RADIO
Ivan Pace Jr. 2024 Outlook: Sleeper Turns Star
6 months agoA member of my 2023 Pre-Season IDP Sleepers list, Pace was electric in limited opportunities. As a rookie, the undrafted free agent saw 68% or more of Minnesota's defensive snaps in just eight games. In those eight games, he was 13th amongst all linebackers in Standard Fantasy Points per game. In the four games Pace played without Jordan Hicks, he was even better, ranking as LB7 overall in fantasy ppg. The Cincinnati product was Minnesota's second-best defender overall in 2023, according to PFF, and the film backs that up. PFF also credited him with the third-lowest missed tackle rate on the team, the second-highest pass rush grade, and the sixth most pressures despite limited playing time. Now that Hicks is no longer on the team, this defense could be Pace's for the taking. He is getting good reviews from his coaches, his metrics are amazing, and the film is promising. The sophomore tackler can contribute to fantasy with sacks, tackles, and TFLs. That makes Pace valuable in all scoring formats. He should be an easy top-five fantasy LB in your drafts.
