This article is part of our IDP Analysis series.
RISING
Eric Kendricks, MLB, MIN
With Gerald Hodges in San Francisco, the door is open for Kendricks to take over as a three-down linebacker in a Minnesota front seven that creates playmaking opportunities at the second and third levels. He has 19 tackles and a sack in four games while playing roughly 48 percent of Minnesota's defense snaps, and Hodges' vacant role (54.1 percent) makes a 90-plus percent role for Kendricks seem somewhat likely. With the speed to play sideline to sideline and the coverage instincts to play three downs, Kendricks has the potential to offer stats in all of the tackle, sack, and interception categories.
Luke Kuechly, MLB, CAR
After missing Carolina's last three games with concussion symptoms, Kuechly is expected to finally make his return to the field against the Seahawks on Sunday. Likely to be the top projected IDP LB in any particular week, Kuechly is back into auto-start LB1 territory even in his first game back. A.J. Klein and Shaq Thompson will see reduced roles.
Sheldon Richardson, (3-4) DE, NYJ
Richardson will return from his four-game suspension against Washington this week, and he should get off to a fast start. Richardson is one of the league's absolute best defenders, possessing all-decade athleticism and elite production in his first two seasons. In his first 32 games, Richardson – who won't turn 25 until Nov. 29 – totaled 145 tackles (84 solo) to go along with 11.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two novelty rushing
RISING
Eric Kendricks, MLB, MIN
With Gerald Hodges in San Francisco, the door is open for Kendricks to take over as a three-down linebacker in a Minnesota front seven that creates playmaking opportunities at the second and third levels. He has 19 tackles and a sack in four games while playing roughly 48 percent of Minnesota's defense snaps, and Hodges' vacant role (54.1 percent) makes a 90-plus percent role for Kendricks seem somewhat likely. With the speed to play sideline to sideline and the coverage instincts to play three downs, Kendricks has the potential to offer stats in all of the tackle, sack, and interception categories.
Luke Kuechly, MLB, CAR
After missing Carolina's last three games with concussion symptoms, Kuechly is expected to finally make his return to the field against the Seahawks on Sunday. Likely to be the top projected IDP LB in any particular week, Kuechly is back into auto-start LB1 territory even in his first game back. A.J. Klein and Shaq Thompson will see reduced roles.
Sheldon Richardson, (3-4) DE, NYJ
Richardson will return from his four-game suspension against Washington this week, and he should get off to a fast start. Richardson is one of the league's absolute best defenders, possessing all-decade athleticism and elite production in his first two seasons. In his first 32 games, Richardson – who won't turn 25 until Nov. 29 – totaled 145 tackles (84 solo) to go along with 11.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two novelty rushing touchdowns. The offensive production is not something to count on, but Richardson can clearly produce at around a 70-to-80 tackle pace over a 16-game span.
Rolando McClain, MLB, DAL
McClain returned from a four-game suspension against the Patriots on Sunday, and he made an instant impact in the box score. Playing 52 snaps, McClain finished with eight tackles (four solo) and one sack, giving him a total of 89 tackles (69 solo), two sacks and two interceptions in 14 games with Dallas. The tackle numbers would be a decent amount higher if injuries hadn't disrupted his 2014 season. McClain looks like a good bet to approach LB2 value in a defense loaded with front seven talent.
Mario Edwards, DT, OAK
With Justin Tuck out for the rest of the season, Oakland will now turn to Edwards as a starting lineman, giving the athletic rookie second-round pick a chance to elevate his IDP stock up to DL3 consideration. Edwards played 50 snaps in his first career start against the Broncos on Sunday, and he finished with a very encouraging box score of six tackles (three solo) and a half-sack. Edwards is highly athletic lineman at about 6-foot-3, 279 pounds with 4.84-speed and a superb 120-inch broad jump.
FALLING
Curtis Lofton, MLB, OAK
Lofton headed into 2015 with six straight years with triple-digit tackles logged, but it appears that streak might end during his first season in Oakland. Lofton saw his snaps scaled back in favor of Neiron Ball in Week 5, logging just 22 snaps while Ball played 36 snaps. He finished with four tackles for the second week in a row, and it's hard to trust him as more than an LB3 hold with Ball looming.
Sean Weatherspoon, (3-4) ILB, ARZ
Once one of the leagues most promising and athletic linebackers, it appears Weatherspoon's 2014 Achilles' tear is still a problem, as he hasn't been able to get on the field in Arizona. He was a healthy inactive last week, and he's played just 39 all year. Kevin Minter is the lead linebacker in Arizona for now, while a rotation of outside linebacker-types take up the rest of the snaps at the position.
Ryan Shazier, (3-4) ILB, PIT
Shazier has great upside whenever he's healthy, but the second-year former first-round pick continues to miss more time than he plays. His shoulder injury has caused him to miss four games for Pittsburgh, including this week's game against Arizona. The incredibly athletic Shazier had 22 tackles and a sack in the first game, so he's probably worth making room for if your league grants much bench space for IDPs, but ankle and knee issues limited to nine games last year.
