McFadden earned back-to-back 90-plus pass-rush grades his last two seasons at Indiana as well as a 74.8 overall grade in 2021. 10. While. Pro Football Network, LLC. Trent McDuffie, CB | Chiefs With that said, Willie Gay hasn't lived up to expectations as a pro, so Chenal has at least a puncher's chance of carving out IDP relevance in 2021. Now that the 2022 NFL draft is in the books, as. There is an opening for the Giants' second linebacker spot though, and McFadden could be in line to take it over former seventh-round pick Tae Crowder and sixth-round pick Darrian Beavers. 28. The App is Back! If all their edge defenders are available, then Seahawks will likely deploy a heavy rotation between, Cook figures to contribute to the Chiefs in a similar way that. 8. Garrett Wilson, WR, Jets4. He'll be the Jets' primary back, and he'll play on all three downs because of his ability to catch passes. Bo Melton, WR, Seahawks79. It might not be immediate, but he will have an opportunity to develop into a starting-caliber defensive end in the 49ers system. Fourth-round draft capital isnt ideal, but hes still young and has shown an ability to make plays in coverage during his time at Penn State, recently earning an 80.0 coverage grade in 2021. While this is a good indicator that Johnson can play an every-down role, it doesnt necessarily mean he will, which is how things might shake out in Year 1. Not to say that Mafe cant emerge as the group's best edge rusher but the path to do so would require a great rookie season from a position that typically takes a bit longer to develop in the NFL. He posted 148 tackles in 2021 at Wyoming while missing just 8.1% of his attempts, but because he's likely the odd man out in a typical two-linebacker system, it may be a while before Muma can put up IDP relevant production. Troy Andersen is a LB prospect in the 2022 draft class. Fantasy managers may just have to wait for him to get a starting spot in Houston in the slot with Desmond King slated to get the nod for 2022. Dalton Schultz got the franchise tag a year ago. Isaiah Spiller, RB, Chargers37. While the Packers actually increased their two-linebacker looks by about 250 snaps from 2020, which is certainly more promising for Walker, its still not enough to warrant taking high in rookie drafts. . The Bears spent a second-round pick on Brisker, which is ideal draft capital, but also outside of Eddie Jackson theres no real competition for Chicago's second safety spot. With better pass-rushing interior players already in the lineup (Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave), Davis probably won't be anything more than an early down player, limiting his usefulness for IDP. Since these rankings were done to show how IDP players compare to other . One of the biggest surprises from the first two days of the draft was Dean's fall all the way to the end of the third round. These rankings are formed around true position designations, which enables Thibodeaux to remain a high-value, every-down talent to lock up in IDP dynasty leagues. Kyle Hamilton, DB | Ravens A 6'4", 241-pounder who excelled in coverage at Georgia, Walker will likely start next to De'Vondre Campbell for the Pack and could easily work his way into higher-end fantasy LB3 territory as a rookie. Troy Andersen, LB, Falcons20. 1. He could easily be at the top of this list had he not gotten injured. Devonte Wyatt, IDL, GBP: Wyatt wasn't the first interior lineman draftedhis former Georgia teammate Jordan Davis took home that honor. Tim Metzler is a featured writer at FantasyPros, known for multiple article series, including 5 Under 25, Expert Consensus Rantings, his in-season Running Diary, and his dynasty IDP rankings. Dean earned the highest linebacker grade in the entire country in 2021 (91.8) to go along with an elite coverage grade (90.4, third among the nations linebackers). David Ojabo, DL | Ravens. He can step up against the run, but hell also have value in the defensive backfield. However, the order of them may surprise a few people, especially with Karlaftis and Walker above Hutchinson and Thibodeaux. Walker went to the Green Bay Packers, landing in a defense that just signed All-Pro linebacker DeVondre Campbell to a long-term deal. Sam Williams, EDGE, DAL: A 6'4", 261-pounder who piled up 12.5 sacks last year at Ole Miss, Williams was a second-round pick of the Cowboys despite a sexual battery charge while in college. The intriguing element of IDP rankings is the various scoring systems. Brisker is the kind of player that can manage and understand various coverages, line up against TEs and make big plays. Hes a quarterback turned linebacker, and while his coverage ability still leaves a lot to be desired, he has the speed and athleticism to improve there. While the majority of the focus for fantasy football is on the offense, dynasty individual defensive player (IDP) managers have to weigh the pros and cons of the rookies on the defensive side of the ball. All of this to say that if IDP rosters need immediate production in 2021, IDP managers would be hard-pressed to find a better option than Lloyd, who will fill the stat s. The Ravens could look to trade last years starter. ), 1. From our Start/Sit Assistant which provides your optimal lineup, based on accurate consensus projections to our Waiver Wire Assistant that allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team and by how much weve got you covered this fantasy football season. The Chiefs' depth chart at the position consists of just. Deion Jones,Mykal Walker and Rashaan Evans are ahead of Andersen (for now) on Atlanta's linebacker depth chart, but they also shouldnt be considered elite competition to beat out, eventually. Thibodeauxs 90.9 pass-rush grade and 87.4 overall grade for his college career makes for an impressive resume to bet on in IDP leagues. The fall was unexpected, especially considering that Dean was PFFs highest-graded linebacker on college footballs top defense. Even if Dean is limited or doesnt play at all in 2022, the talent is too great to ignore in dynasty leagues, where the sky is the limit once he gets that full-time role. Tindall lacks polish and could take a while to get going, but Miami's depth chart at his position thins out quickly after Jerome Baker. Let someone else take him in this range, and when they get frustrated by his lack of production after a year or two, offer a trade at a lower cost to acquire him. Its not rare to see rookie linebackers struggle to take command of a defense (looking at you, Patrick Queen), but a veteran teammate can make all the difference, especially from a performance standpoint. There is an opening for the Giants' second linebacker spot though, and McFadden could be in line to take it over former seventh-round pick. 7. Drake Jackson, EDGE, 49ers65. Jaquan Brisker, DB | Bears . 1. And that might be a kind take. Jaquan Brisker, S, Bears58. DFS. Dynasty players have been waiting to draft since the Super Bowl. Stingley is also an upside swing at 20th in our 2022 IDP rookie rankings simply based on the playmaking ability we saw as a freshman. That said, Muma is still a nice draft-and-stash candidate as he and Devin Lloyd are certainly two of the future centerpieces of the Jaguar defense. Jameson Williams, WR, Lions. Chad Muma (JAX): If the Jags hadn't signed Foye Oluokon, we would be looking at the top two rookie IDPs being from the same team. He played for Alabama and is pro-ready, which is great for the Houston Texans. Logan Hall, DL | Buccaneers The lack of quality at the linebacker position for the Texans should get Harris on the field, so he's an intriguing potential IDP rookie sleeper. Ojabo should develop into the long-term starter next to last years first-round edge Odafe Oweh, giving the Ravens two athletic freaks on the edge who can pin their ears back and rack up sacks for IDP managers. With the Packers losing ZaDarius Smith in free agency, its not hard to imagine they might move Walker into several different positions. Before we stop with the jabbering and get to the good stuff, a couple of notes. Is he ready now to impact your dynasty fantasy football league? Knowing that Walker is likely to take a couple seasons to develop into a relevant NFL edge, the best route may be to not draft him at all in fantasy rookie drafts. This ranked 5 out of 2188 LB from 1987 to 2022. https://t.co/Fv81WZG6dE #RAS via @Mathbomb pic.twitter.com/s6g8AHkT4J, Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 6, 2022. What is in question is Hill's role (and potentially his positional classification). Walker's athletic potential is off the charts. Tindall was solid all-around for Georgia in 2021, earning an 85.4 overall grade. Kyren Williams, RB, Rams62. Keaontay Ingram, RB, Cardinals77. Dont let the second-round draft capital fool you, Pitre should play slot corner for the Texans instead of safety, which is what hell be listed as on a lot of fantasy platforms. Cade Otton, TE, Buccaneers83. Khalil Shakir, WR, Bills40. 20.3% Pass Rush Win Rate (1st) pic.twitter.com/RjXLjBqgKE, PFF Draft (@PFF_College) April 26, 2022. However, if you hear before your draft that Cine is likely to play the box safety role in Minnesota, switch them around. Ultimately, thats where he was drafted and in my estimation, he should be a Day 1 starter next to Harrison Smith in Minnesota. Kennedy Brooks, RB, Eagles90. Hutchinson may not have the athletic upside of Walker or the astronomical ceiling of Thibodeaux. Without knowing rookie landing spots, it's tough to build your franchise around what will be available in the rookie draft. But that was before Ojabo tore his Achilles tendon at Michigan's pro day. All Rights Reserved. Hamilton should play snaps all over the defense, including the highly-coveted box snaps, which fantasy managers love for IDP safeties. 6. The Lions had almost no pass-rush last year, and Hutchinson stands to be the difference-maker. Take advantage of . Alongside, , Lloyd should play a ton as a rookie while being utilized in a way that also plays to his strengths as a blitzer. 2022 IDP Rookie Rankings. But he's a highly disruptive 305-pounder who should be a big part of Green Bay's defensive plans from the get go. Isiah Pacheco, RB, Chiefs88. Jaquan Brisker, S, CHI: A hard-hitting 6'1", 199-pounder the Bears selected in the second round, Brisker has a varied skill set but does his best work in the box. 16. 7. ???? He also played all over the place for the Bears, whether it was in the slot or as a subpackage linebacker. The first linebacker taken in the draft was a surprise. 30. Not to say that Johnson cant be a relevant IDP, but fantasy managers should be wary of his rookie usage. 1 defensive back by a mile. (2022) Primetime . 2023 Dynasty Rookies; Latest Podcast Episode; Consistency Score; New to Underdog Fantasy? 1.01 Breece Hall, NYJ RB 1.02 Kenneth Walker III, SEA RB 1.03 Drake London, ATL WR 1.04 Treylon Burks, TEN WR Jacksonville Jaguars inside linebacker Devin Lloyd (33) performs a drill at NFL. 27. The Lions drafted the son of Michigan, fulfilling Hutchinsons dream of playing for his favorite childhood team. If all their edge defenders are available, then Seahawks will likely deploy a heavy rotation between Darrell Taylor, Uchenna Nwosu, Alton Robinsonand now Mafe. Devonte Wyatt, DL | Packers has the past few years, which can allow for some IDP value in medium-to-small doses. 1 Pick; This essentially leaves 30-plus-year-olds Markus Golden and Devon Kennard as the most established edges on the team. Cine is an excellent player, and hell start right away, lining up next to Harrison Smith. Position: Solo tackles: Assists: Sacks: Tackles for loss: QB hits: Pass breakups: DE/DI: 2.5: 1.25: 4: 1: 1: 2: LB: 1.5: 0.75: 4: 1: 1: 2: CB/S: 2: 1: 4: 1: 1: 2: . After all, this is the same player who posted a very impressive 10 pressures against a strong Alabama offensive line in the College Football Playoff last year. Not only is he capable of being an every-down defensive tackle, but he has proven to be a well-rounded talent. 1 overall recruit in the country lived up to the hype during his time at Oregon. What You Need to Know Before 2023 Best-Ball Drafts, Top Plays for Divisional Round Underdog Pick Ems, A $200K Top Prize Is Up For Grabs On Underdog Fantasy, Dynasty Trades Podcast: TEs to Buy or Sell, Dynasty Trades Podcast: WRs to Buy and Sell, Dynasty Trades Podcast: RBs to Buy and Sell, Dynasty Trades Podcast: QBs to Buy and Sell. For more from Tim, check out his archive and follow him @Timmy_The_Metz. In 2021, Jackson earned an 88.3 pass-rush grade on the back of 26 pressures and six sacks. Caldwells Bucs rushed their linebackers at a top-five rate last season led by White (162 pass-rush attempts). Kingsley Enagbare, DL | Packers Christian Harris, LB | Texans Ty Davis-Price, RB, 49ers49. Lloyd was the top rookie linebacker on PFF's big board and is now the top rookie linebacker for IDP leagues. 2022 IDP Rookie Rankings (Updated 5/24) By Matt Schauf 1:30pm EDT 5/24/22. 29. 2022 IDP Rookie Rankings May 27, 2022 by Russell Clay Phil Backert provides his 2022 IDP Rookie Rankings Thanks for Reading Fantasy Guru You have discovered some of our paywalled content. Not that Mafe can't get after the quarterbackthe 6'4", 261-pounder had 10 tackles for loss and seven sacks a year ago at Minnesota. Andersen is a project linebacker who has a short path to on-field IDP relevance, so scooping him up in the mid-to-late rounds would be wise. Given his size, opportunity, and sneaky good rushing skills, Lloyd is easily my top dynasty rookie in IDP leagues. He had a .942 OPS from June 1 through the end of the season last year and has a 50-hit tool and 55-power tool. The Ravens could look to trade last years starter, Chuck Clark, with Hamilton now locked into that role for the foreseeable future. The 6'0", 212-pounder has the talent to be a quality starter in the pros, but he needs to work on his coverage skills and will probably be slated for a reserve role in the early-going. 7. The Bears spent a second-round pick on Brisker, which is ideal draft capital, but also outside of, theres no real competition for Chicago's second safety spot. Andersen and Dean could easily start for the Falcons and Eagles this year. So be it. Daniel Bellinger, TE, Giants82. Hell be an IDP star for years to come. More fantasy & NFL coverage: 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Kit; Why Jonathan Taylor Should Still Be the No. Chad Muma, LB, Jaguars67. Hes got size, speed, and length. Anderson played everywhere in Toledos defense, but the majority of his snaps came in the slot and the box. What he does have is 4.47-second speed and impressive athleticism. Barring an injury, it's hard to see Muma getting many snaps as a rookie. All this being said, the Packers obviously valued Walker above all other linebackers in this class, so he should see the field enough to be an LB3 for IDP purposes. As a matter of fact, beginning with Georgia's Travon Walker going to the Jacksonville Jaguars with the first overall pick, the first five selections in Las Vegas were all defensive players. Jermaine Johnson, DL/LB | Jets Walker didnt have the college production that you would hope for when spending a first overall pick on a pass-rusher, as he posted just five sacks and an 8.9% pressure rate from 381 pass-rush snaps in 2021. Redraft 625; If you're a true fantasy football psycho and prefer individual defensive player formats, Fantasy Alarm has all the strategy tips and IDP rankings you need to finalize your 2022 draft cheat sheet. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports. Currently, Dee Ford, who has been unable to crack even 200 pass-rush snaps since joining the 49ers, sits ahead of Jackson on the depth chart. Get it here! 2020 Redraft Kicker Rankings. The Jacksonville Jaguars seem to be moving in the right direction. But then the Jaguars went and ruined everything by drafting Muma after also taking Devin Lloyd. Cine has been rising up draft boards since late February, rising from the mid-40s to the early 30s, according to PFF's mock draft simulator. Lloyd should be an asset as a blitzer after posting an 88.4 pass-rush grade, 31 pressures and eight sacks in 2021 all of which were top-12 among college linebackers. There's an awful lot that can change from one year to the next on an NFL defense, whether it's personnel changes, a new coordinator or a different scheme. 23. This could help McFadden get on the field more and make an impact in Don Martindales blitz-heavy defense. This, apparently, had to do with medical issues because it certainly couldnt be due to a lack of talent. Rookie Rankings. McFadden earned back-to-back 90-plus pass-rush grades his last two seasons at Indiana as well as a 74.8 overall grade in 2021. Now, all our premium tools for Fantasy and Betting are included in one subscription at one low price. Harri's issue is that he had great coaching but never even earned a 70.0-plus overall grade for a season. Anderson played everywhere in Toledos defense, but the majority of his snaps came in the slot and the box. In IDP leagues, Davis is going to be in contention for the first defensive tackle off the board in rookie drafts that require defensive tackles in lineups. 1. The Baltimore Ravens drafted him in the middle of the first round, which means hes going to step into a starting role for a top-tier defense right away. Skyy Moore, WR, Chiefs12. Ranking Ojabo at 15 is banking on talent over opportunity. Kyle Philips, WR, Titans75. Pierre Strong, RB, Patriots59. 1. John Metchie, WR, Texans30. Chad Muma, LB | Jaguars These rankings assume a balanced system where big plays earn 3 points (sacks and interceptions), tackles are worth 1.5 points, and touchdowns are worth 6 points. Kenny Pickett, QB, Steelers38. . , who has been unable to crack even 200 pass-rush snaps since joining the 49ers, sits ahead of Jackson on the depth chart. He's just 20 and played the whole year at A-ball in 2022, so he's a few years . Jalen Tolbert, WR, Cowboys29. 6. Williams has the athletic potential to be that guy. How To Get Started, Tips, and More. Tindalls lack of starting experience will likely keep him behind Jerome Baker, at least in 2022, but there is an easy path to be Miamis LB2. I expect him to have a decent rookie season, but hell eventually become the leader of the Minnesota defensive backfield. 21. Karlaftis and Walker join star-studded pass rushes where the focus of the offense will likely be on those other players. Calvin Austin, WR, Steelers54. 2023 Dynasty Rookie Rankings; 2023 Rookie QB Rankings; 2023 Rookie RB Rankings; 2023 Rookie WR Rankings; 2023 Rookie TE Rankings; 2023 Rookie Superflex Rankings; IDP Rankings . Dynasty IDP Rankings (2022) February 28, 2023. George Karlaftis, EDGE, KCC: A 6'4", 266-pounder and three-year starter at Purdue, Karlaftis didn't post huge numbers last season. ?91.5 coverage grade??? All of this to say that if IDP rosters need immediate production in 2021, IDP managers would be hard-pressed to find a better option than Lloyd, who will fill the stat sheet as the rookie LB1. Fantasy managers may just have to wait for him to get a starting spot in Houston in the slot with, is going to be healthy and remain the Giants' starter for another season. The Bengals are set at safety and in the slot, and Hill has already expressed an openness to transitioning to boundary cornerback. Enagbare could very easily find himself in the Packers rotation, replacing ZaDarius Smith. Tindall is just one injury away from starting for the Dolphins and comes with plenty of talent. Lewis Cine, DB | Vikings Charlie Kolar, TE, Ravens86. Eberflus Colts ran single-high coverages at the 11th highest rate in the league last season, allowing one safety Willis, or Brisker in Chicago's case to play in the box. David Ojabo, EDGE, BAL: A second-round pick of the Ravens, Ojabo was being talked up as a potential top-10 pick not that long ago. Will he hit the open market this time? Romeo Doubs, WR, Packers53. There's a clear path to early snaps for Karlaftis, who could find himself in the DL2 conversation sooner rather than later. Ebiketie earned elite grades at Penn State in 2021, including a 90.5 mark on the back of 52 pressures, eight sacks and a 22.9% pass-rush win rate. That being said, the Cowboys need someone to emerge across from Demarcus Lawrence and considering what weve seen from Dante Fowler Jr. over the past couple years, its not out of the realm of possibilities that Williams is a significant contributor as a rookie before developing into a future starter for the Cowboys. He wasn't a liability in coverage, and he also earned the, Tindalls lack of starting experience will likely keep him behind. Malcolm Rodriguez, LB, Lions71. He has great burst and can win quickly off the edge; however, he still figures to be more of a work in progress compared to some of the other edge defenders listed above. Drake Jackson, DL | 49ers, Dynasty Rookie Sleepers 2023: Fantasy Targets Include Israel Abanikanda, Puka Nacua, and Nathaniel Dell, 2023 Dynasty Rookie RB Rankings: Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, Devon Achane, and Others, 2023 Dynasty Rookie WR Rankings: Quentin Johnston, Jordan Addison, Rashee Rice, and More, Dynasty Fantasy Football Startup Draft Strategies, What is Dynasty Fantasy Football? Going in the third round was not ideal, nor is the injury news, but his long-term value cant be understated. Lawson is coming off an Achilles tear that kept him off the field in 2021, so there are concerns about his recovery and ability to regain his explosiveness, but nonetheless, Franklin-Myers and Lawson both present barriers to Johnsons playing time. That could be the same role the team has in mind for Cook, who was drafted in the second round. Those ranking 11 through 14 could all be Day 1 starters and that is a huge bonus for IDP formats. Since these rankings skew toward defensive tackle-required leagues, Wyatt should be the first one taken given his ability to contribute as both a run defender and pass-rusher. Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Giants9. Also, an extensive 2022 NFL Fantasy Football Preseason Stock Report. His size and speed make him a potential stat god. There's risk here, especially in 2022. Gary Davenport is a Senior Staff Writer at Fantasy Sharks, an NFL and Fantasy Football Analyst at Bleacher Report and a contributing author and Associate Editor at Football Diehards. Wondering if you should trade away that productive veteran? Chris Olave, WR, Saints7. DFS XFL DraftKings Best Advice and Picks Week 2. Walker looks set to be a starter but might not be a three-down player immediately. Thibodeaux will pair with last years second-round edge, to create a formidable pass-rush duo in New York. Fourth-round draft capital isnt ideal, but hes still young and has shown an ability to make plays in coverage during his time at Penn State, recently earning an 80.0 coverage grade in 2021. 19. Ultimately, thats where he was drafted and in my estimation, he should be a Day 1 starter next to, on a roster that used dime personnel at a top-five rate last season (24%), utilizing just one true off-ball linebacker on those snaps. Christian Watson, WR, Packers23. , giving the Ravens two athletic freaks on the edge who can pin their ears back and rack up sacks for IDP managers. 9. Ojabos burst and athleticism were some of his greatest traits, so if he can get back to full health, the Ravens got themselves another steal in this years draft. Even though Lloyd wasnt the first linebacker selected in the 2022 NFL Draft, he should play every down in Jacksonville and produce the kind of numbers that will make him highly coveted in IDP leagues, regardless of format. Quay Walker, ILB, GBP: Somewhat surprisingly, it was Walker who was the first off-ball linebacker drafted, going 22nd overall to the Green Bay Packers. Christian Harris, ILB, HOU: This is the point in the rookie linebacker rankings where the waters start to muddy. 2. The draft capital alone is enough to make Lloyd a tantalizing IDP option (27th overall), but what really grabs me is that the Jaguars traded up to take Lloyd with the pick. There isnt a better bet to make for long-term IDP value in terms of box score impact at a premium position that relies on talent more than anything to get the job done. Dont sleep on Jaquan Brisker. A concern for Thibodeaux in non-true position leagues is that he may be designated as a linebacker, as Ojulari is currently designated on a number of platforms, hurting his value slightly.