For our second review of a NFL team defense and the various individual defensive players (IDP) that make up that unit, we turn our attention to last year’s Super Bowl champions, the New England Patriots. Please note that as this is a weekly article, it will not be possible to analyze all 32 NFL teams prior to the beginning of the regular season and the return of the IDP Report that is generally published on Thursday. If there is a team that you are particularly interested in having analyzed, just send a message to the e-mail at the end of the article and wait a week or so.
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The Patriots are currently being drafted among the top five D/ST, and much of that can be attributed to their past efforts. Taking this defense that early is most likely a mistake in 2017, although never count out a Bill Belichick led squad. This is a team that traded away its best linebacker (Jamie Collins to Cleveland, the subject of last week’s article) but was still effective enough to win the championship. They have brought in some replacements, most notably DE Kony Ealy, WLB Kyle Van Noy and CB Stephon Gilmore, so it is not as though the team has turned its back on the defense, but this is more likely a middle of the pack defense going into 2017.
The defensive line is a solid crew, but you have to wonder how much veteran DE Rob Ninkovich has left in the tank, as he began to slow down dramatically last season. On the other side of the line, though, Trey Flowers arrived last season and was an effective pass rusher, leading the team with seven sacks and then adding another 2.5 in the Super Bowl. The two starting tackles, Malcolm Brown and Alan Branch, clog up the middle of the line, and are effective run stoppers who will pick up the occasional sack. Both are worth considering in DT-mandatory IDP leagues. Ninkovich is best left on the waiver wire, but Flowers will undoubtedly be a sought-after DL pick.
The linebacking crew lost its most productive asset when Jamie Collins was traded to the Browns last season. The team picked up WLB Kyle Van Noy from the Lions in late October, and he is expected to be one of the starters for the Pats going into the season. He posted 29 total tackles (11 solo) with a sack and a pair of passes defended (PD) in just seven games with New England after arriving mid-season, and will look to build on those numbers as a starter this coming season. The linebacking corps are a revolving door in New England, however, so expect all the LBs to see significant action over the course of the schedule. MLB Dont’a Hightower is a health risk, but when on the field he provides both effective run defense as well as an ability to chase down the opposing QB. Shea McClellin and David Harris (formerly with the Jets and signed by New England after NYJ released him this June) will battle for the third linebacker position in camp and during preseason. The rest of the backups will see significant time on the field, although Elandon Roberts and Jonathan Freeny are not worth rostering in IDP leagues unless injury ups their snap counts during the season. Harvey Langi, a converted running back, rounds out the linebacking crew and while he has potential, is a wildcard at present.
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The Patriots snagged Stephon Gilmore from their division rivals, the Buffalo Bills, and he is slotted in as one of the starting corners. He is a good tackle producer (48 total in 2016, 42 solo) as well as a pass defender (12 PD, 5 INT over 15 games with Buffalo in 2016), and well worth considering as a DB2 in your drafts. Malcolm Butler was rumored to be trade bait but he could form the other half to a shutdown CB duo if he sticks with the team. The safety tandem of Patrick Chung and Devin McCourty are fine NFL players who provide little in the way of fantasy value unless your league favors tackle-heavy IDP. The backups all should see significant playing time, given the propensity of the Patriot defense to swap players on and off the field during contests, so do not completely forget about CBs Eric Rowe and Justin Coleman or S Duron Harmon.
Overall, the Patriots D/ST is a solid unit, just not an elite team defense to ride all season long. Using them to cover bye weeks or in a system where you swap out one defense for another on a weekly basis will work out for you, and as the Patriot offense has the ability to take big leads, the secondary can provide huge returns, although consistency may be lacking week to week.
As ever, good luck and Godspeed in your fantasy efforts. Make sure to read all of our great articles to help you win your fantasy match ups every week and ultimately bask in championship glory. If you have any fantasy football questions, especially about IDP leagues, send your inquires to ia@fantasyalarm.com.
Player News
Dolphins signed No. 13 overall pick DT Kenneth Grant to a four-year contract.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that Grant will sign his contract today. The former Michigan defensive tackle is expected to fill a major void left by Christian Wilkins, who left for the Raiders in the 2024 offseason. Grant totaled 32 tackles, three sacks, and seven TFLs in his final season at Michigan and excelled at stopping the run while also generating 27 pressures in his final season, per PFF.
Beat reporter John Hendrix reports that free agent WR Donovan Peoples-Jones is among the 16 players that the Saints will host for their rookie minicamp.
Peoples-Jones last played regular season snaps with the Lions back in 2023, when he caught 13-of-24 targets for 155 yards. He is highly unlikely to return to fantasy relevance at this point but could perhaps sign on as a special teams contributor.
Titans signed fourth-round pick WR Elic Ayomanor to a four-year contract.
Ayomanor will now begin learning behind Calvin Ridley. Although Ayomanor is unlikely to find a meaningful role in year one, dynasty managers should note his status as training camp gets underway this summer. The former Stanford receiver flashed big-play ability in his two college seasons.
Buccaneers signed seventh-round pick WR Tez Johnson to a four-year contract.
Johnson will serve as a rotational deep-threat option for Baker Mayfield. His thin frame (5'10/154) simply does not lend itself to the repeated hits one incurs in a full-time role. Johnson did earn 100-plus targets in his two seasons at Oregon, though. His big-play style make him a better fit in best ball for now, pending any major on-field breakthroughs.
Giants waived DT Casey Rogers.
Rogers was a 2024 undrafted free agent and logged 33 defensive snaps for the Giants in his rookie season. He is credited with zero tackles and/or sacks. He may find his way onto another roster as a practice squad option.
Vikings signed third-round pick WR Tai Felton to a four-year contract.
Felton is quietly in play to challenge Vikings No. 3 WR Jalen Nailor in training camp. Nailor (5'11/190) caught 28-of-42 targets for 414 yards and six touchdowns in his first season as a starter last year, with the latter category buoying his fantasy productivity. Felton (6'1/183), meanwhile, caught 96-of-143 targets for 1,119 yards and nine touchdowns while averaging 2.32 yards per route run in his final college season. Fantasy managers should monitor Felton’s training camp reports this summer, as he could have a matchup-based WR5 role if everything falls into place.