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  • 2020 IDP Breakout Candidates: Kemoko Turay

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    Flashback to a couple of years ago, the Indianapolis Colts selected Rutgers Kemoko Turay in the second round. Turay's play was slightly inconsistent as he was stuck behind the veterans on the depth chart. Players begin reporting to training camp later this week. Kemoko Turay will have his chance to show his teammates and the coaching staff why he has the potential to become a 2020 IDP breakout candidate!


    Kemoko Turay's 2019 Statistics: 2 Solo, 3 Ast, 1.5 Sacks, and 1 FF

    During the 2018 season, Turay logged about 385 defensive snaps. He played in 14 games that season. In total, he had 15 total tackles, 4 sacks, 1 TFL, and 1 FF. Even with those limited snaps, he proved he was capable of getting after the quarterback and stopping the run on the edge. Kemoko had some bad luck at the beginning of the 2019 season. In week 5, facing the Kansas City Chiefs, Turay injured his ankle. The Colts had high hopes for Kemoko at the start of last season. Those hopes had to be put on hold for a year as he ended the season on the injured reserve. He underwent surgery shortly after the injury in October and started rehab as soon as he could.

    The Colts added a monster to their defensive line when they traded for DeForest Buckner this off-season. He helped lead a stout defensive front in San Francisco as they ransacked their way to play in the 2019 Super Bowl against the Chiefs. In addition to the trade for Buckner, Turay looks good to go for the 2020 NFL season. This gives Indianapolis another boost along their already fearsome defensive line. Kemoko has flashed some major upside with his magnificent speed and strength. He stands 6'5 and roughly 250lbs. His frame is about the right size for the outside linebacker and edge rusher position. While rehabbing, he has been training with former Colts defensive star, Robert Mathis.

    Defensive Growth:

    In his rookie season, Turay's run defense was inconsistent. This is ultimately why he lost snaps in 2018. But, at the beginning of 2019, that all seemed to change. He had grown in his run defense and looked to be the man the Colts wanted when they drafted him in the second round. He showed he had the hand fighting techniques to shed blocks and get to the runner. Obviously that all changed when his season ended. Kemoko now has great veteran talent to learn from in Indianapolis. Justin Houston will play on the opposite side of him. Buckner  and Denico Autry will man the middle, and I believe Turay will also be a starting edge rusher for them. The front seven that the Colts have should not be taken lightly.

    Before his injury in 2019, Turay was putting up a pressure percentage rate of 13.1%. The only man ahead of him was star rookie Nick Bosa. He has a tremendous bull rush he implements in his game to push the tackles around. Head coach Frank Reich has expressed his excitement on the return of Turay. Reich said, "That was a big loss last year and we are really excited about Kemoko." Even with such few words, this says a lot about the faith the coaching staff has in him. If Turay can stay healthy, the Colts expect a breakout campaign from him. Just one more reason to grab him for your 2020 IDP fantasy squad. Turay could be the perfect complement to Houston in their front, which could give them a chance to blitz less often.

    2020 IDP Potential:

    It's not always so simple to build a case for a breakout candidate. With his combined speed and bend, Turay gives the Colts the type of player they need to generate a consistent pass rush. The bottom line of it all is that Turay must stay healthy for the pass rush to succeed. The Colts didn't add anyone this off-season to threaten his potential starting bid. Turay still has two years left on his rookie contract. If all goes well over these next couple seasons, Turay could very well play his way to an extension with the team. This makes him a good grab for your dynasty team, especially with the fact that fantasy rosters could increase in size due to the threat of positive COVID-19 tests around the league.

    Playing pattycake or not, Kemoko has some major hand fighting game. When you watch the above video, it may look simple to us IDP degenerates. I can assure you, it is not. These techniques are not easy to master, his quickness is something to be in awe of. Turay is going undrafted in most IDP leagues. Which means you could possibly wait to grab him off the waiver wire before or after week 1. I suggest not doing that, when you could just as easily make him the last pick in your draft. He's currently the 365th ranked player in the IDP Guys combined dynasty rankings. In my opinion, he brings DL2 or DL3 upside to your IDP squad. But, Turay may also start the season on the PUP List. So, if you draft him, please keep an eye on his injury updates. Being relatively unnoticed, he makes a perfect 2020 IDP breakout candidate!


    Check out my past articles! Keep your eyes peeled as I can continue my IDP Breakout Candidate series! Please follow me on twitter, @ZmagsIDP is the tag! Always enjoy chatting about all types of fantasy football with the twitterverse! With COVID still wearing us all down, we should all consider wearing a mask to keep ourselves and our families safe! Please subscribe to idpguys.org and dynastyfootballdigest.com for all your fantasy needs! Live Long and Prosper!

     

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