2013 Fantasy Football IDP Sleepers

What is an IDP Sleeper? To make this list of IDP Sleepers, one must be a defensive player that is slept on and drafted much later than he should be. Make sure you don’t sleep on these names in your 2013 fantasy football IDP draft!

Fantasy Football 2013 IDP Sleepers by Position

Defensive Lineman – DL Sleepers

Derrick Morgan, Ten DE

At 24-years-old, the best is yet to come for the former first-round pick (16th overall) out of Georgia Tech in 2010. Morgan had 60 total tackles, including 35 solo, 6.5 sacks and one forced fumble last season. He notched four sacks combined over the last four games last year and is primed to have a breakout season in 2013.

Morgan will take down the quarterback at least 10 times this season and force a few fumbles in the process. He will have solid tackle stats for a defensive end and should be available in the mid to late rounds in most drafts. This pass rusher is on the rise and will make a name for himself this season.

Anthony Spencer, Dal DE/LB

With the new 4-3 defense being installed in Dallas, Spencer will assume the left end position opposite of Demarcus Ware. It will be interesting to see how well the scheme works for the Cowboys’ defense. A lot of the potential success of the entire defense will rest on the shoulders of the pass rushers. Everyone else’s job will be made easier if Ware and Spencer can get pressure on the opposing quarterback.

Spencer had his best season as a pro last year with career-highs in sacks (11) and tackles (55 total) as an outside linebacker in the 3-4 scheme. The former first-round selection in 2007 out of Purdue played only 14 games in 2012 and should be able to duplicate his sack total from last season, if not more. He’s ranked outside the top-20 amongst defensive lineman in most rankings, but could very well crack the top-10 by season’s end.

Ezekiel Ansah, Det DE

The Lions had to see something special in the 24-year-old kid to make him the fifth overall pick in the 2013 draft and fantasy owners will see it too soon enough. Ansah is from Ghana, Africa and played his college ball at Brigham Young where he walked onto the football team as a sophomore in 2010 without any experience playing the sport. His goal was to play basketball and after being cut from team, he ran track for the Cougars. He ran a 10.91 time in the 100-meter dash.

Ansah is 6-foot-5 and listed at 271 lbs. and he is extremely athletic and powerful. His football skills are unpolished since he’s only played for a few years, but his potential is sky high. Ansah played in all 13 games as a senior at BYU, starting nine of them, and registered 62 total tackles, including 13 for a loss, and 4.5 sacks. He is listed as a starting defensive end on the Lions’ depth chart and should make an impact this season. The young man will need some time to adjust to the NFL, but fantasy owners can expect great things once he does.

Linebackers – LB Sleepers

Vontaze Burfict, Cin LB

The Bengals’ starting weakside backer led the team in tackles last season with 127 total (73 solo). He started 14 games and had three contests with double-digit tackles, including 18 takedowns in Week 17 against the Baltimore Ravens. He was an All-American in 2010, but went undrafted in 2012 after a lack luster junior season, dismal pre-draft workouts and character issues combined to diminish his draft stock.

Now fast-forward to the present and the second-year pro is making a name for himself as a linebacker with immense talent and potential. He is going to be even better this season and in terms of IDP fantasy football, Burfict could easily crack the top-20 amongst linebackers in tackle-heavy leagues. His tackle numbers will go up in 2013 but owners shouldn’t expect him to make much of an impact with sacks or interceptions.

Philip Wheeler, Mia LB

Here’s a guy who came out of nowhere last season to rack up 109 total tackles (78 solo) in 16 starts for the Raiders. Wheeler’s good play earned him a five-year deal worth $26 million with the Dolphins who are expecting big-time production out of him. He will start on the outside, most likely on the weakside, alongside the newly signed Dannell Ellerbe who will be in the middle.

At age 28, Wheeler is a veteran who can handle a lot of responsibility on the field both in run stopping, pass coverage and blitzing the quarterback. He took over the play-calling duties for the Raiders’ defense last season when Rolando McClain wasn’t cutting it. Expect him to have a solid season in a Miami defense that desperately needs great production for the two new linebackers.

Alec Ogletree, StL LB

The 21-year-old rookie is the likely choice to start the season at weakside linebacker with Jo-Lonn Dunbar set to serve a four-game suspension. The Rams selected Ogletree with the 30th overall pick in the most recent draft with high hopes that his speed athleticism would translate well in the pros. The former Georgia Bulldog ran a 4.70 second 40-yard dash in the scouting combine and was touted as a ‘safety playing linebacker’ by scouts.

Playing alongside one of the game’s best linebackers in James Laurinaitis, will help Ogletree tremendously. Offenses will focus heavily on blocking Laurinaitis every running play, which will allow Ogletree to use his quickness to close on the ball carrier. The young backer is also good in coverage and that will keep him on the field in some passing situations. Fantasy owners will be very happy picking Ogletree with a late-round pick because his value will rise every week as he continues to develop.

Defensive Backs – DB Sleepers

Patrick Chung, Phi DB

It’s hard to think of Chung as an IDP sleeper because he was a fantasy stud in 2010 when he was the Patriots’ strong safety. Injuries derailed him the past couple seasons and now he will get a new start in Philly as the Eagles’ strong safety in all likelihood. The former Oregon Duck is a sure tackler and has above average ball skills, which will lead to some interceptions.

Chung is flying under the radar in most IDP rankings because many believe him to be injury-prone, having missed 12 games the past two season with knee, shoulder and foot injuries. He will play close to the line of scrimmage on most downs and will be around the ball often. Chung can do it all at the safety position and is known as a hard-hitter. He will be a great addition to your fantasy squad as a mid to late-round pick who has the potential to be a top-10 safety if he can stay healthy.

Jonathan Cyprien, Jac DB

The Jaguars got their starting strong safety of the future in the second round of April’s draft out of Florida International where he finished as the school’s all-time leading tackler. In his senior year, Cyprien’s had 93 total tackles, five pass breakups, four picks and one forced fumble.

The 23-year-old will play ‘in-the-box’ and is a good tackler and edge blitzer. Cyprien is usually a step slow in pass coverage and can be overly aggressive, which can backfire at times. Fantasy owners should be able to get Cyprien with a late-round pick because he isn’t well known at this point. He has the tools to be a top-20 safety this season and top-10 for a number of seasons in the future.

Matt Elam, Bal SS

The Ravens haven’t given him the starting strong safety job just yet, but it’s only a matter of time until the rookie out of Florida earns it. Elam was the last pick of the first round in the 2013 draft and was taken to replace Bernard Pollard, who was released in the offseason.

Elam ran the 40-yard dash in 4.54 seconds at the scouting combine and he’s able to cover the slot receiver on passing plays. He had four picks last season at Florida and is able to disrupt receivers in coverage and chase them down in space. Elam is also a hard-hitter who at times, launches himself at ball carriers instead of wrapping them up. He has the ceiling of a top-5 safety in a couple seasons if he continues to get better, but fantasy owners could easily get top-20 production out of him in 2013.

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Anthony Spencer Photo: Mark Runyon | Pro Football Schedules