London Fletcher knows a thing or 2 about playing LB in the NFL. Let's let him tell it: “Just formation recognition, being able to react quicker as far as knowing, ‘Okay, [this is] what my responsibility is,’ and so when something happens being able to react just half a step faster because he’s more comfortable in what his responsibility is. He’s light years ahead of where he was just because of that.” That's what Fletcher told the Washington Post about Perry Riley. The 3rd-year LB entered the lineup midway through last season and was a top-20 fantasy LB over the 2nd half. He enters this season with plenty of upside -- a guy you can draft as an LB4 or even LB5 with the potential to deliver consistent LB2 numbers.

Mike Jones of The Washington Post lists ILB Perry Riley among 6 Washington players who could "break out" in 2011. Riley found his way into just 8 games as a rookie last season, but Jones points out that he showed playmaking flashes late in the year. In 2009, Riley tallied 97 tackles as a senior on a loaded LSU defense. That ranked him 2nd on the team behind Kelvin Sheppard and 10th in the SEC. (Sheppard was drafted 68th overall -- Round 3 -- by the Bills in April.) Riley isn't draft-worthy in most IDP leagues. He could replace Rocky McIntosh at ILB, though. That would make him interesting to watch next to the aging London Fletcher on a D that figures to see a lot of the field.