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2017 fantasy storylines: What can we expect in IDP leagues?

SEATTLE, WA - DECEMBER 15: Aaron Donald #99 of the Los Angeles Rams in action during the game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on December 15, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the Rams 24-3. (Photo by Rob Leiter via Getty Images)

(This week, some of the PFF Fantasy team will be offering up their forecasts for some of the biggest storylines of the 2017 season. It’s Time Machine Week.)

We’ve been crystal ball gazing this week, looking ahead to next season and predicting some of what we imagine to be the big fantasy storylines for the coming season. So far we’ve touched upon potential breakouts for Cameron Brate and Breshad Perriman, while also pouring water on the Terrelle Pryor hype train, and theorizing why Cam Newton isn’t a QB1. Now it’s my turn to bring to you what I think will be some of the biggest IDP talking points.

Rams IDP-friendly defense to switch to a 3-4

Ok, so this is a topic you should expect to hear a lot about in the coming months. And not just because I’m the resident PFF Rams’ fan. The Los Angeles defense is littered with IDP-relevant assets, and a few bona-fide studs too. Tackle Aaron Donald has been one of our game analysts’ top two players in the league the last two seasons, been labeled the league’s best pass-rusher by the site, and recorded 28 sacks in his first three years in the league. As a smaller-bodied, penetrating tackle, the theory goes that the Rams’ impending switch to a 3-4 base defense under defensive genius Wade Phillips will kill dramatically affect Donald’s usage, and therefore fantasy value. This conjecture was utterly debunked by an excellent piece published earlier in the week by Sam Monson, looking precisely at why the Rams’ scheme change won’t affect Aaron Donald. I’ll grab a few nuggets from Sam’s research for you below, but you really should head over there and read that piece:

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