4-EYED IDP TEAM PREVIEW: TENNESSEE TITANS (2021)
In this second part of our Titans’ 4-EYED TEAM PREVIEW, we’re going to be covering the Titans’ IDPs that you should consider rostering for the 2021 fantasy football season.
Get to the quarterback! That is a basic principle that most teams acknowledge, yet the Titans were near the bottom of the league in that category. It isn’t a secret that the Titans’ pass rush was a weakness last year, evidence by their 19 sacks (30th). It is also well known that the lack of an effective pass rush can lead to an offense exploiting a defense, evidenced by the Titans’ 28th ranked defensive in yards allowed and 24th in points allowed.
Entering 2021, the new Defensive Coordinator, Shane Bowen, understands that he needs to improve on this area, and the other pieces will fall into place. This new-look defense is definitely a work in progress, but the addition of Jim Schwartz to the coaches’ table should help grow this defense despite lacking IDP firepower. While there may be a lack of elite pieces, there are definitely some solid players that I will be taking a closer look at.
So which MUST HAVE players should we be willing to go all-in on to help you win your fantasy championship?
Find out now in our 2021 Titans’ IDP Team Preview
Defensive Line/Edge Rusher
*Positional designations & ADP data brought to you by Sleeper.
Harold Landry (Current ADP: LB49/DL32)
GAME SAVER @HaroldLandry! #JAXvsTEN pic.twitter.com/ZnDBa7nU10
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) September 20, 2020
While the Titans’ pass-rush was less than stellar, Landry still led the team with 5.5 sacks and finished as the DL12 on the season. Despite finishing as the DL12, he did see a drop off in production from 2019 in the sack category, but it was his all-around play that elevated his IDP floor.
A couple of factors to take into consideration entering the ’21 season. Landry’s win rate actually improved in 2020 vs 2019. He had more QB hits, which doesn’t always translate into sacks. It will be interesting to see if Bowen utilizes him in coverage as much as he did in 2020, but his 5 passes defended were career-high.
Bud Dupree (Current ADP: LB54/DL35)
The Titans wanted to get better at getting to the quarterback, so they went out and brought in Steelers’ Edge rusher, Bud Dupree. The Titans signed Dupree to a massive 5-year deal, with the hopes that he, Landry, and Denico Autry can get Tennessee out of the sack total cellar!
Dupree is coming off an injury-shortened 2020 season in which he totaled 8 sacks across 11 games, and 19.5 over the last 27 games played.
Last years’ ACL injury appears to be behind him as he passed his most recent physical and is cleared to practice with the team. If the ACL injury is totally behind him, and he can return to 2019 form (DL5), the Titans will have a legit force on defense, and you will have gotten a steal at his current ADP.
Dupree’s numbers at the end of the season will come down to Bowen’s approach on defense. I can’t envision a situation where he has the success he had in Blitzburgh, but if healthy, a profit can be had.
Linebacker
Jayon Brown (Current ADP: LB36)
This may be the “make it or break it” season for Jayon Brown. Since his 2018 season, which led to an LB 17 overall finish, the hype train just hasn’t actually pulled into the station. Sure, injuries have derailed the train over the past two seasons, but fantasy managers need to see a return to either 2018 or 2019 if they plan on climbing aboard.
Brown has shown the upside and playmaking ability to be an LB2, and it will be seen if the revamped Titans’ defense will help lend to this fantasy ceiling. Despite playing in only 10 games last year, he matched a career-high with 8 passes defended, and still managed to tally 76 tackles, even if it came at a poor 3:2 solo to assist ratio.
Currently, Brown is being drafted as a low-end LB3 and should return LB3 value. A safe investment, but risky for upside.
Defensive Back
Kevin Byard (Current ADP: DB23)
Kevin Byard with the takeaway!pic.twitter.com/r6R8dkIlMU
— PFF (@PFF) January 12, 2020
Quite possibly one of the sneakiest bargains in IDP drafts, Byard is definitely one of the more under-the-radar DBs. Currently going as the DB23 off the board, he has yet to finish lower than DB24 in any of the past 4 seasons. In fact, he has finished as the DB2, DB13, DB24, DB13 since 2017.
Byard led the Titans in tackles in 2020 with 111, his 1st 100+ tackle season, yet his 4th consecutive with 80+. Despite the tackle volume, he has seen his INT totals drop from a career-high 8 in 2017.
Byard has always had health on his side, starting in all 16 games since 2017, and 1000+ snaps during that span each year. With health on his side, there might not be a safer pick to lead your DB than Byard at his DB23 ADP.