This article is part of our 2020 NFL Breakout Watch series.
RISING
Foyesade Oluokun, LB, ATL
Oluokun's tackle production has been off the charts for the Falcons lately. Playing a three-down role next to Deion Jones and ahead of rookie fourth-round pick Mykal Walker, Oluokun has 49 tackles, one interception and three forced fumbles on 306 snaps – clear LB1 utility, and a production rate that has him that even has him in the hunt to finish the year as the top linebacker IDP overall. More of a rover than a linebacker at 6-2, 215, Oluokun's coverage-linebacker profile and sideline-to-sideline athleticism (4.48 40, 37-inch vertical, 123-inch broad jump) should keep him constantly involved for the Falcons defense, and in the meantime it doesn't appear Walker is especially close to stealing Oluokun's playing time.
Kamren Curl, S, WAS
It's sad that it occurred on such disheartening terms, but Curl will likely head into a three-down starting role for Washington in light of the Week 7 injury suffered by standout safety Landon Collins, an injury that's expected to end his season. Curl was an obscure safety out of Arkansas when Washington selected him in the seventh round of the 2020 draft, but he showed some quick promise by earning regular nickel cornerback snaps to open the year. Having just turned 21 in March but showing early versatility, Curl could prove a shrewd selection by Washington if he holds up under this greater workload. As much as Curl can't imitate the per-snap productivity of Collins – very few safeties
RISING
Foyesade Oluokun, LB, ATL
Oluokun's tackle production has been off the charts for the Falcons lately. Playing a three-down role next to Deion Jones and ahead of rookie fourth-round pick Mykal Walker, Oluokun has 49 tackles, one interception and three forced fumbles on 306 snaps – clear LB1 utility, and a production rate that has him that even has him in the hunt to finish the year as the top linebacker IDP overall. More of a rover than a linebacker at 6-2, 215, Oluokun's coverage-linebacker profile and sideline-to-sideline athleticism (4.48 40, 37-inch vertical, 123-inch broad jump) should keep him constantly involved for the Falcons defense, and in the meantime it doesn't appear Walker is especially close to stealing Oluokun's playing time.
Kamren Curl, S, WAS
It's sad that it occurred on such disheartening terms, but Curl will likely head into a three-down starting role for Washington in light of the Week 7 injury suffered by standout safety Landon Collins, an injury that's expected to end his season. Curl was an obscure safety out of Arkansas when Washington selected him in the seventh round of the 2020 draft, but he showed some quick promise by earning regular nickel cornerback snaps to open the year. Having just turned 21 in March but showing early versatility, Curl could prove a shrewd selection by Washington if he holds up under this greater workload. As much as Curl can't imitate the per-snap productivity of Collins – very few safeties ever could – he should be the primary heir to Collins' former role as DeShazor Everett replaces Troy Apke at free safety.
Fred Warner, LB, SF
Like pre-2020 Eric Kendricks, in the past Warner's IDP utility was often undercut by his real-life effectiveness – his ability to shut down opposing offenses ultimately deprived himself of tackle opportunities, making for a feared linebacker on the field but a merely decent IDP option. Thanks to the collapse of the team around him Kendricks is beasting for his IDP owners this year, and Warner is a similar, if more tame version of the same dynamic this year. In Warner's case the team hasn't fallen apart, but a hailstorm of injuries in the 49ers defense has nonetheless increased his burden, leading to greater per-snap tackle production than in previous years. Through 409 snaps this year Warner has 57 tackles and two interceptions, good for a roughly 139-tackle pace over 1,000 snaps after posting 118 tackles on 1,000 snaps in 2019.
Johnathan Abram, S, LV
Abram missed Week 7 due to the Raiders' COVID issues, but he's been since cleared to participate in Week 8. Abram steps back into DB1 consideration in most formats as a result, as before last week he was on a 90-tackle, three-interception 16-game pace. Considering he posted 13 tackles in Week 1 alone, there's reason to think Abram is due for a tackle spree that could propel him closer to the 100-tackle pace with a little luck.
Dre'Mont Jones, DE, DEN
Jones is one of two longer-shot Broncos players landing on 'rising' list. Jones might be the more conventionally useful of the two in most IDP formats since he has defensive line eligibility, whereas the other player, Malik Reed, has 3-4 OLB classification where the bar is higher. Jones is somewhat intriguing as an under-the-radar DL2 candidate, in any case, because the 2019 third-round pick has some disruptiveness to offer and seems locked into a workload of 30 snaps or more per game for the time being. Jones played 31 snaps against the Chiefs, his first game since a knee injury knocked him out in Week 2, and he finished with two tackles and one sack. Jones has quietly been an active pass rusher in his 384 NFL snaps, accumulating 4.5 sacks in that sample. Jones was a productive three-year starter at Ohio State, too, so he could see his snap count push more for the 40-snap range if his knee responds well.
Malik Reed, (3-4) OLB, DEN
Reed has an uphill climb for IDP viability in most formats since he's classified as an LB despite basically functioning as an edge rusher, but he might be a worthwhile consideration in EDGE leagues like ESPN or in formats where sacks are rewarded more than usual, at least in the short term. He'll need to hold off Jeremiah Attaochu (hamstring) in the long term, but let's not rule Reed out – he has 10 tackles and four sacks on his last 92 snaps, and he was a highly productive edge rusher at Nevada in college.
FALLING
Alex Okafor, DE, KC
Although he's far from a household name as an IDP, Okafor nonetheless went into 2020 as one of the better cheap sleeper options on the defensive line. Okafor had 101 tackles and 13.5 sacks on his last 1,573 snaps, which would project to about 55 tackles and 7.5 sacks per 850 snaps. Far from dominant, but DL2-adequate numbers all the same, and for a player who usually went undrafted outside of very deep IDP leagues. Unfortunately, Okafor has been battling a hamstring issue that will now land him on IR, knocking him out for at least the next three games
Jordan Hicks, (3-4) ILB, ARI
Don't panic: Hicks is probably fine, and he should continue to be an LB1-type producer for the rest of 2020. There might be some cause for slightly lessened expectations in the season's second half, though, after Hicks otherwise raced to a safe LB1 finish in the season to this point. Hicks is on a 135-tackle pace after seven games, this after finishing the 2019 season with 150 tackles. But after suffering an unspecified ankle injury against the Seahawks on Sunday, and with both prospects Isaiah Simmons and Kylie Fitts showing promise on their combined 30 snaps (25 Fitts, five Simmons), Hicks' injury might be a chance for the Cardinals to increase the workload for Simmons or/and Fitts. Simmons and Fitts are both big, uniquely athletic players who considerable upside, whereas Hicks is more of a stopgap veteran buying time for them to develop. After the 2020 season the Cardinals can save money by cutting Hicks, and if they resolve to cut Hicks after this year then they would presumably want to get more of a look at Simmons first.
