Intro
Training camps are in full swing across the league. Fantasy football draft season is upon us and we are here to get you ready! Over the next few weeks we’ll take a look at a few bounce-back IDP candidates from each division.
We’ll be kicking things off with the AFC East. The division is loaded with defensive-minded coaches and will feature a lot of great chess matches and strategies amongst the division rivals. Let’s take a look at some candidates to look at in your IDP drafts:
Buffalo Bills
Jordan Poyer
The backbone of the Bills’ defense is Jordan Poyer. He accumulated over 124 total tackles last season, helping cement himself as a great player. In fact, since joining the Bills in 2017, Poyer has tallied 95 plus total tackles in each season.
Poyer finished in the top-20 in total 2020 IDP rankings (18th). With an increased focus on increasing the pass rush this offseason (the Bills did just that), look for Poyer to roam around and become more of a playmaker. Poyer should be a top-15 fantasy football IDP candidate this season. I expect for him to be around 100 plus tackles again this season with an uptick in sacks.
Miami Dolphins
Jerome Baker
I’m a big of fan of Jerome Baker. All this guy does is just be around the ball and make plays. Last year, Baker finished in the top-20 in total 2020 IDP rankings at 19. Baker had 112 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, and seven sacks.
Baker had an incredible year, and earned himself a four-year, $39 million dollar extension. He has long-term security and is one of Miami’s cornerstone defensive pieces. And don’t forget, he’s only 24 years old. Yet, he’s always under the radar in fantasy fotoball circles.
Averaging around 12.2 fantasy points per game last season, Baker is a player to target as he tries to further cement his status as an all-around elite linebacker. I myself have been a huge fan of his game and will have Baker as a top IDP target.
New England Patriots
Adrian Phillips
Going to go out on a limb here, but I believe Adrian Phillips will be the best defensive player on the Patriots this season. Yes, there, I said it. Now let’s look at the numbers. Phillips garnered 109 total tackles and seven tackles for loss in 2020. He ranked 35th in overall IDP rankings for 2020.
It was a career year for Phillips and it will only get better this season. With players like Matt Judon and Kyle Van Noy added to the Patriots front seven, this make Phillips more dangerous on the backend. With early reports from camp pointing to Phillips being more comfortable in the system and looking great, look to see his stock continue to rise. Phillips is a sure-fire top-20 fantasy football IDP to me this season.
New York Jets
C.J. Mosley
I wrote about C.J. Mosley earlier in the off-season and I stand by it. He has looked lighter, quicker and fully motivated to make an impact this season. I’ve mentioned this before but, I’ll say it again. Mosley will look to regain his mojo from his Baltimore days.
For those who have forgotten, Mosley had 92 plus tackles every year from 2014-2018. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in four of those years, with five total All-Pro appearances (four 2nd Team, one 1st Team). Just pure dominance. The Jets do not have much in terms of linebacker competition. The Jets signed Jarrad Davis in the off-season, but he is a complementary piece to that defensive front seven. This is Mosley’s team and it is his job to lose.
Right now the current fantasy football IDP rankings have Mosley listed at number 33. Joe Schobert is at number nine. No disrespect to Schobert, he is a quality, consistent producer. But I’m making my bet on Mosley. He will be motivated after being away from the game for two years and is itching to get back prove the doubters wrong.
