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LB and DB sleepers (1 Viewer)

jacobo_moses

Footballguy
I already have Wesley Woodyard LB DEN on my radar kind of.

And Mike Mitchell DB for OAK.

What are your guys thoughts on these players. ???

And do you have any other sleepers that may start seeing the field more like the two above??

Thanks guys.

 
Rennie Curran rookie LB for Tennessee. Denver Ayers may be more valuable because McDaniels said he has improved greatly over last season. Mayock last year claimed in 5 years he would be the best defensive player in last years draft-he went out on a limb there.

 
Morgan Burnett rookie SS in Green Bay. Bigby has been staying away giving him reps and now Bigby had surgery.

 
What have you heard about Woodyard? I had him 2 years ago after his ridiculous 13 or so tackle game against the Browns, but he did basically nothing last season. What is different about this year?

 
Gerald McRath continues to be listed as 1st string WLB eventhough he will miss the 1st 4 games from suspension.

(Rotoworld) Titans LB Gerald McRath is emerging as a team leader for a defense that lost veterans Keith Bulluck and Kyle Vanden Bosch during the offseason. Analysis: It's never good when your "leader" is slated to miss the first 4 games of the season because of a PED suspension. That being said, McRath will return Week 5 as an undisputed starter, and could put up some gaudy numbers if he plays up to his potential. His impending absence makes him undraftable in IDP leagues but he should be a nice waiver pickup.
 
What have you heard about Woodyard? I had him 2 years ago after his ridiculous 13 or so tackle game against the Browns, but he did basically nothing last season. What is different about this year?
1) 3-4 rushing LB vs 4-3 SLB (IIRC) 2) Dumervil tore his pec3) Jarvis Moss broke his hand
 
Thanks, I did not hear about Moss getting injured as well. So he is basically next in line for a starting job at Doom's position? I thought he had been exclusively used in the middle?

 
Woodyard will be used at ILB. Since DJ Williams couldn't play in the preseason game. Woodyard and Ayodele started at ILB. I think Woodyard could beat out Akin for the starting ILB spot this year next to DJ. The guy is a tackling machine. Would'nt you agree Jene, or whoever can chime in?

 
Woodyard will be used at ILB. Since DJ Williams couldn't play in the preseason game. Woodyard and Ayodele started at ILB. I think Woodyard could beat out Akin for the starting ILB spot this year next to DJ. The guy is a tackling machine. Would'nt you agree Jene, or whoever can chime in?
I think the Broncos will want their better playmaking ILB at WILB. There's no way that Woodyard can take on blocks at the SILB positon and survive. Ayodele isn't totally washed up yet and is a good fit at SILB. I think it's much more likely that Ayodele plays base SILB and Woodyard in the nickel (if he plays at all) than the team moves Williams to SILB to get Woodyard in the lineup at WILB.
 
In reference to this comment:

"There's no way that Woodyard can take on blocks at the SILB positon and survive"

Why did he start with DJ Williams out? And was the best tackler out there with like 5 solo and 1 assisted AGAINST 1st STring Offense if he can't take on blocks? Shouldn't Ayodele have done a lot more then he did if he was so much better then Woodyard? Thats what I don't get. (It just doesn't make sense to have one of your best tacklers as a backup and come in on only nickel packages.

 
jacobo_moses said:
In reference to this comment:"There's no way that Woodyard can take on blocks at the SILB positon and survive"Why did he start with DJ Williams out? And was the best tackler out there with like 5 solo and 1 assisted AGAINST 1st STring Offense if he can't take on blocks? Shouldn't Ayodele have done a lot more then he did if he was so much better then Woodyard? Thats what I don't get. (It just doesn't make sense to have one of your best tacklers as a backup and come in on only nickel packages.
He's Williams' backup at WILB. I like Woodyard. He's very active and usually around the ball. But he's undersized for this defense. It's very hard to take anything away from a single preseason boxscore unfortunately and the combination of poor surrounding cast and favorable spot for tackles in the scheme played a big role in Woodyard's production.I think there's a chance that the backer roles might be shifted. But I think it's unlikely that they move Williams to make room for Woodyard. The team knows what it has with him. They wouldn't have moved Haggan inside or signed Ayodele for depth at SILB if they felt the Woodyard-Williams combination was a strong option.
 
Thanks anyone else?
Abram Elam--The drafting of two rookie safeties might drop him down a bit, but everything I have seen thus far, he's holding onto the job. Mangini traded for him, and he's a SS for a bad team, usually a nice place for tackles.Trevor Scott--Will be a 2-down WLB, and 3rd down pass rusher.CC Brown--My guess for the SS position in Detroit. Not set in stone, but this is a spot I am going to monitor right up until draft day. Kroy Biermann--Hoping he doesn't have any more sacks this preseason. Has to beat out Jamaal Anderson and Lawrence Sidbury for playing time, but I like him as a last round type pick. Dhani Jones--I think we get one more year out of the old-timer. He wasn't a sexy pick last year, and put up numbers. I think one more year before he gives way to Rey.Sean Jones--I think he beats out Sabby, and racks up tackles.James Butler--Injured now, but I think he regains the SS spot in STL, and there's gonna be a lotta tackles opportunities there.
 
I wish Bishop would beat out AJ Hawk, but that isn't the question.

Casillas was named the Saints WLB was that listed?

 
hmmmRotoworld just linked up "Jameel McClain has won the Ravens' starting right inside linebacker"
Jene, staffers will he be a 3 down LB?
Anyone have any insight on this? Thanks.
The Rotoworld blurb on McClain was premature. Ellerbee was back taking snaps with the first team base defense earlier in the week and there've been indications that all three (including Tavares Gooden) have been seeing rotational time in the base since.Gooden played in the nickel during the first preseason game for McClain, so I don't think there's a three down backer in the bunch unless McClain and Ellerbee completely flop over the next couple of weeks or there are multiple serious injuries.
 
I think Larry Grant is running with the first team defense at WLB for the Rams. Maybe some value there?

 
I wish Bishop would beat out AJ Hawk, but that isn't the question. Casillas was named the Saints WLB was that listed?
He is a "sleeper" IMO, if he is starting WILL and no one will know except Saints fans and readers of this site, it could be a huge boost. If he continues like this past weekend, he could be really nice late round snag.
 
jacobo_moses said:
In reference to this comment:"There's no way that Woodyard can take on blocks at the SILB positon and survive"Why did he start with DJ Williams out? And was the best tackler out there with like 5 solo and 1 assisted AGAINST 1st STring Offense if he can't take on blocks? Shouldn't Ayodele have done a lot more then he did if he was so much better then Woodyard? Thats what I don't get. (It just doesn't make sense to have one of your best tacklers as a backup and come in on only nickel packages.
He's Williams' backup at WILB. I like Woodyard. He's very active and usually around the ball. But he's undersized for this defense. It's very hard to take anything away from a single preseason boxscore unfortunately and the combination of poor surrounding cast and favorable spot for tackles in the scheme played a big role in Woodyard's production.I think there's a chance that the backer roles might be shifted. But I think it's unlikely that they move Williams to make room for Woodyard. The team knows what it has with him. They wouldn't have moved Haggan inside or signed Ayodele for depth at SILB if they felt the Woodyard-Williams combination was a strong option.
But Haggan was used on the OLB spot in the preseason game. If Woodyard was that buried he would not have even started IMO.
 
jacobo_moses said:
In reference to this comment:"There's no way that Woodyard can take on blocks at the SILB positon and survive"Why did he start with DJ Williams out? And was the best tackler out there with like 5 solo and 1 assisted AGAINST 1st STring Offense if he can't take on blocks? Shouldn't Ayodele have done a lot more then he did if he was so much better then Woodyard? Thats what I don't get. (It just doesn't make sense to have one of your best tacklers as a backup and come in on only nickel packages.
He's Williams' backup at WILB. I like Woodyard. He's very active and usually around the ball. But he's undersized for this defense. It's very hard to take anything away from a single preseason boxscore unfortunately and the combination of poor surrounding cast and favorable spot for tackles in the scheme played a big role in Woodyard's production.I think there's a chance that the backer roles might be shifted. But I think it's unlikely that they move Williams to make room for Woodyard. The team knows what it has with him. They wouldn't have moved Haggan inside or signed Ayodele for depth at SILB if they felt the Woodyard-Williams combination was a strong option.
But Haggan was used on the OLB spot in the preseason game. If Woodyard was that buried he would not have even started IMO.
I wouldn't say that Woodyard is buried. But he only fits at one ILB spot in this 3-4. Haggan played SOLB last season. After Andra Davis left, he was a good fit to take over there, assuming that Robert Ayers could handle the OLB job every down. With Dumervil and Jarvis Moss both dinged, Haggan was an easy move back outside since he knows the position, can play the run well and Ayodele was on the roster as his backup.
 
I wish Bishop would beat out AJ Hawk, but that isn't the question.

Casillas was named the Saints WLB was that listed?
He is a "sleeper" IMO, if he is starting WILL and no one will know except Saints fans and readers of this site, it could be a huge boost. If he continues like this past weekend, he could be really nice late round snag.
Yes he could be this years David Hawthorne.

Readers of Rotoworld got the story he got the starting WLB job as well.

Others have said starting there will just give Vilma more tackles.

 
Thanks anyone else?
Abram Elam--The drafting of two rookie safeties might drop him down a bit, but everything I have seen thus far, he's holding onto the job. Mangini traded for him, and he's a SS for a bad team, usually a nice place for tackles.Trevor Scott--Will be a 2-down WLB, and 3rd down pass rusher.CC Brown--My guess for the SS position in Detroit. Not set in stone, but this is a spot I am going to monitor right up until draft day. Kroy Biermann--Hoping he doesn't have any more sacks this preseason. Has to beat out Jamaal Anderson and Lawrence Sidbury for playing time, but I like him as a last round type pick. Dhani Jones--I think we get one more year out of the old-timer. He wasn't a sexy pick last year, and put up numbers. I think one more year before he gives way to Rey.Sean Jones--I think he beats out Sabby, and racks up tackles.James Butler--Injured now, but I think he regains the SS spot in STL, and there's gonna be a lotta tackles opportunities there.
My thoughts are right in line with all this ...
 
No. The guys available are Manny Lawson, Woodyard, and Casillas. (I think Casillas is going to be signed for a high contract so I don't want to try and bid on him in MY 32 team Dynasty league)

So do you guys think Manny Lawson is a good choice or not?

AND FYI. Woodyard is only 1 in shorter then J. VIlma and 3 pounds less. And I'm pretty sure Vilma plays in a ILB starting role. So I don't quite buy the too small argument. Garry Brackett is another example.

 
No. The guys available are Manny Lawson, Woodyard, and Casillas. (I think Casillas is going to be signed for a high contract so I don't want to try and bid on him in MY 32 team Dynasty league)So do you guys think Manny Lawson is a good choice or not?AND FYI. Woodyard is only 1 in shorter then J. VIlma and 3 pounds less. And I'm pretty sure Vilma plays in a ILB starting role. So I don't quite buy the too small argument. Garry Brackett is another example.
(This reply got away from me quickly as sometimes happens. :lmao: )Vilma had the worst season of his career as an ILB in the 3-4, and that was on the weak side. He did see some snaps in a 3-4 at times in New Orleans last year with Gregg Williams, and did relatively poorly compared to his previous season in Gary Gibbs' 4-3. But you're absolutely correct, there have been a number of "undersized" 3-4 ILBs that have been very productive over the years. Donnie Edwards never played much above 230. Sam Mills was an All-Pro at 5'9" and under 235. D'Qwell Jackson isn't a thumper at under 240. Zach Thomas had a couple of very good years in Nick Saban's hybrid scheme that functioned like a 3-4 in some ways. All of them (and others) were well above-average tacklers and IDP options.However, those successes, with the possible exception of Mills, all played WILB. The strong inside backer, in either flavor of 3-4, is tasked with taking on blocks at the point of attack and has to be a superior stack and shed talent to consistently make tackles. Those players exist. Channing Crowder, James Farrior and a few others have been very strong tackle options from a 3-4 SILB role. But that's the crux of our argument. The positions we're talking about in this particular scheme with regard to the size argument are very different, even though they're both 3-4 ILB positions. Woodyard is nothing like Crowder, Farrior, Mills, etc. as a potential SILB and the team would have to move Williams for Woodyard to play WILB. I think Wes Woodyard might be able to hold up at WILB as others have before him. The weak inside backer, though still looking at more blockers than a typical 4-3 WLB, is still relatively protected from guards scraping up to block him in Denver's version of the 3-4. He's not the greatest stack and shed player, but his pursuit skill would be good enough to rack up some tackles at WILB -- as he showed during last week's preseason game and as it was for Donnie Edwards later in his career -- if the rest of the defense played the run well across the front seven. But it's my considered opinion that Woodyard will be regularly washed out at the point of attack as a SILB, and much more likely to be injured than rack up tackles in bunches.Another supporting argument stems from observing the Broncos coaching staff, who know exactly what they have in Woodyard after evaluating him in this scheme over the past season plus.There has been multiple times that the team could have either moved Williams to SILB and inserted Woodyard at WILB or just put Woodyard in the lineup at SILB. Instead, they signed Andra Davis to play SILB last year rather than putting Woodyard in the lineup. They moved Mario Haggan inside this offseason rather than putting Woodyard in the lineup. When they needed Haggan outside last week to cover for injury, they chose to put recent signee Akin Ayodele at SILB rather than put Woodyard in the lineup.I've pushed Woodyard as a player to watch many times over the past three seasons. I think he could have very nice upside as an every-down 4-3 WLB. I think I've advocated watching him in case Denver does decide that their best ILB pair is Williams-Woodyard at some point. But until we see definitive evidence that he's getting a shot at the WILB as a starter, he shouldn't be considered as anything more than a part-time subpackage player.32 team leagues are difficult and I know you've got to jump on a guy before positive news happens (as you've noted with Casillas). We may learn tomorrow that the Denver coaches don't like what they're seeing from Ayodele and want to see Woodyard in the 3-4 or might start using lots of 4-3 with Woodyard at WLB. But from where I sit today, Woodyard is looking at 20% of his team's snaps at best every week -- assuming he plays when the Broncos use five DBs, and possibly slightly higher if they don't use as much dime or Big Nickel as they have in recent seasons.
 
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This whole thread really belongs in the IDP AC forum but whatever.

Woodyard is a back-up as long as he is in Denver and playing in a 3-4. You can keep posting hoping that someone will agree but its isn't going to happen. He is too small for a 3-4 scheme and they keep bringing in guys to play his spot. He can't move outside either. He's a back-up plain and simple and if DJ did go down I doubt Woodyard plays on run downs. Lawson and Casillas would be much better adds for you team. I feel a little more confident about Lawson but I'd try to grab both

And to go off topic, I have no idea how they are available in a 32 team league because they are long gone in both of mine. Are you sure this isn't two 16 team leagues with duplicate players?

 
This whole thread really belongs in the IDP AC forum but whatever.

Woodyard is a back-up as long as he is in Denver and playing in a 3-4. You can keep posting hoping that someone will agree but its isn't going to happen. He is too small for a 3-4 scheme and they keep bringing in guys to play his spot. He can't move outside either. He's a back-up plain and simple and if DJ did go down I doubt Woodyard plays on run downs. Lawson and Casillas would be much better adds for you team. I feel a little more confident about Lawson but I'd try to grab both

And to go off topic, I have no idea how they are available in a 32 team league because they are long gone in both of mine. Are you sure this isn't two 16 team leagues with duplicate players?
Yes he was asking for advice but the thread has grown into a good sleeper thread. I'm glad it wasn't moved.

I would like to add a few d linemen to the discussion.

Greg Hardy DE Carolina, a rookie and Fox normally doesn't play them but with Peppers gone he just might. Last night Everette Brown had a good game.

Kroy Bierman is 3rd on depth chart but is playing well.

Red Bryant Seattle played Lawrence Jackson off the team-converted DT at DE.

Then the 2 rookies Brandon Graham and maybe Derrick Morgan.

Can Graham play into a starting spot opposite Cole this season?

 
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Does anyone have any inside info on who will be the starting SS for the Lions? I see CC Brown listed there but I also saw they had signed the kid from the CFL Hefney who was on the ALL-CFL team and won ROY.

 

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