6 Breakout Defensive Linemen To Target in 2019 IDP Leagues

Jul 05, 2019

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The key to your IDP drafts is finding those late-round diamonds in the rough. It's easy to select Joey Bosa or J.J. Watt, and other known commodities at defensive line. The difficult part is trying to pinpoint late-round targets at the position.

Below you will find a list of under-the-radar or breakout defensive linemen to target later in your IDP drafts, either because they've earned a three-down role, are coming back from injury, or find themselves in a new position or role due to a scheme change.

Marcus Davenport, DE, New Orleans Saints

I liked Davenport as a rookie and he'll have the opportunity to build upon the foundation he laid during his first season in The Big Easy.

NFL.com recently named which player would make the Pro Bowl in the NFC for the first time in 2019. Who'd they mention for the Saints? You guessed it. Marcus Davenport. Davenport and Cameron Jordan are looking like a formidable duo. Davenport appeared in 465 defensive snaps (including playoffs) in his rookie campaign, recording 22 total tackles, including six for a loss. His productivity seemed to take off after Week 8 in which he had six games of multiple QB pressures. A toe injury caused him to miss three games, but he's on track to be a full-go during training camp.

When all was said done, Davenport produced an 11.1% QB pressure rate and converted five of his 33 pressures into sacks. The arrow is pointing up on Davenport's upside this season, especially with Alex Okafor moving on to Kansas City. When you look at Davenport's game against the Vikings in Week 8 last season, you'll see the dominant traits stand out. Playing alongside Jordan is going to help his development, especially due to the fact offenses will be game planning to stop him, so Davenport could see single-coverage in pass blocking schemes. I'm targeting Davenport as my DL2.

Alex Okafor, DE, Kansas City Chiefs

Speaking of Okafor, I like his move over to KC and their new 4-3 scheme. He's not a standout player or household name, but he's a guy who should be serviceable and provide quality numbers this season.

Okafor goes from New Orleans and playing alongside Cameron Jordan, to KC where he'll play alongside Frank Clark. Okafor will have a chance to hit double-digit sacks, or at least come close to his career-high mark of eight he set in 2014. In 2019, Okafor appeared in the second-most snaps of his career, while participating in a career-high in pass rush snaps (471).

KC brought in Emmanuel Ogbah and are going to give Breeland Speaks a chance, however, there are concerns he might not fit in the 4-3. I like Okafor's chances for production this season and has a decent track record of generating pressure, producing an 11% pressure rate over his five healthy seasons in the league.

Charles Harris, DE, Miami Dolphins

The 2019 season is going to be an important one for the third-year edge rusher. Harris is looking like the veteran on a unit that let Cameron Wake walk in free agency, and traded Robert Quinn to Dallas. Harris needs to put his big boy pants and sit at the adult table this season.

To say the start to Harris's career has been underwhelming would be an understatement. I know sacks aren't everything, but when you're an edge rusher who's only recorded three in 27 games, it doesn't look good. When you look at his tape, especially the game against Jacksonville in 2018, you ask yourself, "why isn't he dominating like this every game?" He recorded a sack and a 28.5% pressure rate and seemed to be in the backfield on his pass rush snaps. There were more games, such as New England in Week 4, where he couldn't get anything going and failed to be a blip on the radar.

Harris needs to step up in 2019, and Brian Flores is a guy who can squeeze the talent out of his players. The Dolphins have the confidence he can do it, too. Harris hasn't been a total bust, as he's producing pressure, generating an 11.5% pressure rate over 486 pass rush snaps. The Dolphins let go of two guys who accounted for nearly 65% of their pressures. Harris is heading into 2019 healthy and projected to have more playing time. He has the upside to be a top-20 rusher and this is the year to get him on the cheap and ride out his breakout season.