RankingsDecember 6, 2007


IDP Notes and Rankings

By Alison Derick-Northcutt

I hope your week 13 was successful. Here are some highlights from the defensive world as well as notes and rankings for week 14. The rankings are based on a scoring system that awards 1 point for tackles, 2 for sacks, interceptions, forced and recovered fumbles, and 1 point for a defended/deflected pass.

Patrick Willis continued his unbelievable rookie season by recording 18 tackles during San Francisco’s loss to Carolina. He actually had the exact same tackle numbers in week 12, with the addition of a half a sack. This type of performance is becoming the norm and I don’t see it changing much anytime soon as Willis gets the run heavy Vikings in week 14.

Lofa Tatupu was AJ Feely’s favorite receiver Sunday. Tatupu had 3 picks vs PHI as well as eleven solo tackles. Patrick Kerney wasn’t the playmaker I had expected, as he put up only 2 tackles and no sacks. He put consistent pressure on Feely, but pressure, unfortunately, doesn’t count in fantasy.

DJ Williams continued to prove he can handle the MLB position, notching 13 solo tackles and 3 assists. He should have a good week against Kolby Smith (or Larry Johnson) this week as well.

In the San Diego vs Kansas City game, Shawn Merriman had 3 sacks, a fumble recovery, and 6 solo tackles. On the other side of the ball, Jared Allen had 2 sacks, 2 tackles, and a receiving TD. I don’t think he’s any Mike Vrabel, but his owners will take it nonetheless.

DB Roderick Hood kept the Arizona interception machine rolling, picking off Derek Anderson twice. I don’t like him going forward, but it was a nice performance.

NOTES for DBs:
As of Wednesday, Antonie Winfield was probable and Gibril Wilson was questionable. Nate Clements has notched at least 8 tackles over his past 3 games. Rodney Harrison seems to be back at full strength for New England.

NOTES for LBs:
Patrick Willis is an absolute must start every week. Kirk Morrison doesn’t have flashy stats, but is a dependable tackler which is what I use as a guide for ranking the LBs. Arizona’s Karlos Dansby is in my opinion, one of the most overlooked IDP contributors this year. He gets me about 8-10 points a week through tackles, interceptions, and/or sacks. Antonio Pierce seems to be slowed by his injured ankle, so I left him out of the top 20. He’s currently questionable for week 14.

Notes for DLs.
It doesn’t look like Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (9.5 sacks this season) will play in week 14. Barret Ruud has cooled off tremendously and can’t be depended on as a LB1 or LB2 right now. Shawne Merrimen could be ranked higher, as he’s had two monstrous weeks. One more game like that and he’ll shoot up the rankings again.

 
Here are my rankings for week 14. Rankings are based on this season’s performance and match ups. Good luck this week!

 

RankLBDLDB
1Patrick WillisJared AllenJermaine Phillips
2London FletcherAaron KampmanSean Jones
3DeMeco RyansOsi UmenyioraGibril Wilson
4David HarrisMario WilliamsNate Clements
5Jon BeasonTrent ColeSammy Knight
6Kirk MorrisonPatrick KerneyDarrelle Revis
7Brian UrlacherJason TaylorLeRon Landry
8DJ WilliamsDarnell DockettAntoine Winfield
9Ray LewisMichael StrahanMadieu Williams
10Angelo CrowellRobert MathisRodney Harrison
11Ernie SimsAdewale OgunleyeMarlin Jackson
12Nick BarnettTerrell SuggsMarcus Trufant
13Karlos DansbyAaron SchobelBob Sanders
14Lofa TatupuMarques DouglasDonte Whitner
15Michael BoleyJohn AbrahamKerry Rhodes
16Will WitherspoonKenyon ColemanRoy Williams
17EJ HendersonElvis DumervilAntonio Cromartie
18Gary BrackettTommie HarrisChamp Bailey
19Shawne MerrimanKyle Vanden BoschAtari Bigby
20Julian PetersonAndre CarterKevin Hayden
21Lance BriggsMark AndersonLeigh Bodden
22Barrett RuudJustin TuckTerrance McGee
23AJ HawkJustin SmithMichael Huff
24Derrick BrooksJulius PeppersAntrel Rolle
25Thomas HowardTamba HaliLawyer Milloy

 
Alison, a Cafe regular and writer, was raised in the Northeast and now resides in the Southwest. You can find her posting as Low and Away in the forums.
 
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