Why these 3 linebackers should be in your top 10

Most people in fantasy football have their top ten linebackers set in stone. Many owners are too used to the old ways when Ray Lewis dominated and was never contested. I'm here to rattle the cages of those people by giving them a healthy alternative to the obvious top 5. Anthony Simmons, Kendrell Bell, and Keith Bullock are some of these new comers who should prove to be the new elite class of LBs in the NFL.

• Anthony Simmons
  After two outstanding seasons big things were expected from Anthony Simmons, but a tough ankle injury sidelined him for a majority of the season. On thing is known for sure though when healthy Simmons is a top LB in the NFL. The addition of Ray Rhodes to the Seahawk coaching staff may prove to be the biggest key in Simmons climbing the rank sheets. Rhodes who fully well knows what do with fast LBs as witnessed last year with the Denver Broncos, has planned to harness Simmons biggest quality his speed. Simmons who has been clocked to run the 40 in sub 4.5 time is expected to bring his game to another level. Simmons definitely proved what a big factor he was to the Seahawks defense after he returned for the final six games in which he recorded 46 tackles 2 INTs a sack and a forced fumble, but these stats are not the only impressive feature of his comeback. When Simmons returned the Seahawks dropped 17.5 yards a game off of their rushing yards allowed average. With all of these impressive stats and only great news coming out of camp Anthony Simmons should reassert himself atop the upper echelon of LBs in football.



• Kendrell Bell
  Coming off of one the most productive rookie seasons ever Kendrell Bell was expected to be the Steelers main defensive weapon. With his speed and ability to rush the quarterback the Steelers wanted to line up Bell on the outside in passing downs to take advantage of strengths. All of these plans and expectations came to a sudden halt when Bell suffered an ankle injury in the second preseason game last summer. This injury truly showed what Bell meant to the team after they couldn't stop anybody through the air. Bell who was atop many fantasy LB rankings just could never seem to get healthy after that devastating ankle sprain. With this year just around the corner Bell has reportedly been working hard on his new position in the dime defense. Working with two all pros Joey Porter and Jason Gildon on outside pass rushing tactics has excited not only the team but many fantasy owners. Bell who admits it much different to rush from the end rather than up the middle is meeting this task with all of his energy and has been making steady improvements in this area of his game. With the ankle injury in the past Bell is expecting at least the sort of numbers we grew accustomed to his rookie year.



• Keith Bullock
  In his first year as a starter Keith Bullock was one of the Titans biggest surprises. Bullock who before last year was hardly known by Titans fans put up All-Pro quality numbers and has now cemented himself as one of the most exciting LBs in the NFL. Bullock who lead the Titans in tackles with 180 and had an assortment of big plays, from knocking out Tommy Maddox to returning fumbles for touchdowns Bullock seemed to be in the right place at the right time. Bullock who seemed to flourish in the 46 defense that the Titans run is in the same position and in the same system. All of these things bode well for Bullock who became the Titans most seasoned LB after Randall Godfrey was a salary cap casualty. With another year of experience under his belt Bullock should see a plethora of opportunities to make the big plays that made him a fan favorite.

Sleepers and Deep Sleepers for IDP

We all know and love the offensive sleepers that we find by digging in magazines and stat sheets for countless hours everyday. But to me there is nothing better than watching a player you've scouted since his rookie year come to life and be the next Keith Bulluck or Brian Urlacher. Few remember, but in Urlacher's rookie year he was benched and was not slotted to start. (Good thing da Bears eventually gave him a shot, huh?).

In the vastly growing world of IDP fantasy football, one has to remain alert for any rumblings going on in the NFL and what may result from these rumblings. These sleepers are broken down into two categories, Sleepers and Deep Sleepers. The sleepers are guys you've probably heard of and can let slide a bit in your draft, and are almost sure to produce good fantasy numbers. Deep sleepers are the guys you maybe have never heard about but have a good shot at becoming a solid fantasy player. So here are a few nuggets you can impress your friends with by grabbing them late.

Sleepers

• Davis Thornton, WLB, Colts
  Listed at 6'2 230 he has better size and athleticism than his predecessor Mike Peterson. With Peterson's departure to Jacksonville, Thornton is expected to produce in Tony Dungy's Cover-2 system. Coming over from the special teams and playing in nickel situations last year gave him some valuable experience that should make this year go smoothly. And a word of wisdom on Thornton's opportunity: this system produced the likes of Derrick Brooks and Mike Peterson.



• Shawn Barber, WLB, Chiefs
  Coming over in the offseason from Philly, Barber is one of the most athletically gifted LB in the league today. He has the speed and size that the Chiefs missed last season with the departure of Donnie Edwards. Like Edwards, Barber has the skill and speed to cover even the fastest of players and the instincts to pick off a pass and take it to the house, as he did last year in week 16 with an 80 yard return against the Cowboys. With the acquisition of Vonnie Holiday and moving Mike Maslowski to the middle, the Chiefs will now be able to let their LB roam free to make plays, an area of the game that Barber excels at.



• Tank Williams, SS, Titans
  Drafted in '02, Williams had it tough early in the year but began to come into his own as the season wore on. His parents surely knew what they were doing when the named this 6'3 223 pound safety out of Stanford. He obviously has the size and possesses the speed to be a perennial pro-bowler for years to come. He should benefit from having Lance Schulters and a defense full of PTPM's (Prime Time Play Makers) around him. Drafting Williams will be a smart move later in the draft to solidify your safeties and possibly have a stud by mid year.



• Eric Barton and Napoleon Harris, LB, Raiders
  Eric Barton cannot be classified as a sleeper (certainly not deep sleeper) due to his good numbers last year, but we'll mention him as he is definitely not one of the better-known players in the NFL. After getting his first true shot last year Barton showed his playmaking abilities by leading the team in tackles recording 6 sacks to go along with 3 forced fumbles and 2 picks. Barton will be joined this year by last year's first round pick Napoleon Harris. Harris started off last year a little lost but began to find a comfort zone at the end of the year. Harris possesses all the tools needed to be a stud at his position and should benefit from having Barton alongside him. Keep an eye out for these guys just in case they start to slide because you can have a mega steal on your hands.

Deep Sleepers

• Chris Hope, FS, Steelers
  In his second year out of Florida State this young hard-hitting ball hawk may be what the Steelers have been lacking in their secondary. He has the size at 6'0 212 and the speed to become a force in middle for years to come. Many have him slated to beat out Brent Alexander for the starting FS job. His production will be a direct byproduct of the drafting and progress of Troy Polamalu and the health of Kendrell Bell. If all sides pan out we can be looking at the resurgence of the Steelers Blitz machine, which would present a plethora of takeaway opportunities.



• Akin Ayodele, SLB, Jaguars
  I know his name isn't the easiest to pronounce but this character can flat out play the strong side. Listed at 6'2 251, and in his second year out of Purdue, Ayodele possesses the size and speed needed to rush the passer and cover the TE if need be. He has the potential and athleticism to be an excellent LB in this system coached by Jack Del Rio. Coming over from Carolina, Del Rio's aggressive style will allow Ayodele to roam around and blitz all of the time. This should fit Ayodele perfectly and produce the kind of numbers that Mark Fields produced last year (127 tackles and 7.5 sacks). His production will solely rely on him winning the starting job in camp. If he doesn't, don't be hesitant to grab the guy that beats him out, which would probably be former pro-bowler Keith Mitchell. You should wait and let these guys slide to the bottom portion of your draft.