News: The Colts re-signed cornerback Darius Butler, keeping him in Indy through 2014.
Analysis: Butler had two touchdowns and four interceptions last season to go with 31 total tackles. He's never been a great stat producer and thus never a prominent name in Fantasy.
News: Colts defensive back Darius Butler recorded his second pick-six of the season in Week 16 against the Chiefs. Butler stepped in front of a Brady Quinn pass attempt in the first quarter and rumbled 32 yards for a touchdown. He now has four interceptions on the season, which is leads the team.
Analysis: Butler been an interception machine of late as he has registered all four of his interceptions over the past seven weeks. However, he only has 30 tackles on the year to go along with eight passes defended. At this point in the season, Butler should only be owned in deeper formats.
News: Colts defensive back Darius Butler picked off a Jake Locker pass in the Week 14 win over Tennessee Sunday. Butler added two tackles in the game.
Analysis: The 26-year-old Butler now has 24 tackles on the season to go with three interceptions. His other two picks came in the same game against the Jaguars and he returned one of those to the house. Still, outside of those two performances, Butler has done little this year. He has low-end value in most IDP formats.
News: Colts defensive back Darius Butler picked off a pair of passes Thursday against the Jaguars, his first in four years. He picked off both Jaguars’ quarterbacks that appeared in the game, and he brought the first one back 11 yards for a defensive touchdown. Butler added four tackles, in a 27-10 win.
Analysis: Butler has not shown a nose for the ball since a three-interception rookie season, so it was good to see him get a couple, even if was against the lowly Jaguars. Butler has played in just four games this season, but has 11 tackles already. Consider him just a low-end Fantasy IDP option moving forward.
News: The Colts announced Tuesday they signed cornerback Darius Butler.
Analysis: Butler was a 2009 second-round pick, but he never lived up to his full potential and has bounced around the NFL. He will have to work his way up the depth chart in Indianapolis, so leave him off Fantasy IDP rosters until further notice.
News: Panthers DB Darius Butler was listed among the inactives for Week 8 against the Vikings. He is caring for his daughter, who is recovering from heart surgery. She had a setback on Friday, but is doing better, according to team officials.
Analysis: Butler is out indefinitely, and he should be avoided in all IDP formats for Week 8. Even when he is available, Butler can be passed up in nearly all IDP leagues.
News: Panthers DB Darius Butler is out while caring for his daughter, who is recovering from Thursday’s successful heart surgery. Coach Ron Rivera said Friday that Butler is excused from the team for as much time as he needs.
Analysis: Butler has started the last four games and has racked up 15 tackles with three passes defended over that span. No word yet on when he is expected back so keep an eye on the situation going forward. But since he is not a huge contributor in Fantasy, continue to ignore Butler in the majority of IDP formats.
News: The Charlotte Observer reports Panthers DB Chris Gamble is likely to miss Week 4 against the Bears because of a concussion suffered Week 3. Head coach Ron Rivera said Darius Butler will start in Gamble's absence. "He's played well," Rivera said of Butler. "He's played a lot of very good football for a good organization. For him to come in and be part of what we do, I feel very comfortable with that. He's a physical guy that runs well, has good closing speed. He has good hands and a good break on the ball."
Analysis: Butler has just three tackles in three games, but the fact he is going to start Week 4 means he could be used as a stopgap Fantasy option in IDP leagues since the Bears might test him repeatedly.
News: The Panthers claimed CB Darius Butler off waivers on Tuesday evening. Butler, who was released by the Patriots earlier in the day, is expected to practice with the Panthers on Wednesday.
Analysis: Butler showed some last season but was eventually benched after just two games. However, he will now get another chance to prove himself in Carolina under first-year head coach Ron Rivera. Still, he really doesn't have much Fantasy value at this point in the season.
News: The Patriots released DB Darius Butler on Tuesday.
Analysis: The Patriots had high hopes for Butler after drafting him in the second round of the 2009 draft. Unfortunately, he never lived up to expectations and will now have to find work elsewhere. Leave Butler on waivers in all Fantasy formats.
News: The Patriots have listed the following players as inactive for Week 16 vs. Jacksonville: DL Vince Wilfork, DB Darius Butler, DB Terrence Wheatley, RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis, DL Titus Adams and WR/3rd QB Isaiah Stanback.
Analysis: Apart from Wilfork, who has some minimal value in IDP leagues, none of these players have any real Fantasy value at this time. Continue to ignore them.
News: Patriots DB Darius Butler had his first career interception during a Week 6 win against the Titans. Unfortunately, he had no tackles in the game.
Analysis: The Patriots have high hopes for Butler, who started against Tennessee. The rookie from Connecticut is developing as a cover corner, but until his stats improve dramatically, Butler is more of a long-term Fantasy keeper.
News: The Patriots have announced the following inactives for their Week 3 game vs. Atlanta: LB Prescott Burgess, DB Darius Butler, RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis, LB Jerod Mayo, WR Wes Welker and DB Jonathan Wilhite.
Analysis: Welker is the big name in this group and should be benched in all formats. The rest were either already declared out (Mayo) or have no Fantasy value.
News: The New England Patriots have signed second-round draft pick Darius Butler. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound CB was a first-team All-Big East pick as a senior at Connecticut in 2008. He finished his college career with 125 total tackles and 10 interceptions. He was taken with the 41st pick overall.
Analysis: Butler will play a role with the Patriots in the secondary and could start right away. It's hard to count on a rookie CB to make plays in Fantasy leagues, but he could be worth a look in deeper IDP leagues during the year to add off the waiver wire.
