Edge rusher used to be a concept. A defensive end or outside linebacker would attack the quarterback from off the edge. These days, edge rusher is turning into a position. NFL teams are dishing out more money for edge rushers than any other IDP position. This might seem strange when you consider an edge rusher has a specialized assignment. Not so strange when you consider that specialized assignment leads to turnovers and winning the turnover battle creates a higher probability of a victory each game. For fantasy purposes, edge rushers thrive in big play scoring leagues more so than tackle heavy scoring systems.
Edge Rushers
Chase Young — Young is an extremely, if not, the most gifted player in this year’s draft. He is explosive off the line and has elite top-end speed as well as closing burst. He does need work on engaging blockers especially when teams run directly at him, but is an elite edge rusher who can provide sound technique with frequency. We expect Young to be one of the top four players taken in the draft, most likely as high as the second pick overall.
Fantasy Points: We have two words for you regarding Young… immediate impact. He is a day one starter. His best fit is a 4-3 DE but can play as a 3-4 OLB. Young can provide limited experience dropping into coverage, but excels as an edge rusher who gets after quarterbacks. He is flexible in that he can play both sides of the defensive line and can even rush from inside if needed. Young will need to moves to his rush arsenal as offensive linemen will adjust to him quickly if he does not.
K’Lavon Chaisson — Chaisson is extremely agile and intelligent. He specializes in rushing the passer, but does not defend the run particularly well. Chaisson uses his 32 ¼” reach to his advantage when bull rushing, but also has a number of other techniques that he utilizes in game. He also has range up and down the line of scrimmage while displaying a burst of speed to the backfield.
Fantasy Points: Chaisson has a multitude of moves that could lead to him being an elite edge rusher, but he could also add to his repertoire. Unfortunately he needs to improve on defending the run and that could hurt his snap count early in his career. There is also an injury history from LSU. He tore his ACL in 2018 and missed two games in 2019 due to an ankle injury. This is not necessarily a red flag, but might affect where he lands in the draft.
Yetur Gross-Matos — Gross-Matos is another 6’5” big bodied, 265 lb defensive end. His nearly 35” arm length lets him get under offensive linemen. He has prototypical athleticism and agility. In addition, he is a rangy player down the line of scrimmage and can stretch plays out. While he is an excellent edge rusher, Gross-Matos has shown a propensity to stuff the run especially jet sweeps.
Fantasy Points: Gross-Matos is best suited as a 4-3 defensive end. He is average at the point of attack, but should improve on this with guidance from the right coaching staff. He might be considered a work-in-progress, but could start as early as his rookie season in the right system. His ability to close quickly on a quarterback and make tackles in open spaces will make him a coveted day one draft pick.
Terrell Lewis — Lewis has durability concerns. He missed most of 2017 with an upper arm injury and all of 2018 after undergoing surgery on a torn ACL. He has the physical traits to work with, but missing nearly two full seasons in college have slowed his growth. Lewis has a long, athletic build but needs to add muscle to his frame if he wants to thrive at the next level. He has exceptional first step quickness and explosiveness through gaps. If he adds bulk and strength, Lewis could very well be an impact starter sooner than later.
Fantasy Points: Lewis will not be a starter to begin his NFL career, let alone a three-down LB. He will need patient coaching and development at the next level to achieve a starting role. Lewis needs to improve on his upper body strength in order to reach his considerable potential. If he does add bulk while maintaining his quickness, Lewis will have fantasy value as early as his rookie season.
Anfernee Jennings — Jennings has solid technique at the point of attack even though he has average rush and coverage skills. He plays a physical brand of football and that bodes well for an NFL team looking for a thumping run defender. Still, his pursuit speed is limited as is his lateral agility. Nonetheless, Jennings is teachable and plays with a mean attitude.
Fantasy Points: Jennings will fit well as an OLB in a 3-4 base defense. His ability to defend against the run will allow him to see a decent number of snaps but being an average edge rusher and not having quality coverage skills could make him a two-down LB at best.
Jonathan Greenard — Greenard has a now-stop motor and plays with high energy. He has the ability to extend an offensive tackle in order to bend and clear the edge so he can take advantage of excellent closing burst to the quarterback. He understands how to set the edge against the run. Greenard has lateral quickness up and down the line of scrimmage. He is not a sudden or explosiveness edge rusher.
Fantasy Points: Greenard lined up as a 4-3 DE and 3-4 OLB while at Florida. This versatility and ability to play DT will serve him well in the NFL. Greenard is multi-faceted and can bring flexibility to coaching staff schemes each week. While he is not a flashy pass rusher, he does have excellent closing burst to get after opposing QBs. We must make note of the fact he made a ton of plays while being unblocked and that will not be the case at the next level.
Julian Okwara — Okwara is the brother of NFL defensive end Romeo Okwara. He is 6’4”, weighs around 250 lbs, and has an arm length of nearly 34 ½”. Some scouts consider him to be lanky, but is quick off the ball and around the edge with exceptional closing speed on the quarterback. Okwara had a disappointing 2019 season that ended with a broken leg.
Fantasy Points: Okwara is best suited as an edge rusher, but can make tackles and showed flashes when dropping off into coverage at times in his college career. He is not a consistent tackler and that could hurt his snap count in the NFL. Okwara likely is a rotational edge rusher at best in his rookie year. Still, he is someone to consider in dynasty leagues with big play heavy scoring.
Curtis Weaver — Weaver left school early as a junior to join the NFL. He excels in rushing the passer but has below-average ability stopping the run. Weaver lacks explosiveness but offsets that with adequate football intelligence. He has the speed to get past the offensive lineman’s outside edge, but has to get off the ball quickly to make this affective. Weaver can bull rush plus rip and spin in order to avert blockers. He did have issues with balance and body control at times with Boise State.
Fantasy Points: While Weaver can play either DE position with his hand in the ground, he saw significant time as a stand up edge rusher with Boise State. Weaver could be moved to OLB in a 3-4 system. He does not excel at stopping the run. Thus, Weaver could see limited snaps early on as an edge rushing specialist.
Josh Uche — Uche played defensive end at Michigan and is considered an edge rusher. He did not start any games in his first three college seasons and only 9 of 13 games in his senior year. Thus, he had limited reps in his first three seasons at Michigan. Uche does have good speed with excellent closing burst. Still, he needs to add moves to his assemble to bring his rushing skills to the next level. Uche does have an injury history (stress fracture in foot and torn meniscus).
Fantasy Points: Uche is not considered a full-time situational rusher at the next level. Still, he at least can play both DE positions. He tends to get caught up by bigger offensive linemen when edge rushing. Uche got most of his sacks in college against inferior teams. He does not have linebacker instincts yet and will need coaching help to unlock his potential.
Alton Robinson — Robinson has a lean frame at 6’3” and 264 lbs. He played mainly LDE at Syracuse. Robinson has excellent burst off the line and has the ability to bend around offensive linemen on the edge. Unfortunately, that is currently his only move. While Robinson thrived as an edge rusher in college, he also was a very good run defender. He has good lateral movement along the line of scrimmage with good change of direction to maintain pursuit.
Fantasy Points: Robinson will need to add to his limited rush move repertoire to achieve success at the next level. His edge rush is loaded with speed but has no diversity to it when his first move is stymied. Robinson uses his hands well and swiped off blockers at the college level, but the NFL will be a different story. He has strip-sack mentality and that could boost his big play numbers. Robinson is considered less than ideal sized and that could hurt his draft stock, thus dropping him into day three of the draft.
