While offensive players normally hog the spotlight, arguably the most important holdouts in the NFL right now represent the defensive side of the ball. When it comes to IDP, few names are bigger than Nick Bosa and Chris Jones.
Bosa is coming off a career year that earned him Defensive Player of the Year honors at just 25 years old. No player has more sacks since 2021 than the 49ers defensive end, with 34 sacks in 33 games. Meanwhile Jones finds himself seventh on that list, the highest spot of any defensive tackle.
Those sacks and TFLs are what make them invaluable to IDP. But a holdout threatens all of that. Here’s what you should expect for fantasy when doing your drafts this month.
Nick Bosa
Most recent news
Bosa has yet to report to camp, but San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan and defensive coordinator Steve Wilkes told reporters they aren’t concerned about Bosa’s return to play.
Both coaches claimed they knew it would take this long and remained hopeful a deal with be done shortly.
What should you expect?
Trust the coaches on this one. The team has a sophomore quarterback under contract for pennies on the dollar, and the 49ers won’t be true contenders without its best defensive player. The hold-up is likely due to the record-setting nature that this deal will command.
If the 49ers star were to sit out, Clelin Ferrell would likely step up opposite 2022 second-round pick Drake Jackson. Ferrell has enjoyed a strong preseason. While the Clemson product flamed out with the Raiders after being selected No. 4 overall in 2019, a change of scenery could be just what he needed. Ferrell turned 26 in June and should at least rotate in.
However, this is a contract year for Bosa, a player too good to hit the open market at this point of his career. Trust general manager John Lynch to find a way to get it done.
Enjoy the draft discount on Bosa while you get it. He’s an IDP asset worth taking the risk on.
Chris Jones
Most recent news
The narrative around Jones is far less positive than the news around Bosa. The Chiefs defensive tackle has alluded to holding out until Week 8, losing over $1 million a week in an attempt to make millions more.
Kansas City seems content to hold out on its end as well and has a history of doing just that with its stars. The Chiefs let star WR Tyreek Hill walk after playing out his contract rather than meet his money demands. They won a Super Bowl without him, so it does seem like general manager Brent Veach would assume he made the right call despite Hill’s talent.
Head coach Andy Reid said on Aug. 23, that there has been “no communication” between the two sides. While Jones could be waiting for Dolphins’ defensive tackle Christian Wilkins to ink his own extension — that sentiment could go both ways — the Chiefs seem content to stick to their numbers.
What should you expect?
This is a situation that likely doesn’t offer enough reward to be worth the risk. Most leagues offer basic DL designations, where defensive tackles and edge rushers get lumped together. Higher sack numbers typically come from the outside, which is why the highest-drafted DL in fantasy typically are edge rushers.
That’s not to say defensive tackles can’t produce. There’s always one or two with unusually high tackle numbers with TFLs to boost the fantasy production and a couple who manage high sack totals on pure talent.
But the weekly floor can sometimes be just a couple of tackles, with the highs not coming often enough due to the lower sack ceiling. Given the sheer amount of DL options out there, Jones is a risk that isn’t worth taking. The holdout threat is real.
Jones is still worth taking in leagues where you must start a DT. If he slips far enough — he has sometimes fallen out of the top-10 DTs in drafts — he’s worth the draft pick. Few DTs can be true difference-makers, and Jones is one of them.
However, recognize that this holdout has the potential to go the distance. Hill wasn’t willing to hold out into the season. Jones apparently is. No player can replace Jones in fantasy if he sits out, though rookie Keondre Coburn and veteran Danny Shelton sure will try.
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