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Injuries wiped out, what could have been, an elite season for Clint Session
This piece is going to look at how Clint Session is being perceived in IDP drafts. Session, over the last four seasons, was the weak-side linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts. In his rookie year, he played in 13 games and only managed 26 tackles in limited playing time. However, in the 2008 season, he earned a starting gig and every-down duties and in 16 games, notched 93 tackles (73 solos). After that season, he turned heads in IDP leagues as he started to establish himself in Indy’s cover-2 type defense as a solid tackler. In 2009, he missed two games, but still managed 102 tackles in 14 games and increased his solos from 73 to 83, which led to him being the Colts leading tackler that season. In addition to the tackle digits, he contributed two INTs and defended five passes, so he really established himself as a solid, all-around linebacker. As a third year linebacker, a breakout season was expected and it looked like he was going to deliver in 2010. Through just five games, he notched 31 solo tackles and 38 tackles total and in that small sample, only had one game where he had less than four tackles. However, multiple injuries put an end, to what could have been, a monster third year campaign and a contract year, no less. If you extrapolate those numbers over the course of an entire 16 game season, Session was on pace for 99 solo tackles, three sacks and 122 total tackles, which would have put him among the leaders in fantasy points atop the linebacker position. But, it was not to be as fractured forearm and dislocated elbow ended his season prematurely. Clint Session wanted to return to Indy and it looked like they would tender him an offer, but the new CBA declared Session an unrestricted free agent.
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The 2011 lockout put a huge damper on free agency and it left fantasy enthusiasts wondering where these free agents were going to end up and speculation ran rampant. Once the lockout ended, the free agent floodgates opened and there was news on a signing, it seemed, every five minutes. The Jacksonville Jaguars made the biggest free agent splash, signing coveted middle linebacker, Paul Posluszny. However, that signing over shadowed another really good signing by the team and that was the aforementioned, Clint Session. So, he signed a five year deal worth, in the neighborhood of $30 million to become their new outside linebacker on the weak-side. When healthy, Session is a playmaker and can get to the ball in space, since he’s not taking on as many blockers on the weak-side. With Paul Posluszny manning the middle, these two are going to be able roam free, especially since the Jacksonville defensive line is the weakest part of the team. Runners are able to get to the 2nd level of the defense, which should give way to many tackle opportunities. Session may not get as many tackles, for a loss or anything like that, but in IDP, you look for the tackles and Session makes the tackles, and more importantly, will rarely miss his opportunity. Session stays in the AFC South, that features the Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans, which have elite running backs Chris Johnson and Arian Foster. Session, in 19 career games against the AFC South, has notched 125 tackles (100 solo), the most when looking at his split stats, so he feasts on his divisional rivals. He’s probably not going garner the attention as the other linebackers, but he’s someone you can sit back and wait on as your third linebacker in most tackle heavy IDP leagues. Here’s a look at some ADP data according to MyFantasyLeague:
The top 10 LBs ADP
1. Patrick Willis (64.23/5th round)
2. Jerod Mayo (72.14/6th round)
3. Lawrence Timmons (84.44/7th round)
4. Jon Beason (95.28/8th round)
5. Paul Posluszny (96.98/8th round)
6. James Laurinaitis (103.01/8th round)
7. Clay Matthews (103.58/8th round)
8. Stephen Tulloch (112.86/9th round)
9. Curtis Lofton (122.32/10th round)
10. James Harrison (126.63/10th round)
Back in June, I participated in an all-IDP mock draft with fellow IDP writers and enthusiasts from around the web. I landed Clint Session as my fourth LB in the fifth round of this mock draft. In a mixed league I just finished up, again comprised of some competitive owners from around the web, he was drafted as the 30th linebacker. However, in most mixed drafts, he’s not even registering on ADP data through MFL, meaning that in most standard leagues, you’ll be able to get him off the waiver wire or draft him among the top 60 linebackers as a fourth or fifth linebacker, which is going to be excellent value for this guy. Here at fantasyfootball.com, I have him ranked as my 27th linebacker and he makes a great sleeper heading into most IDP drafts. If you’re crazy enough to participate in all-IDP drafts like myself, he’s going to be drafted much earlier just because of the depth of the draft. In the Blitz Invitational League, which is a 16-team all IDP league, Session is going to be drafted between the 5th and 6th round, as linebackers are a premium.
My 2011 Projection for Clint Session:
87 solo tackles/28 assists/105 total tackles
With Paul Posluszny manning the middle, I don’t see him getting to the 120 mark, but 100+ is definitely a mark he can attain and with the weak Jacksonville defensive line, I can see him getting to the QB once or twice this season. As long as he’s healthy, I project him to be an LB3 in most standard leagues.
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