METHODOLOGY
In this weekly article, we will take a look at a couple of IDP IDP players available in many leagues that appear to show promise or have a foreseeable path to time on the field and production. The hope is that can acquire these players for free or relatively close to free. It depends on the depth and settings of each individual league. Qualifying players are those available in no more than one-third of full IDP leagues on MyFantasyLeague.com (MFL).
In leagues with deeper rosters, some of these are players to stash for a few weeks until their time and opportunity to produce are ripe. Getting ahead of your league mates on these players, while also saving valuable waiver budget dollars, will give you an edge over your competition.
When conducting in-season weekly maintenance in your leagues, you should take advantage of IR spots and any opportunities to add players to your roster. You may have a player ruled out or on short-term IR that is eligible for your league’s IR list–utilize this! If you haven’t already, make sure you max out your taxi squad players with youngsters you like who are eligible to be placed on that list.
Since most of these recommended additions will occur over the weekend, we will exclude any players from the Thursday night game, since they will be locked from already having played. Let’s explore this week’s recommendations on the IDP crystal ball!
MUST-ADD IF AVAILABLE
Malik Harrison, LB Baltimore Ravens
The former Ohio State Buckeye is a true physical specimen at 6’3” and 250 lbs. with great speed. Admittedly, your author was a year early on Malik Harrison with a prediction to start as a rookie. Harrison fell to the third round of the draft because he needed to improve play recognition and develop more football IQ. This is not unlike another former Buckeye LB who shows up later in this article. Improved instincts and a better ability to diagnose offensive plays, combined with L.J. Fort’s ACL tear in pre-season, have led to Harrison earning a starting ILB spot. Harrison also has developed as a coverage defender since he entered the league.
While Harrison continues to develop and improve in coverage, there is no denying that the strength of his game is blowing up the run game.
Last Monday, Harrison played in 51% of his team’s defensive snaps. He stayed on the field in some nickel personnel packages, so expect this number to rise as the season progresses (though maybe not next week against Kansas City’s aerial attack). As an added bonus, Harrison was also on the field for half of the Ravens’ special teams snaps. This provides added opportunities each week for an extra tackle here or there.
Harrison finished with just three tackles on Monday Night Football but found himself around the ball often. Not only does he bang in the run game, but Harrison now brings the wood as a coverage defender as well this year.
https://twitter.com/TedBuddy8/status/1437583173248946178?s=20Don’t miss your opportunity to grab this future star.
SLOW-PLAY
Juan Thornhill, S Kansas City Chiefs
This one may be a difficult add, as Juan Thornhill was excellent in Week One filling in for the injured Tyrann Mathieu. Thornhill amassed seven total tackles with five solos, a forced fumble, and a pass defensed against Cleveland’s run-heavy offensive game script. Mathieu is expected back this week, so there should be an opportunity to grab Thornhill.
Whether it be due to injury or poor play, your author expects Thornhill to eventually take over for Daniel Sorensen at some point this season. When you consider the Chief’s ability to put up points, there may even be earlier opportunities for Thornhill in nickel and especially dime personnel situations. Worst case scenario, keep in mind that Sorensen turns 32 and Mathieu turns 30 after this season and both are in the final year of their contracts.
TAXI ELIGIBLE
Baron Browning, LB Denver Broncos
A little smaller but equally as talented of an athlete as the aforementioned Malik Harrison, Baron Browning also fell to the end of the third round of this past April’s Draft. He slid for similar reasons that Harrison did the year prior. Still, Browning possesses 4.5 40-speed and had a knack for making big plays in college.
Denver has been changing out starting ILBs every few years for the last decade or so. Expect Browning to get his opportunity to take over for one of Josey Jewell or A.J. Johnson in 2022. Each of the Broncos’ incumbent ILBs is on the last year of their contracts. If he can get up to speed, Browning may overtake one of the incumbents this season. In most IDP dynasty leagues, Browning was taken in the final round or went undrafted. He is now available in more than two-thirds of IDP leagues and is the perfect taxi squad stash.
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