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Houston Texans IDP Team Report

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When talking about the Houston Texans from an IDP perspective, the discussion essentially begins and ends with a certain defensive end. However, while J.J. Watt may be the crown jewel of the Houston defense, the 2014 NFL Defensive Player of the Year isn’t the only player of interest to fantasy owners.

Defensive Linemen

If defensive players score on par with their offensive counterparts, a strong argument can be made that Houston Texans J.J. Watt is worth a look with the No. 1 overall pick.

If defensive players score on par with their offensive counterparts, a strong argument can be made that Houston Texans J.J. Watt is worth a look with the No. 1 overall pick.

Watt had a pretty good year in 2014 – that is, if you consider 78 tackles, 20.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, three defensive scores and a No. 1 overall finish in IDP scoring (all positions) a good year. According to Tania Ganguli of ESPN, it didn’t take long for Watt to make an impression on new teammate Vince Wilfork.

“Just to be with him every day to see exactly what he puts in, because a lot of guys don’t put a lot of work in the game,” Wilfork said. “They just get to a certain level and they get complacent. They’re just happy with where they’re at. To see him work every day, he’s going to be a great player for a long time and it all starts with the way he works. He makes me work harder.”

Watt is easily the top IDP overall in 2015, and a legitimate first-round pick in IDP formats where defensive players aren’t marginalized. In fact, if defensive players score on par with their offensive counterparts, a strong argument can be made that Watt is worth a look with the No. 1 overall pick.

Linebackers

After topping 100 tackles in two of his first three NFL seasons, inside linebacker Brian Cushing has had all kinds of trouble staying on the field in recent years. However, Randy Gurzi of FanSided thinks a bounce back could be in store in 2015.

“At 28 years old,” Gurzi said, “Cushing is still in the prime of his career and now having a potential stud like Bernardrick McKinney lining up next to him, I expect to see the former Rookie of the Year freed up some and flying around the field even more. This season should be a resurgence for Cushing as the Texans continue to work towards becoming one of the most feared defensive units in the NFL.”

If that’s the case Cushing’s nearly non-existent asking price would make him a substantial IDP value, but I wouldn’t go betting the rent on it.

In fact, it may be the rookie McKinney who is of more interest to fantasy owners. As the NFL Network’s Mike Mayock said, “This is a prototype inside linebacker, and you don’t get many of those coming out of the college game anymore. He’s a downhill thumper, but he also lined up on the edge, so there’s some versatility there.”

McKinney actually lined up outside some in OTAs, but the guess here is that his future lies inside next to Cushing. If that future includes subpackage snaps, there could be more than a little IDP potential present with the former Mississippi State standout.

Defensive Backs

With the release of 2014 starter D.J. Swearinger, the Texans are looking at a camp battle for the starting spot next to Rahim Moore at strong safety. According to the depth chart at Ourlads, the current front-runner is third-year pro Eddie Pleasant, although free agent acquisition Stevie Brown could make a push to start if he can recapture the form that saw him reel in eight interceptions in 2012 for the New York Giants.

That’s hardly a sure bet given that Brown ranked 67th at the position in pass coverage last year per Pro Football Focus, and none of the Texans’ safeties are more than a late-draft dart throw. The most valuable defensive back in Houston is cornerback Jonathan Joseph, whose sixth-place finish among cornerbacks last year makes him of interest to IDP owners in leagues that require the position.

New York Giants IDP Team Report

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It may be J.J. Watt’s world where IDP defensive linemen are concerned, but a strong argument can be made that New York Giants' Jason Pierre-Paul is the number 2 fantasy option at his position.

It may be J.J. Watt’s world where IDP defensive linemen are concerned, but a strong argument can be made that New York Giants’ Jason Pierre-Paul is the number 2 fantasy option at his position.

For many years, the New York Giants had one of the most feared front fours in football, a defensive line that helped propel the team to a huge upset win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. That line has fallen off a bit in the last couple seasons, but a rebound could be in store in 2015.

Defensive Linemen

The Giants’ front four is anchored by Jason Pierre-Paul, who was the runner-up to J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans in Draft Buddy’s default fantasy points scoring in 2014. Like Watt, Pierre-Paul has the ability to mix double-digit sacks with 70+ tackles, affording IDP owners both upside and consistency. It may be Watt’s world where IDP defensive linemen are concerned, but a strong argument can be made that Pierre-Paul is the No. 2 fantasy option at his position.

Opposite Pierre-Paul, the picture is much less clear. Veterans George Selvie and Robert Ayers, youngster Damontre Moore and rookie Owamagbe Odighizuwa will battle for snaps in camp. If one of those players emerges as the clear “winner” of that battle there could be some IDP value to be had, but an upside-draining rotation is a very real possibility.

If you happen to play in an IDP league that separates defensive ends and defensive tackles and miss out on the likes of Ndamukong Suh of the Miami Dolphins and Gerald McCoy of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, don’t sleep on Johnathan Hankins. The third-year pro quietly finished fifth among defensive tackles last year, and his relative anonymity means Hankins can often be had at a discount.

Linebackers

There’s a new defensive scheme coming to New York in 2015 with the return of coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, and middle linebacker Jon Beason told SiriusXM Radio that he can’t wait to get after it. “It’s a great system,” Beason said. “We’re going to be aggressive. We’re going to be ready for whatever an offense does.” Beason isn’t carrying a high price tag in 2015 after an injury-marred 2014 season, but those durability concerns add more than a bit of risk to trusting the 30-year-old.

Outside Beason, there are more questions than answers where Big Blue’s ‘Backers are concerned. Free-agent acquisition J.T. Thomas was a pleasant IDP surprise filling in for Paul Posluszny in Jacksonville last year, but until we see how the subpackage snaps shake out Thomas is a speculative addition at best.

Defensive Backs

After losing both Antrel Rolle and Stevie Brown in free agency, safety was an area of need for the Giants, a need the team addressed by moving up in the second round to select Alabama’s Landon Collins. The pick met with the approval of Mike Mayock of the NFL Network. “Collins runs a sub-4.5 40,” Mayock said. “He plays every game with his best effort. He is the best in-the-box safety in this draft. If you’re a defensive back for (Alabama coach) Nick Saban, you’re well coached. Collins finishes in the run game and he finishes in the pass game.” A likely every-down player out of the gate, Collins is worthy of consideration as a DB2.

Over the first seven weeks of last season, only Antoine Cason scored more fantasy points than Prince Amukamara. Of course, as has been the case for much of the former first-round pick’s career, Amukamara then got hurt. Heading into a contract year, the 26-year-old has plenty of motivation to produce for the Giants – and IDP owners – in 2015.