Subscribe to the Feed
Follow us on Twitter
Join us on Facebook
Connect thru YouTube
Fantasy Football ToolsThis has been a wild and crazy offseason and the free agent movement has been a whirlwind, that is starting to slow down a bit. This offseason has seen some surprising player movement and defensive players ending up in either ideal or less than ideal situations. Here are five defensive ends that are losing and gaining value….
Losing Value
1. Kroy Biermann, ATL: The signing of Ray Edwards all but depleted the IDP value of Kroy Biermann for the 2011 season. Jamaal Anderson was released this offseason due to…well…just not being good. John Abraham stepped him game up in 2010 and really was the lone pass rushing threat for the Falcons. Biermann had some close calls in 2010, but still only managed three sacks on the season. He was supposedly ready to shine and breakout in 2011, but the Falcons signed Ray Edwards to a long-term contract. As of now, the Falcons are mentioning a sharing of snaps at the left end position, but he’s third on the depth chart behind Edwards. There should be a rotation between all three, but that rotation will hamper Biermann’s upside as a pass-rusher, since his numbers are going to be too inconsistent to project on a weekly basis.
2. Mathias Kiwanuka, NYG: The Giants have moved Kiwanuka back to SAM (strong-side linebacker) from defensive end, yet again. Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell is planning on using him as the starting SAM, so the move looks to be permanent at this point. He’s also stated that in base packages, he’s our linebacker but hints a move to end on third downs. This limits the upside and ceiling for Kiwanuka and drops his IDP value. If you’re in a league that still has him listed a DL, he’ll provide some value since he’ll notch a few more tackles than most defensive ends. Otherwise, his value plummets as an LB in most leagues.
if(totalDominanceMember())
{
?>
3. Carlos Dunlap, CIN: I still like Carlos Dunlap, but I’m not sure the Bengals are envisioning him as a starter, at least according to Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Dunalp was team’s sack leader in 2010, but his tackles weren’t anything to write home about, as he’s just a pass rushing specialist. In 2011, it was assumed he’d have a starting role, which would allow for an uptick in tackles, but at this point he’s listed behind Robert Geathers and Michael Johnson on the depth chart. Why Geathers is listed ahead of him, I don’t know since Dunlap recording more sacks in 2010, than Geathers has registered in the last four seasons, in addition to that, Geathers hasn’t had a double digit sack season since 2006 (which was his only one and abberation). I still like Dunlap, but his value is dropping if he’s not projecting as a starter.
4. Osi Umenyiora, NYG: Osi’s holdout, threats and trade demands are really hurting his value as most drafters aren’t sure where to draft him. As of now, he’s sitting out due to a “knee injury” and as of now, no new updates in the standoff between the two sides. He’s wanting a restructured contract with incentives and the chance to be a free agent, but the Giants are standing firm on their stance. As of now, I couldn’t draft him as a starting linemen for my squad, just because of the lack of communication between the two sides.
5. Jared Allen, MIN: It’s hard to put someone of Allen’s caliber on a list like this, but he’s lost his running buddy in Ray Edwards and will be paired up with Brian Robison. At the beginning of 2010, Allen was held without a sack for five of the first six weeks of the season, but did go on a tear in the second half. Robison (who, I believe, is Elijah Wood’s doppelganger) only had two sacks in 2010, so opposing offensive lines are, once again, going to key in and gameplan for Jared Allen. Double digit sacks are probably a given, but there could be more inconsistent performances in 2011.
Gaining In Value
1. Jason Jones, TEN: The Titans have moved Jones permanently to defensive end and should benefit from the departure of Jim Washburn. Jones has great pass-rushing abilities, as he showed from the interior, and should be in line for even more sacks with the move outside to end. He might move to the interior on some downs, but his IDP value is definitely on the rise.
2. Jeremy Mincey, JAC: Mincey had a solid second half of 2010 with more playing time, as he finished as Jacksonville’s leading sacker, with five. The Jaguars still project to be one of the weaker teams at generating a pass rush, but he’s worthy of a look in deeper leagues, as his second half in 2010 (27 tackles/4 sacks in eight games) suggest a breakout in 2011.
3. Jason Pierre-Paul, NYG: JPP has been running with the first-team since the contract dispute between Osi Umenyiora and the Giants broke out. In the last six weeks of 2010, JPP notched 4.5 sacks and 19 tackles. If the Osi drama extends into the season, JPP might keep the job giving him some huge upside in leagues that reward heavy for sacks, but may not for tackles. Either way, a larger role in the defense is in his future.
4. Michael Johnson, CIN: Michael Johnson doesn’t need to worry about rotating from SAM linebacker and end in 2011, as he’s been named the starting end, replacing the departed Antwan Odom. In the last four weeks of 2010, Johnson registered 2 sacks and 15 tackles in that span and with him being able to concentrate on the end, it’ll lead to more QB pressures and an uptick in sacks. Here’s to hoping the Bengals pair him with Carlos Dunlap and not Robert Geathers.
5. Aaron Kampman, JAC: Removed now from two ACL injuries, Kampman seems to be healthy again and the Jags are going to move back to the left side, which is where he played in Green Bay when they were running a 4-3 base defense and dominated. Jack Del Rio admits he’s more comfortable there and there’s some upside for sacks, as long as he’s healthy. Either way, the Jags aren’t going to be putting the fear into too many offensive lines. Kampman’s value still is rising.
}
?>
Follow me on Twitter this season @MentalAcumen. Also, feel free to email me with any questions, advice questions or feedback mike@fantasyfootball.com