The key to fantasy production is finding players who combine talent with opportunity. The 2024 NFL Draft brought the excitement of new talent into the league. But players need the opportunity to produce, and opportunity is all about landing spots.
Four IDP rookie LBs have landed in premiere spots for IDP managers, but which ones set themselves apart?
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The Top 2 IDP Rookie LBs
Edgerrin Cooper, Green Bay
The first true IDP rookie linebacker taken in the draft, Cooper has an opportunity that many should be jealous of. We saw the deterioration of a star linebacker in De'Vondre Campbell, leaving much to be desired at the position alongside Quay Walker. The Packers saw this deficiency as well and chose to part ways with Campbell this offseason leaving a significant amount of points up for grabs in that position room. They also felt it was an important enough position to spend a second-round pick on. Cooper likely slots in this spot immediately from day one, making him my IDP1 in all formats. The formula for success at linebacker is simple. Get on the field, get snaps, get tackles! It appears that before the preseason, Cooper has checked off the first two boxes, and if he plays anything like he did in college, I expect box number three to be checked off as soon as Week 1. We have a history of the Packers being able to support two top linebackers, so don’t worry about Quay Walker eating up all the points. Walker will get his, but not at the expense of Edgerrin Cooper.
Junior Colson, LA Chargers
Was anyone surprised that Harbaugh took a Wolverine? If Edgerrin Cooper was my IDP rookie LB1A, then Colson is 1B. He couldn’t have landed in a better spot to have success. To start, he lands with his college head coach, whom he played for the last three seasons. This scheme likely transfers over to the Chargers, giving him an edge on the competition at this level, and he’s slated to be a starter from day one! He was voted the MVP by his teammates at Michigan and has proven leadership and connection with his new head coach. Oh yeah, and there is this thing about him being pretty darn good at football! He won the Lott IMPACT Trophy and was second-team All-Big Ten. He also led the Wolverines in tackles this past season en route to their National Championship. All this being said, he’s being given a Porsche as his first car, and I don’t anticipate him wrecking it with the guidance of Jim Harbaugh. If you can't get Cooper, Colson is as good a silver medal as any you’ll find in IDP rookie drafts.
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