Shaun Ellis

Rex Ryan’s defense produced some impressive team stats in 2009, but didn’t have any real IDP stars. This season, Ryan will make quarterback pressure a major focus, and that could benefit Ellis’ fantasy numbers. So could the return of DT Kris Jenkins — who missed half of last year with a torn ACL — the addition of pass-rush specialist Jason Taylor and a secondary that could be the league’s best. Ellis only had 6.5 sacks last season, but among defensive linemen with as many sacks, his 53 tackles ranked fifth. If won’t take much improvement in both sacks and tackles to vault Ellis up the D-Linemen rankings.

The transition from Herm Edwards’ “Tampa 2” defense to Eric Mangini’s 3-4 was long and painful for Jet players (and Jet fans). But last season, with the addition of tackle Kris Jenkins, everything finally seemed to click for Gang Green, and veteran defensive end Shaun Ellis was one of the biggest beneficiaries. Ellis had a big bounce-back season in 2008, posting eight sacks – his highest total since 2004 – and 60 tackles – his best number since 2003. Ellis is aging – he’ll be 32 when the season starts – and had minor offseason knee surgery. But the adjustment to another defensive scheme with the arrival of new head coach Rex Ryan shouldn’t be as tough because Ryan also ran a 3-4 attack as Baltimore’s defensive coordinator.

While still a valuable part of the Jets' defensive line, Ellis is no longer a threat to notch double-digit sack totals like he was earlier in his career. Unless he can prove to be back to his 2003-04 form, there's no reason to add him to any IDP rosters.

After rolling up 23.5 sacks in 2003-04, Ellis suffered through a down 2005 (2.5 sacks), in part because of a nagging hamstring injury. It will be interesting to see how he adjusts to the new Jets defensive scheme, which isn't ideally suited for him.

While his end counterpart John Abraham keeps getting hurt or hassling over his contract, Ellis, except for missing one game with a groin injury last season, has played 16 games every year of his career and is signed to a nice long-term deal. At 6-5, 285 pounds, Ellis is big for an end, which helps him rack up 40-plus tackles per 16 games to go with great sack numbers. Should something go wrong and Abraham get hurt or hold out, Ellis would face more double-teams, but the status quo is a good one.

Ellis never did this before: He crushed a QB in each of the first eight games of the year and 10 of the first 11. All told, Ellis finished 2003 with a commanding 49 solo tackles and 12.5 sacks to reach the top five at the position. He’s had years of less than half of that production, which is why we’ve rated him cautiously.

Starts at left end for the Jets and figures to improve on the four sacks he registered in 2002.