Given that the fantasy season is over for most owners, I’ve decided to focus this week’s upgrades on young players with long-term upside for 2014 and beyond. Most IDP leagues are dynasty or keeper-oriented, so it’s always good to be aware of players that are on the rise and most of these players fit that description.
UPGRADES
DE Mathias Kiwanuka, NYG (4 solos, 2 asst, 2 sacks, 1 FF, 1 PD)
With Justin Tuck’s contract set to expire and the uncertain health of Jason Pierre-Paul, there is a clear opportunity for Kiwanuka to reclaim a full-time role for the Giants next season. He’s filled the role at times this year and has flashed some nice production at times with nearly 40 combined tackles and 6 sacks.
DE Ezekial Ansah, DET (2 solos, 1 asst, 1 sack)
The rookie came into the league this year as a very raw prospect but he has looked like a natural rushing the passer and has held up better than expected against the run too. He should continue to show improvement with a full year of experience under his belt but already ranked as one of the more efficient rushers in the league with 8.5 sacks on 535 snaps.
DE Dion Jordan, MIA (3 solos, 1 asst)
One of the most important jobs for the Miami coaching staff in the offseason will be finding ways to get Jordan more involved in their defense next year. He brings great speed and athleticism to the edge rusher position but needs to become a more well-rounded player to stay on the field and reach his full potential. Don’t get too down on him after an underwhelming rookie year though as many pass rushers take some time to develop and he could still emerge as a force alongside Cameron Wake in 2014.
DT Pat Sims, OAK (10 solos, 5 asst, 1 sack)
While most of the upgrade selections this week are young players with big upside, Sims warrants inclusion simply based on his play for this week alone. He spent the past 5 seasons with the Bengals but never really made much of an impact to draw attention from fantasy owners. This week, however, he exploded with 15 combined tackles and a sack in a loss to the Chargers.
DT Sylvester Williams, DEN (5 solos, 1 sack)
Williams was a 1st round pick of the Broncos this year who received more playing time in recent weeks and his production has spiked as a result. He posted 5 combined tackles and a sack last week and then followed that up with 5 solo stops and another sack this week. Has the size and quickness to become a quality fantasy DT.
LB Luke Kuechly, CAR (9 solos, 15 asst, 1 INT, 1 PD)
If there was any doubt that Kuechly was the top fantasy linebacker in the league, he took care of them on Sunday with an amazing 24 tackle performance that also included an interception of Drew Brees. He’s taken some heat at times for his cover skills but still managed to bring in 4 interceptions this season. Not sure anyone sheds blockers better than him and he’s still just 22 years old. Should compete for the #1 overall IDP option for the next few years.
LB Vincent Rey, CIN (1 solo, 1 sack, 1 FF, 1 INT, 1 PD, 1 TD)
The Bengals have to seriously consider giving up on the Rey Maualuga experiment at MLB this offseason. He can be released from the final year of his deal at a small cost, and it certainly looks like Rey is ready to take over that spot. He clearly has more big play ability and also showed in the small sample of games he started that he can be a much more productive tackler as well. If he can earn a 3-down MLB role, Rey should have solid LB3 potential.
LB Bjoern Werner, IND (1 solo, 1 sack)
Yet another rookie who didn’t get a chance to show much this year due to injury but he was activated a couple months ago and has now posted a sack in consecutive games. Robert Mathis put up some incredible numbers this year and is a defensive player of the year candidate but at 32 years of age, he figures to start slowing down soon. There’s an opportunity for this year’s first round pick Werner to establish himself as a long-term solution at the opposite OLB spot.
LB Jamie Collins, NE (3 solos, 1 asst, 1 PD)
The rookie has a reputation for being a jack of all trades so he should be a favorite of Bill Belichick who likes to change up game plans and use players in a variety of ways. Collins has seen an increase in his playing time over the past few weeks with 5 starts in a row and has proven to be reliable in coverage. That should give him an edge over players like Brandon Spikes and Donta Hightower for nickel duties and potentially give him a 3-down LB role alongside Jerod Mayo in 2014.
S T.J. McDonald, STL (6 solos, 1 sack)
The rookie has shown what he is capable of down the stretch in 2013 with 26 solo tackles plus a sack and interception over the past 5 games. Look for him to take on a key role in one of the more exciting young defenses in the league next year.
S Matt Elam, BAL (2 solos, 4 asst)
Elam is still maturing and developing as a player but the potential is obviously there for him to emerge as an elite fantasy safety at some point. Not many safeties get drafted in the first round as he did this year, and the Ravens have already entrusted him with a lot of responsibility. As the game starts to slow down for him and he gets more comfortable in the defense, he should see a bump in his production across the board.
S D.J. Swearinger Sr, HOU (4 solos, 1 asst)
The Texans have a history of putting out some productive strong safeties but have been looking for someone to take over the job and hold onto it for awhile. Swearinger has a chance to be that player after being selected in the 2nd round of the 2013 draft. His play has been up down at times he could be a potential breakout safety next year in what should be a rebound season for the Texans.
CB Dee Milliner, NYJ (8 solos, 1 asst, 1 INT, 5 PD)
The rookie has been benched and gone through some rough stretches this year with the Jets, but he showed some nice resiliency by playing his best over the past few weeks. He still gave up a number of completions in the game, which led to the 8 solo tackles, but he wasn’t beaten for any huge plays. He made some nice breaks on the ball which allowed him to break up 5 passes, including the first interception of his career.
