In this weekly series, we're exploring every NFL team’s defense to provide in-depth fantasy football analysis for key IDPs. We'll focus on projected depth charts, what each IDP's role will be heading into the 2020 NFL season and what we can expect from them for fantasy purposes. Plus, we'll cover a bonus name to watch for each team.
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We’ve covered the AFC North, NFC North, AFC South, NFC South and NFC East. Now we head to the AFC East, where opt-outs have created big holes on defense for both the Patriots and the Jets.
BUFFALO BILLS
DEFENSIVE LINE
The Bills have had some decent pass rushers over the last few seasons, but no one that IDP owners were actively trying to acquire for fantasy purposes. That trend continues here in 2020. Buffalo returns Trent Murphy and Jerry Hughes, who have been cornerstones in the Bills’ pass-rush game over the last few seasons, while adding longtime Carolina Panther Mario Addison. Addison is coming off one of the best IDP seasons of his career in 2019, as he was able to convert 11 sacks on the year. While Hughes and Murphy are undeniably getting older, they will still see a significant amount of playing time, though their effectiveness keeps them likely in the late 30's of our DE ranks.
Ed Oliver will probably be the best option among the Bills’ DL this season. Oliver will look to build off of a decent rookie season when he managed 41 total tackles, including six sacks, on just under 600 snaps. With an increased role expected for the former ninth-overall pick, Oliver lands inside my top-15 of DTs and is a potential breakout candidate in Year 2.
LINEBACKER
The linebacker combo of Tremaine Edmunds and Matt Milano was a very productive tandem in 2019, as both players put up high tackle totals — Edmunds hit 109 and Milano finished with 93. This duo came in at No. 10 in our projections for the most effective LB duos in 2020, and as long as they’re both healthy, they should once again be in line for big-time numbers.
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