News: Saints linebacker Scott Shanle left the Week 1 loss against Washington with an unspecified leg injury. He did not return and finished with four tackles, one for a loss.
Analysis: Shanle recorded 69 tackles, a sack and an interception last year for the Saints. He's a solid defender for the club, but has limited Fantasy value, when healthy, in IDP formats.
News: New Orleans LB Scott Shanle recorded three solo tackles and a sack in Sunday's win over Detroit. That was his first sack of the season.
Analysis: Shanle now has 54 tackles on the year for the Saints. Fantasy owners in IDP leagues should not be starting Shanle as he's just not productive enough to warrant much attention.
News: Saints LB Scott Shanle recorded his first interception of the season Week 10 at Atlanta, catching a ball that deflected off the hands of Falcons WR Roddy White to start the fourth quarter. Shanle also had nine tackles, including seven solo.
Analysis: Shanle hasn't been a particularly good tackler for a linebacker, recording no more than seven in any game prior to Week 10, and he's obviously not a good source of interceptions. Despite the big game, he remains just a low-end option in Fantasy IDP leagues.
News: Multiple sources reported Thursday that the Saints and LB Scott Shanle were able to come to an agreement. The two-year deal is worth a reported $4 million. Shanle has notched at least 68 tackles in each of the last five seasons while with the team.
Analysis: Shanle returns to a familiar situation in the Big Easy, and he should be able to duplicate his moderate numbers once again in 2011. Unfortunately, his lack of big play potential and spotty injuries make him a low-end LB option at best. Consider Shanle as such on Draft Day.
News: New Orleans LB Scott Shanle recorded 12 tackles -- nine solo -- in Week 11 against Seattle. He also forced and recovered a fumble in the Saints 34-19 win. His 12 tackles were a season high.
Analysis: Shanle now has 41 tackles on the year. He has the potential for a big game like he had on Sunday, but for the most part is not worth owning in any Fantasy IDP league. Continue to ignore him.
News: Saints LB Scott Shanle tied for the team lead in total tackles with eight in the Week 8 win over the Steelers. Five of the tackles were solo efforts. He had missed the previous two games due to injury.
Analysis: Shanle played well in his return to the lineup alongside Jonathan Vilma, but until he continues to stay healthy and play well, he should be ignored in Fantasy play.
News: Saints head coach Sean Payton said LB Scott Shanle, who did not participate in Saturday's scrimmage due to a strained left knee, should be ready to play in Thursday's preseason opener against the Patriots. Shanle has missed nearly every practice this week.
Analysis: Shanle starts at OLB for New Orleans, but doesn't put up huge stats. Over the past four years, he's averaged 80 tackles a season, sacking the quarterback six times in that span. He's a nice player, but doesn't put up enough numbers to have an impact in IDP Fantasy leagues.
News: The Saints have listed the following players as inactive for Week 17 at Carolina: DB Darren Sharper, DL Sedrick Ellis, WR Lance Moore, RB Pierre Thomas, DB Usama Young, LB Scott Shanle, TE David Thomas and 3rd QB Drew Brees.
Analysis: Sharper is a No. 1 DB in IDP leagues, when active. He won't be active at Carolina in Week 17, however, so you no longer need him on your Fantasy roster. Cut him and the rest of the players above.
News: New Orleans has listed the following players as inactive for Week 16 against Tampa Bay: WR Lance Moore, CB Randall Gay, CB Jabari Greer, S Usama Young, LB Scott Shanle, TE Jeremy Shockey and DT DeMario Pressley.
Analysis: When healthy, Shockey is a low-end No. 1 Fantasy option but you can't use him Week 16. The rest of the players listed above have no Fantasy value at this time.
News: Saints LB Scott Shanie had a good game in Week 7 at Miami. He recovered a fumble and made seven tackles in the 46-34 victory.
Analysis: Shanie had an interception in each of his first two games but had tailed off since coming into Week 7. He does not put up great tackle numbers and has been lucky to have three turnovers to his credit so far this season. He remains a decent low-end option in IDP formats.
News: Saints LB Scott Shanle was in on five tackles and recorded an interception in Week 1 against Detroit.
Analysis: Shanle reamins the starting right outside linebacker for the Saints, but he doesn't rack up overwhelming numbers when healthy. He is nothing more than a low-end Fantasy DL.
News: In the Saints' 23-20 loss at the Buccaneers in Week 13, notable Saints defenders included: LB Scott Shanle (10 total tackles, sack), DE Bobby McCray (two solo tackles, two sacks), LB Scott Fujita and DE Will Smith (eight total tackles each) and LB Jonathan Vilma (seven total tackles, sack, two forced fumbles).
Analysis: Of these defenders, Vilma and Smith are regular Fantasy contributors while the rest of the players come up with nice stat totals on an irregular basis. The Saints host the Falcons in Week 14.
News: Saints LB Mark Simoneau (eight tackles), DB Jason David (six tackles), DL Will Smith (five tackles), LB Scott Shanle (four tackles, fumble recovery), DB Mike McKenzie (four tackles), DL Charles Grant (three tackles) and DB Jason Craft (two tackles, forced fumble) all helped out with nice games in New Orleans' 31-24 win over the Cardinals in Week 15.
Analysis: Smith and Grant have value as reserve DLs in IDP leagues, but along with the other guys in this list should not be starting in Week 16 against the Eagles, unless you start two or more defensive linemen.
News: Notable Saints defenders from Week 11 at Houston include: LB Scott Fujita (nine total tackles), LB Scott Shanle (six total tackles, forced fumble), DE Josh Cooper (three solo tackles, forced fumble), DB Josh Bullocks (five solo tackles) and DE Will Smith (three total tackles, sack).
Analysis: Will Smith is the only defender listed above that's worthy of regular IDP league play (Fujita is decent in the deepest of leagues). The Saints play at Carolina in Week 12.
News: The Saints inactives for Week 10 against St. Louis include DB Jay Bellamy, DB Usama Young, DL Brian Young, WR Robert Meachem, DL Charles Grant and LB Scott Shanle.
Analysis: None of these players have any Fantasy value and should not be used in Week 10 against the Rams.
News: Saints LB Scott Shanle (hamstring) is out for Week 10 vs. St. Louis. Shanle did not practice Thursday and Friday after limited reps Wednesday. He has 28 tackles in seven games.
Analysis: Shanle reamins the starting right outside linebacker for the Saints, but he doesn't rack up overwhelming numbers when healthy. He is nothing more than a low-end Fantasy DL. Keep him reserved for Week 10.
News: The Saints listed WR Robert Meachem (coach's decision), DB Jay Bellamy (coach's decision), DB Fred Thomas (coach's decision), LB Scott Shanle (hamstring), TE Ronnie Ghent (coach's decision) and DL Brian Ghent as inactive for Week 9 vs. Jacksonville.
Analysis: At this time, none of the players on this list should be on your Fantasy roster. Keep them on the waiver wire until further notice.
News: The Saints and LB Scott Shanle agreed to a four-year deal to keep him with the club through 2010. Shanle was acquired this offseason and wound up starting for the Saints in 15 of 16 games, leading the teams in tackles with 97 total (a career-best).
Analysis: Shanle should only be considered in the deepest of IDP leagues at this point, as there are better linebackers out there that put up bigger stats.
News: Notable Saints defenders from Week 10 include: LB Scott Shanle (eight total tackles, sack), SS Josh Bullocks (seven total tackles) and FS Omar Stoutmire (seven total tackles).
Analysis: Bullocks is a fringe IDP option, but otherwise none of these players should start for Fantasy owners.
News: The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports that Saints CB Jason Craft suffered a concussion against the Bucs in Week 9 and was forced to leave the game. He is expected to play at Pittsburgh in Week 10. The paper also reported that LB Scott Shanle (shoulder) is also expected to return to face the Steelers.
Analysis: Neither defender is a must-start in IDP leagues. Keep them reserved or off rosters for now.
News: Notable Saints defensive performances in Week 8 include: SS Omar Stoutmire (10 total tackles), LBs Scott Fujita and Scott Shanle (eight total tackles), DT Hollis Thomas (five tackles, sack) and DE Will Smith (six total tackles, forced fumble).
Analysis: Stoutmire has potential to be a Fantasy star (again), while Smith already is one. Fujitas and Shanle are also useful in deeper IDP leagues, as is Thomas. The Saints play at Tampa Bay in Week 9.
News: The New Orleans Saints acquired linebacker Scott Shanle from the Dallas Cowboys for an undisclosed draft pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. The trade is pending the player passing a physical, the Saints said. Shanle is entering his fourth season in the NFL. He joined the Cowboys in 2004, playing on special teams and starting 11 games. In 2005, he had 50 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
Analysis: Shanle was a reserve inside guy for Dallas, so he knows about playing in the middle of a defense. He will have a shot at starting for the LB-depraved Saints and quickly becomes a sleeper in IDP play.
News: The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that Dat Nguyen (strained neck) appears to be ready to return against Arizona Sunday. He was not on this week's injury report.
Analysis: Nguyen has missed three games, but he practiced Thursday without any problems. Scott Shanle might get the start again in his place, but expect both to split snaps. The Dallas defense remains a decent start against the Cardinals.
News: LB Dat Nguyen (stinger) missed practice Wednesday and remains questionable for the Giants game. He said he is day to day but Nguyen will likely sit out for the second consecutive week. Scott Shanle will start in his place with Bradie James making the defensive calls.
Analysis: None of these players is worth considering in IDP leagues this week.
News: St. Louis suspended Scott Shanle for off-the-field activities for four games on Friday. He is eligible to return to the active roster after Week 8.
Analysis: Shanle is not a useful player in leagues that use individual defenders.
