This article is part of our IDP Analysis series.
RISING
Jelani Jenkins, OLB, MIA
It took injuries to Philip Wheeler (thumb) and Koa Misi (ankle) for Jenkins to get a three-down role in the Miami defense, but it's hard to see the Dolphins taking him out of that role even when Wheeler and Misi are back at full strength. Jenkins piled up 29 tackles in the last two weeks alone, giving him the league lead heading into Week 4. Jenkins also has 1.5 sacks in that span, and the Dolphins are allowing just 4.0 yards per carry on the year. Jenkins should probably be owned in most IDP leagues unless he cools off.
Mario Addison, DE, CAR
The loss of Greg Hardy looked like a potentially big one for the Panthers, as it's never easy to replace a 15-sack defensive end. They appear to have a competent replacement in Addison, though. He posted 2.5 sacks as an off-the-bench player in the final six weeks of last year, and in the two games since Hardy's deactivation Addison has 3.5 sacks. Whether he sustains that production probably depends on whether his play count increases – Addison played just 41 percent of Carolina's snaps against Pittsburgh. Addison's play count should increase at the expense of the less productive rookie Kony Ealy, but it's anyone's guess whether Carolina will make that adjustment.
Brian Cushing, (3-4) ILB, HOU
Cushing was an IDP disappointment in the first two weeks as the Texans eased his surgically-repaired knee back into action, subjected to
RISING
Jelani Jenkins, OLB, MIA
It took injuries to Philip Wheeler (thumb) and Koa Misi (ankle) for Jenkins to get a three-down role in the Miami defense, but it's hard to see the Dolphins taking him out of that role even when Wheeler and Misi are back at full strength. Jenkins piled up 29 tackles in the last two weeks alone, giving him the league lead heading into Week 4. Jenkins also has 1.5 sacks in that span, and the Dolphins are allowing just 4.0 yards per carry on the year. Jenkins should probably be owned in most IDP leagues unless he cools off.
Mario Addison, DE, CAR
The loss of Greg Hardy looked like a potentially big one for the Panthers, as it's never easy to replace a 15-sack defensive end. They appear to have a competent replacement in Addison, though. He posted 2.5 sacks as an off-the-bench player in the final six weeks of last year, and in the two games since Hardy's deactivation Addison has 3.5 sacks. Whether he sustains that production probably depends on whether his play count increases – Addison played just 41 percent of Carolina's snaps against Pittsburgh. Addison's play count should increase at the expense of the less productive rookie Kony Ealy, but it's anyone's guess whether Carolina will make that adjustment.
Brian Cushing, (3-4) ILB, HOU
Cushing was an IDP disappointment in the first two weeks as the Texans eased his surgically-repaired knee back into action, subjected to a limited play count while the team observed the knee's reaction to the stress. Cushing apparently turned a corner in Week 3, though, as he finished with 17 tackles (eight solo) on 80 percent of Houston's snaps. If he can reach the 90 percent mark, there's LB1 potential here. Cushing was one of the league's top IDPs before his injury issues came up.
Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, NYG
The sack production isn't there yet (1.5 in four games), but Pierre-Paul's owners have to be encouraged by the tackle production he's shown so far this year. He's up to 22 tackles, which is just five short of his 11-game, 2013 total of 27. Given that he's been playing over 80 percent of the Giants' defensive snaps, it seems safe to say that Pierre-Paul is the most injury-free he's been since 2012. He seems due for a sack spree.
Quintin Demps, S, NYG
Although he's a seventh-year player who never entered a season as a starting safety, Demps' promotion over incumbent starter Stevie Brown gives Demps a real shot to end 2014 as a starter. He posted seven tackles and intercepted a pass against Washington on Thursday, giving him five interceptions in his last 17 games, and just seven starts. The Giants front four looks good so far with nine sacks in four games, so Demps should continue seeing opportunities to make plays on the ball.
FALLING
Stevie Brown, S, NYG
Brown was one of the top breakout defenders of 2012, posting 76 tackles and eight interceptions as an 11-game starter for the Giants, but an ACL tear negated his 2013 season, and coverages miscues cost him his starting job recently in the 2014 season. Quintin Demps started over Brown in Thursday's game against Washington.
Chad Greenway, OLB, MIN
Greenway suffered a broken rib when the Vikings played the Saints on Sunday, and now he's out for this week's game against Atlanta. It's not clear how long he'll be out, but any missed time for the aging veteran could allow younger linebackers like Gerald Hodges and Audie Cole get their feet in the door. Greenway probably is a long shot to give a good return on the LB1 investment many of his owners made in order to secure him in drafts.
Perry Riley, (3-4) ILB, WAS
It seems like he's due for a tackle spree any second now – he has at least 115 tackles in his last two years and plays a three-down role for the Redskins – but Riley's production through four games is weak. After posting six tackles against the Giants, Riley has just 19 tackles in four games. Although he should establish LB3 value going forward, it seems safe to say that Riley won't take the next step as an IDP even though London Fletcher retired.
Sheldon Richardson, (3-4) DE, NYJ
There's still plenty of time for him to start piling up the stats, and he has more than enough talent to catch fire any second, but Richardson's IDP owners have to be disappointed with the meager tackle total of six that he has through his first three games. Richardson finished his excellent 2013 rookie season with 78 tackles, and he's currently on a pace less than half of that one. After heading into the year as a DL1 investment in a lot of IDP formats, Richardson looks more like a DL2 or DL3 at the moment.
