This article is part of our IDP Analysis series.
RISING
Chris Borland, (3-4) ILB, SF
Borland probably won't land on the 'riser' list beyond this week – his value is already too high for there to be much improvement – but wow has he been great since landing in the starting lineup for the 49ers. After posting another 16 tackles against the Seahawks on Thursday (one for a loss), Borland is up to a barely-possible total of 80 tackles (11 for a loss), one sack, two interceptions and a fumble recovery in just six starts. That projects to roughly 213 tackles, 2.5 sacks and five interceptions over 16 games. He's been so good that the 49ers might need to consider moving Patrick Willis or NaVorro Bowman in the offseason.
William Moore, S, ATL
Moore is set to make his return from the designated-for-return injured reserve as the Falcons take on the Cardinals this week, and by making that return Moore is expected to take over a three-down role on defense while moving temporary starter Kemal Ishmael to the bench. Durability figures to be a problem for Moore in the future – he only played four games so far this year and missed four games in each of 2012 and 2013 – but the big playmaking safety has shown the ability to make an IDP impact when active. He has 14 interceptions, nine forced fumbles and 3.5 sacks in his last 60 games, totaling 303 tackles over that same span. That projects to roughly 81 tackles, one sack,
RISING
Chris Borland, (3-4) ILB, SF
Borland probably won't land on the 'riser' list beyond this week – his value is already too high for there to be much improvement – but wow has he been great since landing in the starting lineup for the 49ers. After posting another 16 tackles against the Seahawks on Thursday (one for a loss), Borland is up to a barely-possible total of 80 tackles (11 for a loss), one sack, two interceptions and a fumble recovery in just six starts. That projects to roughly 213 tackles, 2.5 sacks and five interceptions over 16 games. He's been so good that the 49ers might need to consider moving Patrick Willis or NaVorro Bowman in the offseason.
William Moore, S, ATL
Moore is set to make his return from the designated-for-return injured reserve as the Falcons take on the Cardinals this week, and by making that return Moore is expected to take over a three-down role on defense while moving temporary starter Kemal Ishmael to the bench. Durability figures to be a problem for Moore in the future – he only played four games so far this year and missed four games in each of 2012 and 2013 – but the big playmaking safety has shown the ability to make an IDP impact when active. He has 14 interceptions, nine forced fumbles and 3.5 sacks in his last 60 games, totaling 303 tackles over that same span. That projects to roughly 81 tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles and four interceptions per 16 games despite missing a few games here and there. He's worth a DB3 stash at the moment and could provide DB2 value down the stretch if he stays healthy.
Charles Woodson, S, OAK
For those of you in IDP dynasty leagues: Woodson stated Wednesday that there's "no question" that he'll return for another season in 2015, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. He's already 38, but the Raiders beg enough that they probably won't have reason to choose someone else over Woodson, and Woodson is actually playing at an improbably high level, anyway. Only Tarrell Brown (788) has played more defensive snaps than Woodson (779), and Woodson has 81 tackles, one sack and two interceptions in 11 games. Those are DB1 numbers in pretty much any format.
Chris Long, DE, STL
Long is expected to be activated from the designated-for-return injured reserve prior to Sunday's game against Oakland. Although he shouldn't necessarily be expected to post great numbers against an Oakland defense that's allowed just 13 sacks in 11 games, Long's return is at least noteworthy given that he's one of the league's more established double-digit sack threats. He had 41.5 sacks in a four-year span from 2010 to 2013.
FALLING
Kemal Ishmael, S, ATL
Ishmael has been a very valuable IDP lately, replacing the previously injured William Moore (shoulder) and 64 tackles, four interceptions and a touchdown in the last nine games. Unfortunately for Ishmael's IDP owners, Moore is set to make his return against the Cardinals this week, and Ishmael is expected to head to the bench. Dwight Lowery is believed to be the starter alongside Moore.
Muhammad Wilkerson, (3-4) DE, NYJ
Wilkerson figures to be one of the league's elite defensive linemen both in IDP and real-life terms for as long as he's in the league, but his short-term utility is a bit up in the air due to injury. After piling up 49 tackles (12 for a loss) and 4.5 sacks in his first 11 games, Wilkerson is mostly expected to miss Monday's game against Miami due to a turf toe-like injury. If it is indeed the classic form of turf toe, then Wilkerson would be at risk of missing time beyond Monday, too.
Lance Briggs, OLB, CHI
Briggs was placed on season-ending injured reserve Friday, which means his age-34 season ends after suiting up for eight games. He should be able to find steady work in 2015 if he seeks it, but the free agent linebacker was undoubtedly an IDP bust in 2014, finishing with just 35 tackles and an interception in eight games. He doesn't think he'll be returning to Chicago, so his IDP prospects beyond this year might have to rest on the prospects of earning snaps in a linebacker rotation less exploitable than Chicago's thin group.
Tashaun Gipson, S, CLE
Gipson suffered a torn MCL against Atlanta on Sunday, which will force the league's interception leader to miss the rest of the season. Although his tackle rate dropped in 2014 – he posted 95 in 16 games last year – he finished with six interceptions in 11 games this year returning one for a touchdown. He's been a ballhawk in each of the last two years, totaling 11 interceptions in his last 27 games, so hopefully Gipson gets back into sharp form well in advance of the 2015 season.
Rolando McClain, MLB, DAL
According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, McClain said that his knee was feeling "not at all" okay following Thursday's embarrassing loss to Philadelphia, and McClain's play on the field makes his statement entirely believable. He finished the game with seven cheap tackles, but rookie fourth-round pick Anthony Hitchens might be closing in on both McClain and Bruce Carter for more snaps. Hitchens finished the game with 12 stops.
