Every week on Mondays, FantasyKnuckleheads.com will update you on some of the hot prospects that you may want to target on your IDP waiver wire. Here are this week's targets aftet week one of the 2011 season:
Defensive Linemen
Jason Pierre-Paul- I have loved and touted this guy all off-season as a top-10 guy, but many leagues do not have him in starting lineups, particularly smaller leagues. I’ve seen comments from others questioning how good he will remain when Osi comes back healthy. Don’t worry. This kid is going to be the real deal all year long. Without Justin Tuck in the game, he received all the attention and double teams and still produced six tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble. Big ups to him. He no longer just has “potential.” He is now realizing that potential.
Greg Hardy- Hardy is young and still developing, but he had first round talent when he came out last year and then really was never in a position to realize his potential. Now he has a chance with Tyler Brayton and Everette Brown gone from town. He showed this week one with five tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a pass defensed. He also is playing across from Charles Johnson and will likely see less attention because of it. He is a strong break-out candidate.
Henry Melton- I have grabbed Melton in every fantasy league I am in that requires a starting DT. He is replacing Tommie Harris as the 3-technique in the Chicago defense and he had one heck of a first game. Melton tallied five tackles and two sacks and in one game has almost matched last season’s output. Expect more of this from the talented third year DT.
Linebackers
Sean Lee- Lee has finally cracked the Dallas starting lineup and the future is now for the young potential star. He was all over the field last night and narrowly missed scoring a defensive touchdown off of an interception. Still, he racked up 12 tackles (10 solo) to go along with his interception, while Keith Brooking (four tackles) and Bradie James (zero tackles) showed no real competition for stats.
Dan Connor- It is looking like Jon Beason has likely torn his Achilles tendon and if done for the year. Enter Dan Connor. Connor collected six tackles in around a half of play and will be a very solid replacement for Beason for the rest of the year. He averaged around six tackles per start last year and should be better this go-around.
Pat Angerer- Angerer led the Colts with 13 tackles (nine solo) playing most of the game as the strong side linebacker in week one. Gary Brackett hurt his shoulder, however, and Angerer could see a bunch of time in the middle going forward. If so, his value shoots way up. The Colts looked dreadful on offense and this looks like the makings for a year in which the defense is on the field a lot. That bodes well for Angerer going forward.
Sean Weatherspoon- Weatherspoon has a chance to realize his potential this season and now that he is healthy he started doing so in week one. Weatherspoon had 10 tackles (nine solo) and a pass defensed in the loss to Chicago. The only issue with him is that he was chewed out for a dreadful tackling attempt against Matt Forte, where he didn’t even attempt to wrap him up and tried to just knock him out of bounds. Plays like that put you on the fast-track to the bench. As long as Weatherspoon corrects his mistakes and stays on the field he should remain a nice pickup and starting candidate.
Quincy Black- Black is no ordinary SLB. He is a 3-down LB and is just as solid in coverage as he is in run support. He did an admirable job in week one against Detroit by tallying eight tackles (seven solo) and a forced fumble. He will continue to have success as the Bucs groom Mason Foster for his full-time 3-down role going forward.
Erin Henderson- Erin had a great preseason, but I have to admit I did not expect it to continue on into the regular season. Well, I was wrong. Erin outdid his brother EJ as he gathered nine tackles and a sack to EJ’s four tackles. Erin even outperformed Chad Greenway, which is no small task. He could be a sneaky pickup and start going forward if he keeps this up.
Defensive Backs
Bryan Scott- Scott is an interesting IDPer this year. In the preseason, he was being used at safety and at linebacker. In week one, Scott saw some time at cornerback. Regardless of where they play him, he just seems to make plays. Against the Chiefs, he was able to compile nine tackles (all solo) and a sack. That’s the type of production that will keep him in the lineup going forward.
Kam Chancellor- I have to admit that I have not been a very big fan of Chancellor and I did not expect anything special out of him. Through one week, I am wrong. He outplayed Earl Thomas (although both had good games), and was able to collect 10 tackles (all solo) in the Seahawks’ loss. With the Seahawks D likely to be on the field a lot (thanks to their terrible offense), Chancellor will have many more opportunities to excel going forward. Just be aware that those tackle numbers could be a result of tackles made up the gut of the defense where the ‘Hawks were missing stud MLB David Hawthorne this week. Temper expectations going forward a bit when Hawthorne returns.
Reed Doughty- Doughty will remain a solid play as long as LaRon Landry remains out. Doughty has been good for 90+ tackles the past few years and he will have a lot of chances to keep racking up tackles for as long as Landry is out or hobbled. Achilles injuries have a history of lingering and Landry could be in trouble all year. If so, Doughty will reap the benefits.
Sean Jones- Jones should have no problem putting up numbers as the starting SS in Tampa. His week one performance (eight tackles, a forced fumble and a pass defensed) is a good first showing. With some inexperience in Tampa at the safety position and with questions still surrounding whether Tanard Jackson can return or not, Jones has a chance to lead the TB safeties now and going forward.
