Fantasy Football Roundtable: Individual Defensive Player Edition

Here is a comprehensive breakdown of the IDP position going into the 2016 NFL fantasy draft season, courtesy theScore's team of fantasy experts (▲: player is trending upward; ▼: player is trending downward):

Who has the best chance of winding up as the top fantasy linebacker in 2016?

Potter: San Francisco 49ers LB NaVorro Bowman has averaged 110.8 tackles per season since 2011. He has dispelled concerns about missing the entire 2014 season after tearing his ACL and MCL by having a monster 2015 campaign. With a defense that funnels tackles his way and with potential for increased sacks, Bowman has a shot at outplaying any other linebacker.

Wilson: Sometimes the obvious choice is obvious for a reason. Carolina Panthers LB Luke Kuechly missed three games in 2015 and still managed to record 76 solo tackles and 42 assists. His 118 combined was good for 13th among all defensive players. With health and youth on his side, he'll potentially be the most valuable defensive player in IDP leagues.

Wegman: Perhaps the most underrated player in the entire NFL is Bucs LB Lavonte David. He has 577 tackles, 13 sacks, eight forced fumbles and nine interceptions in four seasons in the NFL. In comparison, Kuechly has 591 tackles, seven sacks, three forced fumbles and 11 interceptions in four seasons. Tampa's inferior offense will keep David on the field more often.

Ghatak: In his first three seasons, Kuechly averaged 157.6 combined tackles with a minimum of 93 solo tackles over that stretch. Last year, he had two forced fumbles and four INTs despite playing only 13 games. Assuming a full season of work, Kuechly will amass at least 150 combined tackles and three to five turnovers. Those numbers will put him at the top of the LB chart.

Which standout from 2015 is due for a fall?

Potter: At this point, Dolphins DT Ndamukong Suh is more name-brand hype than an above-average fantasy player. He can be a disruptive real-world player but avoid him in fantasy football unless your league-scoring rewards points for personal fouls.

Wilson: As a Dolphins fan, I'd argue Suh was anything but a standout. I'm going with Green Bay Packers DE Julius Peppers. Sure, maybe people have been counting him out for a while but despite turning 36 in January, he has played a full 16 games in eight straight seasons and racked up 10.5 sacks in 2015. Age will impact us all and Peppers is no different. Don't reach for him.

Wegman: Josh Norman. Take a look at a every amazing season a cornerback has ever had, and they probably didn't have the ball come their way much the following season. Furthermore, Washington has nowhere near the front-seven talent that the Panthers have. Norman will be asked to hold up his coverage longer on every play, and will be doing it in a different scheme.

Ghatak: Paul Posluszny. Posluszny has been a tackle machine throughout his career, racking up at least 110 combined tackles in every season he has played 12 or more games; 2015 was no different. However, the emergence of Telvin Smith and the arrival of UCLA product Myles Jack signify the passing of the torch in Jacksonville. At 32 years old, the end is near for Posluszny.

What is the best plan of attack for addressing the position in standard 10- or 12-team IDP leagues?

Potter: You have to think of defensive players much like the tight end position: there is one truly high impact player (J.J. Watt) that should tower over the others by the end of season, then there's the field. Though other players will have better individual weekly performances, Watt's end-of-season stats will be decidedly Gronkowskian relative to other defenders.

Wilson: IDP leagues are tricky to gauge, but I'm mostly in agreement with my associate above. It's also important to look at defensive backs with bunches of interceptions combined with tackles. It's harder to predict, but it's a stat that brings in a lot of points when it happens.

Wegman: Never draft a corner. Ever. Fill your DB slots with safeties who rack up tackles. Middle linebackers are the way to go rather than outside backers or edge rushers for the LB position. The amount of tackles they can rack up on a given week provides a high floor. For DL, take 4-3 ends or 3-4 OLBs listed as D lineman. They'll provide the sacks.

Ghatak: Play it safe and draft for tackles and sacks. As mentioned above, corners are a risky play. Of the 31 players that secured four or more picks in 2013, only eight repeated the task in either 2014 or 2015, and only two have done it in each of the past three seasons. Take your consistent tacklers and walk away.

What is your bold IDP prediction for 2016?

Potter: Justin Houston will be ready for Week 1 - and will be a top-10 player. Few linebackers/outside rushers can match Watt in dynamic ability but as his 2014 season shows, when healthy, Houston will be a menace to opposing QBs. I'm expecting close to 15 sacks, 60-plus tackles and a handful of forced fumbles, pass deflections and interceptions as collateral damage.

Wilson: Vikings CB Trae Waynes will overcome the logjam at defensive back in Minnesota to claim the starting job early on. While he may not be drafted, he will be the best waiver add of the season in IDP leagues as he will be a perfect blend of tackles and interceptions with a few defensive TDs for good measure.

Wegman: Jaguars DE Dante Fowler Jr. will finish top 5 in the NFL in sacks. He was chosen third overall by the Jags in 2015, but missed his entire rookie season with a torn ACL. He will be more motivated than ever in his first NFL season on an improved defense featuring rookies CB Jalen Ramsey and OLB Myles Jack.

Ghatak: San Diego LB Denzel Perryman will have 90 solo tackles and 110 total tackles. As a rookie, Perryman had 64 solo tackles in 14 games. He did so thanks to a league-high tackle frequency (18.6%) and in spite of the fact he played fewer than 40% of San Diego's defensive snaps. Assuming he takes on a three-down role, Perryman will rank among the top tacklers in the league.