters for a couple of reasons. The first is that he missed most of the preseason with what's being labeled a soft-tissue injury. The second is that he'll likely be playing deep regularly while Jaquan Brisker mans the box safety spot. But Byard is the rare deep safety who has shown 100-plus tackle upside in multiple seasons, and he has averaged 3.5 picks per season. There are worse ways to spend a late-round pick in 2024.
Gary Davenport (“The Godfather of IDP”) is a two-time Fantasy Sports Writers Association Football Writer of the Year. Follow him on Twitter (Can't make him call it X) at @IDPSharks.
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