Finding productive, valuable veterans can be key to your dynasty team’s success. Let’s take a look at three veteran pass rushers I think can help your IDP units this upcoming season.
Finding production from your defensive line is crucial for success in IDP leagues. While a lot of the young rising stars are getting most of the attention, finding veteran pass rushers is a good way to add depth and solidify your defensive line core. Below are a few pass rushers I feel can help dynasty competitors and be great later-round targets in fantasy drafts.
Justin Houston - Indianapolis Colts
2019 Stats : 16 games, 44 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 18 QB hits, 2 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries
2019 was Justin Houston’s first year playing defensive end in Indianapolis’ 4-3 defensive scheme. Houston played his first eight seasons for Kansas City, primarily rushing the passer as an outside linebacker in their 3-4 base scheme. At age 30, some weren’t sure how he would transition to the new position and scheme, but he showed no signs of slowing down. He was by far the biggest force, generating pressure from the Colts’ defensive line, and his 11 sacks led the team. According to Next Gen Stats, Houston was one of only three players to finish top five in third down pressures (25) and third down pressure rate (16.7%).
I expect Houston to build off his solid 2019 season and possibly exceed his 11 sacks from 2019. The Colts recently traded for stud interior lineman DeForest Buckner before the NFL draft. Buckner’s presence will only help take attention away from Houston as he is a dominant force from the inside. If youngsters Kemoko Turay and Ben Banogu can take a step forward opposite of Houston, that will only take pressure off. Houston's current ADP is DL39 here at idpguys.org which makes him a great value in drafts.
Jason Pierre-Paul - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2019 Stats: 10 games, 27 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, 16 QB hits, 2 forced fumbles
Jason Pierre-Paul missed the first six games of the 2019 season due to a severe neck injury he suffered before the season began. In week seven, his first game back, he made his presence felt registering three solo tackles, three tackles for loss, and one sack. Not only did Pierre-Paul get off to a quick start when he returned to the Bucs’ lineup, but he also finished with a fury. In his final two games of the 2019 season, Pierre-Paul compiled an impressive eight solo tackles, four tackles for loss, five sacks, five QB hits, and one forced fumble.Â
In March of this year, Tampa Bay re-signed Pierre-Paul to a two year $27 million deal. This goes to show they have big plans for the veteran pass rusher going forward. With Pierre-Paul, Ndamukong Suh, and emerging star Shaquil Barrett, the Bucs’ have a stout pass rushing unit. As long as he’s able to stay healthy during the season, there’s no doubt in my mind Pierre-Paul will hit double digit sacks in 2020. Depending on your platform Pierre-Paul may be both DL and LB eligible. He comes in at LB42 on the idpguys.org consensus rankings which you view in full here.
Calais Campbell - Baltimore Ravens
2019 Stats: 16 games, 56 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 25 QB hits, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery
After playing the last three seasons in Jacksonville, Campbell was traded to the Baltimore Ravens back in March. For IDP, this means Campbell will be going from the more desirable 4-3 scheme and now will be playing end in a 3-4 base scheme. This doesn't necessarily mean his production will completely drop off, but it is a little bit of a worry. Even at age 33, Campbell has shown to be a reliable and durable presence having played all 16 games for the last five seasons.
While I don’t expect a double digit sack season out of Campbell in 2020, I do think he provides a solid floor. The veteran pass rusher has had at least 50 combined tackles and double digit tackles for loss for an astounding 10 straight seasons. While he doesn’t have the highest upside of this bunch, he’s proven to be reliable, durable and productive throughout his career. Campbell's July ADP is DL17 at idpguys.org and you can view the entire July ADP here.
Conclusion
While all three of these players are veteran pass rushers over the age of 30, they are all low-cost options that can provide solid value to competing teams. If you are in a league that starts 3-4 defensive lineman, these veterans make for great targets after the top tier DL are gone. If you’re a competitor In a dynasty league, I would check on their prices, as they could be had for cheap with most owners valuing youth over the older vets. While their production windows are closing, these veteran pass rushers have enough left in the tank to help bolster your IDP units for the next season or two.
Thanks for taking the time to read my article, I hope you enjoyed and found it helpful. You can find my work here at idpguys.org and follow me on Twitter @KBellf54. I’m always available for any questions or feedback you may have and my DMs are always open.
