2013 Fantasy Football IDP Profile: Chad Greenway

Chad Greenway

Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Mention the Minnesota Vikings defense, and the first name to come up is usually Jared Allen. While Allen has put together a Hall-of-Fame worthy career, Chad Greenway has quietly been in the background doing all the right things for the Vikings.

An IDP sleeper if there ever was one, Greenway will not let you down this fantasy season.

Related: Fantasy Football 2013: Don’t Give Up On Michael Vick

Greenway has not missed a game in his six-year career, an impressive feat considering the way that players have been dropping like flies during this preseason. With Greenway, you are getting consistency. He has accumulated over 100 total tackles in five of his six seasons. He’s had three consecutive 140-plus tackle seasons. He’s been to the Pro Bowl twice. He takes great angles to the ball, and with a 4.76 40-yard dash time, he has the speed to close ground from almost anywhere.

Allen often times garners double coverage and all sorts of attention, leaving the potential for Greenway to sneak around the end and go after the ball. While the sack totals leave something to be desired, Greenway makes up for it with consistent tackle totals week in and week out.

Yet he remains in the shadows. For fantasy owners, that’s a good thing. By being a slightly lesser-known name, Greenway is sure to slip past some owners in lieu of more recognizable names like Clay Matthews, Jerod Mayo or Patrick Willis. Yet, he has finished with more fantasy points in each of the last two seasons than those “star” linebackers.

At worst, you have a surefire LB2. At best, you have a linebacker who has the potential to lead not just the Vikings in tackles, but the entire NFL. Over the last five seasons, only Willis has more total tackles than Greenway. I give him the floor of a top-15 LB with a top-five ceiling. Minnesota is having defensive line issues, and there are conflicting reports that Greenway could be moved to the middle linebacker spot, which would increase his ceiling.

140 tackles, an interception, two to four passes defended, one or two fumbles both forced and recovered are certainly possible this season.

Like a ninja linebacker, Greenway will stay in the shadows and get the job done. He will quietly, consistently make tackles and put up solid stats for your fantasy defense. He might not have the flash, but he has the week-to-week consistency that fantasy owners can depend on.

As always, I welcome your comments. If you think I’m wrong, I’m willing to listen. Just back it up with some facts and solid evidence. Thanks for reading and good luck this season.

Dustin Manko is a contributing writer at Rant Sports.com. Follow him on Twitter @DustinManko,”Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google

Read more at http://www.rantsports.com/fantasy/2013/08/20/2013-fantasy-football-idp-profile-what-to-make-of-darrelle-revis/

Around the Web

ZergNet