Free Agency Impact In 2018 On Defense
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Free agency has arrived and with it every year comes new faces, departures, and opportunities for players to make their mark on their respective teams. Below are of 4 IDP positional categories with headlines that will impact your IDP roster heading into the 2018 Fantasy Football season.
Defensive Back-Safety
Budda Baker’s Time To Shine In The Desert
The moment it was announced a couple days ago that CB Tyrann Mathiew was being released by the Arizona Cardinals, fantasy football fans rejoiced knowing that a good chunk of the production he had in 2017 would be consumed by now 2nd-year safety Budda Baker. Ranked right behind Mathiew, 4th on the team in total tackles, Baker made a name for himself during his rookie campaign by being versatile on defense not only in the passing game but against the run. Take a look at the side-by-side comparison between the two from 2017 via ESPN.
| Tyrann Mathiew | 2017 Statistics | Budda Baker |
| 78 (70/8) | Total Tackles (Solo/Assisted) | 74 (58/16) |
| 7 | Pass Defensed | 7 |
| 5 | Stuffs | 3 |
| 2 | Interceptions | 0 |
| 1 | Forced Fumbles | 2 |
| 1 | Sacks | 1 |
Baker came on strong towards the latter half of season and showed why he was worthy of a second-round pick in 2017. With Mathiew now gone someone has to fill the void in the Cardinals secondary, especially in the tackle department. Look for Baker to do so and become one of the top IDP defensive backs in 2018!
Defensive Back-Corner Back
Malcolm Bulter Brings His Miraculous Ways To The Music City
The hero of Super Bowl 49 and the mystery man of Super Bowl 52’s tumultuous journey in New England ended earlier this week when he took his talents to the Music City by signing with Tennessee Titans. In 2017, Butler recorded 60 total tackles (55 solo/5 assisted) along with 12 passes defensed, 3 forced fumbles, and 2 interceptions producing practically safety level production from an IDP standpoint. However, while his production did slip towards the end of last season look for Butler to reassert himself in his new home and produce new “Music City” miracles for a Titans defense which ranked in the bottom half of the league in passing yards allowed per game on average (25th).
Linebacker
Anthony Hitchens’ Takes Arrowhead By Storm
Hitchens’ fills in for Derrick Johnson at inside linebacker of the Kansas City Chiefs bringing with him his run-stopping prowess he displayed last season with the Dallas Cowboys. Second on the team in tackles behind Sean Lee, Hitchens posted 84 total tackles (55 solo/ 29 assisted), 10 stuffs, 2 passes defensed, and 1 forced fumble. Despite the transition from middle linebacker in Dallas’ 4-3 defense to inside linebacker in Kansas City’s 3-4 defense, Hitchens will look to bring his tackle heavy production to a division where he’ll face two of the top 10 elusive running backs of 2017 in Marshawn Lynch and C.J. Anderson (rankings via NextGenStats at NFL.com).
Zach Brown’s Continued March In Washington
Brown is bringing his 127 total tackle (84 solo/43 assisted) production back to the nation’s capital in 2018!
The #Redskins have signed LB Zach Brown to a 3-year deal worth max of $24M, source said. 127 tackles stay in Washington.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 15, 2018
In 2017, Brown amounted double-digit total tackles eight times over the course of 13 games. The leader on the team in tackles, he also accounted for 2.5 sacks, 2 passes defensed and a whopping 12 stuffs. The second on the Redskins in tackles was D.J. Swearinger with 79 tackles. Needless to say Brown’s returning presence on the field is a welcome sign of relief for the Redskins.
One of the mysteries behind Brown is that despite his high level of tackle production over his career he’s had a hard time staying put. Despite his 149 total tackles for Buffalo in 2016 the Bills decided not to re-sign him. The Redskins took a chance on him in 2017 and it paid off. Now he’ll have a chance to maintain a level of consistency under defensive coordinator Greg Manusky and help in bringing IDP fantasy managers a title this upcoming season as potentially the #1 linebacker in fantasy football.
Defensive Lineman
Trent Murphy’s New Beginning in Buffalo
The now 5th year edge-rusher out of Stanford will be taking his talents to Buffalo where he will get an opportunity to start opposite of Jerry Hughes. Coming off of a lost 2017 season due to injury, Murphy posted 47 total tackles (29 solo/19 assisted), 9 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 3 stuffs, and 1 pass defensed as a backup in Washington in 2016. And that’s after being suspended for four games. Look for Murphy to take the next step in his development as a pass rusher and bring his high motor to the Nickel City.
Muhammad Wilkerson Shows It’s Actually Easy Being Green
Wilkerson went from being “Gang Green” to a Green Bay Packer this week signing a 1-year deal reuniting him with defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. In doing so he brings with him his 46 total tackles (26 solo/20 assisted), 3.5 sacks, 4 passes defensed, and 2 stuffs from 2017. Playing opposite Mike Daniels in Green Bay’s 3-4 defense and looking to secure a bigger payday next offseason look for Wilkerson to tee-off and return close to his 2015 level of performance where he recorded 64 total tackles and 12 sacks.
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