As soon as my then colleague and now fantasy rival Vladimir first asked me, ‘Hey, is there a version of this where we get to start Aaron Donald?’ I took it upon myself to create our first IDP league without knowing what an adventurous territory I embarked on.
Nate Landman’s career trajectory is an adventure in the making too, and consider this article an NPC dialogue in the village of Shady Sands. We got a feel of 2024 IDP Redraft Target Nate Landman in the 2023 season, and now it’s time for the realness. Hopefully, we are witnessing a Cinderella Man narrative in the making and I’ll offer as much evidence to support this theory in the next passages.
Run stop grade hails positive news for our guy. Nate Landman is now a member of a reinvigorated defensive unit, much different from the over-maligned defense that still finished 11th overall, allowing 36 TDs and 321.1 yards to opponents. For context, out of the top 15 defenses, only the Ravens did significantly better with 26 TDs allowed, and 1st placed Browns touting DPOY Miles Garrett allowed 44 TDs. The 2023 Atlanta fantasy imprint was marred by Arthur Smith’s decisions to grow a mustache, not use Kyle Pitts’ talents, and put Bijan in a committee with Tyler Allgeier, but all this has come to pass. The return of Raheem Morris, a defensive-minded head coach, should reinvigorate the defense.
After the LA Rams spent seasons ‘21 and ‘22 lining up in 3-4 in 17% and 15%, respectively, in ‘23, Morris started introducing more 4-3 fronts based on his Tampa 2 roots, similar to what he did in his interim coach days, in Atlanta. How does this relate to Landman? The staple of Rams defense with light boxes and two high safeties has been to counter the explosive plays or rather invite teams to run on them. Nate Landman, being ‘only a run stuffer,’ gets to eat in 2024, and we are talking feast here. The other reason for optimism is that starting with the revenge game versus the Steelers, up until their bye in week 12, apart from Kansas City and Dallas, most of the teams they face are more inclined to run the ball.
We are talking about volume and opportunity rather than talent, as in the case of Nate Landman. The rookie and free agency arrivals do not threaten his position. Troy Andersen is now in the position to prove his worth, and Kaden Ellis showed glimpses of pass-rushing ability, which the Falcons are in dire need of. If the scouts and evaluators were right, Troy Andersen overtakes Landman on the ILB position and reclaims his birthright on the frontline.
Nate Landman’s current ranking is PFF’s 186th IDP overall player, and his Sleeper ADP is 551st IDP overall and 257th LB. This alone puts him in the sleeper category, not being a ‘must draft’ player but rather a ‘must also draft.’ In leagues awarding a high number of points for tackles, which means most standard IDP scoring leagues, drafters would be wise to search for Landman come double-digit rounds or start monitoring LBs going off the board to pounce on the opportunity to land this man. Kaden Ellis has a higher ceiling with his pass-rushing ability. Still, if the signing of Matt Judon proves detrimental to this, I would even put Landman as the first Falcons LB to go off the board and certainly before Troy Andersen.
I put him in the same tier with guys like Cody Barton, Pete Werner, and Dre Greenlaw, who are underrated, too, but bring valuable points to your fantasy teams. Having said that, if the attacking affinity of Falcon’s opponents this year proves to be run-inclined, Landman has the path to a top-25 finish and surpasses this tier. Furthermore, I rate Nate Landman way higher than players like Jack Campbell, Jaelen Phillips, or Devin White, who are drafted in rounds 5 to 8, way ahead of the aforementioned group. I love the abilities of Jack Campbell, but he is on a bridesmaid path, and Philips and White are in their second marriage.
If there is something as a safe bet, it is Nate Landman in Fantasy Football 2024. His ceiling is not at all high, but having in mind that you draft him as your LB5 or LB7, and presumably after loading up on DL and IDP flex (yes, I leave the DBs for last), he is not a risk-heavy investment. He is a player who, apart from three games, never posted less than 74% snaps in season 2023, and this is what you want in IDP fantasy. This means opportunity and volume will come from the Raheem Morris two-high based defensive scheme inviting the run against Atlanta. Yes, Foye Oluokun and Zaire Franklin must be in your top 5 LB plans, but keep in mind that Landman may finish in front of guys like Frankie Luvu and Tyler Dodson, which doesn’t mean you should jump your gun and draft him before them, but rather be patient and get yourself a 6th or 7th round value in the 11th or 12th round.
