Sleeper Watch

Replacing a four-time All-Pro and team leader is never a simple task. It’s especially difficult when you’re an unheralded seventh-round draft choice considered by many to be both too small and too slow to be an NFL regular. But with Zach Thomas sidelined last Sunday, Derrick Pope made it look easy. The rookie made five tackles, sacked San Francisco’s Tim Rattay once and clinched Miami’s win with a late fumble recovery for a touchdown, an effort good enough to propel him all the way to #4 in our weekly IDP rankings.

“Too small,” scouts said. “Too slow,” they thought after they saw his 4.71 40 at the combine. But the 222nd overall pick out of Alabama has looked good on special teams this year, and looked even better last Sunday. With Thomas unlikely to return before December 20’s tilt with New England, Pope will see the bulk of the action for two more games (against Buffalo and Denver), and could be a nice fantasy fill-in during that time for teams looking for LB help.

And if Derrick Pope continues to impress, his role could increase significantly in 2005, making him worth a look in dynasty leagues as well. It wouldn’t be the first time a late-round pick made an impact in Miami’s linebacking corps: Zach Thomas himself lasted until the fifth round eight years ago.