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With the NFL regular season steadily approaching, this article aims to touch on IDP-relevant news and topics during training camps and preseason games. We'll look at injuries, contract situations, camp battles, rookie buzz, and other pertinent IDP topics. The plan is to have this article ready for your viewing every Thursday until the season kicks off. Thanks for tuning in; let's get to it!
IDP News: EDGE Sam Williams
Sam Williams suffers an unfortunate season-ending knee injury.
The excitement of training camps starting also brings unfortunate circumstances. Promising third-year pass rusher Sam Williams suffered a devastating knee injury, tearing both his ACL and MCL, ending his season. Williams was set to see an expanded role this season as edge rushers Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler Jr left Dallas during free agency. Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence are set to lead the Dallas edge unit, with second-round rookie Marshawn Kneeland likely seeing important rotational snaps with Williams' injury. Dallas could also explore the veteran edge rusher market for additional depth.
IDP News: EDGE Samson Ebukam
Samson Ebukam suffers a torn Achilles.
The injury grim reaper strikes again as Ebukam's season is over after suffering a torn Achilles during training camp. The timing and injury are brutal, as Ebukam was coming off a rock-solid first season in Indianapolis, compiling 57 tackles (39 solos), 10 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks over 702 defensive snaps in 2023. With Ebukam out, Kwity Paye and first-round rookie Laiatu Latu look to be the likely starting edge duo for the Colts' defense, with Dayo Odeyingbo and Tyquan Lewis also mixing in the rotation. Laiatu's IDP dynasty stock was always promising, but now his IDP redraft outlook gets a bump with the new circumstances.
IDP News: DT Christian Barmore
Chrisitan Barmore is out indefinitely after being diagnosed with blood clots.
First and foremost, the biggest concern here is for Barmore's health as we wish him the best in his recovery. Barmore is just 25 years old and is a young, ascending talent, coming off career-best marks in tackles (64), tackles for loss (13), and sacks (8.5) in 2023. Barmore is New England's biggest game wreaker on the interior of its defense for NFL and IDP purposes, so his shoes will be tough to fill if he misses time. More importantly, let's hope for Barmore's speedy and healthy recovery.
IDP News: DT Denico Autry
Denico Autry receives a six-game suspension for violating the league's PED policy.
It sounds like Autry will likely appeal the suspension, but as things sit he's due to miss six games for violating the league's performance-enhancing substance policy. Autry signed a two-year $21.5 million deal with Houston during free agency, after notching a career-high 11.5 sacks in 2023 with Tennesee. Autry is a versatile pass rusher who was set to bolster the Houston interior and was gearing up to be a nice value pick at defensive tackle in IDP true-position leagues. While the news is a bummer for now, keep his name tucked away for in-season waivers when he's eligible to return.
IDP News: Atlanta LBs
Troy Andersen and Nate Landman are in a heated battle for the LB2 spot.
Troy Andersen was a hyped second-year linebacker heading into last season when an unfortunate pectoral injury ended his year after two games. With Andersen out, Nate Landman stepped up for the Falcons, providing us with some solid waiver wire IDP production. Now, the two have a heated camp battle going on with IDP repercussions at stake.
Landman seemed to have the upper hand at first, stating he would rotate the green dot with Kaden Elliss depending on the linebacker pairings. Fast forward a few days later when the pads came on, and Andersen was seen getting a good amount of run with the first unit. This feels like a back-and-forth situation we will need to keep checking the temperature on. The only thing that feels certain right now, is Elliss seeing full-time work, making his LB36 ADP a far better value than Andersen's LB34 ADP via The IDP Show. Landman is coming off the board as LB62, making him worth a late dart if you have the bench room. This won't be the last time we dive into this important camp battle.
IDP News: LB Zack Baun
Zack Baun isn't going away anytime soon.
We talked about the Philadelphia linebacker situation in last week's article, figuring we'd circle back to it at some point. Zack Baun continues to run with the first unit, looking like the front-runner in his battle with Nakobe Dean for the linebacker spot next to Devin White. Baun never hit the mark in New Orleans, but it seems Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio likes what he brings. Scoop up Baun where you can and let's continue to keep tabs on this situation. Dean continues to look like a fade in IDP drafts.
IDP News: LB Nick Bolton
Nick Bolton exits practice with an arm injury.
At the time of this writing, there isn't much known about Bolton's situation. However, it is being reported he suffered a left arm injury and was carted out of practice. Given the stature of Botlon in IDP land, I figured it was worth mentioning so it is on our radar–let's hope it's nothing major. If Bolton is expected to miss any time, Drue Tranquill gets a big bump, and intriguing third-year man Leo Chenal becomes more appealing in IDP drafts. This is a situation to keep our eyes on as more information becomes available.
IDP News: LB Jamin Davis
Washington is trying Jamin Davis out on the edge.
With Washington bringing in Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu during free agency and adding intriguing rookie Jordan Magee in the draft, Jamin Davis' IDP outlook heading into training camp was bleak. With Davis looking like an afterthought at linebacker, the new Washington regime is trying him out as an edge rusher. To no surprise given Davis' lack of experience, the results so far haven't been super inspiring. Davis was likely only in consideration in the deepest of IDP leagues and can be safely left off your draft boards–find a better dart to throw.
IDP News: S Brian Branch
Brian Branch is set to see more time aligned at safety.
Branch had a rock-solid rookie season operating as Detroit's nickel defender, compiling 74 tackles (50 solos), seven tackles for loss, and three interceptions over 15 games (9 starts). Alignment-wise, Branch played 530 of his 736 regular-season snaps in the slot, per Pro Football Focus, in 2023. News has recently come out that the Lions want to utilize Branch more at safety, instead of his previous nickel/slot-heavy duties.
At first glance, we shouldn't get too worried about his alignment change hindering his IDP prospects for this year, as he's too valuable a run defender to spend a good chunk of his time deep. However, it's a situation to monitor as more tidbits emerge through camp and the preseason games. Branch seeing more time at safety could affect Kerby Joseph and last year's waiver wire darling Ifeatu Melifonwu. Melifonwu is more interesting for IDP than Joseph, so his role will be one to monitor. Amik Robertson and Emmanuel Mosley could also battle for slot snaps, making them names to at least monitor in true-position and CB-required formats.
IDP News: Atlanta Safeties
Is it going to be Richie Grant or DeMarcco Hellams next to Jessie Bates III?
At the end of last season, Richie Grant had fallen out of favor with the previous coaching regime, with DeMarcco Hellams supplanting him in the starting lineup next to Jessie Bates III. However, it seems the new Atlanta regime has more faith in Grant, as he's reportedly back as the front-runner to line up next to Bates. This competition is far from over, and we know what happens when we assume anything for IDP purposes–let alone things in general. With defensive back being such a streamable position and the likely fluid nature of the situation, both these players are only names for deep roster IDP leagues. Don't reach at defensive back, especially on players whose names are written in pencil on the depth chart.
Thanks for taking the time to read my article. Feel free to reach me on Twitter @KBellf54 with any questions or feedback.
