This article is part of our IDP Analysis series.
RISING
Kemal Ishmael, S, ATL
William Moore (shoulder) was placed on season-ending IR this week, mercifully bringing his injury-plagued 2014 to an end. With Moore out of the lineup, it opens up a starting spot to Ishmael once again, which means IDP owners should pounce on Ishmael in Week 17 leagues. Ishmael has been exceedingly productive as an IDP while replacing Moore this year, totaling 89 tackles, four interceptions (one touchdown), one forced fumble and a fumble recovery while playing just 768 snaps on defense. Regressing his tackle rate slightly to account for however many he might have made on special teams snaps, Ishmael's production would project to roughly 105 tackles and five interceptions over 1,000 snaps, a mark that starting Atlanta safety Dwight Lowery has already reached. Ishmael is a clear DB1 this week.
Gerald Hodges, OLB, MIN
Hodges had already been playing on a three-down snap count even with Chad Greenway in the lineup, but Greenway (knee) is generally expected to miss this week's game against Chicago, which should give Hodges even more access to stats. With 23 tackles in the last three weeks, Hodges is up to 53 while playing 442 defensive snaps. That would project to about 120 tackles on 1,000 snaps, which means Hodges should be an LB1 consideration this week as the top Minnesota linebacker. His pass defense stats (one interception, seven deflections) strongly hints at standout interception upside, too.
Sio Moore, OLB, OAK
Moore's season is over due to a
RISING
Kemal Ishmael, S, ATL
William Moore (shoulder) was placed on season-ending IR this week, mercifully bringing his injury-plagued 2014 to an end. With Moore out of the lineup, it opens up a starting spot to Ishmael once again, which means IDP owners should pounce on Ishmael in Week 17 leagues. Ishmael has been exceedingly productive as an IDP while replacing Moore this year, totaling 89 tackles, four interceptions (one touchdown), one forced fumble and a fumble recovery while playing just 768 snaps on defense. Regressing his tackle rate slightly to account for however many he might have made on special teams snaps, Ishmael's production would project to roughly 105 tackles and five interceptions over 1,000 snaps, a mark that starting Atlanta safety Dwight Lowery has already reached. Ishmael is a clear DB1 this week.
Gerald Hodges, OLB, MIN
Hodges had already been playing on a three-down snap count even with Chad Greenway in the lineup, but Greenway (knee) is generally expected to miss this week's game against Chicago, which should give Hodges even more access to stats. With 23 tackles in the last three weeks, Hodges is up to 53 while playing 442 defensive snaps. That would project to about 120 tackles on 1,000 snaps, which means Hodges should be an LB1 consideration this week as the top Minnesota linebacker. His pass defense stats (one interception, seven deflections) strongly hints at standout interception upside, too.
Sio Moore, OLB, OAK
Moore's season is over due to a hip injury, so his entry on this list is just to note his rising long-term prospects. He's looking like a steal of an asset in dynasty formats, as the 2013 third-round pick showed high-grade LB1 upside in his second season this year. He finished with 90 tackles (nine for a loss) and three sacks while playing 698 defensive snaps. That would project to about 129 tackles and four sacks if he were to play 1,000 defensive snaps, and he ought to have a strong chance of securing such a role in 2015.
FALLING
Willie Young, DE, CHI
Young suffered a torn Achilles' tendon in Chicago's Week 16 game against Detroit, ending his 2014 season and putting his early 2015 availability in some question. It's an extremely frustrating injury for Young, who was in the midst of a breakout season in his fifth NFL year. Heading into this year with just six career sacks, Young totaled 40 tackles and 10 sacks in 15 games this year, and on just 664 snaps. Hopefully he returns to full health next year, because he evidently has reliable double-digit sack potential if he plays around 750 snaps.
Jared Allen, DE, CHI
If it wasn't official before, it probably is now: Allen is over the hill. Heading into Week 17 with a very high snap count of 824 in just 14 games, Allen has little to show for it. Allen has just 53 tackles and 5.5 sacks this year, and with age 33 approaching in April it's hard to see things getting better.
Chad Greenway, OLB, MIN
Greenway (knee) did not practice this week, so it looks like he will miss the season finale against the Bears on Sunday. With Greenway's season over and his game declining and age 32 showing up in January, it's fair to wonder if he'll be in the Vikings' long-term plans. Anthony Barr has one three-down linebacker role locked up, and Gerald Hodges might be closing in on the other.
Marcell Dareus, DT, BUF
Dareus (knee) is expected to miss this week's game against New England, so his IDP owners will have to look elsewhere for a defensive line IDP option. Dareus' long-term outlook remains extremely bright, on the other hand. Dareus is clearly one of the league's elite interior linemen, and he's only 25 years old. He finishes the 2014 season with 48 tackles and 10 sacks, and he was a crucial component of Buffalo's strong run defense.
