This article is part of our IDP Analysis series.
RISING
J.J. Wilcox, S, DAL
Barry Church's broken arm opened the way for Wilcox to take up a three-down role in Dallas, and Playing 117 snaps in the last two weeks, Wilcox totaled 12 tackles in games against the Browns and Steelers. Prorated over a 16-game stretch, that production would approach triple-digit tackles with at least 60 snaps per game. With Church likely out at least two more games, Wilcox should be a sneaky way to get at least DB2 utility in Weeks 11 and 12.
Olivier Vernon, DE, NYG
Vernon headed into this year with high expectations after the Giants signed him away from Miami in free agency -- a maneuver that cost $85 million on a five-year contract -- but through the first seven games this year he totaled just 23 tackles and one sack. He may be moving past his early struggles, however, if his last two weeks are any indication. Vernon has 15 tackles and two sacks in that span, giving him 39 tackles and three sacks in nine games. The fact that he has eight tackles for loss gives reason to think he'll finish stronger than he started -- a tackle-for-loss pace that indicates an ability to break into the backfield, which will hopefully result in more sacks in his final seven games.
Cameron Wake, DE, MIA
The odds were decidedly stacked against Wake heading into this year, as 34-year-olds returning from mid-season Achilles' tendon tear the year prior rarely fare
RISING
J.J. Wilcox, S, DAL
Barry Church's broken arm opened the way for Wilcox to take up a three-down role in Dallas, and Playing 117 snaps in the last two weeks, Wilcox totaled 12 tackles in games against the Browns and Steelers. Prorated over a 16-game stretch, that production would approach triple-digit tackles with at least 60 snaps per game. With Church likely out at least two more games, Wilcox should be a sneaky way to get at least DB2 utility in Weeks 11 and 12.
Olivier Vernon, DE, NYG
Vernon headed into this year with high expectations after the Giants signed him away from Miami in free agency -- a maneuver that cost $85 million on a five-year contract -- but through the first seven games this year he totaled just 23 tackles and one sack. He may be moving past his early struggles, however, if his last two weeks are any indication. Vernon has 15 tackles and two sacks in that span, giving him 39 tackles and three sacks in nine games. The fact that he has eight tackles for loss gives reason to think he'll finish stronger than he started -- a tackle-for-loss pace that indicates an ability to break into the backfield, which will hopefully result in more sacks in his final seven games.
Cameron Wake, DE, MIA
The odds were decidedly stacked against Wake heading into this year, as 34-year-olds returning from mid-season Achilles' tendon tear the year prior rarely fare so well in the subsequent season. Further harming his odds of IDP utility in 2016 was the fact that he'd be playing off the bench as a pass-rushing specialist for Miami rather than a three-down role normally required to provide stable IDP production. After an understandable slow start to the season, however, Wake has quietly caught fire. He has 6.5 sacks in his last seven games despite playing just roughly 44 percent of Miami's defensive snaps this year. Wake is unlikely to provide many tackles -- he has just 15 tackles -- but those looking for sacks appear to have a real use for Wake.
DeAndre Levy, OLB, DET
It's difficult to imagine him playing this week, but Levy returned to practice in a limited capacity Wednesday after missing the last eight games with quadriceps and knee injuries, seemingly putting him on track for an imminent return. It's hard to guess how much and how well Levy will play given that he's suited up for just two games over the last two years after a hip injury limited him to one game in 2015. When in proper form, though, Levy is certainly one of the better linebackers in the NFL. He's probably worth stashing in deeper formats in case that version of himself shows up in the season's last month or so.
FALLING
Cameron Heyward, (3-4) DE, PIT
After the first two missed games of his career in Weeks 6 and 7 due to a hamstring injury, Heyward is set to miss seven more after suffering a likely season-ending pectoral injury in Week 10. That finishes his season wtih 21 tackles and three sacks in seven games. While bad luck wouldn't leave Heyward alone this year, he's a strong bet to return to DL2-type utility in 2017. In the meantime, the Steelers will need to rely more on the likes of Ricardo Mathews and Daniel McCullers, neither of whom is likely to provide IDP value.
Randy Gregory, DE, DAL
Gregory was a great player at Nebraska and has all the athletic traits necessary to become a standout pass rusher in the NFL, but yet another failed drug test has resulted in a one-year suspension for Gregory, whose career is quickly spiraling the drain. It's a certain shame -- Gregory will be just 24 next Wednesday, but there's a real chance he finishes his career with just 12 appearances for the Cowboys.
Mario Williams, DE, MIA
So much for the Dolphins' new defensive scheme "unleashing" Williams. Nine games into the year, Williams is on pace to somehow fall short even of his miserable 2015 season, when he totaled just 19 tackles and five sacks in 15 games. To make matters worse, Williams suffered an ankle injury against the Chargers on Sunday and heads into this week questionable to play against the Rams. Barring a drastic and fast change, Williams is basically off the IDP radar.
Kurt Coleman, S, CAR
He still has time to get it together and finish strong for his IDP owners given that his snap count doesn't appear to be at any risk of lessening -- the fact that he's played more than 99 percent of Carolina's snaps implies he'll continue to receive opportunities -- but through this point in the year Coleman hasn't approached his past levels of IDP production. With 47 tackles in nine games, Coleman is on pace for roughly just 84 tackles in 2016 after posting 90 tackles in just 15 games last year. Normally a standout source of interceptions, including seven last year, Coleman has just one interception this season.
