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San Diego Chargers IDP Team Report

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It doesn’t get nearly the publicity of some of the team’s offensive stars, but the San Diego Chargers have quietly assembled a solid defense under coordinator John Pagano, ranking inside the NFL’s top 10 a year ago. That defense isn’t exactly a goldmine of IDP-relevant talent, but it isn’t a complete wasteland, either.

Defensive Linemen

In 2014, the entire San Diego defensive line generated all of 8.5 sacks. Defensive end Corey Liuget, who accounted for 4.5 of those sacks and recently inked a five-year, $58.5 million contract extension, told Ricky Henne of the team’s website that he’s aware that isn’t going to cut it in 2015.

“We want to be difference makers this year,” Liuget explained. “We want to play together and just go out there and ball out. We want to play the game with a bunch of energy, but getting our sack numbers up is most important.”

The Bolts may have thought the 25-year-old Liuget was worth that mammoth investment, but with a career high of seven sacks (in 2012), the same can’t really be said for Liuget’s IDP value. The fifth-year veteran is an OK choice as a low-ceiling IDP DL2, but Liuget’s little more than that.

Linebackers

The Chargers invested a second-round pick in the 2015 NFL draft in Miami inside linebacker Denzel Perryman in an effort to bolster a rather iffy group of inside linebackers, but Perryman told Hayley Elwood of the team’s website he knows nothing will be handed to him at the professional level.

“I want to execute my role on special teams and hopefully take a starting job,” Perryman said. “It’s all about competition on this level and it’s all a business. If I don’t get the job done, I’m pretty sure then next year they’ll bring someone else in to get the job done. I just want to get in and help this team win.”

It isn’t that hard to envision Perryman winning that starting spot. The Chargers have been waiting for Donald Butler to take the next step as a pro seemingly since the moment he entered the NFL in 2011. Third-year pro Manti Te’o has shown some flashes of the talent that made him a Heisman contender at Notre Dame, but Te’o has also been inconsistent and plagued by injuries.

To say that it’s a fluid situation is an understatement, and it’s one that may well not be resolved well into the preseason. For now I’d give Perryman the nod as the “most valuable” of the Chargers’ linebackers (followed by everyone’s favorite imaginary Casanova), but counting on any San Diego ILB as more than a fourth fantasy linebacker at present is asking for trouble.

Defensive Backs

For years, free safety Eric Weddle has been the leader of the San Diego defense, both from an NFL and IDP standpoint. However, with the 30-year-old Weddle and the team embroiled in a nasty contract dispute, it appears 2015 will be Weddle’s last season in Southern California.

Weddle himself sounded resigned to that fact while speaking with Eric Williams of ESPN. “I just want to go out on a high note, go out on top and lead my team,” he said. “I want to continue to show what I’m all about. I’m a pro. I’m a professional and strive to be the best and try to have fun. It’s all in the past. I can’t control it. They will do what they want. That’s their plan, I have mine and I’ll make the most of it.”

IDP owners will just have to make the most of it as well and enjoy one last season of that magnificent beard posting IDP DB1 numbers before facing an uncertain future.

Oakland Raiders IDP Team Report

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The Raiders were very aggressive in adding defensive pieces via free agency last year, only to see their revamped defense perform much like the old one – poorly. Now, in addition to some more new faces, there’s also a new head honcho in Jack Del Rio. But will the results be the same?

Defensive Linemen

One of those free agent additions the Raiders made last year was defensive end Justin Tuck, who experienced a career renaissance with the New York Giants in 2013. That resurgence was short-lived, but despite only 43 tackles and five sacks last season Del Rio told Doug Williams of NBC Bay Area the 32-year-old remains a key contributor.

“Tuck has that experience and brings some of that wisdom to the group, so I think that’s very important,” Del Rio said. “A guy that’s been there at the highest level understands what it takes. So a guy like that, that’s buying into your message and doing the things that need to be done and helping others, that’s a positive factor for you.”

That might be, but from an IDP standpoint Tuck’s little more than a late-draft dart throw. Likewise for rookie Mario Edwards. The former Florida State standout has loads of talent and not a whole lot in front of him on the depth chart, but his inconsistency in college doesn’t bode well for Edwards’ odds of making a fantasy impact in Year 1.

Linebackers

The Raiders also brought in a new defensive coordinator in Ken Norton Jr., who told Eddie Paskal of the team’s website he can’t wait to work with second-year sensation Khalil Mack. “Khalil is special,” Norton said. “There are a lot of players that might be similar, but he’s in a class of his own. [Defensive end] Bruce Irvin in Seattle was similar, but at the same time, Khalil’s built. He’s athletic. He’s talented. He’s smart and he’s relentless. He’s amazing and he’s the type of guy that you want to surround him with good football players.”

Norton also praised middle linebacker Curtis Lofton, who joined the Raiders in free agency after being released by the New Orleans Saints. “When you have a former middle linebacker as your coordinator,” Norton said, “and a former middle linebacker as your head coach, that position becomes very important. You look at Curtis’ background, he’s played a lot of football for a long time and hasn’t missed any games. He’s very, very productive, very smart, knows how to play ball and knows how to run the defense. I’m glad we have him.”

Both linebackers have more than a little upside as three-down players. Lofton will likely be the steadier IDP LB2/3 with a higher floor, while Mack may be a bit more up-and-down but possesses a much higher fantasy ceiling.

It appeared the Raiders had another up-and-coming youngster in weak-side linebacker Sio Moore, but after the team signed veteran Malcolm Smith it appears they aren’t so sure. It’s a camp battle to watch, but with snaps (much less subpackage snaps) no sure bet for either player the pair are at best a speculative pick and at worst a wasted one.

Defensive Backs

It’s an annual rite of passage in IDP leagues. Every year, we write off safety Charles Woodson as being just too danged old to make a fantasy dent. And every year, not only does Woodson make a dent, but he thrives. And last year’s fourth-ranked IDP defensive back (and the NFL’s oldest defensive player) told Marty James of The Napa Valley Register he isn’t ready to be put out to pasture just yet.

“I just want to help this team turn it around,” Woodson. “This team has not been where it wants to be for quite some time now, and I want to be a part of the turnaround. I’m looking forward to a very positive season. I think we’ll compete this season with anybody that we play.”

There is of course risk involved with drafting a player who’s much closer to 40 than 30, but at this point we wouldn’t bet against him, either.

Denver Broncos IDP Team Report

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The Broncos spent most of the 2014 season the front-runners to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl for the second time in as many years. However, a late-season swoon and unceremoniously quick playoff exit led to big changes in the Mile High City. And those changes extend to the defense.

Defensive Linemen

The biggest of those changes is a scheme switch under new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. That switch, of course, is to Phillips’ preferred 3-4 front, and while Phillips may be a maestro with the scheme the music it plays makes IDP types ears bleed. That’s especially true on the defensive line.

With DeMarcus Ware re-classified by most IDP providers as an outside linebacker, there just isn’t much to see on the defensive front. So just back away slowly and let’s move on to the linebackers before anyone gets hurt.

Linebackers

The changes in scheme also means big changes at linebacker. An injury suffered by Danny Trevathan opened the door for a bigger role for fourth-year pro Brandon Marshall. Marshall took advantage of the opportunity en route to 113 tackles, but he told Cameron Wolfe of The Denver Post he isn’t about to take things for granted now.

“I try not to let myself get comfortable,” Marshall said. “This is the most competitive sport in the world; everybody is out for your job. I want to feed my family as well.”

Of course, after losing most of last year to multiple knee injuries, Trevathan echoed a very similar refrain. “Trust is a two-way street. I’ve got to build a little bit more trust, but I’m getting there,” Trevathan said. “Once I get to the level that I’m not thinking about it, even when I’m walking, that’s probably when I’m going to take the next step.”

Both players have injury questions. Both also have significant IDP upside as three-down starters inside. So does pass-rusher Von Miller, who is playing the same role in a different scheme for Phillips. For fantasy purposes Miller remains more-or-less what he has always been – a high-variance option whose value gets a sizable bump in formats where sacks score highly.

Defensive Backs

Strong safety T.J. Ward didn’t mince words when telling Wolfe what he expects from the Denver secondary in 2015. “We’re light years ahead of where we were last year,” Ward said. “I want (us) to lead the league in interceptions. I want (us) to lead the league in sacks from the secondary and lead the league in turnovers.”

Cornerback Chris Harris was similarly confident while speaking with ESPN’s Jeff Legwold. “I always feel like I’ve come the long way,’’ Harris said. “We know what this team can do. I know what I can do, we know what this defense can do, and we know what the secondary can do. Now, we just have to go out and show people, handle our business. But no doubt, I think we have what could be a top secondary. Now we have to go out and do it.’’

Harris has some sneaky IDP appeal as a late add in CB-required leagues, but Ward’s numbers were down quite a bit in his first year with the Broncos in 2014. Fantasy owners expecting a return to Ward’s Cleveland heyday are likely setting themselves up to be disappointed.