IDP Spotlight: S Michael Lewis, San Francisco 49ers

  Posted 8/8 by Jeff Pasquino, Exclusive to Footballguys.com

Michael Lewis is a veteran NFL safety and a very solid player. He is not flashy nor is he a ball hawk by any stretch of the imagination - but he will put up solid fantasy numbers. Lewis has been a starter in the league for five years, four of which with his first NFL team - the Philadelphia Eagles. Lewis racked up Top 12 fantasy stats from 2003-2005, collecting at least 67 solo tackles and averaging a sack and two interceptions those three seasons. Just as important, Lewis did not miss a single game those three seasons, which is a comforting thought in the violent NFL world.

Since moving to San Francisco last year, Lewis has not missed much of a beat at all. After a rough 2006 where he missed time and has a disappointing season (43 solo tackles) he rebounded with his new team to finish as DB6 last year with 74 solo tackles (and 30 assists) with 1.5 sacks and another two picks. Again, this is just more of the same from Lewis - steady production and run support in the box, with the rare big play once a month.

As long as the 49ers use Michael Lewis properly as an eighth man in the box with solid run support and stable but not flashy pass coverage, it is a pretty safe bet that we will see the same kinds of numbers in 2008 after 16 games have been played. Having a solid IDP player is a nice and comforting thought when building an IDP team, and four out of five seasons is a pretty solid track record. Odds are very strong that he will again be a Top 12 DB again in 2008.

Positives

• Lewis has been a solid performer since entering the league, with four Top 12 seasons in the past five years
• His health never seems to be in question, as he has missed just two games since becoming a starter in 2003
• Lewis does not need to rely on big plays to post solid numbers. With most of his production coming via tackles, his performances should be steady and predictable all season long

Negatives

• Lewis did break down in 2006, missing two games and falling well out of the top fantasy performer lists with only 43 solo tackles in those 14 games
• The 49ers play a great deal of defense, especially against the pass. Should the linebackers and the rest of the front seven improve, Lewis will lose his fantasy lifeblood with fewer tackle chances.
• In big play fantasy leagues, Lewis is not nearly as valuable as he is more of a tackler and steady player. With only 11 career interceptions and 7.5 sacks in six seasons, do not expect big games from him
  

Final Thoughts

Michael Lewis is a lunch pail kind of fantasy stud. He is a stable guy, shows up for work, and gets the job done. He doesn't make the flashy play or big interception or force that fumble that turns a game around for his team, but he is a solid player that will get 5-6 tackles a game and earn the respect of both teams. While he may not be lighting up the scoreboard, a player like Lewis on a fantasy team is a good player to build a team around. Putting in a stable DB1 / primary safety in a lineup and knowing that those tackles will be coming to your squad week after week is a nice way to go, especially if you have more volatile performers on the rest of your IDP defense.

Quotes from the IDP Spotlight Message Thread

To view the entire thread, click here.

Tick:
"That defense is improving slowly, but I don't see it hitting Lewis too hard this season. The SF scorekeepers must give out loads of assists."

therokie0070:
"Stats will be nice for a couple more years but San Francisco is getting better on D so his tackles may decrease as his supporting cast improves. Still a top-10 DB, and top-5 in tackle-heavy leagues."

Projections

IDP Scoring System

• 1.5 pts per Solo Tackle
• 0.75 pts per Assisted Tackle
• 4 pts per Sack
• 4 pts per Forced Fumble
• 4 pts per Fumble Recovery
• 5 pts per Interception
• 1.5 pts per Pass Defensed
• 6 pts per Touchdown
• 2 pts per Safety