Mario Williams

Check Williams' position eligibility (Jerry Hughes', too) because new coach Rex Ryan runs a 3-4 defense, which could lead some leagues to classify Williams as a 3-4 outside linebacker rather than a 4-3 end. If he retains defensive line eligibility, though, Williams should be a top IDP option once again. Williams likely won't be a notable source of tackles — he's surpassed 50 tackles twice in nine years — but he's one of the league's most time-tested pass rushers with 91 sacks in 130 career games. And Ryan has created pressure with players much worse than Williams, who arguably had a career year with 14.5 sacks last season.

Tackle production is the only consideration that pushes Williams down this far. He's among the league's most reliable double-digit sack threats at this point, especially since he plays on a Buffalo defensive line with two of the league's elite defensive tackles in Kyle Williams and Marcell Dareus. He has 23.5 sacks in his 32 games with the Bills, and with that league-best tackle duo occupying blockers, Williams should continue breaking free into the backfield. The only problem is those tackles eat up lots of tackles for themselves – they combined for 139 last year, leaving Williams with just 37.

Keep an eye on Buffalo to make sure it doesn't formally switch to a 3-4 scheme prior to the season, a change that would switch Williams to OLB and greatly reduce his appeal as an IDP. If he remains at defensive end, Williams should be a strong option in most leagues. Williams had a disappointing start in Buffalo, totaling just 16 tackles and 3.5 sacks in his first seven games, but an arthroscopic wrist surgery during the team's bye week seemed to fix the problem. From that point Williams added 30 tackles and seven sacks in the next nine games, numbers that would project to roughly 53 tackles and 12.5 sacks over a full season. With no known health issues heading into 2013, Williams should be the same player he was in the second half of 2012.

After a stint, cut short by a pectoral muscle tear, as an outside linebacker in Wade Phillips' 3-4 defense, Williams heads back to the line in a 4-3 alignment after leaving Houston for Buffalo. The new defensive coordinator in Buffalo, Dave Wannstedt, is expected to run a defense more in tune with Williams' skill set – it's difficult to play as a stand-up linebacker, as the 3-4 requires, when you're 6-6 and roughly 300 pounds. Playing with his hand on the ground alongside the duo of Marcell Dareus and Kyle Williams next to him at tackle, with former teammate Mark Anderson across the way, the former Texan should not have much trouble totaling double-digit sacks in 2012. Just don’t expect a ton of tackles as his career high is 59.

Williams will actually be a (gigantic) outside linebacker for Houston’s new 3-4 defense rather than an end, but he still should qualify this year at defensive end in most fantasy leagues. In such cases, his value likely escalates. He should be in position for more tackles at linebacker than he was at end, while his sack production should stay relatively unaffected, or maybe even improve. He probably won't hover in the 80-tackle range like a DeMarcus Ware-type, but double-digit sacks under Wade Phillips’ direction should be expected. Williams’ value is considerably lower in leagues where he’s only eligible at linebacker, since he has next to no chance of approaching triple-digit tackles like the top IDP linebackers.

A better overall Texans defense may have hurt Williams' individual stats last season; with more playmakers in the mix, Williams finished the campaign with a career-low 43 tackles and a three-year low of nine sacks. But complacency may have played a role as well - Houston coach Gary Kubiak read Williams the riot act after his tackle-less Week 15 game against Miami; Week 16 saw Williams generate two tackles, a sack and a quarterback pressure that led to an interception. If Williams can maintain his focus for the full season, he easily has the talent to be a top tier fantasy D-lineman again.

Everyone who criticized the Texans for drafting Williams over Reggie Bush hopefully has apologized. After a solid-but-unspectacular rookie campaign in which he was slowed by a bum foot, Williams arrived in 2007 – his second NFL season – with 14 sacks (tied for third in the league) and 59 tackles. He hasn’t let up – adding 12 sacks and another 53 tackles last season. Blessed with tremendous size (6-7, 290) and speed, Williams should continue to be among the league leaders in sacks while contributing 50-60 tackles.

The No. 1 overall pick in 2006 had a breakout campaign in 2007, tying for third in the league with 14 sacks and adding 59 tackles and two forced fumbles. Williams' long-term upside remains high, and it certainly helps that the Texans are building a good defense around him, which lessens his burden. He recorded a sack in six consecutive games in 2007 and could be a consistent double-digit sack threat for the next few years at least. Williams is big, strong and fast and is becoming a polished NFL player at age 23.

A disappointing rookie season can be chalked up to an injured foot, but Williams underwhelmed well before the injury. The No. 1 overall pick from 2006 felt pressure all season and should be more relaxed entering his second season. The addition of Amobi Okoye, a pass rushing threat at defensive tackle, should open up things and hopefully give Williams more than 4.5 sacks.

Williams is expected to be the Texans' starting right defensive end.