The Titans have signed free-agent OLB Brian Orakpo and re-signed free-agent OLB Derrick Morgan. Both players stood among the most talented edge rushers on the open market. Morgan tallied just 6.5 sacks last year but added another 7 QB hits and 30 hurries in his 1st season as a 3-4 OLB. Orakpo has lost 9+ games to injury 2 of the past 3 years but has reached 8.5 sacks in each of his other 4 years. The Titans quietly tied for 4th-most starter weeks (8) among team defenses in fantasy football last year. Look to them as a late-round draft option, especially with S Da'Norris Searcy also added and DE Leonard Williams potentially on the way in the NFL draft.

Washington OLB Brian Orakpo will miss the rest of the season after tearing his right pectoral muscle in Sunday's win over the Titans. Orakpo hadn't offered much in the way of numbers this year while dealing with an ankle sprain, but his absence can only hurt the pass rush. Rookie Trent Murphy should see extra playing time but doesn't look exciting for IDP purposes right now.

Washington OLB Brian Orakpo is active for Week 1 against Houston.  He makes for a decent option in sack-heavy IDP leagues but shouldn't be used in more balanced scoring systems.  He had been questionable with an ankle sprain.

Washington OLB Brian Orakpo is questionable for Sunday's opener against Houston because of a sprained ankle.  He was limited in practice Friday for the 3rd straight day, but The Washington Times reports that he "appears likely to play."  It'd obviously be safer to go with another option in your sack-heavy IDP league if you have another comparable choice.  And if your league doesn't award at least 4 points per sack, then Orakpo will probably score too inconsistently to be worth keeping around.  His absence would hurt a Washington D that carries big upside into the matchup with Houston.

Washington picked Stanford OLB Trent Murphy in the 2nd round of the 2014 NFL draft.  A DE in college, Murphy projects to OLB in Washington's 3-4 front.  He'll also be a part-time player until either Brian Orakpo or Ryan Kerrigan leaves town.  Washington retained Orakpo with the franchise tag this offseason.  Kerrigan is signed through 2015 after the team exercised its option year.  Murphy obviously won't make an IDP impact at least until he finds a lineup slot, but his arrival adds needed depth -- especially behind the oft-injured Orakpo.

Washington applied the franchise tag to OLB Brian Orakpo on Monday, and the pass-rusher has no problem with it.  "Hopefully we can get something done as far as long-term, but at least this is a step moving forward and not backward," Orakpo told the Washington Post.  If no long-term deal gets done, the team will owe him $11.455 million in 2014.  Orakpo has proved a dangerous pass-rusher throughout his 5 seasons but has dealt with a number of injuries.  If he can stay healthy -- as he did for most of last year -- Orakpo could challenge for the NFL sack lead.

Washington OLB Brian Orakpo is officially questionable for Sunday's finale at the Giants.  Per ESPN.com, though, he said he'll test his groin in pregame warm-ups and play "if something miraculous happens."  You certainly shouldn't be chasing miracles in your IDP lineup, even though an active Orakpo would bring plenty of upside into the matchup.

Washington OLB Brian Orakpo put in a limited practice Tuesday, just 2 days after straining his groin in a loss to the Cowboys.  That indicates he's likely to play in Week 17, though it's tough to know if the team will limit his reps.  Orakpo will hit free agency in March, which might actually motivate him to play through pain while trying to display his toughness.  A matchup with the Giants presents IDP upside for the pass-rusher.

Washington OLB Brian Orakpo put in a limited practice Tuesday, just 2 days after straining his groin in a loss to the Cowboys.  That indicates he's likely to play in Week 17, though it's tough to know if the team will limit his reps.  Orakpo will hit free agency in March, which might actually motivate him to play through pain while trying to display his toughness.  A matchup with the Giants presents IDP upside for the pass-rusher.

Washington OLB Brian Orakpo left Sunday's game against Dallas early with a right groin strain.  With Washington out of contention and free agency looming in March, don't be surprised if Orakpo sits out Week 17.

Washington OLB Brian Orakpo told the team website that he plans to "rip it up" this year.  Orakpo said his goal is to contend for defensive player of the year and comeback player of the year after hitting IR in Week 2 last year with a torn pectoral muscle.  Orakpo registered 28.5 sacks over his 1st 3 seasons and said he has worked "extremely hard" this offseason.  He should certainly contend for double-digit sacks if he can remain healthy.  He carries plenty of upside as a late-round sleeper in sack-friendly IDP leagues.  We'll see about any postseason hardware.  Of course, we'll also just be happy if he doesn't make any more GEICO commercials.

Washington OLB Brian Orakpo has been limited in practice this week because of an ankle sprain, but we expect him to be ready for Sunday's matchup with the Cardinals. Orakpo played through the injury in Week 1 and said after that game that he'd be fine for Week 2. The fact that he's practicing at all would seem to support that.