Charles Grant

After averaging more than nine sacks per season his first three years and ranking as the third-best lineman in the 2004 year-end standings, Grant fell off the side of the earth in 2005. It’s hard to believe someone as talented as the big 290-pounder made just 2.5 sacks with Will Smith and Darren Howard around to occupy blockers. He still made 62 total tackles, and linemen only need 80 fantasy points to crack the Top 20, but with such paltry sacks Grant was a colossal disappointment. He redeemed himself last year, however, recording a similar number of tackles and kicking the sacks up to six. More respectable, but not the hot-shot stats we once expected from him. Will Grant ever be the double-digit sack threat he once was, or is he now in the Justin Smith mold? Either way, he's at least in the second string of fantasy linemen and only worth it if your league runs that deep.

After recording 10 sacks in 2004 and 10.5 sacks in 2005, Grant had a disappointing 2006 campaign in which he posted only 2.5 sacks. Grant will remain the Saints' starting right defensive end in 2006, and the former first-round pick should improve significantly on last year's stats.

Grant just keeps getting better. After 46 tackles and 10 sacks in 2003, (ninth among linemen that year), he posted a phenomenal 65 solo tackles and similar sack numbers in 2004 to rank second behind only Julius Peppers, who edged him out only on account of picks and touchdowns. Grant is a different player than guys like Peppers and Taylor. He’s listed at 6-3, 290 pounds and plays more with strength than speed. A fine athlete, he can snag the occasional pick, but is more likely to amass big solo tackle numbers, sacks and three or four forced fumbles – the hard-earned numbers of a nitty-gritty kind of guy. With standouts Darren Howard and Will Smith also in the end rotation, it’s unlikely Grant will have the opportunity to get 15-plus sacks, but Howard has been on the trading block all offseason.

Although the Saints’ defense overall is dreadful, the line is strong, with Grant and Darren Howard at end and Jonathan Sullivan one of the tackles. Grant improved on 2002’s rookie season of 31 solo tackles and seven sacks with 49 solo stops, 10 sacks, four forced fumbles and seven passes defended last season. Another year like that would again land him in the top 10 of linemen. With 2004 first-rounder Will Smith and Willie Whitehead also at end, Grant won’t play every down, however.