IDP, Biggest Boost from Changing Teams

Photo: Bob Donnan, USA Today Sports

The IDP Roundtable Series

This summer, the Footballguys staff will discuss various topics to help you in your IDP leagues.

What defenders will get the biggest boost in value from changing teams this offseason?

Joseph Haggan

S Justin Reid, Kansas City
Reid had a stellar rookie campaign in 2018, though hasn't quite been able to replicate that same production over the past three seasons. This was not due to talent drop-off but more due to what the Texans were asking him to do. In 2020 with Houston, he played the least amount of snaps in the box as well as in the slot of his 4-year career. There are 1696 vacated snaps in Kansas City with both Tyrann Mathieu and Daniel Sorenson gone in free agency. This opens up both box and slot snaps for Reid while Thornhill can hold down the deep safety role.

LB Cory Littleton, Carolina
In 2018 and 2019, Littleton was a top-five fantasy linebacker with the Rams averaging 130 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 11 passes defended, and 2.5 interceptions per season during that span. His time in Las Vegas was lost behind his inefficient tackling, though he still managed to average 90 tackles per season in a lesser role. In Carolina, he joins Shaq Thompson as the team's top two linebackers. Thompson has never been able to take the leap from LB2/3 to LB1. It is very possible Littleton could lead the linebacker group in tackles for 2022.

Jeff Haseley

LB Khalil Mack, LA Chargers
Mack is returning from foot surgery that ended his 2021 season with the Bears, but a trade to a prominent defense with strengths in several areas may be exactly what Mack needs to revitalize his career.

DE Von Miller, Buffalo
I am excited to see how Von Miller does in Buffalo and how many snaps he'll earn. He will definitely bolster the Bills' pass rush and help young Greg Rousseau along the way. I have a feeling we'll see Miller reach into the mid-30s in solos with double-digit sacks.

S Jordan Whitehead, NY Jets
I enjoy watching Whitehead play football. He has a keen awareness of the game, he's physical, and he commands respect from his teammates and his opponents. He'll be a nice addition for the Jets, who needed to fill Marcus Maye's spot.

CB Troy Hill, LA Rams
Hill's return back to Los Angeles may also prove to be fruitful. Hill was one of the top fantasy corners with the Rams in 2020, only to struggle in Cleveland's system. We'll welcome a return to Los Angeles for sure.

Christian Williams

S Marcus Maye, New Orleans
Maye's interception production has been mediocre, and he's coming off a disappointing season, but his fit in the Saints' scheme and behind their underrated front seven should boost his production and value.

LB Uchenna Nwosu, Seattle
Nwosu's tackle and sack production increased in each of his first four years with the Chargers, and he'll slide into the starting SAM role immediately. He looks like a potential breakout star playing for a defense that will be on the field quite a bit in 2022.

Gary Davenport

LB Cory Littleton, Carolina
Littleton's two years with the Raiders were a nightmare, but he's a better linebacker than what he showed in Vegas. Maybe it was fit. Maybe it was the big payday. Whatever the reason, Littleton now finds himself in Carolina trying to resurrect his career. In both 2018 and 2019, Littleton logged at least 125 total tackles and was a top-five fantasy option in many IDP scoring systems. He may not reach those heights again, but if he can win a three-down spot in Charlotte (a real possibility), he'll be a great value pick late in IDP drafts.

S Marcus Maye, New Orleans
Maye is exactly the kind of defensive back that fits my strategy of waiting and then targeting upside. Health has admittedly been an issue with the 29-year-old, but he's a sure tackler playing in a scheme with the New Orleans Saints that has produced some nice numbers from the box safety spot in the past. The best part? His asking price is low enough that you can shake him off your roster easily if he doesn't pan out.

Kyle Bellefeuil

DE Von Miller, Buffalo
After being acquired by the Rams last season, Miller showed he had plenty left in the tank, coming up huge in the playoffs with four sacks and six quarterback hits over those four playoff games. The contending Buffalo Bills brought him in to provide that same spark and lead their young, talented group of pass rushers. The move to Buffalo also likely lands Miller the DE/DL tag in your format, which also boosts his positional value. If managers are afraid of his age and/or the Buffalo edge rotation, take the value later in drafts.

S Jordan Whitehead, NY Jets
Whitehead signed a two-year deal with the Jets during free agency after losing Marcus Maye to the Saints. Even more intriguing than Whitehead's immediate starting role, is the fact he's the best-fit safety on the roster to see time in the box. I tend to fade the safety position in drafts and target players like Whitehead, who should have IDP-conducive roles later on.

John Norton

LB Myles Jack, Pittsburgh
The Steelers need a centerpiece-type player at inside linebacker, and Jack will have every opportunity to be that guy. He’s had a fair share of struggles while in Jacksonville. I believe those struggles were due to coaches not putting him in situations that play to his strengths. The Steelers do a great job of fitting the role to the player as opposed to fitting the player to the role.

DE Dante Fowler, Dallas
Dante Fowler has been disappointing as a pro for a player drafted third overall in 2015. He’s exceeded four and a half sacks twice in six years and put up good tackle numbers once. If not for the 2019 season when he was 40-16-11.5 with 3 turnovers and 6 batted passes for the Rams, I would have to assume he is just not all that good. Since he has shown the ability, I have to think there is hope. No edge defender seems to prosper in Atlanta, but they often do in Dallas. Playing for the Cowboys could bring out the best in Fowler again.

DL Matt Ioannidis, Carolina
The last guy I’ll mention is for those of you in leagues that start defensive tackles. Over the last three years, Matt Ioannidis has been through a major injury and then was stuck playing third fiddle behind Jonathan Allen and DaRon Payne in Washington. The last time Ioannidis was a starter (2019), he went 43-21-8.5 and was the number five tackle. I think he will be the 3-technique tackle for Carolina, which is generally the most productive of the interior positions.

Tripp Brebner

S Jordan Whitehead, NY Jets
Former Buccaneers fourth-round pick Jordan Whitehead has gradually improved through his career to earn a big payday from the Jets. He's projected to start at safety alongside 5-foot-8 and 185-pound Lamarcus Joyner. This duo will play behind linebacker Quincy Williams and his career 16.4% rate of missed tackles. The Jets played the second- and third-most defensive snaps in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Anything fewer than 100 combined tackles would be a disappointment for Whitehead as opportunities in the box abound.

S Jaquiski Tartt, Philadelphia
Former 49er Jaquiski Tartt projects to pair with Anthony Harris in the back end of the Eagles defense. Fantasy gamers might overlook Tartt due to his late signing date, but the Eagles' need for a reliable second safety date back to 2021. Tartt fits best as a split safety and box defender who will free Harris to return to more of a deep role. Harris thrived as a deep safety in Minnesota. Tartt's box scores should benefit.

LB Nicholas Morrow, Chicago
Another cheap option is the new Bear Nicholas Morrow. The former Raider was unable to take the field in 2021 due to injury. Originally a UDFA from Greenville College, Morrow earned 29 career starts in which he accumulated 174 tackles. He has little competition for snaps on a Chicago defense with bare cupboards.

DL Chase Winovich, Cleveland
Perhaps no player needed a change of scenery more than Browns DE Chase Winovich. Cleveland traded for the former third-round pick of the Patriots and figures to make him its first pass rusher off the bench. Winovich flashed ability when he wasn't in the doghouse. In 2020, he led the Patriots in pass-rushing productivity (a Pro Football Focus metric) through 594 snaps. He deserves a spot on the watch list on fantasy platforms with a shortage of defensive ends.

Aaron Rudnicki

DEs Von Miller, Buffalo and Chandler Jones, Las Vegas
There are many good mentions in here already. I'll add that players like Mille and Jones should become a lot more valuable with an expected shift from OLB to a DE classification in most standard leagues. Their fantasy value has often not matched up to their abilities since they were grouped in with all linebackers, so a move to a 4-3 base defense should help them stand out much more.

LB Myles Jack, Pittsburgh
I'd also echo the comments on Myles Jack getting a boost with his move to Pittsburgh. He's always underwhelmed in Jacksonville, but the Steelers have a long history of productive inside linebackers. It's safe to assume their coaches will maximize his talents.

LB Jayon Brown, Las Vegas
I'm cautiously optimistic about Jayon Brown with the Raiders. Denzel Perryman was great last year, but he struggles in coverage and could see a dropoff if Brown and Divine Deablo wind up handling nickel package snaps.

LB Rashaan Evans, Atlanta
Evans is another player who had difficulty establishing himself as a full-time player in Tennessee and could benefit from a fresh start in Atlanta. There are a lot of tackles vacated by the loss of Foye Oluokun, limited competition, and the defense seems like they will spend even more time on the field this year.