Erik Walden Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

Already serving a 4-game PED suspension, Colts OLB Robert Mathis will now reportedly miss the rest of the season.  Pro Football Talk reports that Mathis suffered an Achilles' tendon tear while working out on his own in Atlanta.  It's a huge blow to a Colts D that struggled against Denver in Week 1.  Mathis' 19.5 sacks last year led the NFL and constituted 46.4% of the team's total.  Bjoern Werner and Erik Walden started at OLB for the Colts against the Broncos, and each earned negative pass-rushing grades from Pro Football Focus for the game.  Don't consider Indy's team D a real matchup option in your fantasy football league.

The Colts grabbed Florida State OLB Bjoern Werner with the 24th pick in the NFL Draft.  Werner played 4-3 DE at FSU but figures to stand up to play LB in the Colts' 3-4 front.  Mike Mayock compared him to former Ravens OLB Paul Kruger, whom Colts HC Chuck Pagano coached in Baltimore.  Werner might have trouble winning a starting job right away, but he should beat out free-agent addition Erik Walden before too long.  OLB Robert Mathis also doesn't have too many years left.

The Colts signed former Packers OLB Erik Walden to a 4-year, $16 million deal. That certainly suggests they view him as the starter opposite OLB Robert Mathis. Walden rated dead last among the 3-4 OLBs graded by Pro Football Focus. That included ranking last in the 34-man group as a pass rusher. Walden tallied just 9 sacks over the past 3 seasons and totaled a mere 23 QB disruptions in 2012. HC Chuck Pagano carries a strong defensive pedigree, but it's tough to get excited about Walden.