Alex Brown

Brown, signed by the Saints in the offseason, will likely start at defensive end. In his eight years in Chicago, Brown appeared in 16 games all but once and averaged almost 5.5 sacks per year. He can be expected to post similar numbers opposite Will Smith.

Brown notched 44 tackles and six sacks in 2008, the fourth time in the past five seasons he got to the quarterback at least six times. He's never going to lead all defensive ends in tackles or sacks, but he's a safe bet to get 40 and six. While he's not an elite option, he's more than serviceable in IDP leagues, and the Bears hope to force teams into more predictable passing situations this year with their new high-powered offense led by Jay Cutler and Matt Forte.

Brown will likely start alongside Adewale Ogunleye at defensive end, but isn't a strong IDP option entering the season.

Despite losing snaps to rookie phenom Mark Anderson, Brown still had a productive 2006 campaign, recording a career-high seven sacks in addition to picking off two passes and forcing three fumbles. He once again enters this season as the Bears' starting right defensive end, but he likely will lose even more playing time to Anderson this year, making a decrease in stats very possible. Brown also has said he would not mind a trade out of Chicago, though it doesn't appear that will happen before the season.

Brown, the Bears' starting right defensive end, had another stellar year in 2005, racking up six sacks and 45 total tackles. The former Gator has started 48 consecutive games and should be in line for another solid campaign with opposing offenses focusing on containing fellow DE Adewale Ogunleye.

Brown, who has started every game for the Bears in the last two years, led the team in sacks in 2004 with six. A talented pass rusher, Brown enters the season as Chicago's starting right defensive end and has a chance to build on last year's sack total. Playing on one of the NFL's top defensive units, the former Gator could have some fantasy value in IDP leagues.

In Brown’s second year, and first as a full-time starter, he turned in 49 solo tackles, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, an interception and six passes defended – all on one of the worst lines in the league. New head coach Lovie Smith comes over from successfully reviving the St. Louis defense and brings a similar speed-oriented approach. With the additions of tackles Tommie Harris and Tank Johnson in the 2004 draft, Brown should be freed up for more sacks and start to get some fantasy attention.