Shawne Merriman

Shawne Merriman

40-Year-Old Defensive EndDE
 Free Agent  
2024 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Shawne Merriman in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
$Released by the Bills in Auguts of 2012.
DEFree Agent
March 5, 2013
ANALYSIS
Injuries really wrecked a career of what was previously one of the NFL's best defensive players, and though he at least proved he could come back from major injuries and perform in bursts, Merriman was never really the same after numerous Achilles', calf and other issues. He'll finish his career with 45.5 sacks, though he had 39.5 of those in his first three seasons with the Chargers.
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2024 Shawne Merriman Split Stats
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
Merriman is way ahead of schedule from surgery and says he feels the best he has in years. The only thing is, the Bills know he's a huge injury risk and may try to use him more as a pass-rushing specialist than every-down lineman. For now, Mario Williams and Mark Anderson appear to be the DE starters and are far better IDP plays, but a healthy Merriman, should it play out that way, can only mean good things for an improved Buffalo defense. Merriman has just five sacks over the last four seasons combined, but if he truly is healthy - and he has a long way to go to prove he can sustain that over a full season - 7-9 sacks seems doable in this defense. UPDATE: Merriman was cut by the Bills in late August and will look to hook on as a backup with a new team.
After a successful offseason of Achilles rehab followed by training which included mixed martial arts work and interval training, Merriman is planning on being full-go this season for the first time in a long time. Merriman once had a season where he racked up 62 tackles, 17 sacks, seven passes defensed and an interception, but that's simply not going to happen with the Bills. However, he's still just 27 years old, and since you know he'll get dismissed in most IDP leagues he could be a cheap source of sacks that comes with re-injury risk. Eight to 10 of them would put him in the running for Comeback Player of the Year, but it also wouldn't surprise us either. He's that talented when he's healthy, and the Bills are counting on someone to rush the passer after failing miserably there in 2010.
Merriman had only four sacks last year and missed nearly all of 2008. He had previously averaged 13 sacks per year from 2005 to 2007. A return to form could be on tap since he is now another year removed from major knee surgery and will be playing for his next contract someplace.
At the end of 2007, Merriman had made his third Pro Bowl in as many seasons, and he had amassed 39.5 sacks, but 2008 was a complete wash as he was forced to undergo season-ending knee surgery after just one ineffective game. Word is that Merriman will be healthy for the start of the 2009 season. If so, you can bet that he is going to be foaming at the mouth to hit some people. Merriman is an incredible physical specimen and should be very productive even if he starts the season at less than 100%, so there really isn't much risk here.
Going into his fifth NFL season, Merriman still hasn't reached his peak. He is coming off arthroscopic knee surgery, but should be healthy to kick off the season. If he plays in all 16 games, Merriman could set career highs across the board.
Pick a monster, any monster. The Hulk, the Thing, Frankenstein. Merriman is bigger, stronger, faster and meaner. He led the league with an impressive 17 sacks in just 12 games. He's possibly the most exciting on-field defender in the league, but he's dangerously close to being a tweener who falls through the fantasy cracks. As an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, he doesn't have nearly the tackle base to guarantee his fantasy viability. Whereas a typical fantasy stud makes at minimum 100 total tackles in a season, Merriman's pass rushing duties mean he'll peak in the 70s or 80s. That means he needs tons of sacks each year to be a decent option at linebacker (if he qualifies at lineman in your league, he's off-the-charts studly). OK, so last year he managed that, but how much of that was a result of the steroids that earned him a four-game suspension? He did make 8.5 of those sacks, a neat and clean half of his total, in five post-suspension games, but he was still potentially benefiting from an offseason, preseason and early season of steroid use. The true test will come after an offseason of honest workouts. Just how much of a beast is Merriman really? He had minor offseason shoulder surgery, but that’s not expected to do much more than make him miss minicamps. Truth be told, he's got plenty to learn in pass coverage and play recognition— he could get better. That's how exceptional his physical exploits have been. Exceptional is the right word for Merriman: it would be truly exceptional for him to sustain the level of sacking required to be a viable fantasy linebacker given his tackle base, but so far Merriman has been the exception.
Merriman was a major force to be reckoned with in 2005. He was named the Defensive Rookie of the Year and made the 2006 Pro Bowl despite not entering the Chargers' starting lineup until Week 7. He was the team leader with 10 sacks, becoming the first rookie to do so in Chargers history. Heading into his second campaign, he only figures to get better. He has added 10 pounds of muscle to an already chiseled frame and will have the benefit of a full training camp as opposed to his rookie season when he was involved in an extended hold-out. The ceiling couldn't be higher for this big hitter in 2006.
Merriman was brought in for one reason, and one reason only...to improve the Chargers' dreadful pass rush. After knocking out four players in a single high school game, the imposing Merriman was given the nickname "lights out." The Chargers hope he can bring that same hard-hitting style with him to San Diego. He had a team-high 8 1/2 sacks and 17 tackles for losses last year at Maryland, and he is expected to crack the Chargers' starting lineup as a rookie.
More Fantasy News
DEBuffalo Bills
December 30, 2012
Merriman will start at defensive end for Sunday's game against the Jets.
ANALYSIS
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DEBuffalo Bills
November 14, 2012
Merriman's teammate Chris Kelsay (neck) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against Miami, according to the Bills' official Twitter feed.
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DEBuffalo Bills
Chest
November 11, 2012
Merriman (chest) is active for Sunday's game against the Patriots, the Bills' official Twitter feed reports.
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DEBuffalo Bills
Chest
November 9, 2012
Merriman was a limited participant Friday due to a chest injury. He's listed as questionable for Sunday's game in New England.
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DEBuffalo Bills
Chest
November 8, 2012
Merriman was limited during Thursday's practice due to a chest injury, according to BuffaloBills.com.
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