A look at the Rooks, IDP that is.

Linebacker Version

It may be just game six coming up, but it’s time for a look at the NFL rookies and how they have produced from a fantasy outlook.

Every year, you can count on a handful of rookie LBs to step up and make some impact, and this year is no different. Rookie LBs are like rookie RBs, high upside, and low downside.

Robert Ayers (Denver 1st round)
Ayers was pretty much in trouble from day one. One of the better pass-rushing DEs in college, Ayers was moved to OLB on a team converting to a 3-4. So not only were the Broncos learning a new scheme, Ayers was learning both a scheme and position. In dynasty terms, he may turn into an outstanding OLB prospect in the mold of players like James Harrison, DeMarcus Ware and Denver’s own Elvis Dumervil. But in fantasy terms he’s a long shot to make any impact, as long as he’s with the Broncos in their 3-4.

Victor Butler (Dallas 4th round)
Not much was expected from Butler this season, and he was not even the OLB rookie expected to make any significant impact. That role was to fall to Jason Williams, who has battled injuries during camp. But as insignificant as Butler was coming into the year, he was one of the heroes of week three when he collected two sacks in key situations. He is still getting limited playing time, stuck behind Ware and Anthony Spencer. I don’t see much hope for Butler in Dallas in the next couple of years; the only hope is for Dallas to release players so he can move up. Virtually no value at this point.

Aaron Curry (Seattle 1st round)
Hey, any naysayers that are pointing at Curry and saying he’s been a bust just don’t understand the NFL game. Curry is easily leading all Seahawk LBs in solo tackles with 28 and sacks with 2. He has been the only consistent player on that defense, and is the glue holding them together. In his last three games he has racked up 20-2-2, in the top twenty NFL linebackers. From a fantasy standpoint he has outpaced his position and expectations. He’s definitely the player we thought coming out of college, and he’s not letting the SLB position get in the way of success,

Brian Cushing (Houston 1st round)
Another player who had high expectations tempered by the position he landed in the pros, Cushing has been tearing it up in Houston, easily outpacing uber-stud DeMeco Ryans in total tackles 39-33 and points 72-61. Hey! Maybe there’s something to that SLB spot in Houston after all.

Larry English (San Diego 1st round)
Coming into the draft I love me some Larry English. I thought of all the hybrid defenders, English had the best prospects in the pros. Of course, then he was drafted by the Chargers and stuck behind Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips. I still thought by year’s end he would become a solid piece of their rotation at OLB and would displace one of them next year. It’s still early, and I like him from a dynasty perspective, but for this year he’s simply waiver wire fodder.

Nic Harris (Buffalo 5th round)
I was going to say that unless the Bills we hit by massive injuries, Harris wouldn’t get much of a chance this season to make any impact. Harris was a safety at Oklahoma, and is considered a prospect in the NFL, and at SLB. But with injuries in the secondary this year, the Bills have already all but moved Harris back to safety when disaster struck. Now with both Paul Posluszny out and Kawika Mitchell and Marcus Buggs gone, he could and should get some opportunity. If he can manage to land the WLB spot, you can pretty much guarantee some success, since this defense will be ter-ri-ble. But I’m betting the Bills hit free agency and bring in some veteran help before game six.

James Laurinaitis (St Louis 2nd round)
I thought coming into the season that Laurinaitis was easily the best fantasy prospect of all the rookies, although he was not the most talented, nor the best dynasty prospect. That has proven to the case, with the Rams MLB racking up 31 solos and an interception. He will continue to be a success, and due to his work ethic, is an outstanding dynasty prospect.
 

 
DeAndre Levy (Detroit 3rd round)
I liked this guy in college, and drafted him in both IDP leagues I was involved in. I really did not expect him to displace Ernie Sims at WLB, but I actually thought by season’s end he would shove Larry Foote to a reserve role. But for whatever the reasons, it looks like Levy’s time has come. In his first start at WLB he collected just 4 solo tackles, but The Lions LBs overall had just 11.

Kaluka Maiava (Cleveland 4th round)
Just love these guys you have to guess on the spelling of their first and last names. This kid was expected to be the relief for D’Qwell Jackson and Eric Barton, but he has been largely ineffective. With Jackson doubtful this week, we will find out soon enough if Maiava will have any value at all. He’s the only true ILB on the Browns roster, although the coaching staff has played David Veikune and Jason Trusnik over Maiave this year. Keep your eyes open to see if he can become a dynasty prospect.

Clay Matthews (Green Bay 1st round)
Another 3-4 OLB prospect, although Matthews is showing he belongs on the field, even while still learning. He’s behind Aaron Kampman and Brady Poppinga on the depth chart…for now. He is clearly outplaying both, and he’s starting to get equal playing time, Kampman was expected to flourish in the move from DE to OLB, and all he has done is struggle. By the end of the season, I would not be surprised to see Matthews with five sacks and the team LB lead in big plays.

Rey Maualuga (Cincinnati 2nd round)
As a rookie SLB, Maualuga is expected to be inconsistent, although much more has been expected than he has shown so far this season. It’s not to say he has been bad, he had just been frustratingly “average”. In week five he did step up to collect 8 of the Browns 11 LB tackles, but that was the first time he had garnered more than 2 solos. He’s still a force to contend with, but as long as he is at SLB, it doesn’t appear he’s going to be much of a fantasy factor.
 
Gerald McRath (Tennessee 4th)
To say anything was expected out of McGrath other than some special teams would have been accurate. He was an insurance policy if David Thornton started fading, but even with this team falling to 0-5, you can’t really fault the LB play. Teams are only averaging 94 yards per game against the Titans, and that fact will keep McGrath off the field this season. But next year he will be given his shot at either the MLB or SLB spot.

Scott McKillop (San Francisco 5th round)
Being buried behind Patrick Willis, Takeo Spikes and Jeff Ulbrich isn’t going to get you on the field in the NFL. Long-term, McKillop will get the opportunity to replace Takeo Spikes, but that’s not even a spot to envy, as Willis is going to beat you to the RB anytime. 

Brian Orakpo (Washington 1st round)
So is Orakpo a DE or a LB? You have to like that the Redskins are willing to move Orakpo from SLB to a hands-down end to try and find matchups, but it plays havoc on us fantasy guys. He’s looking a little like a 3-4 OLB, collecting 2.5 sacks yet just 9 solos. I like him as an NFL player, just not much from a fantasy outlook.

Clint Sintim (NY Giants 2nd round)
After being inactive for the first four games with a groin injury, Stintim came in and collected 2 solos in a game in which Michael Boley was missing. He’s still buried behind Boley, Clark Blackburn and Kehl, so don’t look for anything this year. In ’10, he will get a shot at the SLB or WLB role.

Jason Williams (Dallas 3rd round)
Incomplete. Williams has been inactive in every game so far with injuries. He is actually needed, as DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer have been mostly ineffective. At the leas Williams could come in an offer some relief. But I would not expect anything at all in fantasy value for the next couple of years. He’s a long-term dynasty prospect, but as a 3-4 OLB he’s a gamble.