Three IDP Linebackers You Should be Buying Now
The regular season has passed. However, not all of us are finished with fantasy football. We review film and contracts, study film, make trades and use the waiver wire. Below are some breakout linebackers you should consider targeting or acquiring during the offseason. All stats are for the regular season only and exclude playoff games. The projections are assuming the players outlined below remain healthy and play a full season (i.e., no COVID protocols, injuries).
T.J. Edwards – PHI
Stats: 12 Games Played / 64 TKL / 2 Sacks / 5 TFL / 2 FF / 1 INT
Edwards had a peculiar season for a rookie. At first, it seemed as though he was poised to be slowly brought along as he got acclimated to the defense. However, injuries to guys like Nathan Gerry opened up opportunity for more reps. What’s even more impressive about Edwards’ stat line is that he missed four games total and only played 21 snaps in weeks 13 and 15, which means he accumulated those stats basically playing ten full games. The fact he is able to do more than get tackles proves there is some upside for elite IDP play here. Not to mention he is the only inside linebacker for the Eagles at the moment. Look for the Eagles to address this in the draft or free agency; however, there is a low-risk opportunity to acquire him cheap if he remains the starter. Edwards’ PFF grades this season are 68.4 overall, 70.2 against the run, 82.7 as a pass rusher, 59.4 as a tackler. He is still young and, as we’ve outlined on the Sunday show, opportunity matters.
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Projection: 119 TKL / 5 Sacks / 3 FF / 7 TFL / 2 FR / 2 INT
Breakout Confidence Level: 65%
Cole Holcomb – WFT
Stats: 10 Games Played / 65 TKL / 2.5 Sacks / 6 TFL / 1 INT
Another solid linebacker who may get overlooked due to injury and a season cut short early on is another NFC East play in Cole Holcomb. In his rookie season, the fifth round pick at of North Carolina produced astoundingly, posting 105 total tackles, 1 sack, and 3 forced fumbles. Due to a knee patella sprain, he missed a month of football and was eased back into action early on and still produced solid numbers. Considering Thomas Davis is retiring and Reuben Foster may never be the same, Holcomb is cemented as the starter in this stacked defense, and having an elite defensive line opens the door for Holcomb for tier-2 IDP production next season, especially in leagues awarding tackles for loss.
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Projection: 122 TKL / 4 Sacks / 2 FF / 10 TFL / 2 FR / 2 INTÂ
Breakout Confidence Level: 60%
Troy Reeder – LAR
Stats: 7 Games Played / 70 TKL / 3 Sacks / 5 TFL
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This is my deep sleeper of the year for multiple reasons. First, I only included games where Reeder played and started. Next, the other nine games he “played” was in a reserve role, meaning Sean McVay had Micah Kiser in the “Cory Littleton” role prior to getting injured, which he had 77 total tackles and a forced fumble in nine games, similar to that of Reeder’s opportunity. Last, neither Kiser nor Reeder produced in any other major statistical category other than Reeder’s three sack game in Week 5. The tackle production is there for Reeder, but so is the competition between Kiser, the draft and free agency. Kiser and Reeder are both under contract until 2022. So the best thing going for both players is a contract year, which means extra motivation to go off this season and get paid.
Projection: 108 TKL / 2 Sacks / 3 FF / 8 TFL / 3 FR
Breakout Confidence Level: 30%
Be on the lookout for my next article where I discuss the “tight ends” of IDP: the Defensive Linemen. I will provide a few value linemen you should target and a few linemen you should sell to take advantage of your off-season. Follow me on Twitter for more information and all sports interaction @ricco_3733.
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