IDP Analysis: Pierre-Paul Nears Return

RISING

Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, NYG

The bizarre and distressing saga of Pierre-Paul's fireworks accident and the resulting contract standoff with the Giants is finally concluded, as Pierre-Paul agreed to a one-year contract with the Giants this week. He's unlikely to return for Sunday's game against the Saints, but Pierre-Paul should get every chance to push for snaps in the defensive end rotation after that point. There's no case study for injuries like Pierre-Paul's, and there's a chance his hand damage is skill-negating, but he's at least an IDP to monitor closely in the next couple weeks.

Malcolm Smith, OLB, OAK

The Raiders traded away the promising Sio Moore to make room for Smith to establish a three-down role, and at least in IDP terms, the results so far have been extremely good. The former USC standout and part-time Seahawks contributor has a high tackle volume so far in the Oakland defense, totaling 50 tackles (42 solo), three sacks and an interception in just six games. He's more of an LB1 than LB2 until further notice.

Dion Bailey, S, NYJ

Calvin Pryor will miss Sunday's game against Oakland due to an ankle injury, opening the door for Bailey to start at safety. Bailey is nowhere near as athletic as Pryor and will likely be less effective in general, but Pryor was a productive IDP prior to the injury, posting 36 tackles, one sack and one interception in six games. Bailey posted six tackles against the Patriots last week.

Jahleel Addae, S, SD

With Eric Weddle (groin) out for Sunday's game against Baltimore, Addae will need to start again at safety. Addae appeared to have just a part-time role in the secondary while Weddle was active, but Addae played every defensive snap while Weddle was out against Oakland last week, finishing with six tackles. Addae's tackle rate was extremely high as a part-time player last year, so another week with a full play count could allow him to push for a double-digit tackle total, especially in a game that could turn into a shootout as Philip Rivers gets a shot at the weak Baltimore pass defense.

FALLING

Cameron Wake, DE, MIA

Wake cruelly suffered a torn Achilles' tendon in Miami's humiliating beatdown at New England on Thursday, ending his season and presenting a huge obstacle for the continuation of Wake's career. He will turn 34 years old in January, and Achilles tears are a devastating injury for a player of any age range. Wake caught fire right before suffering the injury, posting all seven of his sacks in the last three weeks while forcing four fumbles over the same span. Derrick Shelby appears to be next in line for more snaps.

Gerald Hodges, (3-4) ILB, SF

Hodges is simply better than Michael Wilhoite and will likely carve out a starting role in the San Francisco defense eventually, but it's impossible to tell when or whether that will actually occur. Hodges played just 14 snaps against the Seahawks last week, while Wilhoite played 64 snaps, racking up 13 tackles in the process. Hodges is frankly too good to not eventually get his role increased, but it'll be hard for San Francisco to start that process with Wilhoite posting 42 tackles in the last three games.

Kerry Wynn, DE, NYG

Wynn has quietly been a sound source of tackles so far this year, posting 35 tackles (23 solo) in seven games, and he should remain a low-ceiling DL2 or DL3 the remainder of the year. He might see a slight dip in his play count with Pierre-Paul's imminent return, however, and the fact that he has just 1.5 career sacks in 12 games implies that he won't provide the playmaking necessary to offset any decline in his production. Basically, he won't provide sack production, and his tackle production from next week onward will rarely go above four or five stops in a game.