IDP Dynasty Update: Easter Eggs in the Rankings

Bobby gets out the Easter basket and goes hunting through Adam's dynasty rankings to find players he believes can outperform their ranking in 2023.

Apr 03, 2023

It’s April, and in dynasty fantasy football circles, that means the NFL Draft is close at hand. We’ll be covering the incoming rookies a ton here and on the podcast, but for today, I want to take a stroll through Adam’s dynasty rankings and see if I can find some Easter eggs. No, I’m not talking about nerdy nods to fans crammed into the latest MCU movies and TV shows (see, I know pop culture, Josh).

I’m looking for those hidden IDPs who will delight us once the season rolls around. Guys who aren’t top 10 at their position for dynasty but who could perform like top 10 players at their position in 2023. Speaking of Adam’s rankings, they’re the best in the game and absolutely loaded with everything you need to dunk on your leaguemates. Those rankings are available for our paid supporters, so for just $5 a month, you can access the most comprehensive IDP rankings on the planet.

Without further ado, let’s go egg hunting and kick things off in Los Angeles.

Ernest Jones, LB, Los Angeles Rams

Overall: 56, Position: LB17

After racking up 61 tackles in his rookie season, Jones nearly doubled his output to 114 tackles playing alongside Bobby Wagner in 2022. Jones saw his snap percentage increase, as well, jumping from 43% to 66% (one of the flag plants we got right). Jones was a value in his second season and I think we could see another jump in 2023.

With Wagner returning to Seattle, Jones now stands as the lone man in Las Angeles. (Almost literally, this defense has been gutted.) Will they add another linebacker via free agency or even the draft? I’d say so. But I don’t expect any pending additions to pose too serious of a threat to Jones’ continued ascension in IDP.

Zaire Franklin, LB, Indianapolis Colts

Overall: 82, Position: LB26

In what continues to be one of the more bizarre quirks of our early offseason ADP, Franklin is currently the second Colts LB off of the board. With managers chasing the Maniac, Shaquille Leonard (LB6), Franklin continues to be a value as LB11. In Adam’s rankings, Leonard is 23 spots higher than Franklin, and in both cases, I’d rather wait and take Franklin later. Don’t forget, Franklin averaged an astonishing 16 PPG in 2022. In 2021, when Leonard played 16 games, he averaged 15.3 PPG.

If I’m betting on a Colts LB in 2023, give me Franklin. At worst, he’s in the Bobby Okereke role alongside a healthy Leonard. At best, you get 15+ PPG.

Kaden Elliss, LB, Atlanta Falcons

Overall: 100, Position: LB34

Look, we all love Troy Anderson, but after getting the bag from Atlanta in free agency, Kaden Elliss should be on our radars. Elliss was the James Houston of linebackers in 2022: a guy who produced huge numbers on limited snaps. Elliss had 7 sacks over an 11-week span, and during that stretch, he played more than 90% of the snaps just 4 times. Am I expecting a late-career breakout for Elliss coming off his best season ever at age 27? No. But do I think he can have a nice follow-up season in 2023 playing alongside not only Anderson but Richie Grant and Jessie Bates? Yes, I do.

Harold Landry, EDGE, Tennessee Titans

Overall: 77, Position: EDGE27

Landry tore his ACL in early September and didn’t play a game in 2022; I believe that this could benefit us as IDP managers. Landry was fantastic in 2021, averaging 14 PPG, and you could argue he has an even better supporting cast headed into 2023.

If Landry is back for the start of the regular season, he’ll get to play alongside Jeffery Simmons, Denico Autry, Rashad Weaver, and Arden Key. Since he didn’t play in 2022, Landry won’t be targeted by those leaguemates of yours who heavily rely on last year’s scoring, but at 26, Landry is still smack in his prime. He might start the season a little slow, but once he gets his legs under him, I expect Landry to bounce back in 2023.

Josh Uche, EDGE, New England Patriots

Overall: 91, Position: EDGE30

Uche is one of the harder players to get a gauge on for 2023, but at the overall rank of 91, I like the upside he offers. Uche had some outlier games in 2022: 2 games notching 3 sacks and another 2-sack game. At one point in the season, Uche was actually in the top 10 in the NFL in total sacks. But, after totaling 3 sacks in Week 14 against Arizona on 48 snaps, Uche only averaged 32 snaps over the final 4 games.

What was Belichick doing? Had he seen all that he needed to see of Uche in 2022 and was “shutting him down” until 2023? Or was it possibly more of the madness that is playing IDPs from the Patriots? I would argue the latter, but despite the frustration, I still like Uche’s talent and upside—especially in best ball drafts!

Kyle Dugger, S, New England Patriots

Overall: 99, Position: S10

Dugger has been one of the more frustrating IDPs not only to roster, but to rely on as your starting DB. We’ve seen the exceptional—9 double-digit games in 2022—and the infuriating, including 6 games of single-digit scoring on relatively healthy snap percentages. Will anything change for Dugger in 2023? Will New England’s continued lack of a real relevant linebacker ever pole vault Dugger into a top 5 DB season? I doubt it. But, even with the stink of New England on him, Dugger possesses week-winning upside (four 20+ games in 2022), which is hard to find in a DB.

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