IDP Spotlight: Leonard Little (Group 4) (1 Viewer)

2008 IDP Spotlight Series

One of Footballguys best assets is our message board community. The IDP Forum here has grown quickly over the past few years and is probably the best place on the internet to discuss, debate and analyze all things related to IDPs. In what we hope to make an annual tradition, the IDP Spotlight series will be a key part of our preseason effort this year. As many of you know from what has been done with offensive players over the years, we consider the Player Spotlight threads the permanent record for analyzing the fantasy prospects of the player in question. This year, we hope to publish IDP Spotlights for approximately 50-60 players, which should account for most of the key IDP starters for this year and possibly years to come.

Each week we will post a list of players to be discussed. Those threads will remain open for the entire preseason, and should be a central point to discussion expectations for the player in question. Importantly, analysis done in the first week (or possibly longer) of posting will be part of the permanent record in two ways.

1) At the end of the week (or longer when necessary), we will tally the projections into a consensus.

2) We will select a number of pull quotes from forum contributors who make a compelling statement or observation. Both the projections and pull quotes will be part of a published article on the main website.

Thread Topic: Leonard Little, DE, St Louis Rams

Player Page Link: Leonard Little Player Page

Each published article will include:

Detailed viewpoint from a Footballguys staff member
Highlighted member commentary from the message board threads
FBG Projections
Consensus Member ProjectionsThe Rules

In order for this thread to provide maximum value, we ask that you follow a few simple guidelines:

Focus commentary on the player in question, and your expectations for said player
Back up your expectations in whatever manner you deem appropriate; avoid posts that simply say "I hate him" or "He's the best"
To be included in the final synopsis and consensus outlook, we request that you provide projections for the playerProjections should include (at a minimum):

For DLs: Solos, Assists, Sacks, PD
For LBs: Solos, Assists, Sacks, INT, PD
For DBs: Solos, Assists, Sacks, INT, PDNow let's get on with the conversation! We look forward to your contributions and let me offer a personal thanks in anticipation of the great debate and analysis.

Any thoughts here?

I picked him up off the WW in the off-season - dropping Geathers to do so. Still wondering what he might have left in the tank.

(Geathers was not going to be much help - my starters both had week 8 byes, as did Geathers, and not much trading in the league IDP-wise).

I think Little has a very good chance of bouncing back this year, his injury shouldnt bother him into the season and having Long on the other side is a big upgrade. If healthy and in shape, double digit sack numbers should be within reach.

Based on some ADP data I've looked at and the FBG projections, Little seems to be one of the most undervalued IDPs this offseason. What do you expect from him this season? How will the addition of Chris Long impact his production?

The fact that Little is going to be 34 years old and coming off of a serious injury sends up a bit of a red flag. While there is a chance of a decline, I feel safe with Little as a low end DL2. He has always put up solid tackle numbers and that usually protects a DL from a steep dropoff.

40 solos

8 asst.

9 sacks

3 FF

1 FR

0 INT

3 PD

bump for any more thoughts/projections on Little. He averaged 11.5 sacks/year from 2001 to 2006 before a miserable and injury-shortened 2007. At 34 years old, how much do you guys think he has left?

The tank is running dry, but the guy can definitely still be semi-productive. With Long manning the RE spot, I do fear the Rams could start to incorporate James Hall as an occasional base LE to help rest Little. If this happens, Little's value would drop substantially. Undersized, 34 year-old DE's simply cannot withstand the every-down punishment of the NFL.

35 solos

7 assists

7 sacks

3 FF

2 PD's

Leonard Little is one of the few that I won't draft or own on my own team because of his past, I think everyone knows what I'm talking about but I wanted to get that out there. I think his flaws in his personal life, fear of another alcohol induced episode coupled with Roger Goodells strict conduct policy and his injury last year are likely the reason for his low ADP. For all of those negatives I think he's going to have another solid year, he is one of the most consistent DL in the past 6-7 years and has averaged 11 sacks a year over that time. With Adam Carriker on the inside and the drafting of Chris Long things look really up for Leonard Little this season, this should be the best group he has had to work with in his career. He should be a good DL2 with a possible top 5 season.

51 tackles

9 assists

12 sacks

4 FF

2 PD