The NFL is a quarterback's league. And fantasy football is an offensive skill player's game. It might be unfair, but it's true. After all, how many times have you scouted left tackles for your upcoming fantasy football draft?
Alas, we haven't forgotten you IDP owners. The brave among us who haven't forgotten that defense wins championships -- and more importantly, that those defenses are made up of individuals. So while it's been a big deal that Danny Amendola, Wes Welker and Steven Jackson will all have new addresses in 2013, we'll take a look at some of the guys on the other side of the ball whose moves will have an impact when draft day comes around.
One caveat: we're all still waiting to see what happens with Darrelle Revis. While he isn't a free agent, his future destination has been one of the most anticipated stories of the offseason. Yet, like a Jimmy Cliff song, Revis is sitting here in limbo. In the meantime, while you enjoy that musical interlude, here's a list of some of the most intriguing IDP faces to change places.
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Nnamdi Asomugha, DB, San Francisco 49ers (65.00 fantasy points in 2012)
Asomugha hasn't been a true fantasy factor since grabbing eight interceptions in 2006. Yet the reasons for his fantasy decline vary. During his final seasons with the Raiders, it had a lot to do with teams generally avoiding his side of the field. In Philadelphia, Asomugha's general ineffectiveness sunk his value. A move to San Francisco won't necessarily get it back, but if defensive coordinator Vic Fangio allows him a chance to play more man-to-man coverages, he could experience a bounce-back.
Elvis Dumervil, LB, Baltimore Ravens (80.00 fantasy points in 2012)
The reason for his departure from Denver was the subject of a lot of Twitter punchlines, but as a producer on the field, Dumveril's no joke. Last season, he logged 11 sacks -- right at his career average. Yes, he's one-dimensional, but he's pretty good with that one dimension. Now he heads to Baltimore where he will make a fearsome bookend with Terrell Suggs. It should be a nightmare of opposing quarterbacks, but could be pretty dreamy for fantasy IDP owners.
LaRon Landry, DB, Indianapolis Colts (113.50 fantasy points in 2012)
There were a lot of things that went wrong for the New York Jets in 2012. LaRon Landry wasn't one of them. The muscled-out safety had his best season in the NFL, posting career-highs in tackles and forced fumbles, tying a career-high in interceptions and scoring his first career touchdown. Now he joins a young Colts secondary that was in the bottom half of the league in passing yards allowed. It's a move that could also afford him the opportunity to attack the QB on occasion. Landry was a top 40 IDP option last season and should duplicate that success again this year.
Dashon Goldson, DB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (88.10 fantasy points in 2012)
Goldson was known as being one of the harder hitters on a very hard-hitting 49ers defense. His numbers have been on the decline since a breakout 2009 season, but that's due in part to the Niners defense collectively improving. Goldson now makes a move to a Bucs defense that was dead last against the pass in 2012. It's likely he could replace veteran Rondé Barber at the safety position, whih would put him in line to make plenty of plays in 2013.
Dannell Ellerbe, LB, Miami Dolphins (93.50 fantasy points in 2012)
Ellerbe had a breakout season in 2012 with career-high numbers in sacks and tackles -- although he was overshadowed by teammates Ray Lewis, Haloti Ngata and Paul Kruger. Probably to the surprise of many, Ellerbe finished 2012 in the top 35 at his position. It's nothing to write home about, but it's nothing to sneeze at, either. He moves to Miami as he rounds into his prime but is faced with spending more time in a 4-3 defense after playing in Baltimore's hybrid scheme for the past few seasons. Regardless, a change of address should carry with it a chance to be a full-time starter for the first time in Ellerbe's career which can only help his fantasy prospects.
Jasper Brinkley, LB, Arizona Cardinals (88.50 fantasy points in 2012)
In his first season as a regular starter, Brinkley made hay as a tackling machine in the middle for the Vikings. Daryl Washington has been suspended for the first four games of the season, so Brinkley could see some early opportunities in the middle. However it would seem that his role long-term in Arizona would be at an outside linebacker spot. Brinkley has plenty of room to grow -- he's yet to record a sack or interception in his career -- but it's a matter of whether he'll reach that ceiling ... and if he'll do it with the Cardinals.
