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Latest News |
| 5/15/2013 | Titans, DST TEN, |
Depth helps Titans defenseNews: The Titans added some good depth on defense in the NFL draft, picking up Missouri linebacker Zaviar Gooden, LSU defensive end Lavar Edwards and UConn cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson, among others. With the team adding safeties George Wilson and Bernard Pollard as their only major free agent signings, the rookies help out what is already a good if not underrated defense. Analysis: The Titans finished last season 24th against the run and 26th against the pass, so they needed help everywhere. While they didn't have one dominant pass rusher the Titans did have four players with at least 5.5 sacks each. If one of their pass rushers breaks out, the rest of the defense should be considered fit enough to help contain opponents. Their early season schedule is a mixed bag (at the Steelers and Texans before home dates against the Chargers, Jets and Chiefs), making them a good-but-not-good-enough option to take with a late-round pick this summer. |
| 5/15/2013 | Chargers, DST SD, |
Bolts lose Ingram to torn ACLNews: Chargers outside linebacker Melvin Ingram suffered a torn left ACL during the team's OTA practice in mid-May and is expected to miss the entire season. Ingram had 41 total tackles and one sack last season but put plenty of pressure on opposing quarterbacks, earning 29 quarterback hurries according to U-T San Diego. Analysis: Ingram was expected to be the primary pass rush threat in the Chargers defense; without him they're going to have a hard time getting to the quarterback. Former first rounder Larry English and Jarret Johnson will provide in Ingram's place and there's a chance the team could add another pass rusher before too long. The Bolts' chances of contributing in Fantasy have dwindled to being one-week options in Weeks 5 and 16 (see if you can figure out why). |
| 5/14/2013 | Steelers, DST PIT, |
Jones a spark for Steelers DNews: The drafting of Georgia outside linebacker Jarvis Jones should give the Steelers a much-needed shot of defensive help. Jones caused mayhem at Georgia, making 28 sacks over two years with the Bulldogs. He'll replace James Harrison, who left for the Bengals. Safety Shamarko Thomas from Syracuse and cornerback Terry Hawthorne are the other potential impact rookies for the Steelers, who did not add any significant veterans via free agency. Analysis: There are still a number of "old" veterans for the Steelers including Troy Polamalu, Ryan Clark, Ike Taylor, Brett Keisel and Larry Foote. All of those guys entered the league in 2002 or 2003. If the Steelers are lucky they'll get by with most of those guys for the balance of the season. However if injuries take a toll then their replacements aren't exactly stellar and the unit's performance could slide. For the first time in a while there's some concern that the DST won't be one of the top options for Fantasy Football owners, even with a really attractive open-season schedule (they don't play a front-line quarterback until Joe Flacco in Week 7). They'll get picked, but smart owners won't reach for them. |
| 5/10/2013 | Vikings, DST MIN, |
Vikings D improves through draftNews: The Vikings might have been shy about adding defensive talent via free agency but splurged in the NFL draft. Defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd and cornerback Xavier Rhodes were first-round picks, linebacker Gerald Hodges made it in Round 4 and defensive tackle Everett Dawkins and linebacker Michael Mauti rounded out the draft. Analysis: With Kevin Williams getting older and Antoine Winfield off to Seattle, both first-round picks made a ton of sense. Hodges could also compete for a starting job. Their schedule isn't quite loaded with bombastic offenses but there don't appear to be a lot of low-scoring games in their future either. We like the moves the Vikes made and would consider them among your options for a final-round pick; they nearly finished as a Top 12 DST option last season. |
| 5/9/2013 | Jaguars, DST JAC, |
Jags replenish secondary in draftNews: Of the Jaguars' eight draft picks, five address the defensive secondary. Their selections include strong safety Jonathan Cyprien from FIU, Connecticut cornerback Dwayne Gratz, Florida free safety Josh Evans, New Mexico State cornerback Jeremy Harris and Appalachian State cornerback Demetrius McCray. Those five men join a defense relatively low on top talent and barely stocked with notable free agents. Analysis: It could be a tough year for the Jaguars, especially when you consider their schedule: They have two dates with the Colts, two with the Texans, two with the Titans, one game each with the teams in the AFC West and NFC West plus games at Cleveland and vs. Buffalo. Gus Bradley might chalk up 2013 as a rebuilding year for his defense, particularly if he lets his rookie defensive backs get a lot of playing time. No one should draft the Jaguars DST this summer. |
| 5/8/2013 | Colts, DST IND, |
Colts D gets a makeoverNews: The Colts ranked 29th vs. the run and 21st against the pass last season, numbers that just won't sit well with coach Chuck Pagano. So the team went out and brought in five new starters in free agency and padded their depth in the NFL draft. Among the veterans added are pass rusher Erik Walden, safety LaRon Landry and cornerback Greg Toler. Florida State's Bjoern Werner and Oregon's John Boyett are the highlights from the draft. The changes are aimed at making the Colts better in every area. Analysis: The changes are proof that Pagano and general manager Ryan Grigson are working hard to make the team better but the players they brought in don't suggest a brilliant turn-around, at least not at first. Walden has nine sacks in five seasons, Landry has been productive when he hasn't been on the inactive list with injuries and Toler's career has been spotty. Furthermore, Werner might be miscast as an outside linebacker with the Colts. There are too many good DSTs to take in Fantasy Football ahead of the Colts. Use them as a one-week replacement option off waivers, if at all. |
| 5/7/2013 | Texans, DST HOU, |
Texans D gets deeper in draftNews: The addition of safety Ed Reed was the biggest move the Texans made defensively this offseason, but many drafted players should pad their depth. Safety D.J. Swearinger could be the heir-apparent to Reed at free safety, Sam Montgomery and Trevardo Williams are pass rushers and Chris Jones adds beef to the defensive line. Analysis: Perhaps the biggest improvement the Texans will make as a defense won't be a new face but the return of an old one: Brian Cushing is expected to be back in time for training camp. That could be huge for a defense that already has a stellar playmaker in J.J. Watt and many other very good players. The DST is worth taking with a late pick on Draft Day. |
| 5/6/2013 | Packers, DST GB, |
Jones part of Packers draft haulNews: The Packers defense didn't get any help via free agency -- in fact they parted ways with Charles Woodson and Erik Walden while extending the contract of Clay Matthews. But they did draft help in the form of defensive end Datone Jones, defensive tackle Josh Boyd, outside linebacker Nate Palmer, cornerback Micah Hyde and inside linebacker Sam Barrington. Analysis: The rookies are nice, and there's potential for Jones, Palmer and Hyde to be contributors this year, but really the veterans on the Packers are what make them a quality defense. Even with a fairly tough schedule to begin the season and an early bye in Week 5, the Packers DST is worth a final round pick in drafts. |
| 5/6/2013 | Lions, DST DET, |
Ansah highlights Lions' offseasonNews: Defensively, the Lions' biggest move was selecting BYU pass rusher Ezekiel Ansah with a first-round pick in April. He was one of four rookie defenders taken by the team and should be one of at least three new starters on the Lions defense along with defensive end Jason Jones and safety Glover Quin. Fellow rookie cornerback Darius Slay might also start. Analysis: Detroit needed to field a pass rush somehow and Ansah was a good way to start it up. The depth along the D-line is still an issue, and Ansah's lack of experience could also lead to some struggles. This alone makes the Lions DST a suspect option on Draft Day since pressuring the quarterback is a pretty big deal. If they can't do it, they'll give up a ton of points and ultimately end up in a bunch of high-scoring games. The Lions begin the season against the Vikings, Cardinals and Redskins, not a murderer's row of offensive production but certainly some challenges. We wouldn't draft the Lions DST but would consider them off waivers as a one-week replacement. |
| 5/6/2013 | Browns, DST CLE, |
Mingo latest addition for Browns DNews: The Browns have been busy this offseason, adding talent via free agency but making the biggest splash in the NFL draft. Free agents Paul Kruger, Quentin Groves and Desmond Bryant were added to the front seven with Kruger and Groves specifically there to help the pass rush. That unit was bolstered with first-round pick Barkevious Mingo joining the crew with a first-round pick in April. The Browns also added cornerback Chris Owens from the Falcons, rookie defensive backs Leon McFadden and Jamoris Slaughter and high-risk prospect Armonty Bryant. Analysis: The Browns defense hasn't been a staunch unit for some time but the addition of defensive coordinator Ray Horton along with a slew of new faces might make them a fairly competitive unit. Remember they still have cornerback Joe Haden and linebacker D'Qwell Jackson along with an underrated pair of D-linemen in Phil Taylor and Ahtyba Rubin. The Browns might be in for a decent matchup in Week 1 against the Dolphins at home before taking on the Ravens and Vikings in back-to-back road games. That's not a great start for them by comparison to elite defenses but owners who like to play matchups with DSTs could consider the Browns with a final-round pick. Otherwise expect them to be available off waivers for one-week use during the year. |
| 5/6/2013 | Bengals, DST CIN, |
Bengals defense gets deeperNews: The Bengals made only one real splash in free agency, signing ex-Steelers linebacker James Harrison to play strong-side linebacker for them. But they added some interesting talent in the draft in behemoth-but-raw pass rusher Margus Hunt, linebacker Sean Porter and strong safety Shawn Williams. Analysis: This defense already had some great players such as Geno Atkins on the D-line, Michael Johnson rushing the passer and a number of capable cornerbacks. Last year they had the delightful combination of good health and talent to tally 52 sacks, 15 interceptions, 16 forced fumbles and five touchdowns while holding opponents to a modest average of 21.2 points per game. Nothing's worse for wear, so expect the Bengals DST to be picked in the second-to-last round of drafts this summer. |
| 5/2/2013 | Bears, DST CHI, |
Bears restocked at linebackerNews: Losing Brian Urlacher might have hurt the psyche of Bears fans and players alike but the front office has done a real nice job replacing him as well as Nick Roach. Veteran linebackers D.J. Williams and James Anderson should join Lance Briggs in the starting lineup while rookie linebackers Jon Bostic and Khaseem Greene will back them up. Chicago also added rookie defensive end Cornelius Washington in the draft. Analysis: Last year the Bears defense was responsible for an NFL-record nine touchdowns with a special-teams score added on. The unit also picked up 41 sacks and 21 interceptions. The run defense ranked eighth (101.7 rush yards per game and six rush touchdowns allowed all season) and the pass defense pitched in, ranking eighth (213.9 yards per game). It looks as if they can come close to those numbers in 2013 even without Urlacher and Roach. There are some questions about the shape of the secondary, particularly in terms of their age. On the plus side, the pass rush should remain aggressive and even though there's a new coaching staff in place, the core fundamentals of the defense aren't expected to change. Any bonus you can get from Devin Hester returning to full-time kick-return duties will help too. The Bears DST is worth one of your last four picks. |
| 5/2/2013 | Panthers, DST CAR, |
Panthers D building something bigNews: Carolina's defense is trending in the right direction after picking up 39 sacks and holding opponents to 3,568 passing yards and 1,761 rushing yards in 2012 (yes that's not bad) in 2012. They addressed their defensive line in the draft, picking up defensive tackles Star Lotulelei and Kawann Short with first- and second-round picks respectively. The front seven might feature two rookies up front and second-year middle linebacker Luke Kuechly behind them. Analysis: While the team is in a position to be a better defense, their division is loaded with high-powered offenses and their 2013 schedule includes games against powerhouses like New England, San Francisco, the N.Y. Giants and a Week 1 date with the Seahawks. The Panthers aren't worth drafting but could be considered as a multi-week replacement option off waivers once the season gets going, particularly in Week 2 against the Bills and later on when they take on the Jets in Week 15. |
| 5/2/2013 | Ravens, DST BAL, |
Ravens D gets boost in draftNews: Whatever holes the Ravens missed in free agency they cleared up in the NFL draft. After making some bold signings including Elvis Dumervil and Michael Huff, Baltimore drafted Florida safety Matt Elam, Kansas State linebacker Arthur Brown, Missouri Southern State defensive tackle Brandon Williams, Ohio State linebacker John Simon, Notre Dame defensive tackle Kapron Lewis-Moore and Cal cornerback Marc Anthony. Analysis: Baltimore's moves this offseason have been nothing short of fantastic, especially in the wake of losing seven starters from their Super Bowl winning defense. Brown and Elam could start right away and infuse some youth into an otherwise veteran unit. With these additions and Jacoby Jones returning kicks and punts the Ravens DST is back on the map as a capable starting unit worth one of your last two picks on Draft Day. Just be warned that they get off to a tough start at Denver in Week 1. |
| 5/2/2013 | Falcons, DST ATL, |
Falcons re-stock secondary in draftNews: The Falcons spent Top-60 picks on Washington's Desmond Trufant and Southeastern Louisiana's Robert Alford, replacing Dunta Robinson and Brent Grimes with some young cornerbacks. Trufant was impressive at the Senior Bowl following a nice career and comes from a family of NFL cornerbacks. Alford has pretty good speed and ball skills. We suspect both will get a good amount of playing time in 2013. The Falcons also took defensive end Malliciah Goodman from Clemson, TCU defensive end Stansly Maponga, safeties Kemal Ishmael (UCF) and Zeke Motta (Notre Dame). Analysis: No one should sweat the Falcons secondary just yet but their pass rush remains a major issue. The team's current pass rushers are Giants cast-off Osi Umenyiora (31 years old, 15 sacks over the last two seasons), second-year man Jonathan Massaquoi, versatile veteran Kroy Biermann and Goodman, who has incredible size but not explosive speed to get to the quarterback. That lack of pass rush could limit the Falcons' defense this season and their lack of a quality return game keeps the entire DST unit from being worthy of a pick on Draft Day. We suspect the Falcons DST will serve as a great one-week replacement off waivers during the year. |
| 4/21/2013 | Buccaneers, DST TB, |
Buccaneers land CB RevisNews: The New York Jets have traded star cornerback Darrelle Revis to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for this year's No. 13 overall draft pick and another selection next year, believed to be a conditional fourth-round choice. Following the deal Revis signed a new six-year contract reportedly worth $16 million per season with no guaranteed money. Revis, who is coming back from a torn ACL suffered last September, is expected to be ready for the Bucs' training camp. Analysis: Revis greatly enhances a Bucs secondary that already added safety Dashon Goldson this spring and safety Mark Barron last April. Eric Wright is expected to slot in opposite Revis so he'll likely see a lot of action head his way. Anything the Bucs can do to help their pass rush will go a long, long way in making their defense complete. Last year they were effective against the run but had just 27 sacks and were woeful vs. the pass. Leading sack producer Michael Bennett has also moved on but promising pass rusher Adrian Clayborn is making his way back from a major injury suffered last season. The Bucs DST isn't quite worth drafting yet, but they're close. |
| 4/21/2013 | Jets, DST NYJ, |
Jets say goodbye to RevisNews: The New York Jets have traded star cornerback Darrelle Revis to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for this year's No. 13 overall draft pick and another selection next year, believed to be a conditional fourth-round choice. It leaves the team with a good cornerback in Antonio Cromartie and a decent replacement for Revis in Kyle Wilson. The Jets played most of last season without Revis after he tore an ACL last September and still ranked second vs. the pass, allowing 189.8 pass yards per game with 11 interceptions. Analysis: The Jets need some help. Not only is their secondary in flux but they have next to nothing in the pass rush department. Luckily they have two of the Top 15 picks in this Thursday's draft and could end up with a pair of productive pass rushers to help the unit. We'll see what they do but with their offense a catastrophe likely to turn the ball over a lot the defense is probably going to give up plenty of points. Pass on them come Draft Day. |
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Which of these rookies do you think will make the biggest impact in Fantasy in 2013?
