IDP Spotlight: Will Witherspoon (Group 6) (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.

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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: Will Witherspoon, LB, St Louis Rams

Player Page Link: Will Witherspoon Player Page

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FBG Projections
Consensus Member ProjectionsThe Rules

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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.

anyone have some thoughts on Witherspoon?

Using the Zealots scoring system he was 13th and 14th in scoring in his first two seasons with the Rams. He's one of those player that no one will overpay for, so you naturally can call him a value pick player.

While this isn't an exact science I went to one of the new Zealots league in a random fashion (link) and saw that he was the 22nd LB picked. If that's anywhere near the norm then you can chalk him up as being a very underrated IDP.

If he's your 2nd LB you're in good shape. If he's your 3rd LB, you're in great shape.

I see him racking up 95 tackles and 4 sacks this year, which is consistent with his last two seasons.

For those in dynasty play, he only turns 28 in August.

I just saw that FBG's has him ranked very high in redraft. There goes my theory that he's always a value pick player.

Witherspoon is a guy whose value is somewhat dependent upon your scoring system. In FBG's standard scoring, he finished at LB6 in 2006 & LB9 in 2007. However in my tackle heavy league, he was LB16 in 2006 & LB20 in 2007. That's the difference between a #1LB & a #2LB. And that means his value can move several rounds in a draft or several dollars in an auction based on how your league scores LB's.

However, he's been consistant over his two years in St. Louis with 116 tackles and 7 big plays in 2006 & 110 tackles and 10 big plays in 2007. The addition of 1st round pick Chris Long and another year for 1st rounder Carriker could help when Witherspoon blitzes, but he may do so less often if the pass rush is more consistant. I think we should see more of the same with Witherspoon this season. He's a big time playmaker with over 100 total tackles/year in St. Louis. He also hasn't missed a game in 2 years with St. Louis (he only missed 1 in '05 & 6 in '02 for Carolina). And with a consistantly shaky offense, the Rams D will see the field a lot.

I'm projecting 95 solos, 20 assts, 4 sacks, 2 FF, 2 FR & 1 INT in 2008. Borderline LB1/LB2 depending on your system.

**On a side note, he has 0 INT's with St. Louis in 2 seasons but had 4 in one season for Carolina with 7 picks in 4 seasons there. I'd expect him to get at least 1 for the Rams eventually....right?

Jayrod said:

Witherspoon is a guy whose value is somewhat dependent upon your scoring system. In FBG's standard scoring, he finished at LB6 in 2006 & LB9 in 2007. However in my tackle heavy league, he was LB16 in 2006 & LB20 in 2007. That's the difference between a #1LB & a #2LB. And that means his value can move several rounds in a draft or several dollars in an auction based on how your league scores LB's.

Click to expand...

my vague recollection is that he picked up a couple extra sacks towards the end of the year, and either the head coach or defensive co-ordinator had said he wanted to send him after the qb more often on 3rd, or whatever.

maybe a pro can back me up on that so I won't have to search.

(Rotoworld) It "seems certain" that Will Witherspoon will be moved to weak-side linebacker next season.

Analysis: The Rams need to find someone who can hold up in the middle of their defense. This won't hurt Witherspoon's IDP value much, and may keep him healthy.