The DLF Mailbag

Dwight Peebles Posted On February 22, 2020

Welcome to DLF Mailbag, the article series that answers your questions in long-form. It can be difficult to give a detailed response to questions on Twitter, so this series is designed to do just that. Each week we’ll do a deep-dive on the questions that have been rolling around in your dynasty mind. If there is something you’d like discussed in this format, please send me a message on twitter @FFPeeblesChamp and include #AskDLF in your tweet. Let’s get into it!

This week I asked twitter for questions about IDP and incoming defensive rookies.

Other than Chase Young, who is your favorite DL?

This is a solid draft for incoming defensive linemen. There are several players I really love, but none will make the impact that Young assuredly will. I recommend taking him in the first round of mixed rookie drafts, after the first 6-7 premium offensive players. He is going to be truly special.

If you are looking for interior guys, Derrick Brown and Javon Kinlaw have the potential to be difference makers.

Brown is disruptive and powerful. He has some of the best handwork I have seen at the college level. He sheds blocks and forces pressure, but is still adept at stopping the run. While he is a bit raw and has plenty of room to improve, he could be a top-five interior lineman in the next few years.

Kinlaw’s stock has been slowly rising, and he had a phenomenal week at the Senior Bowl. He creates immense push from the interior and never takes a play off. His motor is fierce and relentless. He has top-ten linemen potential.

I like both of these guys a lot this draft – especially in DT-heavy scoring formats.

The edge class looked elite before the season, but a few of the guys slipped a little and didn’t look as good as they did in previous seasons. AJ Epenesa, Bradlee Anae, and Yetur Gross-Matos are all players I like who could be factors at the next level.

Heading into 2019, I had high hopes for Epenesa and thought he could keep up with the sack numbers of Young. He ended with 11.5 on the season – not as disruptive as he was in 2018. He has a great motor and good moves, but he doesn’t string together moves well when engaged. His speed and first step are not as quick. He wins primarily with his arsenal of moves. There is potential to be a good edge rusher but I don’t see the traits to be an elite one.

Anae is my favorite of the group, simply because of the price you will be able to get him at and the skill set he brings to the field. He has a nasty bull rush and so much power, but he doesn’t have a ton of moves. Occasionally, his outside rush takes him out of the play too quickly. I love the power and speed, though. He will need some refinement and I see him being a very good pass rusher for many years.

Gross-Matos has gone a bit under the radar but has the potential to be one of the best players in this class overall. His first step is unbelievably quick and he is sometimes in the pocket before the quarterback is. He doesn’t have a varied repertoire of moves. If he doesn’t win off the first step and speed rush, he usually doesn’t win. He has solid lateral quickness and remains effective against the run due to pursuit and change-of-direction speed.

I know I gave you a few names there – you asked for a favorite and I really like Anae and Kinlaw. I believe you can get them both at a depressed price, and both will be solid contributors to your IDP teams.

Assuming John Johnson comes back healthy and back to form, do you expect him and Taylor Rapp to both be able to produce at a high level together?

This is a great question. Johnson is one of my favorite players. He’s the seventh-ranked defensive back in DLF’s Dynasty IDP Rankings. He was well on his way to another 100-tackle season before a shoulder injury caused him to miss the last ten games. He has been one of the better safeties in the NFL when on the field.

Rapp started the last ten games, stepping right in where Johnson left off, posting exactly 100 tackles on the season as well as two interceptions. He is a really good young strong safety so the Rams now have an interesting problem.

Johnson is still under contract for 2020 and will be an unrestricted free agent after the season. Rapp is only one year into his rookie contract. This season is covered and they will both man the secondary. It’s hard to see a way the Rams only keep one on the field.

With both on the field at the same time their production may take a small hit, but there are ways the defense can be schemed to highlight each of them. Both players are versatile enough to slide back into free safety or be used in a hybrid linebacker type of role, like they used Mark Barron several years ago. They have to get both guys on the field. Johnson is able to play deep better, and Rapp is best suited staying closer to the front seven in my opinion.

They should maintain productive roles, but both should still be in the range of 100 tackles, although a slight downtick is possible. Rapp may ultimately make Johnson expendable after 2020. It will be interesting to see how the Rams handle the situation.

Patrick Queen has come out of nowhere it seems to be a first-round linebacker – what is his fit in the NFL?

Queen was one of the stars of the LSU Tigers defense during their recent championship run. This season was his first as a full-time starter. He posted 85 tackles and three sacks. As the season went on, his name started gaining traction as a possible day one pick. Before the season, he was likely thought to be a day three pick at best.

When watching the game tape, Queen really pops out. If he isn’t in on the tackle, he is close. His instincts and play recognition are top-notch. He is incredibly athletic and fast, and really sound in coverage. He turns and runs well with running backs. He is a bit smaller at 6’1” and 220 pounds, so he doesn’t out-muscle tight ends, but he can keep up easily with the most athletic of them. He is sound in the run game, sees the plays developing well, and then slides through traffic to make tackles with ease.

He will test well in the combine – his speed and agility will be on full display. The only knocks are he is a one-year starter and he isn’t the strongest player at the position.

He will be a full-time three-down linebacker who can do everything. He could be the first linebacker selected at Las Vegas in April. Queen is a name to watch in the draft process and could be a stud LB1 for many years.