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Factoid

Lions keep Ansah off market

End has been one of more consistent recent pass rushers

The Lions applied the franchise tag to pass rusher Ezekiel (Ziggy) Ansah yesterday, so he'll likely be staying put with Detroit. It's an important keep for what was surprisingly a top-5 fantasy defense a year ago (1 point for sacks, 2 for turnovers, 6 for touchdowns). The Lions had just the league's 20th-ranked pass rush a year ago, but would have been well below that but for Ansah's team-leading 12 sacks.

Ansah ranked 8th in the league in sacks, the second time in three years he's finished in the top 10 in that category. He also ranked in the top 35 in each of his first two years in the league (2013 and 2014). Just one disappointing year in there (2016).

Top pass rushers over the last five years, with rankings in sacks in each season, are shown below. Ansah's one of 10 players to show up in that top 35 for each season four times, and the others are also elite; guys like Aaron Donald, Von Miller and Cameron Jordan. Pretty select company.

TOP PASS RUSHERS, 2013-2017
YearPosPlayerSacksRk
2014OLB Justin Houston, K.C.22.01
2014DE J.J. Watt, Hou.20.52
2013OLB Robert Mathis, Ind.19.51
2013DE Robert Quinn, St.L.19.02
2015DE J.J. Watt, Hou.17.51
2017OLB Chandler Jones, Ariz. 17.01
2014OLB Elvis Dumervil, Balt.17.03
2016OLB Vic Beasley, Atl.15.51
2013DE Greg Hardy, Car.15.03
2015DE Khalil Mack, Oak.15.02
2017DE Calais Campbell, Jac.14.52
2014OLB Connor Barwin, Phil.14.54
2017DE Demarcus Lawrence, Dall. 14.52
2015DE Ezekiel Ansah, Det.14.53
2014DE Mario Williams, Buff.14.54
2014OLB Von Miller, Den.14.06
2015DE Carlos Dunlap, Cin.13.54
2014OLB Ryan Kerrigan, Wash.13.57
2016OLB Von Miller, Den.13.52
2017DE Cameron Jordan, N.O.13.04
2017DE Everson Griffen, Minn.13.04
2013DE Mario Williams, Buff.13.04
2017OLB Ryan Kerrigan, Wash.13.04
2013DE Cameron Jordan, N.O.12.55
2015DE Chandler Jones, N.E.12.55
2016DE Danielle Hunter, Minn.12.53
2014DE Jason Pierre-Paul, NYG12.58
2017DE Joey Bosa, LAC12.57
2016OLB Lorenzo Alexander, Buff.12.53
2016OLB Markus Golden, Ariz.12.53
2017DE Cameron Heyward, Pitt.12.08
2014DE Everson Griffen, Minn.12.09
2017DE Ezekiel Ansah, Det.12.08
2013OLB Junior Galette, N.O.12.06
2015DE Muhammad Wilkerson, NYJ 12.06
2014OLB Terrell Suggs, Balt.12.09
2015OLB Whitney Mercilus, Hou. 12.06
2017DE Yannick Ngakoue, Jac.12.08
2016DE Cameron Wake, Mia.11.56
2014DE Cameron Wake, Mia.11.511
2013DE Chandler Jones, N.E.11.57
2016DE Cliff Avril, Sea.11.56
2013DE Jared Allen, Minn.11.57
2013OLB John Abraham, Ariz. 11.57
2013DE Olivier Vernon, Mia.11.57
2017DE Aaron Donald, LAR11.011
2015DT Aaron Donald, St.L.11.08
2016OLB Chandler Jones, Ariz.11.08
2013DE Charles Johnson, Car.11.011
2014OLB Clay Matthews, G.B.11.012
2016OLB Erik Walden, Ind.11.08
2015DT Geno Atkins, Cin.11.08
2013DT Jason Hatcher, Dall.11.011
2017DE Julius Peppers, Car.11.011
2013OLB Justin Houston, K.C.11.011
2013DE Justin Tuck, NYG11.011
2015DT Kawann Short, Car.11.08
2016DE Khalil Mack, Oak.11.08
2017DE Mario Addison, Car.11.011
2016OLB Nick Perry, G.B.11.08
2014OLB Paul Kruger, Clev.11.012
2016OLB Ryan Kerrigan, Wash.11.08
2013OLB Tamba Hali, K.C.11.011
2017OLB Terrell Suggs, Balt.11.011
2015OLB Von Miller, Den.11.08
2016OLB Brian Orakpo, Tenn.10.513
2017DE Cameron Wake, Mia.10.515
2015DE Everson Griffen, Minn.10.512
2013DE J.J. Watt, Hou.10.516
2016DE Joey Bosa, S.D.10.513
2015OLB Julius Peppers, G.B.10.512
2013DT Jurrell Casey, Tenn.10.516
2017DE Khalil Mack, Oak.10.515
2013DT Kyle Williams, Buff.10.516
2017OLB Melvin Ingram, LAC10.515
2015OLB Melvin Ingram, S.D.10.512
2013DE Muhammad Wilkerson, NYJ10.516
2014DE Robert Quinn, St.L.10.514
2013OLB Brian Orakpo, Wash.10.020
2013OLB Calvin Pace, NYJ10.020
2015DE Cameron Jordan, N.O.10.015
2016OLB Dee Ford, K.C.10.015
2014DE DeMarcus Ware, Den.10.015
2016DE Frank Clark, Sea.10.015
2014DE Jerry Hughes, Buff.10.015
2013OLB Jerry Hughes, Buff.10.020
2014OLB Junior Galette, N.O.10.015
2014DT Marcell Dareus, Buff.10.015
2015DE Michael Bennett, Sea.10.015
2013DE Shaun Phillips, Den.10.020
2013OLB Terrell Suggs, Balt.10.020
2017OLB Von Miller, Den.10.018
2014DE Willie Young, Chi.10.015
2017DE Adrian Clayborn, Atl.9.519
2017DE Brandon Graham, Phil.9.519
2013OLB Elvis Dumervil, Balt.9.525
2015DE Fletcher Cox, Phil.9.517
2013DT Gerald McCoy, T.B.9.525
2017OLB Jadeveon Clowney, Hou.9.519
2017OLB Justin Houston, K.C.9.519
2016DE Mario Addison, Car.9.517
2015DE Robert Ayers, NYG9.517
2015OLB Ryan Kerrigan, Wash. 9.517
2014DT Aaron Donald, St.L.9.020
2013DE Brian Robison, Minn.9.027
2013DE Calais Campbell, Ariz.9.027
2015DE Cliff Avril, Sea.9.020
2016OLB Derrick Morgan, Tenn.9.018
2017DE Frank Clark, Sea.9.023
2017DT Geno Atkins, Cin.9.023
2016DT Geno Atkins, Cin.9.018
2016DE Trent Murphy, Wash.9.018
2014DE Vinny Curry, Phil.9.020
2013OLB Ahmad Brooks, S.F.8.529
2017DE Akiem Hicks, Chi. 8.525
2013OLB Aldon Smith, S.F.8.529
2013DE Cameron Wake, Mia.8.529
2017DE Carl Lawson, Cin. 8.525
2014DE Charles Johnson, Car.8.522
2013DE Chris Long, St.L.8.529
2015DT Gerald McCoy, T.B.8.521
2014DT Gerald McCoy, T.B.8.522
2017DE Jason Pierre-Paul, NYG 8.525
2017DE Michael Bennett, Sea.8.525
2013DE Michael Bennett, Sea.8.529
2014DT Ndamukong Suh, Det.8.522
2016DE Olivier Vernon, NYG8.521
2017OLB Robert Quinn, LAR 8.525
2013OLB Ryan Kerrigan, Wash.8.529
2014DT Sen'Derrick Marks, Jac.8.522
2016DT Aaron Donald, L.A.8.022
2014OLB Alex Okafor, Ariz.8.026
2017OLB Bruce Irvin, Oak.8.030
2016DE Calais Campbell, Ariz.8.022
2016DE Carlos Dunlap, Cin.8.022
2014DE Carlos Dunlap, Cin.8.026
2014DE Chris Clemons, Jac.8.026
2013DE Cliff Avril, Sea.8.035
2017DE Dante Fowler, Jac.8.030
2015DE Demarcus Lawrence, Dall.8.022
2015LB Dwight Freeney, Ariz.8.022
2016DE Everson Griffen, Minn.8.022
2013DE Ezekiel Ansah, Det.8.035
2015DE Jabaal Sheard, N.E.8.022
2013OLB Jason Worilds, Pitt.8.035
2016DE Kerry Hyder, Det.8.022
2015OLB Lamarr Houston, Chi.8.022
2017DT Malik Jackson, Jac.8.030
2017OLB Matt Judon, Balt.8.030
2016OLB Melvin Ingram, S.D.8.022
2017OLB Preston Smith, Wash.8.030
2015DE Preston Smith, Wash.8.022
2014DE Rob Ninkovich, N.E.8.026
2013DE Rob Ninkovich, N.E.8.035
2016OLB Shane Ray, Den.8.022
2014DE Sheldon Richardson, NYJ8.026
2016OLB Terrell Suggs, Balt.8.022
2013OLB Trent Cole, Phil.8.035
2017ILB Vince Williams, Pitt.8.030
2016DE Yannick Ngakoue, Jac.8.022
2014DE Cameron Heyward, Pitt.7.531
2014DE Cameron Jordan, N.O.7.531
2015OLB DeMarcus Ware, Den.7.527
2014DE Ezekiel Ansah, Det.7.531
2014OLB Jason Worilds, Pitt.7.531
2015OLB Justin Houston, K.C.7.527
2015DE Olivier Vernon, Mia.7.527
2014LB Pernell McPhee, Balt.7.531

--Andy Richardson

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