This article is part of our IDP Analysis series.
RISING
Kyle Van Noy, OLB, DET
The Lions traded up in the second round to draft Van Noy out of BYU this year, but an abdominal injury in the preseason caused him to miss all of Detroit's game to this point while waiting on the designated-for-return Injured Reserve. With Stephen Tulloch out for the year, Van Noy could push for a three-down role early on in his audition with the starting Detroit defense, and he might even earn it almost immediately. Van Noy is a skilled blitzer who is especially appealing in leagues that reward heavily for sack production.
Chris Borland, (3-4) ILB, SF
Patrick Willis (toe) missed all of San Francisco's practices this week, making it appear as if he's unlikely to play against New Orleans on Sunday despite being listed merely as 'questionable' on the Friday injury report. If Willis does sit out, that leaves Borland in position to play a three-down role for the third straight week, a role in which he's been extremely productive for IDP purposes. In two games as a three-down linebacker, Borland has 26 tackles (four for a loss) and one sack, making him an LB1 for Sunday.
Anthony Hitchens, OLB, DAL
Rolando McClain (knee) is questionable for Sunday's game against Jacksonville after missing all practices this week. With no practices heading into the weekend, McClain probably won't play more than a limited role against Jacksonville if he plays at all. That leaves Hitchens to likely play in a three-down
RISING
Kyle Van Noy, OLB, DET
The Lions traded up in the second round to draft Van Noy out of BYU this year, but an abdominal injury in the preseason caused him to miss all of Detroit's game to this point while waiting on the designated-for-return Injured Reserve. With Stephen Tulloch out for the year, Van Noy could push for a three-down role early on in his audition with the starting Detroit defense, and he might even earn it almost immediately. Van Noy is a skilled blitzer who is especially appealing in leagues that reward heavily for sack production.
Chris Borland, (3-4) ILB, SF
Patrick Willis (toe) missed all of San Francisco's practices this week, making it appear as if he's unlikely to play against New Orleans on Sunday despite being listed merely as 'questionable' on the Friday injury report. If Willis does sit out, that leaves Borland in position to play a three-down role for the third straight week, a role in which he's been extremely productive for IDP purposes. In two games as a three-down linebacker, Borland has 26 tackles (four for a loss) and one sack, making him an LB1 for Sunday.
Anthony Hitchens, OLB, DAL
Rolando McClain (knee) is questionable for Sunday's game against Jacksonville after missing all practices this week. With no practices heading into the weekend, McClain probably won't play more than a limited role against Jacksonville if he plays at all. That leaves Hitchens to likely play in a three-down role against the Jaguars. Hitchens has shown at least LB2 potential in a three-down role this year, posting eight tackles a week ago as well as 13 tackles in Week 3. The fourth-round pick out of Iowa has good speed and should be busy this week.
Telvin Smith, OLB, JAC
Smith continues to prove himself a major steal for the Jaguars in the fifth round of the 2014 draft. The speedy former Florida State star posted another eight tackles against Cincinnati on Sunday despite playing just half of Jacksonville's defensive snaps, giving him 17 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and an interception despite playing limited snaps in the last three weeks. It's only a matter of time before he takes over as Jacksonville's best linebacker, though some patience is in order as far as that goes. Still, Smith should be IDP gold in dynasty leagues.
Lance Briggs, OLB, CHI
Briggs had some miserable numbers to start the year, posting just 22 tackles (15 solo) and an interception before suffering a rib injury that caused him to miss Chicago's last three games. He's set to return to a three-down role against the Packers this week, though, and so it's worth monitoring Briggs' performance Sunday to see if he can start to redeem himself for his weak start to the season. The Bears have been a mess at linebacker lately, so the veteran should get a chance to reestablish himself as the team's lead man at the position.
FALLING
Nick Fairley, DT, DET
Fairley looked like a potential IDP beast when he came out of Auburn in 2011, one year following a National Championship-winning season in which he totaled 60 tackles (24 for a loss) and 11.5 sacks in 14 games. While he's performed well in the NFL by non-statistical measures, inconsistency, injuries and low statistical output have made him a non-factor IDP in the NFL. He had just 98 tackles and 13.5 sacks in 46 career games, and his 2014 season is just about kaput after suffering a knee injury that figures to keep him out for at least a whole month.
Rolando McClain, MLB, DAL
After starting 2014 on fire and rightly earning a redemption narrative after busting badly following the Raiders selecting him eighth overall in the 2010 draft, McClain has slowed considerably in recent weeks. He posted 15 tackles, one sack and one interception in the first two weeks only to miss the next game and post just 29 tackles and an interception in the next six games. He's questionable to play against the Jaguars this week with a knee issue, but the fact that he didn't practice all week makes it seem like he either won't play or will play on a limited snap count.
Ryan Shazier, (3-4) ILB, PIT
Shazier's future almost definitely remains bright, but his short-term prospects took another hit Sunday when he suffered an ankle injury against the Colts – his first game back from a knee injury that cost him four games. Shazier's rare blend of speed, motor and blitzing ability should get him on the LB1 radar as soon as he returns to the field, though Sean Spence will play in his place against the Jets this week.
