A fantasy draft is all about obtaining the most value with each selection. Value is available throughout a draft; grabbing it is one of the most important keys to a successful fantasy team. To point out this value, we asked our staff to identify players available in the top half of your draft who should outperform their draft position. Thanks to the folks at TheIDPShow.com for the ADP.
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Here are the players who received the most votes:
- Kenneth Murray Jr., Tennessee
- Jordyn Brooks, Miami
- Kyzir White, Arizona
And here are the reasons why.
Undervalued Player Receiving 3 Votes
Kenneth Murray Jr., Tennessee
Kyle Bellefeuil: Murray never hit the mark many had hoped for after being a first-round selection for the Chargers in 2020. However, he is coming off an admirable final season in Los Angeles, producing 107 tackles (79 solos), 7 tackles for loss, and three sacks. Murray now resides in Tennesee after signing a two-year $18 million deal during free agency. Azeez Al-Shaair is now in Houston, Jack Gibbens was solid in his part-time role last year, and intriguing fourth-round rookie Cedric Gray will likely have to earn his stripes. Given the current depth chart, Murray should have plenty of opportunity to outplay his LB43 ADP.
Joseph Haggan: We always hear how Murray never lived up to his first-round hype. People rarely talk about how much he has progressed in his career. Coming out of college, one major knock on Murray was his coverage ability. Murray has improved here drastically. His missed tackle rate went from 19% in 2021 to 13% in 2022 to 9% in 2023. This improvement landed him a two-year deal in a weak LB group.
Tripp Brebner: My rule of thumb is to draft linebackers as late as possible who I can be reasonably certain will play full-time. Players like Kenneth Murray as the 43rd linebacker off the board, make this strategy pay off. He should comfortably finish inside the top 32 players at his position, pending good health.
Undervalued Players Receiving 2 Votes
Jordyn Brooks, Miami
Matt Montgomery: Brooks is another case of "until I see it." Brooks was the no-doubt IDP1 in all formats for two to three of his four career years. He suffered a devastating ACL injury at the tail end of the 2022 season and still made it through most of last season. We saw the numbers dip, but we have overreacted to this decrease as a market. This was a player who we have seen post 180+ tackles I don't know about you, but anyone with potential like that needs to be on your radar. This offseason he isn't spending to get back on the field, this offseason he is preparing to learn a new team. At the end of the day, he does the raw part of this job at the highest level. See ball, hit ball!
Gary Davenport: Brooks' 2023 numbers were actually something of a disappointment—his 111 total tackles with the Seahawks were his fewest since his rookie season. But in each of the two preceding seasons, Brooks threw up over 160 total stops, topped 100 solos, and finished as a top-10 linebacker in fantasy points. Brooks is now a year removed from the ACL tear he suffered in 2022, and while there's some risk with the 26-year-old moving to a new team, he's just entering his prime and offers LB1 upside with a low-end LB2 price tag.
Kyzir White, Arizona
Kyle Bellefeuil: Kyzir White was having a rock-solid season last year before a torn bicep sent him to injured reserve. In his 11 games played, White produced 90 tackles (53 solos), 9 tackles for loss, and two sacks. White was back on the field during OTAs and Arizona didn't bring in any threats to his lead duties during the draft or free agency. If White can avoid the injury bug this season, he should easily outperform his LB36 ADP.
Gary Davenport: At the time that Kyzir White tore his biceps a year ago, the 28-year-old was well on his way to having one of the best seasons of his career—90 total tackles and career-bests in tackles for loss (nine) and sacks (two). This is a player who has shown he can be a top-10 fantasy option, tallying over 140 tackles with the Eagles in 2021. And White is the unquestioned top linebacker for a Cardinals defense that could be on the field a lot. That he's barely being drafted inside LB3 territory is a glaring opportunity for value.
Bonus Undervalued Players
In addition to the three undervalued linebackers listed above. These players got a single vote each.
Troy Andersen, Atlanta
Sigmund Bloom: Andersen was forecast to be a breakout linebacker in 2023. He produced in Week 1, but suffered a concussion. He produced in Week 3 and suffered a torn pectoral muscle that ended his season. Nate Landman was good enough in Andersen's place to create a position battle for the starting spot. Andersen was a second-round pick in 2022 despite being a late convert to the linebacker position. He should win the job and could produce LB1 stats.
Cody Barton, Denver
Tripp Brebner: It's really hard to pile up tackles by allowing completions at a high rate and hold a job as an NFL linebacker. Somehow, Denver has attracted two poster children of this approach in Alex Singleton and Cody Barton. Singleton will play full-time, while Barton is a boom/bust option. The latter will be a windfall as the 47th linebacker off the board unless defensive coordinator Vance Joseph can find useful pieces for dime defense in a flimsy backfield depth chart.
Junior Colson, LA Chargers
Matt Montgomery: Unless you have been living under a rock, you're aware the Chargers signed Jim Harbaugh as their new head coach. With this comes a new identity focused on "old-school" football. This means the defensive identity will be important and Harbaugh's first defensive move was drafting his former team MVP Colson to man the middle linebacker on his new team. That alone is enough to believe that we will see an immediate impact player in IDP formats, and even if it isn't show-stopping, it is better than his current LB37 ranking. Feel free to keep running it back with Denzel Perryman, my money's on Colson to emerge quickly and his draft capital assures him this opportunity.
Lavonte David, Tampa Bay
Kyle Bellefeuil: At 34, Lavonte David is no spring chicken. However, he's showing no signs of slowing down for us IDP gamers. Last season, David produced 134 tackles (86 solos), 17 tackles for loss, and four-and-a-half sacks in 15 games—not bad for an old man. David will again be the Buccaneer field general on defense this season, and his LB19 ADP looks like a solid value, with some of the names going ahead of him.
Tremaine Edmunds, Chicago
Matt Montgomery: The Chicago Bears are at the beginning of what may be a golden age for their franchise. A lot of this is because of the lofty investment on the offensive side of the ball, but we all know that defense will certainly be the identity of this team, as it always has been. Edmunds will be manning the middle of the linebacking corps for his second year and after his first full offseason with the team. The human element of this game doesn't get discussed enough. I believe that not having to worry about his future like in previous off-seasons will allow him to continue honing his craft at a higher level, and we will see the results on the field. He's still just 26 and at the beginning of his prime. He's in for a move this season.
Josey Jewell, Carolina
Kyle Bellefeuil: Jewell finds a new home in Carolina after getting a three-year $22.75 million deal during free agency. The scenery might be new, but Jewell is familiar with defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero during their time in Denver. In 2022, Jewell posted a career-high 128 tackles (70 solos) while playing under Evero as a Bronco. Frankie Luvu is now in Washington, and Shaq Thompson is returning from injury and is in the final year of his deal. Jewell has experience in the system and could lead this unit. Coming off the board as an LB3, there is value to be had with Jewell's LB29 ADP.
C.J. Mosley, NY Jets
Gary Davenport: Mosley being undervalued in fantasy drafts is becoming something of an annual occurrence. Yes, Mosley is about to celebrate his 32nd birthday. But it hasn't shown in his production—in each of the past three seasons, the five-time Pro Bowler has eclipsed 150 total tackles, including 152 total stops in 2023. That production was enough to rank Mosley inside the top 15 linebackers for the season, and in both 2022 and 2021, he was a top-10 IDP option. At a low-end LB2 price tag, I'll roll the dice that Mosley has one more productive year left in the tank.
Drue Tranquill, Kansas City
Tripp Brebner: In the seven games he started and finished in 2023, Drue Tranquill compiled 59 tackles. He also capitalized on pass-rush opportunities for 4.5 sacks throughout the season. Kansas City rewarded him with a 3-year, $19 million contract. The team let his main competition for reps, Willie Gay Jr, walk in free agency. Tranquill looks likely to play 80% of his team's defensive snaps and clear 100 tackles, making him a value as the 45th linebacker off the board.
Bobby Wagner, Washington
Matt Montgomery: I know he's old, but in reality, Wagner is one of the best IDPs of all time. Until I see a slowdown, I am riding this train. Wagner has been great the past several seasons, adding another top-10 IDP season to his resume in year 12. He has moved on to Washington after his second stint with the Seahawks and likely is the focal point of coring for this defense. He has had 130+ tackles every season since 2015 and has probably the safest floor of any player 30+ years of age, regardless of position. Age is just a number, and Wagner is a great example of this on the defensive side of the ball. Don't overthink this one!
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