Numbers in parentheses denote Final Preseason Ranking/2011 Finish.
Fantasy football stats based on Default IDP Manor Scoring.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
D’Qwell Jackson – MLB, Cleveland Browns (LB20/LB1)
After losing most of the last two seasons to injuries Jackson returned in 2011 to the form he showed in 2008, when he led the NFL with 158 tackles. The sixth-year veteran once again posted 158 stops, good for second in the NFL, his 164.5 fantasy points led all players at his position, and with a fat contract extension almost certainly coming Jackson, still only 28 years old, will almost certainly be a top five IDP selection in 2012, with his injury history being the only potential red flag for fantasy owners.
Honorable Mention: London Fletcher – ILB, Washington Redskins (LB12/LB2), James Laurinaitis – MLB, St. Louis Rams (LB2/LB3)
BUST OF THE YEAR
DeMeco Ryans – ILB, Houston Texans (LB14/LB93)
Coming off a season in which he missed 10 games and with the Houston Texans switching to a 3-4 defense there was some reason for concern that DeMeco Ryans could be in for a bit of an IDP backslide, but few could have predicted that the sixth-year pro’s fantasy value would fall completely off a cliff. Ryan’s 64 tackles in 2011 were 48 fewer than he had ever recorded in a 16 game season, and whether it’s the scheme, the player, or a combination of the two DeMeco Ryans has gone from one-time IDP stud to waiver wire fodder. Such is sometimes the fortunes of IDPs.
(Dis)Honorable Mention: Lawrence Timmons – ILB, Pittsburgh Steelers (LB6/LB40), Rey Maualuga – MLB, Cincinnati Bengals (LB17/LB56)
STEAL OF THE DRAFT
James Anderson – SLB, Carolina Panthers (LB41/LB5)
We were all over Anderson as an overvalued player headed into 2011 coming off his top 10 finish in 2010, but not only did the sixth-year veteran back up his 2010 Waiver Wire Wonder of the Year award he actually improved, posting a career high 145 tackles and finishing among the top five IDP linebackers in Default IDP Manor Scoring. However, much like in 2010 a lot of Anderson’s fantasy production can be attributed to injuries that eviscerated the Carolina LB corps in 2011, and while we’ll freely admit that we may have sold James Anderson short the changes that await in Charlotte this offseason (including a potential switch to the 3-4) make a third straight top 10 IDP finish from Anderson unlikely.
Honorable Mention: DeMarcus Ware – OLB, Dallas Cowboys (LB32/LB9), Pat Angerer – SLB, Indianapolis Colts (LB48/LB13)
WAIVER WIRE WONDER OF THE YEAR
NaVarro Bowman – ILB, San Francisco 49ers (NR/LB5)
My esteemed colleague James Elvins at Fantasy Sharks was all over Bowman as a breakout candidate entering this season, and it’s high time that my man “Kong” got his due, as not only did Bowman break out he went absolutely ballistic, racking up 143 tackles and outpointing batterymate Patrick Willis. Fantasy owners prescient enough to draft Bowman late or grab him off the waiver wire early reaped huge rewards, but from the looks of things the former Penn State star’s IDP price tag is going to be a helluva lot higher in 2012.
Honorable Mention: Daryl Smith – SLB, Jacksonville Jaguars (NR/LB21), Kevin Burnett – ILB, Miami Dolphins (NR/LB25)
