Warren Sapp

A dominant force on and off the field for years in Tampa, Sapp took a backseat to Charles Woodson in 2005 during his first year in Oakland. With Woodson off in Green Bay, Sapp is once again taking on a strong leadership role within the defensive unit. In addition to providing inspiration, Sapp will be critical for the Raiders defense if he can occupy blockers and free up their tremendous team spead to make plays. It is unlikely that Sapp will be a major factor as a 2006 IDP, but he did have 5 sacks in 10 games this year and has 84.5 sacks for his career. It is possible that the gregarious vet has one more big statistical year left in him.

Sapp's best years are behind him and he finished with a paltry 2.5 sacks in 2004. You're going to want to pass on him for the individual defensive player leagues.

Sapp is no longer in his prime, but should be more than serviceable to cause havoc to opposing offensive lineman and running backs. The team plans to rotate their defensive line in order to keep their aging front fresh so his fantasy impact shouldn't be elite numbers.

While the ends typically get the defensive-line glory, tackles usually absorb the punishment and occupy blockers so that other players can make plays. Not so with Sapp, who has as big a mouth as a young, punk wideout and is surprisingly quick for a 6-1, 303-pound man. Sapp had 7.5 sacks a year ago, six in 2001 and a whopping 16.5 in 2000. While Sapp isn't likely ever to repeat his 2000 total, an eight or nine sack season with 45 tackles is certainly within reach, especially with Simeon Rice on the outside and Anthony McFarland occupying blockers alongside him. Note that Sapp, an all-state TE in high school, was used as a tight end in goal line situations last season; somewhere, sometime, you know Sapp will talk Jon Gruden into throwing him the ball in the end zone.