Marcell Dareus

Dareus is one of the league's most talented linemen but has largely been an enigma, as the 27-year-old is coming off consecutive disappointing seasons, totaling just 90 tackles and 5.5 sacks over that span. His real talent level, which just happened to manifest prior to Rex Ryan's arrival in Buffalo, is more in line with the production he showed in 2013 and 2014. He averaged about 60 tackles and eight sacks in those two years, and a bounce back to that form could be in order with Ryan's ill-conceived scheme replaced with Sean McDermott's 4-3 alignment.

Rex Ryan tried to toe the line between the 3-4 and 4-3 after arriving in Buffalo, resulting in an awkward and ineffective practice of the 3-4 that failed to properly apply the talents of players like Dareus, who is an elite athlete at his position. The Bills are approaching 2016 with a more honest acknowledgment of the 3-4, which should result in a more consistent unit as a whole. After logging just 51 tackles and two sacks in 2015, Dareus ought to bounce back and show a form more similar to when he totaled 17.5 sacks in the two seasons prior to last. UPDATE: Dareus has been suspended four games by the NFL, pretty much wrecking his season-long IDP value. Consider him as a bye week pickup down the road, especially if your league makes you pick DT/NT as its own position.

Dareus is one of the league's most prolific defensive tackles. Despite playing just 678 snaps last season, Dareus had a career-high 10 sacks. His tackles fell, but he showed 70-tackle upside the year before. Rex Ryan helped turn Sheldon Richardson and Muhammad Wilkerson into top IDPs with the Jets, and Dareus figures to be similarly dominant under Ryan's watch. Dareus is suspended for the season opener for violating the league's substance-abuse policy, but when he returns Week 2, he should continue his impressive production.

Make sure to monitor the status of Dareus' league discipline situation closer to the start of the season – he was arrested for allegedly possessing synthetic marijuana in May – but if he plays 16 games he has the potential to offer DL1 upside in some formats. He established himself as one of the league's elite real-life defensive tackles last year, breaking out for 71 tackles and 7.5 sacks. He logged 5.5 sacks in each of his first two pro seasons, so his total of 7.5 doesn't look like a fluke. Buffalo runs an uptempo offense, which means the Bills tend to log play counts above the average, affording Dareus more chances to pile up stats than many or most defensive tackles.

Dareus still has time to become the dominant defensive tackle he was envisioned to be when drafted #3 overall in 2011, but he's not there yet. Off-the-field concerns limited his effectiveness in 2012. There is some doubt that he will ever be a top shelf IDP option, though there is undeniable upside.

As a huge, stout and strong tackle possessing rare athleticism for someone with a 6-3, 340-pound frame, Dareus would normally be an obvious candidate for every-down double teams. But with Mark Anderson and Mario and Kyle Williams playing next to him, opposing offenses might have no choice but to leave Dareus in one-on-one blocking, much to the benefit of Dareus' IDP owners. Dareus' 43 tackles (32 solo) and 5.5 sacks last year certainly do not jump off the page, but he's a lock to improve those numbers since he will have all that talent joining him in 2012. It also does not hurt that Buffalo is switching to a primarily four-man front, leaving offenses with less blocking resources on the interior. We'll note that Dareus will primarily play defensive tackle this season after serving as both a DE and DT in 2011, so there's probably a limit to how high his stats can go, but defensive coordinator does like to use his tackles as playmakers and not just gap fillers. If your league makes you choose DT as its own position, Dareus should be a good one this season.

Buffalo linemen have been known to be solid IDP options, and Dareus, the third overall pick in April's NFL Draft, has more talent than your usual Bills lineman. He figures to displace Spencer Johnson in the starting lineup, and Johnson totaled 55 tackles (41 solo) in just 14 games last year. Dareus doesn’t figure to have much of an effect as a pass rusher, but he should hold a powerful presence against the run and be in on a good number of stops.