Demorrio Williams

After leading the team in tackles in 2009, Williams lost his starting job in 2010 to Derrick Johnson. He will fight for the starting spot next to Johnson this season and has upside if he earns it, having posted two seasons in his career with over 100 total tackles.

Projected as a reserve linebacker, Williams thrived in the Chiefs’ new 3-4 set and emerged as KC’s leading tackler last season, his 117 stops ranking 16th in the league. But unless he starts to produce in other categories — he hasn’t notched a sack since 2006 or an interception since 2007 — he’ll be a tier below the top IDPs.

Williams had to fight his way out of former defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham’s doghouse to begin the 2008 season and never lived up to the expectations Kansas City had for him when he signed a free agent deal with the team. He projects as a reserve linebacker in the new 3-4 and won’t be an IDP consideration unless someone ahead of him suffers an injury.

The Chiefs may start Williams at weak-side linebacker, moving Donnie Edwards to the middle and giving Williams decent IDP value. On the other hand, the team may elect to keep its starting group from last season, forcing Williams to compete with Edwards for snaps on the weak side. It’s difficult to recommend him as an IDP at this time because of the uncertainty, but if everything shakes out right he could wind up being a very useful fantasy option by season’s end.

Here’s one Falcon who’s happy the team is moving on from the Ed Hartwell era. What on earth were the Falcons thinking moving a successful weak side linebacker in 2005 who weighs 232 pounds to the strong side? With Hartwell gone, and Keith Brooking in the middle, Williams can go back to his natural position, where his gifts in speed, range and closing ability can put him in position to make play after play. As a weak side starter in 2005, he netted at least six total tackles every week, except for Weeks 16 and 17, when most leagues were already finished playing. All told, he showed how his speed can produce in tackling (127 total) and coverage (two picks) and how his college experience at defensive end (!) could produce on the rush (three sacks).

Reserve linebacker.

Williams figures to work chiefly behind three-time Pro Bowl selection Keith Brooking at weakside linebacker in 2004.