News: Denver defensive lineman Robert Ayers recorded one of the seven sacks against Carolina quarterback Cam Newton Sunday of Week 10. Ayers finished with five tackles and two came for a loss.
Analysis: Ayers recorded his first sack of the season Sunday and now has 10 tackles on the year. Clearly, Ayers has low-end Fantasy value in IDP formats.
News: Broncos DE Robert Ayers suffered a knee sprain at Miami in Week 7. Ayers totaled two total tackles before getting hurt.
Analysis: Ayers has yet to fully develop into a pass rush phenom, so Fantasy owners shouldn't be seriously impacted by this news. Look elsewhere for DL help.
News: Denver DL Robert Ayers recorded his first sack of the season on Sunday against San Diego. He had five tackles, three solo, in Week 5. The Broncos would still lose the game 29-24, despite Ayers' efforts.
Analysis: Ayers has 14 tackles through five weeks for the Broncos. Fantasy owners in IDP leagues should continue to view Ayers as a low-end DL option moving forward.
News: Denver DE Robert Ayers, a former first-round selection, is still searching for a breakthrough season. Ayers, who was chosen 18th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft, registered 1 1/2 sacks and 39 tackles last season. He notched his sacks in the first two games of the season but was held without one for the remainder of the season that was interrupted by a five-game absence with a foot injury. "It's definitely not the way I wanted it to go, personally or team-wise," he said in summing up his year. "There were definitely ups and downs."
Analysis: Ayers said he would like to believe he's a core player in Denver's future as the team attempts to improve a defense that allowed the most points in the NFL last season (471). "Sometimes it's not always what you feel about yourself; it's what other guys feel about you," he said. "I'm just going to put my best foot forward." Ayers should be considered a low-end Fantasy option in IDP drafts for 2011.
News: Denver LB Robert Ayers got the start at inside linebacker in Week 14 with Joe Mays on injured reserve. The 2009 first-round draft pick, who has battled a foot injury much of the season, finished with four tackles in the Broncos' 43-13 loss at Arizona on Sunday.
Analysis: It was Ayers' second game in a row with four tackles and he now has 25 total stops this season. Continue to consider him a low-end Fantasy option in IDP leagues.
News: Broncos LB Robert Ayers (foot) was expected to be active for Week 12 and he was. He didn't miss practice all week, but Denver was being cautious with him.
Analysis: Ayers had 1.5 sacks in the first two games of the year, but hasn't done much since then. He has 19 tackles on the year and has not been active for five straight games. When healthy and active, Ayers is just a low-end LB option in IDP Fantasy leagues.
News: Broncos Coach Josh McDaniels said he "expects" OLB Robert Ayers (foot) and ILB D.J. Williams (concussion) to play Sunday. But he added, "We ve still got a couple days." Ayers is probable for the Week 12 game against the Rams and he didn't miss any practice time this week.
Analysis: Ayers said he wasn’t completely blindsided by his late deactivation Week 11 against the Chargers. “I just started running a week before the San Diego game so I always knew in the back of my mind there was a chance I didn’t play,” he said. Ayers had 1 1/2 sacks in his five three games before getting injured. The Broncos could use his pass-rushing presence since they are still trying to make up for the loss of Elvis Dumervil (pectoral). Ayers remains a low-end Fantasy flier until he proves healthy and productive.
News: Broncos OLB Robert Ayers (foot) wouldn't totally commit to St. Louis as his return game Week 12 but was hopeful. "I feel like I'm going to play. If the end of the week the decision's made that I don't play, I'm confident it's the best decision," he said.
Analysis: Ayers said he wasn’t completely blindsided by his late deactivation Week 11 against the Chargers. “I just started running a week before the San Diego game so I always knew in the back of my mind there was a chance I didn’t play,” he said. Ayers had 1 1/2 sacks in his five three games before getting injured. The Broncos could use his pass-rushing presence since they are still trying to make up for the loss of Elvis Dumervil (pectoral). Ayers remains a low-end Fantasy flier until he proves healthy and productive.
News: Denver LB Robert Ayers (foot) has been ruled inactive for Week 12 against the Chargers. Ayers was limited in practice this week and has now missed five games with his foot injury.
Analysis: Ayers was a candidate to be a sleeper for lots of sacks this season, but unfortunately his foot injury has limited his production. Fantasy owners should continue to monitor his status over the next week to see if he can play in Week 13. Ayers can be considered a low-end Fantasy LB in most IDP formats, when healthy.
News: Broncos pass rusher Robert Ayers returned to practice for the first time since fracturing a foot against Baltimore on Oct. 10.
Analysis: Ayers was a candidate to be a sleeper for lots of sacks this season before the foot injury. He's only worth stashing in the deepest of dynasty/keeper leagues at this point.
News: Broncos LB Robert Ayers, who missed the last two games with a foot injury, won't travel with the team to London for Week 8 against the 49ers, but he could return relatively soon. A published report put the timetable for Ayers at 2-3 months, which raised the question why he didn't just land on IR. But coach Josh McDaniels said those reports are "likely incorrect," adding: "We look forward to having him back in the near future."
Analysis: When healthy, Ayers is good for a handful of tackles each week, but he isn't enough of a playmaker to make a significant impact in Fantasy. You can leave him on waivers in IDP formats.
News: Coach Josh McDaniels said Monday that LB Robert Ayers will not play against the Jets in Week 6 due to a leg injury. A timetable for a return is unknown at this point. The Denver Post reports Ayers could miss 2-3 months.
Analysis: Ayers has not been a valued Fantasy contributor this season, but he has the ability to rush the passer. If he is out for an extended period as reported, then feel free to drop him in Fantasy.
News: Broncos LB Robert Ayers hurt his right hip during Sunday's win over the Seahawks. He recorded one tackle in the game.
Analysis: There is a lot of pressure on Ayers to replace the injured Elvis Dumervil. With Ayers getting hurt, his status is unknown heading into Week 3. Fantasy owners should continue to monitor him in IDP leagues.
News: Broncos LB Robert Ayers made his first NFL sack in a Week 1 loss to the Jaguars. He finished with five totals tackles.
Analysis: This season, Ayers is being looked upon to replace the sack ability of Elvis Dumervil, who is out for the year with a pectoral injury. Ayers is worth keeping an eye on over these first few weeks in IDP Fantasy formats, but shouldn't be started just yet. Denver hosts Seattle in Week 2.
News: Broncos LB Robert Ayers continues to do his best Elvis Dumervil impersonation. Ayers, who is trying to replace Dumervil, who could miss the season with a pectoral injury, recorded two sacks during Sunday's preseason game against the Steelers. He finished with four tackles and has 2 1/2 sacks in the preseason.
Analysis: While it might be tough for Ayers to lead the NFL in sacks like Dumervil, he is showing in the preseason he can get after the QB quite well. Ayers had no sacks as a rookie in 2009, but there is a reason why Denver drafted him in the first round and he is finally showing it. Consider Ayers a late-round sleeper in Fantasy IDP leagues.
News: Second-year Broncos LB Robert Ayers expects to wipe the slate clean in 2010 after a disappointing rookie season. The 18th-overall pick finished with just 19 tackles and no sacks in 15 games, but is expected to help fill in the void created by the injury to teammate and havoc-wreaking LB Elvis Dumervil, even if he doesn't lead the league in sacks like Dumervil did last year. “You don’t have to have 20 sacks to be a good pass rusher, so I’m not looking at the statistics much,” Ayers told ESPN.com. “I want to be the guy who helps the pass rush and cuts off the run. I want to a complete player. I’m not saying I am that guy, but that’s who I’m trying to become.”
Analysis: The Broncos really need Ayers to step up this year. Not just because of Dumervil's absence, but because they invested so heavily in him, and didn't get much production from their other linebackers. After Dumervil's 17 sacks, Darrell Reid was next with four sacks. A 3-4 defense cannot succeed without pressure from their OLBs. But it's unlikely Ayers will put up big numbers this year, especially without Dumervil to take pressure off of him on the other side. Leave Ayers be on Draft Day but keep an eye on him as a potential waiver-wire pickup during the season.
News: NFL Network is among those reporting that Broncos LB Elvis Dumervil has suffered a torn pectoral muscle and will miss at least four months. The team might opt to put him on injured reserve, ending his season. Dumervil had 17 of the Broncos' 39 sacks in 2009 -- no one else on the team had more than five. The team will look to Jarvis Moss and Robert Ayers primarily to replace Dumervil's pass rush.
Analysis: Ayers had a few decent moments as a rookie last year but had no sacks. Moss did even worse, not registering a single stat all year. The Broncos might bring in another pass rusher to help their situation out, but even if they don't neither Moss nor Ayers are expected to put up a ton of sacks and other defensive stats to warrant use in Fantasy leagues.
News: The discord that led Robert Ayers to dwell in his coach's doghouse appears to have diminished. After mostly watching from the sideline the first two days of minicamp due to a "coaching decision," the Broncos LB was back in the mix on a gloomy Sunday, working primarily with the second team. For now, the discontentment has abated. Not that Ayers or coach Josh McDaniels would elaborate on its source. "It was for a good reason," Ayers said. "End of the day, it will make me a better player and better person." Whatever the disharmony may have been, McDaniels said he's already flipped the page. "I commend him for the work he's done and the way he's approached this entire offseason," McDaniels said. "That's something I think that's resolved itself and we're all excited to move forward with that. There are no other issues with it."
Analysis: Ayers will be competing for playing time this year with players such as Jarvis Moss, another high first-round pick that hasn't lived up to expectations. "It'll be interesting to see how that goes, but they know they're in a competitive situation," McDaniels said. "I think both of them improved because of that and we'll let that play out." Keep an eye on who wins the battle, but neither player has much Fantasy value in IDP leagues this year.
News:Robert Ayers is starting at the right outside linebacker spot for the Broncos and has been part of the team's nickel package, too. Coach Josh McDaniels called Ayers "a top performer" in the offseason program and has high hopes for the second-year pro, hoping he can be a three-down player for the Broncos. Ayers, who didn't have a sack last season as a rookie, has gone as far as to rebuild every part of his game from the ground up, from conditioning to weight training to his mental approach to the game. "Last year, it looked like I was playing at a slow pace," Ayers said. "Not having to think a lot and reacting is going to help me."
Analysis: We like anyone who can play three downs on defense, so Ayers should be a Fantasy consideration. If you have a late-round pick to burn in deeper drafts, spend one on the second-year pass rusher.
News: The Broncos' list of inactives for Week 11 against the Chargers includes QB Tom Brandstater, WR Kenny McKinley, RB LaMont Jordan, LB Robert Ayers, DL Chris Baker and WR Brandon Lloyd.
Analysis: None of these players does enough statistically to matter in Fantasy even when active. Leave them all on waivers.
News: Broncos rookie DE Robert Ayers had just eight tackles this season before the Monday night game against the Steelers in Denver. Ayers left Monday night with his first defensive touchdown. Ayers recovered a Ben Roethlisberger fumble and returned it 54 yards for a touchdown to begin the scoring in the 3rd quarter. He added two tackles.
Analysis: The touchdown was a nice moment for Ayers’ rookie season but the player is not worth owning in Fantasy leagues at this time. He simply doesn’t see enough tackles. Leave him on waivers for Week 10 at Washington.
News: The Denver Broncos reached an agreement with first-round pick Robert Ayers. In an e-mail, Ayers' agent, Anthony Agnone, said the deal was essentially done, but the paperwork was still being finalized. The Broncos used their 18th selection to take Ayers, a defensive end out of Tennessee. With the Broncos implementing a 3-4 scheme, Ayers will play a hybrid role as he alternates between the line and linebacker.
Analysis: Ayers, who some considered to be a raw project-type player before the draft, has some potential to produce some sacks, but his tackle totals and other defensive stats won't be huge. He's only worth a middle-round pick in rookie-only drafts.
