This article is part of our IDP Analysis series.
A number of defensive players who will be a major part of this year's IDP drafts have significant questions as they return from injuries suffered in 2016. We'll keep a close eye on these players during training camps to determine their risk this season.
J.J. Watt, DT, Houston Texans
Watt is the top IDP if healthy, but after he missed the majority of 2016 with a herniated disc, it's uncertain if he'll return to his pre-injury form. From 2012 to 2015, he averaged a ridiculous 17 sacks and 79 tackles as an interior lineman. He participated in OTAs without any setbacks and enters training camp healthy. The Texans said they do not plan to limit his snaps this season, and he should continue to play a three-down role.
Justin Houston, OLB, Kansas City Chiefs
After missing the first half of 2016 with a knee injury, Houston showed flashes of his usual brilliance with four sacks in five games, but he struggled with knee swelling as the season concluded, compromising his effectiveness. He still has much of the upside he showed in 2014 when he had 22 sacks, but that was the only time the last four years that he played a full season. Monitor his risk in training camp before investing a high IDP pick.
Derrick Johnson, ILB, Kansas City Chiefs
Johnson ruptured his Achilles' tendon late last season for the second time in three years. He was healthy enough to participate in individual drills at June's
A number of defensive players who will be a major part of this year's IDP drafts have significant questions as they return from injuries suffered in 2016. We'll keep a close eye on these players during training camps to determine their risk this season.
J.J. Watt, DT, Houston Texans
Watt is the top IDP if healthy, but after he missed the majority of 2016 with a herniated disc, it's uncertain if he'll return to his pre-injury form. From 2012 to 2015, he averaged a ridiculous 17 sacks and 79 tackles as an interior lineman. He participated in OTAs without any setbacks and enters training camp healthy. The Texans said they do not plan to limit his snaps this season, and he should continue to play a three-down role.
Justin Houston, OLB, Kansas City Chiefs
After missing the first half of 2016 with a knee injury, Houston showed flashes of his usual brilliance with four sacks in five games, but he struggled with knee swelling as the season concluded, compromising his effectiveness. He still has much of the upside he showed in 2014 when he had 22 sacks, but that was the only time the last four years that he played a full season. Monitor his risk in training camp before investing a high IDP pick.
Derrick Johnson, ILB, Kansas City Chiefs
Johnson ruptured his Achilles' tendon late last season for the second time in three years. He was healthy enough to participate in individual drills at June's minicamp, but he still needs to show he's fully recovered in training camp before fantasy owners can risk a draft pick on him. At his best, he averaged 120 tackles in his last five full seasons, and he's a playmaker who can generate takeaways and occasional sacks, but asking a 34-year-old to overcome a second significant injury might be too much.
Earl Thomas, FS, Seattle Seahawks
A fractured tibia ended Thomas' 2016 season in Week 13, and he's not yet at full strength as training camp nears. The Seahawks might work him back slowly, but they are confident he will regain his explosiveness. If so, Thomas is a good bet to return to the form that saw him average nearly 90 tackles and four interceptions from 2013 to 2015. When healthy, there are few better free safeties than Thomas, making him worth drafting as one of the first at his position.
NaVorro Bowman, ILB, San Francisco 49ers
Bowman suffered his second major injury in three years when he tore his left Achilles' tendon, forcing him to miss most of last season. The good news is that he's had a fairly long recovery period, and he looked fantastic during minicamp. Should he continue that pace in August, he should be in line to pile up plenty of tackles as he'll be part of a weak defense that will see opponents running plenty of plays most weeks. He posted 154 tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble in 2015, his last full season, and it's reasonable to expect similar production, if healthy.
Reshad Jones, SS, Miami Dolphins
Jones put together a Pro Bowl season in 2015 and followed that with 51 tackles in six games last season before suffering a torn rotator cuff. Reports on his health have been positive, as he hadn't missed a day of rehab after his Nov. 1 surgery. Monitor his recovering in training camp, as he has significant upside as one of the better playmakers at the position.
Pernell McPhee, OLB, Chicago Bears
In his two years with the Bears, McPhee has yet to play a full season, dealing with knee and shoulder injuries. With 10 sacks in 23 games, McPhee's upside in coach Vic Fangio's defensive scheme is obvious. McPhee lost some weight this offseason to take some pressure off his knees, and it'll be important for him to have a healthy training camp. He could be a sneaky upside pick.
Zach Orr, ILB, Free Agent
Orr has visited a few teams but has yet to sign a deal, and it could be difficult for him to be cleared from the neck injury that led him to announce his retirement in January. However, should he return, he'll be a player to target after he broke out with 133 tackles and three interceptions with the Ravens last year. If he's cleared to play, it's safe to assume his risk is minimal because teams likely will stay far away from him if they think he could re-injure his neck.
