This article is part of our IDP Analysis series.
RISING
Marcell Dareus, DT, BUF
Dareus makes his return from suspension this week, and the elite tackle will likely hit the ground running at home as he debuts in the new Rex Ryan defense. Ryan's interior linemen (Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson) both posted elite IDP numbers with the Jets, and while talent had a lot to do with that, Dareus can match the talent of almost any defensive tackle type. Dareus has 120 tackles and 17.5 sacks in his last 31 games, which projects to roughly 62 tackles and nine sacks per season.
Trenton Robinson, S, WAS
Duke Ihenacho is out for the year, opening up a starting role for Robinson at safety. Robinson has been a backup for the entirety of his career to this point, so his grip on the starting job might prove tenuous if he gets burned too much, but there is cheap IDP upside here in a secondary that is projected to give up plenty of receptions this year. Playing 48 snaps against Miami on Sunday, Robinson finished the game with eight tackles (six solo).
Shaq Thompson, OLB, CAR
Thompson didn't play much in Week 1 as the team's third linebacker behind Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis, but Kuehly will miss this week's game against Houston due to a concussion suffered in Week 1. It would be exceedingly odd if the Panthers selected Thompson in the first round of the draft just to let A.J. Klein play ahead
RISING
Marcell Dareus, DT, BUF
Dareus makes his return from suspension this week, and the elite tackle will likely hit the ground running at home as he debuts in the new Rex Ryan defense. Ryan's interior linemen (Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson) both posted elite IDP numbers with the Jets, and while talent had a lot to do with that, Dareus can match the talent of almost any defensive tackle type. Dareus has 120 tackles and 17.5 sacks in his last 31 games, which projects to roughly 62 tackles and nine sacks per season.
Trenton Robinson, S, WAS
Duke Ihenacho is out for the year, opening up a starting role for Robinson at safety. Robinson has been a backup for the entirety of his career to this point, so his grip on the starting job might prove tenuous if he gets burned too much, but there is cheap IDP upside here in a secondary that is projected to give up plenty of receptions this year. Playing 48 snaps against Miami on Sunday, Robinson finished the game with eight tackles (six solo).
Shaq Thompson, OLB, CAR
Thompson didn't play much in Week 1 as the team's third linebacker behind Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis, but Kuehly will miss this week's game against Houston due to a concussion suffered in Week 1. It would be exceedingly odd if the Panthers selected Thompson in the first round of the draft just to let A.J. Klein play ahead of him, so Thompson should play at least 80 percent of Carolina's snaps against the Texans this week. When Kuechly returns, however, Thompson will likely revert to obscurity, at least for 2015.
Uani Unga, MLB, NYG
Unga's role as a three-down linebacker is likely temporary – Jon Beason (knee) figures to take over as the team's starting middle linebacker once he's healthy – but for one more week at least Unga should have a shot at playing almost all of the Giants' defensive plays at middle linebacker. Unga played all 71 snaps against the Cowboys in Week 1, and he finished with an excellent box score of 12 tackles (10 solo) and an interception.
FALLING
Kiko Alonso, (3-4) ILB, PHI
Alonso is obviously a top talent at linebacker and is a definite part of Philadelphia's long-term plans, but the short term raises some questions about whether he'll be able to meet expectations as an IDP. Alonso was one of the most anticipated IDPs of this year as he returns from a torn ACL that ended his 2014 season before its start. There was plenty of good reason for that level of anticipation, especially the fact that Alonso finished his 2013 rookie year with 159 tackles, two sacks and four interceptions. Very few linebackers can make plays like Alonso, who reminded us of that fact with a standout interception against the Falcons in Week 1, but Alonso's role in that game was a concern. DeMeco Ryans' status as starter was only ceremonial, but Alonso saw Ryans steal roughly 1/3 of his snaps, leaving Alonso with just 51 snaps while Mychal Kendricks plays 77. It's possible the Eagles are breaking Alonso in slowly due to his ACL recovery, but doing that through Ryans is a bit odd considering Ryans is making a return from an Achilles' tendon tear.
Owamagbe Odighizuwa, DE, NYG
With Jason Pierre-Paul (hand) appearing increasingly unlikely to play in 2015, it was looking as if Odighizuwa, a third-round pick who largely fell in the draft due to a hip injury, would step into a prominent role in the Giants' defensive line rotation. But the promising rookie missed Week 1 with a foot injury, and he'll likely miss his second game this week as the Giants take on the Falcons. Odighizuwa is one of the most explosive athletes in the league and should have his day as a prominent defender with the Giants, but that foot injury is a major concern for the short term. Robert Ayers and Damontre Moore will have to lead the way at end.
Randy Gregory, DE, DAL
Gregory was expected to play a lead role at defensive end for Dallas while Greg Hardy sat out with suspension, but a high ankle sprain suffered against the Giants on Sunday put an end to that plan. An injury that usually takes about a month to heal, Gregory is week-to-week for now. On the other hand, Gregory was promising with the 21 snaps he played against the Giants, generating edge pressure against first-round pick left tackle Ereck Flowers.
Luke Kuechly, MLB, CAR
Kuechly will sit out this week with a concussion suffered against the Texans in Week 1, leaving IDP leagues without its top linebacker for at least one game. The good news is that Kuechly confirmed his unparalleled dominance prior to leaving the game, posting seven tackles and a sack in just 32 snaps – the latter figure being one he should roughly double most weeks.
