The biggest IDP riser throughout the entire pre-draft process continues to do so thanks to first-round draft capital and landing on a team that will utilize him right away as a rookie. Here's a no-nonsense set of rankings. With individual defensive player dynasty league drafts slated to start soon, Pro Football Focus ranked the top 50 IDP Dynasty rookies. Bresee was 247 Sports' No. Assuming he's 100 percent by Week 1, the depth chart in front of Cisco isn't exactly loaded. Levis is a straight-line runner with little wiggle to his game. Hes also shown how productive he can be in a versatile safety role, as hes managed more total tackles (259) than any other safety since 2018. Two Colts' defenders find themselves inside the top 50. He delivered 54 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks as a redshirt freshman for Miami in 2019. Jaelan Phillips lands on a Dolphins team that provides him with one of the best opportunities among all defensive ends in this class. At 63, 274 pounds, he delivered the edge class 2nd-best speed score (115.2), trailing only Odafe Owehs ridiculous testing. Wonnum (Round 4) and Kenny Willekes (Round 7), Minnesota spent a 3rd-round pick on Jones and then a 4th-rounder on Janarius Robinson. Be sure to follow us on Twitter (@PFN365) to stay current with all things around the NFL and the upcoming 2021 fantasy football season beyond sleepers. Well see whether the same holds for Werner. The linebacker-safety hybrid could fill multiple roles for Las Vegas next season. But he didn't post big numbers at Washington, and will likely need time to develop in the pros. But as things stand right now, the former Ohio State Buckeye appears to have a relatively clear path to both starting in the middle and playing in sub-packages. TOP 25 ROOKIE IDP FOR 2021. Basham was one of the most productive edge rushers in college compared to the rest of his peers in this class and a player who always felt perfect for the Bills. 1) Micah Parsons, LB, Dallas Cowboys2) Jamin Davis, LB, Washington Football Team3) Zaven Collins, LB, Arizona Cardinals4) Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Cleveland Browns5) Pete Werner, LB, New Orleans Saints. By DS Staff 9:05am EDT 5/4/21. Even though he was the last taken among the 4, Samuel might have the clearest path to immediate starting duty. But there are some who could work their way into starting lineups (and fantasy relevance) in relatively short order. PFF's Fantasy Football Expected Points tool is primarily used for identifying potential over and undervalued players. But theres nothing wrong with shooting for the ceiling here -- especially at fantasys most fungible position. He'll lose value in most leagues if that happens. Owusu-Koramoah looks like the best bet to lead the 2021 crew in playing time. Horn is a safer option, as is Patrick Surtain II over the long term. This has been a common thorn in the side of IDPers for a very long time. Chazz Surratt, LB, Vikings19. ?81.1 run defense grade (2nd in the Big 12 among EDs) Bolton added 12 passes defensed. This ranking is so you dont forget about him and snag him near the end of drafts. Barmore delivered 8 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 3 pass deflections and 9.5 total tackles for loss in his final Alabama season. Shaka Toney, DE, Washington25. 3. Tyson Campbell, CB, Jaguars. Mosley. No guarantees are made for any specific outcome. The good news for Jones is that other than Danielle Hunter, the Vikings edge rushers arent exactly elite, so the opportunity for snaps is there if he can grab them. He's good enough in coverage to play, he'll be targeted a lot opposite Marshon Lattimore and the 6'1", 198-pounder can tackle. After a redshirt season and light use in 2017, he tallied 7.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss in 2018. 1 IDP player for 2021? Zaven Collins, LB, Cardinals2. I wouldnt expect either of those players to be NFL starters for much longer, but they are still effective enough pass-rushers to cut into Rousseaus playing time as a rookie. Also, continue to visitPro Football Networkfor NFL news and in-depth analysis while also visiting our fantasy football section for more coverage andup-to-date rankings. Please remember these or any other rankings are merely a starting . Farley comes with big injury questions. ***DOWN*** 17. Smith put up back-to-back seasons with pass-rush grades above 91.0 in his two years at UAB. He'll have to up his coverage game in the pros to earn significant playing time. Well have to watch the situations around these Ohio State teammates to see who makes for the better fantasy bet. 3. A year after drafting D.J. However, choosing Tryon over some of the other options on the board, like Azeez Ojulari, felt a bit like a reach given that we haven't seen him play since 2019 when he posted just a 71.9 pass-rush grade.That being said, Tryon joins a pretty . 2020 third-rounder Zack Baun also figures to claim more edge snaps, with Trey Hendrickson gone to Cincinnati. That dings his fantasy outlook a bit. If you want to take Davis as the first linebacker in your rookie drafts, I would have a hard time arguing with you. Jevon Holland S, Miami Dolphins: Selected early in Round 2 by the Dolphins out of Oregon, Holland is an athletic, hard-hitting 6'1", 207-pounder who has drawn comparisons to Jordan Poyer of the Buffalo Billsa comparison that should most assuredly appeal to IDP managers. Recent comments from Browns new defensive coordinator Joe Woods seem to indicate that they would like to run more dime personnel this season, which makes sense given the roster. Rice's stat production didn't stand out across 4 years at Georgia. In addition, the Panthers were looking to add physicality to the secondary, and Horn fills that void with his rare combination of speed and size. PFFs Fantasy Strength of Schedule (SoS) metric provides a league-wide, season-long view of opponent matchups for each fantasy position. But JPPs contract runs out after this season, and hell turn 33 next January. ?79.9 overall @PFF grade (4th among Big 12 EDs) But some draftniks called the immensely athletic Penn State star the best off-ball linebacker prospect since Luke Kuechly. But a quick glance at the Falcons depth chart shows that he'll most likely be a starter out of the gateand that's all that really matters. Payton Turner, NO 84.1 55 and play the MIKE LB role https://t.co/v5YN9NtI4Y, The Lions Wire (@thelionswire) May 5, 2021, #IDP New Lions DT, Levi Onwuzurike's numbers from 2019 (per @PFF): (2020 opt-out), ??? 7. Target safeties over cornerbacks, as they have more opportunity to pile up stats and score fantasy points. NFL Networks Daniel Jeremiah rated him the 15th overall prospect, and Grinding the Mocks had him going 19th overall on average. O n fantasy football calendars, rookie drafts are still taking place. And that the. Patrick Johnson, DE, Eagles, 1. In Buffalo, he finds an experienced defensive staff with as good a chance to help him reach his ceiling as any group in the NFL. DISCLAIMER: This site and the products offered are for entertainment purposes only, and there is no gambling offered on this site. Vander Esch could be the odd man out in the Cowboys starting lineup come September considering the team declined his fifth-year option after he has struggled to stay healthy. 5. The Saints found a viable replacement for Trey Hendrickson in Payton Turner. ??? These safeties and cornerbacks (DB) could be worth drafting early. Gregory Rousseau has all the physical tools and pass-rushing skills to play a high number of snaps as a rookie. I no longer see a reason to reach for Basham ahead of other edge players in this range. New Orleans must have seem something it likes in Turner, but early snaps could be hard to come by behind Cam Jordan and Marcus Davenport. IDP-wise, that would be a good thing. We don't have a speed score for Jones, because a hamstring issue kept him from running the 40 and 3-cone drill at his pro day. 2021 Dynasty Rookie Rankings - Loaded Box Podcast Home About Us FAQ Mock Drafts Dynasty/Fantasy Scouting Reports Positional Reports Dynasty/Best Ball. Basham and Gregory Rousseau figure to be measured against each other for years. After the release of Bobby McCain, the picture becomes a little clearer in Miami, as I would expect Holland to play more of the free safety role in Brian Flores defense. Paye came off the board just 3 spots behind Jaelan Phillips. Pete Werner, LB, Saints11. He is likely to open the season as the starter next to Anthony Hitchens. Grant is not only a great run-defending safety, but he has the coverage ability to play all over the field. 7. But Grant stands out after landing in arguably the best situation for immediate upside. Then he moved to an off-ball LB spot in 2019, leading the team in tackles (90), tackles for loss (13.5) and sacks (5). Given their limited draft capital in 2021, the Rams didn't draft Jones so he could ride the bench, and the inside linebackers ostensibly ahead of him on the depth chart aren't world-beaters. Kareem Jackson isn't getting any younger in the Mile High City. 3) Divine Deablo, S, Las Vegas Raiders. Given his draft capital, Nasirildeen will have an opportunity to start but likely as the strong safety for the Jets since they dont really have anyone on their roster right now, outside of Sherwood, who fits that role. Odafe Oweh, EDGE, Ravens10. The Bills have two (older) starters set on the edge of their defense right now in Mario Addison and Jerry Hughes. Christian Barmore, DT, Patriots8. And how will it all affect your fantasy football lineup? The 4th-round pick delivered the 18th-best relative athletic score ever among DEs. He accumulated 8 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss last season at the University of Miami. 4. Epenesasaw less than 400 snaps as a rookie. Therefore, Micah Parsons is a rare talent who should immediately slot in as an every-down player with the Cowboys. 4) Andre Cisco, S, Jacksonville Jaguars. Baron Browning provides the Broncos with a player who could play inside or outside LB due to his athleticism. Rashad Weaver, Pitt 21.1% Gregory Rousseau*, BUF -80.7 As a result, he's raw as a prospect and will be a situational player behind Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard for the foreseeable future. Kwity Paye commonly got mocked as the top edge player in this class, but Phillips wound up going 1st. Joe Tryon accumulated 61 tackles, 9 sacks, and 2 passes defensed in three seasons at Washington. It says something about his upside, though, that he still came off the board 5th among edge defenders (22nd pick of Round 2). ???? He stands just 62.5 and 261 pounds, though. 2) Richie Grant, S, Atlanta Falcons. PFFs Mike Renner even included Oweh to Baltimore as one of his best player fits from the 2021 draft, and I couldnt agree more. Ernest Jones will play a high number of snaps as a rookie in the Rams defensive scheme and could have 100+ tackles in 2021. At the least, Parsons looks like the worst bet for an immediate full-time role among my top 4 LBs. So, get a head start on your 2021 fantasy football rookie drafts with our updated dynasty rookie rankings.. 2021 Dynasty Rookie Rankings | 1-10 Let's look at that, which LBs might be ready to help you most in the fantasy football playoffs and much more. Jamin Davis, LB, Washington4. But he flies around the field making big plays. That included a sophomore breakout campaign: 108 tackles, 6 INTs as a new starter. Barmores slide out of the first round of the NFL Draft was one of the more surprising things to happen on Day 1. At arguably fantasy's most fungible position, I'll let short-term outlook do some sorting here. But beating out Nick Vigil to start on the weak side in the Twin Cities is well within reason. Ogundeji gave us nothing special on the production front in college, topping out at 7 tackles for loss each of the past 2 seasons. Bolton arrives as the much more accomplished college player. Greg Newsome II, CB, Browns38. Fantasy fans all know the names of the top rookies selected in the 2021 NFL Draft, including Trevor Lawrence, Najee Harris, Ja'Marr Chase, and Kyle Pitts (to name a . If you have any specific questions . Kwity Paye, IND 85.8 But he tore his Achilles in pre-draft workouts, so his rookie year will likely be truncated at best. But the latter position stands out as the strength this year for fantasy purposes. But he delivered above-average results in speed score (102.1) and the 3-cone drill (58th percentile). He lands in a good spot for early opportunity, but the Colts also look well set up to work Paye in an end rotation for as long as they deem necessary. With that in mind, and assuming a fairly common scoring setup that favors tackles, here's a breakdown of the top 10 rookies at each of the three main IDP positionsand a listing if the top 25 IDPs overall in 2021. After the lost season, he moved to CB in spring 2018 and proceeded to deliver 6 INTs and 25 passes defensed over 2 years as a starter. Divine Deablo, LB, Raiders22. Dallas defense was one of the worst in the NFL in 2020. Despite waiting until Round 2 to address the position, the Giants landed a guy that some evaluators deemed the best pass-rusher in this class. The Jaguars edge-rusher depth gets very thin after their starters. What's Christian Harris' role? Get it here! Detroit jettisoned LB Jarrad Davis this offseason and currently has Jahlani Tavai and Jalen Reeves-Maybin penciled into starting roles. Phillips moves up one spot from his previous ranking thanks to landing on a team that provides one of the best opportunities among all edge defenders in this class. 16. Then Smith earned 1st-team All-America honors in 2019 with 14 sacks, 14 hurries, 21.5 tackles for loss, 5 forced fumbles and 4 passes defensed. The "let's throw it all against the wall and see what sticks" approach clearly enhances the opportunity available to Wallow. Derrick Barnes finds himself in an excellent landing spot with the Lions ripe with opportunity. Rice posted a 65th-percentile speed score (101.4) in pre-draft testing, though, and then landed in a good situation for opportunity. Micah Parsons - OLB, Dallas Cowboys. You just might need to be patient to reap benefits. Who are the top linebackers in our IDP rookie rankings for 2021? He did opt-out of the 2020 season, but Rousseau managed a very impressive 16 sacks in 2019 to go along with 46 pressures and an 80.7 pass-rush grade. In 2021, I consider Darius Leonard, Devin White, Roquan Smith and Blake Martinez to be the Tier 1 linebackers for 2021. As long as Ojularis knee checks out, which it sounds like it will, then he should be a lock to make the Giants starting defense this season. Britt, LB, Buccaneers28. The Cardinals quickly erased any questions about Collins' initial role by announcing that he'll take over the "Mike" job that had belonged to Jordan Hicks. Jacksonville drafted C.J. 8. Hes a clear winner on the size-speed front. At 284 pounds, a move to end could be in his future. Holland was the first safety selected in the 2021 NFL Draft and is one of the most versatile defensive backs in the class. ?31 total pressures (1st among Pac-12 DIs) 9. Houston traded ILB Benardrick McKinney to Miami this offseason and signed 417 potential replacements. An ideal situation for one of our IDP rookies, Paye joins a defensive line in Indy that is in desperate need of a top-tier edge rusher. #IDP New Atlanta Safety, Richie Grant's numbers from 2020: ???? The evolution of the EDGE designation could deliver BIG value in your fantasy football draft. Jordan Smith, EDGE, Jaguars27. 5. In addition to running a sub-4.4-second 40 at his pro day, Parsons delivered strong results in the 3-cone drill and broad jump. Jamar Johnson S, Denver Broncos: When he was forced into action by injuries at Indiana last year, he seized the opportunity, displaying excellent athleticism and the versatility that NFL teams covet in today's safeties. Eric is a Senior Fantasy Analyst for Pro Football Network and a member of the FSWA (Fantasy Sports Writers Association). The harsh reality is that many of these youngsters will never see the field in an NFL game that counts. When it comes to awards, there is only one Oscars for the fantasy football industry. Tre Norwood, Oklahoma 86.5 Adetokunbo Ogundeji, DE, Falcons12. Hamilcar Rashed Jr., EDGE, Jets. 12 votes, 14 comments. But there frankly isn't a ton of difference between how these first-year players slot in dynasty IDP leagues and how they would in redraftsat least in this writer's opinion. It is important to form your own opinions by watching film and studying each player, rather than just taking someone else . Patrick Jones, MIN-81.3 1) Jevon Holland, S, Miami Dolphins. Rousseau certainly lands in a nice spot for his development as an NFL player, although it may not be nearly as lucrative as some of the other edge defenders in Year 1. Back on the edge for 2020, Ossai racked up 16 tackles for loss and 5 sacks in just 9 games. But he did, at least, test well in agility (84th-percentile 3-cone). The following article was a pre-NFL Draft piece looking at the fantasy talent of the 2021 Draft class. The Colts director of scouting Morocco Brown compared his skill set and athleticism to former Giants third-round pick Justin Tuck. Dayo Odeyingbo, whos coming off of a torn Achilles, plans to play in 2021. Hell also bring versatility to the 49ers defense, which is excellent for Hufangas fantasy value. Moehrig finds an unfortunate landing spot in Las Vegas, where he is likely to play more of a deep safety role in Gus Bradleys single-high coverage scheme. Starting with South Carolina cornerback Jaycee Horn (who went eighth overall to the Carolina Panthers) and concluding with Houston linebacker Grant Stuard (this year's "Mr. It is our belief that you should take any dynasty IDP rankings or ADP as a singular piece of your draft strategy. Pete Werner is the fourth player since 2016 that the Saints have drafted out of Ohio State. Carlos Basham Jr., DE, Bills7. Like every other edge/LB prospect to this point, Tryon supplied an above-average speed score (103.5). Why would I be putting a fifth-round pick inside my top 20 rankings? Tryon landed with the champs at the end of Round 1 after opting out of 2020. Carlos Basham Jr., DE, Bills. ?80.9 run-defense grade (3rd among Pac-12 DIs) However, choosing Tryon over some of the other options on the board, like Azeez Ojulari, felt a bit like a reach given that we havent seen him play since 2019 when he posted just a 71.9 pass-rush grade.That being said, Tryon joins a pretty thin edge rusher group in Tampa Bay, where Jason Pierre-Paul and Shaquil Barrett are no doubt going to see the bulk of the snaps. The smarter NFL teams are trying to get faster on defense, especially in passing situations, so this should come as no surprise the Browns were well below the league average last season in running just one linebacker on the field. Weekly Rankings. Payton Turner, DE, Saints5. Throughout the article, Ill provide my reasoning and rationale for the top 10 dynasty options at each IDP fantasy position group: DL, LB, and DB. While the health concerns have since been refuted by the player, there are still minor concerns about how he might fit into the Browns defense this season. Even in his 6-game finale, Basham notched 5 sacks and 4 forced fumbles. At least 2 of the 1st-round edge defenders figure to carry LB designations, and several of them look more like developmental prospects than .