DLF’s 2018 IDP Predictions: Comeback Player of the Year
Every July and August people are looking for sleepers, players on the come up or comeback. They want to know who is going to be the next Alvin Kamara or, on the flip side, who runs the risk of being the next Willie Snead? Whether you’re reading because you’re into dynasty leagues, keeper leagues or just the annual redraft, you’re looking for the value of the hidden gem, the next big thing, and trying to avoid the next big pitfall.
Offensive leagues are infinitely more popular than IDP leagues, I’m not living under a rock, but whether it’s a website, a podcast or a show on SiriusXM, the offensive talents have been discussed over and over to the point every player has been on the breakout and the breakdown lists. You’re here because you like a meatier cut of heavily marbled fantasy beef. You’re here for the 32-ounce tomahawk ribeye with a bone sticking out of it so far it looks like a weapon of war, and you know what? It is.
After having to step away for the off-season, I return for another season of IDP writing for Dynasty League Football and what better way than to reach out to my IDP brethren, from DLF and beyond, and ask them for their picks for the following categories:
IDP Comeback Player of the Year
IDP Sell
IDP Buy
IDP Rookie of the Year
IDP Sleeper of the Year
IDP MVP
Please note I have included the Twitter handles of each person who contributed. If you’re reading this you should be following them. Today’s topic is IDP Comeback Player of the Year.
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J.J. Watt, DE HOU
It’s just got to be Watt. I don’t expect to see another dominant 20+ sack season from him but I do think he’ll be in the elite double-digit club. What made him such an incredible player in the first place was his motor, will to win and attitude. None of that has gone away even if he’s not as physically strong as he was. – Tom Kislingbury @TomDegenerate
J.J. Watt, DE HOU
I’ll nominate the same player for 2018 as I did in 2017 but with better results, hopefully. Watt has only played eight games over the last two seasons due to knee and back issues. In five games last year, he failed to record a sack but if you saw the pics of him circulating on social media, you know he hasn’t been a stranger to the gym. I think he’s a lock for 12+ sacks on a very aggressive defense. – Eric Olinger @OlingerIDP
Eric Berry, S KC
At this point, there’s not much I don’t think Berry can overcome. On top of being a tremendous player, he’s an inspiration. If he plays even mediocre football, he’s a good enough story that I think he’s a lock for Comeback Player of the Year. – Doug Green @BigBoardIDP
J.J. Watt, DE HOU
I think Tom and Eric both already covered Watt pretty well. After so many traumatic injuries, he might not ever return to the dominant 20+ sack physical monster. He is still an incredibly driven and motivated player who is on an aggressive defense with talent to take the focus off Watt – allowing him more one-on-one opportunities. – Pete Lawrence @_PeteLaw
tie: Morgan Burnett, S PIT / Avery Williamson, ILB NYJ
While their inside linebackers aren’t much to look at, if healthy, Morgan Burnett should clean up from the back end. Avery Williamson, because of a soft offense, should make over 85 solos which would make him a great value. – Andy Miley @AndrewMiley of Dynasty Trade Calculator
J.J. Watt, DE HOU
After two double-digit seasons, the fantasy gods owe us a healthy Watt and he will play the entire season. A healthy Watt returns as a dominant defensive end and he concludes with a top-three finish. – Walton Spurlin @WaltonSpurlin of PFF
Eric Berry, S KC
He is no stranger to hard work. When healthy, he is an elite player. The Chiefs are soft all over the field right now. Berry could be in for a huge year. – Bill Latin @BillLatin
J.J. Watt, DE HOU
Easiest choice on this list. Watt returns after basically two years away from the field, finally reuniting with a healthy Whitney Mercilus and Jadeveon Clowney. While there are some concerns if he can reach back through time to his 20 sack years, everything is in place for him to once again reach that mark. The 29-year-old will attempt to stop father time and the slow creep of NFL injuries in their tracks. Fun stat: Watt has 76 career sacks and even after missing the last 27 games, he’s still ninth on the career sack list for active players. – Adam Tzikas @Adamtz, aka StickyZ
J.J. Watt, DE HOU
My apologies for taking the easy way out, but this one is easy… assuming Watt can make a return. He is an IDP monster and is such a disruptive and important piece of the Texans’ defense when he’s healthy. If he comes back in 2018 at even 75% of what we’ve seen in the past, then he’s a comeback player of the year shoe-in. That said, big men on defense historically struggle coming back from injuries. There’s so much potential for leverage and burst to be lost. We’ll see. I’m going with Watt because… well… when healthy, he’s in the conversation for most disruptive pass rusher in NFL history. That carries weight. – Kelly Smelser @PDWonderland
J.J. Watt, DE HOU
This is an easy call. And to be frank, one that’s as much hope as belief. With Khalil Mack in the fifth circle of contract hell, if someone is going to unseat Joey Bosa as the number one defensive lineman this year, it’s probably Watt. He’s shown the ability to post some truly jaw-dropping numbers – the list of ends with 70-tackle, 15-sack upside isn’t especially long. Of course, it’s been a good long while since we saw that J.J. Watt. He’s got just 1.5 sacks over the last two seasons combined, and his durability concerns can’t be ignored. – Gary Davenport @IDPSharks of Fantasy Sharks, RotoWorld & Football Diehards
Come find me on Twitter @OlingerIDP
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- Dynasty IDP Waiver Wire: Week Seven - October 24, 2018
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- Dynasty IDP Waiver Wire: Week Five - October 10, 2018
