IDP Analysis: DeAndre Levy Back For Detroit

RISING

DeAndre Levy, OLB, DET

After sitting out all of Detroit's games to this point in 2015, Levy is poised to finally make his season debut now that his lingering hip injury appears to be past him. While the Lions might somewhat scale back his workload in his first game back, Levy will return to three-down duties quickly for a Detroit team that needs a spark anywhere it can find one. If his history is any indication, Levy will provide just that, as he's one of the league's premier athletic playmakers at linebacker. With an average of 135 tackles per season in his last two years, Levy will be a clear LB1 once he shakes the rust off.

Kerry Wynn, DE, NYG

Even with promising rookie third-round pick Owamagbe Odighizuwa back from injury last week, Wynn led the Giants defensive linemen with 66 snaps logged against Buffalo on Sunday, indicating he's locked into a major role even whenever Robert Ayers (hamstring) is able to return. So long as he's playing in a role like his current one, Wynn should provide standout tackle production among defensive linemen. His pass-rushing background basically doesn't exist – he has 1.5 career sacks compared to 39 career tackles – but his tackle production alone should put him on the DL2 radar at the least. After posting eight tackles (seven solo) against Buffalo, Wynn is up to 22 tackles on 184 snaps. That pace would project to triple-digit tackles if he can approach 900 snaps on the year, which is a realistic mark as long as he stays healthy.

Benardrick McKinney, (3-4) ILB, HOU

The Texans brought him along slowly initially, but McKinney has asserted himself as a starter for the Texans over the last three weeks, seeing his workload steadily increase over that span. His snap count percentage in those games rose from 34.0, to 59.0, to 69.7 (per PFF's Nathan Jahnke), indicating that Justin Tuggle is on the way out of the starting lineup. Big (6-foot-4, 246 pounds) and athletic (4.66 40-yard dash, 40.5-inch vertical), McKinney has the ability to make plays in all phases of defense – run stopping, pass rushing, and coverage.

Jordan Hicks, (3-4) ILB, PHI

Hicks' IDP value has swung wildly from high to low as the Eagles inside linebackers dealt with injuries over the last few weeks, and a new injury for starter Mychal Kendricks (hamstring) means Hicks' value is about to swing upward again, at least for one week. The rookie third-round pick out of Texas has been highly productive when on the field, so Kendricks' absence paves the way for a big game for Hicks. Playing 210 snaps, Hicks is already up to 23 tackles (19 solo), one sack, one interception and one forced fumble this year. He projects to play around 70-to-80 snaps Sunday.

Gerald Hodges, (3-4) ILB, SF

Michael Wilhoite might remain in the way for a couple weeks while Hodges learns the San Francisco defense, but it won't be long before Hodges is in the starting lineup, likely playing a three-down role next to Navorro Bowman. Sent to San Francisco by Minnesota in a trade this week, Hodges was Minnesota's starting middle linebacker to this point, though the Vikings understandably wanted to make room in the lineup for promising rookie second-round pick Eric Kendricks. Playing 152 snaps, Hodges totaled 20 tackles (14 solo) prior to the trade. Given that a three-down linebacker will generally approach at least 900-to-1,000 tackles in 16 games, Hodges' production would project to around 120-to-130 tackles over the course of a full season.

Eric Kendricks, MLB, MIN

With Gerald Hodges traded to San Francisco, the opening is there for Kendricks, a second-round pick out of UCLA, to establish himself as a three-down middle linebacker for the Vikings. Kendricks projects as a strong coverage linebacker thanks to his excellent instincts and athleticism, ensuring his odds of earning a three-down role sooner rather than later. Veteran Audie Cole figures to sap Kendricks of some of his early-down snaps for the next few weeks, but eventually Kendricks' talent advantage should erase whatever advantage Cole's experience affords him.

Josh Norman, CB, CAR

A late-round, small-school corner with mediocre pre-draft athletic testing, Norman didn't enter the league with traits normally seen in a Pro Bowl-level corner. He had a strong 2014, however, and early in 2015 it appears he's turned another corner in his development. Few defensive backs are as feared as Norman is at the moment, as he intercepted two passes against the Buccaneers last week, returning one for a touchdown. Although he's on pace to fall short of the 80-tackle mark (19 in four games), Norman is at the top of the list of potential turnover sources with four interceptions (two returned for touchdown) in four games.

FALLING

Alec Ogletree, OLB, STL

Ogletree will miss at least two months due to a fractured fibula suffered last week. It's a cruel development for a young player who really appeared to turn a corner this year, turning his rare athletic gifts into the kind of production the Rams envisioned when they selected him in the first round of the 2013 draft. Ogletree was on fire before the injury, totaling 42 tackles (27 solo) and two sacks in four games. Akeem Ayers should step up as St. Louis' second three-down linebacker next to James Laurinaitis.

Paul Posluszny, MLB, JAC

Posluszny suffered a high ankle sprain against the Colts on Sunday, and while he hasn't been ruled out for this week's game against Tampa Bay, any actual high ankle sprain would likely knock him out at least one game, and maybe closer to three or four. While Jacksonville implied Posluszny's high ankle sprain is lighter than that of the typical one, at least a one-game absence is to be expected. Dan Skuta has been Jacksonville's third linebacker behind Posluszny and Telvin Smith so far this year, so it's Skuta who should ascend to a three-down role if Posluszny ends up sitting out against the Buccaneers.