This article is part of our IDP Analysis series.
RISING
Eric Kendricks, MLB, MIN
Kendricks has been a great linebacker his whole NFL career, to the point that it even harmed his IDP utility. Worse linebackers than Kendricks would have given up more receptions in coverage, and would have allowed running backs to gain more yardage and first downs, both outcomes resulting in further snaps and tackle opportunities to boost IDP production. But Kendricks is more so the sort to stop you short of the first down, bringing out the punt team where lesser linebackers would stay on the field and gain subsequent tackle opportunities. Unfortunately for Kendricks' real-life prospects, the defense around him has deteriorated in 2020 to the point that teams are making those first-down plays despite Kendricks' presence. This is good for Kendricks' IDP prospects, however, because it's forcing him to make more tackles than ever. With 151 snaps through two games, Kendricks is up to 23 tackles (18 solo), eclipsing double-digit tackles in both of those games. After spending the past five years as a better real-life player than IDP one, Kendricks' fantasy value might finally catch up to his real-life value in 2020.
Micah Kiser, ILB, LAR
It's been known all offseason that Kiser would start at inside linebacker for the Rams this year, but through two games it's probably safe to say he's been more productive than expected for his IDP investors. After posting seven tackles on 72 snaps in Week 1, Kiser went nuts with 16 tackles and a forced
RISING
Eric Kendricks, MLB, MIN
Kendricks has been a great linebacker his whole NFL career, to the point that it even harmed his IDP utility. Worse linebackers than Kendricks would have given up more receptions in coverage, and would have allowed running backs to gain more yardage and first downs, both outcomes resulting in further snaps and tackle opportunities to boost IDP production. But Kendricks is more so the sort to stop you short of the first down, bringing out the punt team where lesser linebackers would stay on the field and gain subsequent tackle opportunities. Unfortunately for Kendricks' real-life prospects, the defense around him has deteriorated in 2020 to the point that teams are making those first-down plays despite Kendricks' presence. This is good for Kendricks' IDP prospects, however, because it's forcing him to make more tackles than ever. With 151 snaps through two games, Kendricks is up to 23 tackles (18 solo), eclipsing double-digit tackles in both of those games. After spending the past five years as a better real-life player than IDP one, Kendricks' fantasy value might finally catch up to his real-life value in 2020.
Micah Kiser, ILB, LAR
It's been known all offseason that Kiser would start at inside linebacker for the Rams this year, but through two games it's probably safe to say he's been more productive than expected for his IDP investors. After posting seven tackles on 72 snaps in Week 1, Kiser went nuts with 16 tackles and a forced fumble on 71 snaps in Week 1. That leaves Kiser with 23 tackles on 143 snaps on a defense that will almost certainly require him to play over 1,000 snaps per 16 games. Kiser also has three passes defended through two games, so he could find himself with an interception or two soon enough if this keeps up. He's a candidate to finish the year as an LB1 in a lot of formats.
Chris Banjo, S, ARI
Jalen Thompson is out for the year, which left Arizona with an open starting safety spot opposite Budda Baker. Through two games, Banjo appears to be their choice of replacement. If that persists, then he should provide starting IDP utility in many or most formats. A career special teams player to this point, the Cardinals for now assess him as their second-best safety. His consequent starting role yielded 121 snaps and 15 tackles (nine solo) through two games. Banjo should keep piling up the tackles if his snap counts remain high, just keep in mind that he's probably not very good in real life and could get a quick benching if he gets beat too many times in coverage.
Kevin Pierre-Louis, OLB, WAS
Mostly a special teams journeyman to this point in his career, it seems like Pierre-Louis might be on the verge of establishing himself as one of the league's more productive starting linebackers. He's logged 142 snaps through two games, accumulating 19 tackles (13 solo) while forcing a fumble. Pierre-Louis appears to be Washington's top coverage linebacker, which will hopefully keep his snap count stable. If his skills have turned a corner in his age-29 season, then Pierre-Louis could be quite good, because he's always been one of the league's most athletic defenders (4.51 40, 39-inch vertical, 128-inch broad jump, 10.94 agility score).
Jon Bostic, MLB, WAS
Like Pierre-Louis, Bostic is an improbable productive starter for Washington through two games, serving as Washington's primary run-stuffing linebacker and making an impact as a blitzer. Through 145 snaps Bostic has 14 tackles (10 solo) and two sacks -- seven tackles and a sack in each game, to be more specific. Bostic's per-snap tackle rate is only modest, so he probably doesn't project for more than 110 tackles or so, but there's reason to believe he'll keep getting blitz opportunities in a Washington front seven poised to be one of the most disruptive in the league.
Kerry Hyder, DE, SF
Injuries to Dee Ford and Nick Bosa boosted Hyder's snap count a bit to this point, but Bosa and Solomon Thomas are out for the rest of the year, so the 49ers will need to keep giving snaps to Hyder. If Hyder keeps getting enough snaps, then there's reason to believe he can produce as a viable DL IDP in most formats. Through 85 snaps he's up to 11 tackles (five solo) and one sack, and at this point he might need to play upwards of 750 snaps for San Francisco in 2020.
FALLING
Nick Bosa, DE, SF
Bosa suffered a torn ACL against the Jets on Sunday, marking the harshest instance yet in an implausible series of 49ers injuries. Not only did the 49ers lose Bosa, but they lost rotational lineman Solomon Thomas for the year as well. It led the team to sign Ezekiel Ansah, a former standout end, but one who's in the midst of a definite decline.
Taylor Rapp, S, LAR
It seems safe to say it after two weeks: Rapp is the backup to rookie sixth-round pick Jordan Fuller. The Rams spent a second-round pick on Rapp last year and he posted triple-digit tackles in 15 games, yet Fuller was the Week 1 starter for the Rams and played the same role over Rapp in Week 2. It's difficult to see why the arrangement would change from this point, because Fuller has played well, accumulating 17 tackles (10 solo) on 142 snaps. Rapp, meanwhile, has just six tackles on 32 snaps. With John Johnson entrenched at the safety spot opposite Fuller, it's difficult to see how Rapp gets back into the starting Rams lineup at any point in the foreseeable future.
