Dannell Ellerbe

A toe injury suffered in the preseason cost Ellerbe the first month of last year and he missed another month and a half later in the season with a nagging hip injury. In between injuries, Ellerbe, who was acquired by New Orleans in a trade last offseason, showed flashes of brilliance, including a 13-tackle performance against Atlanta in Week 6. Ellerbe is expected to start at outside linebacker for the Saints in 2016, and if he can stay healthy – admittedly a big “if” given his checkered injury history – he could be a valuable contributor in IDP leagues.

Ellerbe parlayed an impressive 2012 season with the Super Bowl champion Ravens into a big free agent contract with the Dolphins the following offseason. The Dolphins moved Ellerbe to the "Mike" middle linebacker spot in 2013, and Ellerbe had a promising season in 2013, though he didn't consistently make the kind of explosive impact plays that he or the team envisioned. Unfortunately for Miami, he flopped in 2014, appearing in only one game after injuring his hip in Week 1. A potential salary-cap casualty this offseason, Ellerbe found a home in New Orleans when he was traded, along with a third-round draft pick, for wide receiver Kenny Stills. Ellerbe is in line to start for the Saints at weakside inside linebacker, a position at which he excelled in his time in Baltimore. Still, Ellerbe must show he's fully healed from his hip injury and will need to earn his playing time, competing with incumbent starter David Hawthorne - who is expected to start at Mike inside linebacker but played the weakside last year - and rookie Stephone Anthony, who was drafted by the Saints in the first round this offseason. If Ellerbe can secure the starting gig as expected, he should be firmly on the IDP radar in most leagues.

Ellerbe recorded 101 tackles and two picks last season, which gave him IDP utility in deeper formats. With Koa Misi in line to move to the middle, Ellerbe is a candidate to man the Dolphins' strong side LB position.

Ellerbe had trouble in coverage for the Ravens and likely would have been no more than a part-time player if injuries hadn't struck, but he emerged as an impact run defender and blitzer once he made his way onto the field. Considering the Dolphins are paying him $7 million per year, it would seem as if Miami plans to make a three-down player out of Ellerbe in 2013, which will make him a well-known IDP commodity. He had 89 tackles and 4.5 sacks while playing just 651 defensive snaps for the Ravens in last year's regular season, so as long as Ellerbe keeps Koa Misi and Dion Jordan from stealing nickel snaps, Ellerbe should establish himself as at least an LB2 option.

Ellerbe provides depth at middle linebacker and plays on special teams.

Ellerbe is still in the mix at inside linebacker, though Jameel McClain is once again the de facto favorite to take over the starting spot next to Ray Lewis.

Ellerbe took over the starting inside linebacker spot next to Ray Lewis with three games left in the regular season when Tavares Gooden struggled with injuries. Despite going undrafted last year Ellerbe performed well, recording 21 tackles and an interception in the Ravens' final five games. He'll battle Gooden again for the starting spot, and may even be considered the favorite to win.