IDP Buy Low / Sell High - Week 13

Posted 11/28 by Anthony Borbely, Exclusive to Footballguys.com

As a long time IDP dynasty league player, I understand the importance of always looking ahead and trying to be prepared for the future. Trade deadlines may be gone, but the offseason will be here soon, and now is the time to start planning ahead.

For the next four weeks, I am going to be looking at the Buy Low/Sell High IDP players who we should be targeting during the early part of the offseason. Of course, things will change once free agency and the draft get here, but for now, it's time to peer into the future as best we can and see if there are some deals to be made.

This article is going to be all about Buy Low rookies, including some candidate for those who play in deep dynasty leagues. Beginning next week, I am going to devote one week each to DL, LB and DB.

Buy Low Rookies

DL Gaines Adams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Adams has not had the kind of impact the Buccaneers envisioned when they made him the fourth overall pick in the 2007 draft. He hasn't even started for most of the season. But many defensive linemen take time to develop, and patience must apply here. You need to seek out the impatient owners and see if you can acquire Adams. He is an elite talent, but sometimes has been accused of not giving his all, so there is some risk involved. But the reward could be worth it.
DL Jamaal Anderson, Atlanta Falcons: Much like Adams, Anderson has struggled in his rookie season, and has not registered a sack. He is not the elite pass rushing talent that Adams is, but he is a solid two-way DE. He also needs time to develop. Anderson can probably be acquired for a decent price, so if you need a young DL, make a move to get him.
DL Ikaika Alama-Francis, Detroit Lions: Alama-Francis is a tremendous athlete with huge upside, but he was as raw coming into the NFL as any player in the draft. He has only been active for two games. Many owners see that and automatically assume he is a bust. He is simply not ready to play at this level. Alama-Francis never played football until his sophomore year in college. He still has a lot to learn, and he has to learn it at the highest level. This is a player you may be able to get for dirt-cheap. Alama-Francis has as big of an upside as any linemen in last year's draft. If you can get high upside players for next to nothing, you have to do it. There is very little risk, with a potentially huge reward.
LB Michael Okwo, Chicago Bears: Okwo's future with the Bears is directly tied to Lance Briggs. If Briggs stays with the Bears, Okwo will have limited value. If Briggs leaves as a free agent, then Okwo will have a chance to win a starting position next season. The WLB in the Tampa-2 defense is a prime fantasy position. I am one who thinks Briggs is going to leave, and if that happens, Okwo will likely battle Jamar Williams for the WLB job. Okwo was a third round draft choice, and that suggests that he was drafted to replace Briggs. This one has some risk, but I think it may be worth it to try and acquire Okwo. If he gets that job, his value will skyrocket.
LB Anthony Waters, San Diego Chargers: Waters was regarded as a first round talent before injuring his knee in college. He is currently behind starters Stephen Cooper and Matt Wilhelm, but some think it's just a matter of time before Waters gets a chance to compete for a starting LB spot. Many have already given up on him. You can pick him up on the waiver wire in some leagues. Even in deeper leagues where Waters is rostered, you can likely get him for a very low price.
LB Quincy Black, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Black had an impressive camp, but there was no way he was going to start this year with Barrett Ruud, Cato June, and Derrick Brooks ahead of him. However, the offseason should be interesting in Tampa. Ruud is set as the long-term MLB, but there are questions about both OLBs for the long term. June signed a one-year contract, and it is uncertain whether he will return. Brooks has had another great season, but at 34 years old, father time has to catch up with him eventually. Brooks also lost some snaps in the nickel defense earlier this season. Black was drafted to eventually be a starter, and nothing suggests that he won't. We just don't know when. If he winds up playing WLB, he will have a lot of value. The risk is small; the reward is high, so try to acquire him on the cheap.
DB Marcus McCauley, Minnesota Vikings: McCauley has been impressive as a rookie and plays CB in the Tampa-2 defense, which is a great fantasy position. He is not a starter, but he still has an impressive 41 solo tackles. He has the talent to be a starter, and might be worth stashing. For those who play in leagues which separate CB from safety, he should definitely be on your long-term radar.
DB Sabby Piscitelli, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Piscitelli was impressive at times in camp, and then was placed on IR early in the season due to a knee injury. He is a physical, hard-hitting safety with good instincts. The question is can he come back healthy next year and beat out Jermaine Phillips? I am one who thinks he will eventually. Strong safeties are not easy to get, so get a forgotten one for cheap. He has a lot of upside and may not cost much, so make a move.

Deep Dynasty League Specials:

DL Brian Smith, Jacksonville Jaguars: Smith injured his hip in college, and began this season on PUP, before being placed on IR this week. He was a great pass rusher in college. Smith is on waivers in many deep leagues. If you have some room, stash him and see what happens in camp next summer. It's not like the Jaguars are loaded with pass rushers.
LB H.B. Blades, Washington Redskins: Blades is not the biggest or fastest LB around, but he has good instincts and is a sure tackler. The problem is he plays behind London Fletcher. But those of us who play in deep leagues don't mind stashing a player or two.
LB Desmond Bishop, Green Bay Packers: Bishop was very impressive in preseason and vaulted past Abdul Hodge on the Packer depth charts. He is stuck behind Nick Barnett, but eventually, talent meets opportunity.
LB Prescott Burgess, Baltimore Ravens: Burgess is another in a long list of impressive LBs from the 2007 rookie class. Ray Lewis isn't getting any younger, and other than Bart Scott, the Ravens lack proven linebackers.
LB Johnny Baldwin, Kansas City Chiefs: Baldwin was drafted by the Lions, then cut, and signed by the Chiefs. He played at a small college and was extremely raw entering the NFL. He is a tremendous athlete, and if he can learn the pro game, he could be a real find for the Chiefs, and for fantasy owners.
DB Daren Stone, Atlanta Falcons: Stone is a big physical player who, like Baldwin, came from a small college. He is relatively unknown, but has decent skills and is playing behind an aging starter in Lawyer Milloy.