This article is part of our IDP Analysis series.
RISING
Jatavis Brown, (3-4) ILB, SD
Brown's accomplishments don't seem proportionate to his level of recognition -- he dominated but largely went under the radar during his career at Akron, after which he was denied an invitation to the NFL Combine and fell to the fifth round of the most recent draft. If the early results are any indication, Brown is poised once again to outdo what conventional wisdom expected of him. Following up a senior season at Akron where he totaled 116 tackles, 20 tackles for loss and 12 sacks in 13 games, Brown already has 42 tackles, three sacks and two forced fumbles in six games despite beginning the year as a backup. Although he's undersized at 5-foot-11, 221, Brown has elite athleticism for the position, and a unique knack for rushing the passer.
Dont'a Hightower, MLB, NE
Injuries have posed difficulties for Hightower at various points in his NFL career, but when healthy he's established himself as one of the league's top linebackers. Still looking for his first season with triple-digit tackles, Hightower made good progress of that pursuit with 13 tackles, 1.5 sacks and a safety against Cincinnati on Sunday. Assuming he can stay on the field, Hightower should finish the year as one of the better IDP linebackers. Not unlike teammate and fellow linebacker Jamie Collins, Hightower has the ability to produce sacks at an uncommon rate for a linebacker -- he posted six sacks in just 12 games in 2014.
RISING
Jatavis Brown, (3-4) ILB, SD
Brown's accomplishments don't seem proportionate to his level of recognition -- he dominated but largely went under the radar during his career at Akron, after which he was denied an invitation to the NFL Combine and fell to the fifth round of the most recent draft. If the early results are any indication, Brown is poised once again to outdo what conventional wisdom expected of him. Following up a senior season at Akron where he totaled 116 tackles, 20 tackles for loss and 12 sacks in 13 games, Brown already has 42 tackles, three sacks and two forced fumbles in six games despite beginning the year as a backup. Although he's undersized at 5-foot-11, 221, Brown has elite athleticism for the position, and a unique knack for rushing the passer.
Dont'a Hightower, MLB, NE
Injuries have posed difficulties for Hightower at various points in his NFL career, but when healthy he's established himself as one of the league's top linebackers. Still looking for his first season with triple-digit tackles, Hightower made good progress of that pursuit with 13 tackles, 1.5 sacks and a safety against Cincinnati on Sunday. Assuming he can stay on the field, Hightower should finish the year as one of the better IDP linebackers. Not unlike teammate and fellow linebacker Jamie Collins, Hightower has the ability to produce sacks at an uncommon rate for a linebacker -- he posted six sacks in just 12 games in 2014.
Benardrick McKinney, (3-4) ILB, HOU
McKinney was a recent entrant in the "rising" category, but he continues to pick up steam and merits further mention as a result. After a 12-tackle, one-sack game against the Colts on Sunday, McKinney is up to 60 tackles and three sacks in six games. He's been especially hot in the last five games, in which he totaled 55 of his tackles and all three sacks. If he can vaguely keep it up, McKinney will make a push for a top-three IDP distinction at linebacker. At 6-4, 260, and with elite athleticism, there's little reason to bet against that outcome.
DeForest Buckner, (3-4) DE, SF
Buckner was a realistic bet to go second overall in the this year's draft, and when the 49ers snagged him at the seventh selection it looked like one of the better value picks of the first round. Through the first five games of his career, the Oregon product is only reinforcing that idea. With 30 tackles and two sacks in five games (one missed due to injury), Buckner is producing at a blistering, if not unsustainable, rate of 96 tackles over a 16-game span. Billed as a potential Calais Campbell-type coming out of college, it seems safe to say Buckner is actually ahead of where Campbell was as a rookie -- Buckner already has more tackles than Campbell had his whole rookie year. As a top talent on a team with a high tempo, Buckner could finish the year as a DL1.
Leonard Williams, (3-4) DE, NYJ
Expectations were always high for Williams – he was widely considered the best player in last year's draft despite falling to the sixth overall selection – so it would be hard to describe his fast start to 2016 a surprise. But at the very least Williams is on an impressive trajectory, piling up 24 tackles and five sacks in six games after just turning 22 in June. Like fellow Jets star defensive linemen Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson, Williams appears poised to provide a DL1 output this year despite playing in a 3-4 front.
David Irving, DT, DAL
Irving will need to see more snaps to remain a viable IDP option, but his accomplishments against the Packers from Sunday make him someone to monitor closely in the meantime. Playing just 19 snaps, Irving earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors by totaling four tackles, one sack and three forced fumbles. Although he wasn't particularly productive in college, he has considerable upside considering the athletic testing numbers he posted coming out of Iowa State. At about 6-8, 273, Irving somehow posted a 38-inch vertical and 128-inch broad jump.
FALLING
Reshad Jones, S, MIA
Jones is the clearly top IDP among defensive backs when healthy, but he suffered a torn rotator cuff in his shoulder, ending his season. He's the top tier at his position after logging an absurd 186 tackles in his last 22 games -- a rate that projects to roughly 135 tackles per 16-game stretch. With Jones out, the Dolphins will first turn to Michael Thomas, who's perhaps worth a speculative pickup in deeper leagues after totaling 105 tackles while playing 873 defensive snaps and 476 on special teams in his last 22 games.
James Laurinaitis, MLB, NO
Although the Saints signed Laurinaitis to a three-year deal during the offseason, the former longtime IDP stalwart is already on the bench after three failed starts. When you're not good enough to play for the Saints, your time in the league may indeed be short. Laurinaitis didn't play a single snap against the Panthers on Sunday, with Nathan Stupar instead taking up a three-down role next to Craig Robertson.
Denzel Perryman, (3-4) ILB, SD
A shoulder injury suffered in Week 4 may have had something to do with it, but Perryman disappointed yet again by playing a part-time role against the Broncos last Thursday, this time playing behind not only Brown, but also Korey Toomer. Perryman didn't even start the game, finishing with 24 snaps compared to Toomer's 32. Despite taking him in the second round of last year's draft, the Chargers are evidently unwilling to leave Perryman on the field in passing situations, and in a league that runs the nickel defense most of that time, that potentially reduces Perryman to a backup in function despite his technical "starter" label. Perryman produces tackles at a fast rate when he gets snaps, but he can't produce on the sidelines.
DeAndre Levy, OLB, DET
Levy has been out all year with a quadriceps issue, and apparently a knee injury, as well. The hope was that he was week to week or even day to day, but the tone Levy took in a recent statement makes it sound like his return in 2016 shouldn't be presumed. Talking to ESPN, Levy said merely "I'll try to be back this year," seemingly putting him in a category worse than week to week. The Lions, meanwhile, won't offer any comment elaborating on the nature of Levy's situation.
