This article is part of our IDP Analysis series.
RISING
Tyvon Branch, S, OAK
It seems safe to say that the old Tyvon Branch is finally back. After missing all but two games in 2013 with an ankle injury, Branch is off to a fast start in 2014, posting 19 tackles (16 solo) and a sack in his first two games. Branch is perhaps the league's most reliable tackle source at defensive back, producing well above a per-game rate that projects to over 100 tackles on a 16-game span. Although he has no history of producing big plays in coverage, his extreme reliability as a tackle source makes Branch a DB1 option in most leagues going forward.
Justin Smith, (3-4) DE, SF
Smith will turn 35 on Sept. 30, yet it seems like he's as good as ever at the moment. He's doing his best to make up for the absence of fellow 49er Aldon Smith, posting eight tackles (five solo) and three sacks through the first two games. After two consecutive seasons with relatively disappointing IDP numbers, Smith looks poised to finish 2014 with his best production since his 70-tackle, 8.5-sack 2010 season. He should probably be owned in all IDP leagues that start two or more defensive linemen.
Rolando McClain, MLB, DAL
McClain is doubtful for this week's game against St. Louis due to a groin injury, but he should be a useful IDP upon his return. Although his list of bad decisions is much longer than that of his good ones, Jerry
RISING
Tyvon Branch, S, OAK
It seems safe to say that the old Tyvon Branch is finally back. After missing all but two games in 2013 with an ankle injury, Branch is off to a fast start in 2014, posting 19 tackles (16 solo) and a sack in his first two games. Branch is perhaps the league's most reliable tackle source at defensive back, producing well above a per-game rate that projects to over 100 tackles on a 16-game span. Although he has no history of producing big plays in coverage, his extreme reliability as a tackle source makes Branch a DB1 option in most leagues going forward.
Justin Smith, (3-4) DE, SF
Smith will turn 35 on Sept. 30, yet it seems like he's as good as ever at the moment. He's doing his best to make up for the absence of fellow 49er Aldon Smith, posting eight tackles (five solo) and three sacks through the first two games. After two consecutive seasons with relatively disappointing IDP numbers, Smith looks poised to finish 2014 with his best production since his 70-tackle, 8.5-sack 2010 season. He should probably be owned in all IDP leagues that start two or more defensive linemen.
Rolando McClain, MLB, DAL
McClain is doubtful for this week's game against St. Louis due to a groin injury, but he should be a useful IDP upon his return. Although his list of bad decisions is much longer than that of his good ones, Jerry Jones deserves a smidgen of credit for bringing McClain to Dallas on the cheap, as it appears the talented but troubled former eighth overall pick is finally starting to fulfill the potential he showed as a draft prospect in 2010. McClain had an excellent game against Tennessee on Sunday, making an acrobatic interception that likely would have been a touchdown if not for poor referee judgment, and he tossed in seven tackles and a sack to go with it. McClain is up to 15 tackles through two games, leaving him on pace for his first triple-digit tackle season.
Emmanuel Lamur, OLB, CIN
It remains to be seen whether Lamur can maintain his high rate of production once Vontaze Burfict is past his concussion difficulties of the last two weeks, but Lamur's fast start to the 2014 season probably needs to be noted. The athletic former Kansas State prospect is up to 19 tackles (11 solo) and an interception in the first two weeks, and he should lead Cincinnati in linebacker snaps again this week since Burfict suffered a second concussion in a seven-day span Sunday.
Kyle Fuller, CB, CHI
A rookie first-round pick out of Virginia Tech, Fuller will need to step up into a more prominent role now that the Bears will be without Charles Tillman (triceps) for the rest of the year. Fuller was already off to a strong start even with Tillman on the field, finishing his first two NFL games with a total of 12 tackles to go along with two Colin Kaepenick interceptions in Week 2. Fuller is a physical corner who tackles aggressively and possesses upside as a blitzer, too.
Mike Daniels, (3-4) DE, GB
The Packers have been forced to give Daniels more snaps than in previous years since B.J. Raji is out, and his IDP production has predictably improved to start this year. After posting five solo stops and a sack against the Jets on Sunday, Daniels is up to 11 tackles and a sack through two games. He's on the DL2 radar at the moment.
FALLING
Vontaze Burfict, MLB, CIN
Burfict should remain a golden IDP as long as he's on the field, but his short-term availability is in some question after suffering two concussions in a seven-day period. The Bengals might be forced to lean more heavily on Emmanuel Lamur and Vincent Rey this week.
James Laurinaitis, MLB, STL
It's early, but through two weeks it looks like Laurinaitis might repeat as an IDP disappointment in 2014. Laurinaitis posted just 116 stops last year after making 142 stops in both 2011 and 2012, and through two weeks this year he has just 11 tackles. The arrival of first-round pick Alec Ogletree last year might result in Laurinaitis permanently having fewer tackle opportunities than what he had prior to Ogletree's arrival. It was Ogletree who had the most tackles between the two last year, finishing one ahead of Laurinaitis with 117.
