This article is part of our IDP Analysis series.
RISING
Everson Griffen, DE, MIN
Griffen has been an absolute monster for the Vikings lately, which is what you might expect out of a 270-pound lineman who runs more like a defensive back. Griffen has six sacks in his last four games, giving him eight sacks in eight games for the Vikings, and the front seven rotation of Griffen, Brian Robison, Linval Joseph, Sharrif Floyd and Anthony Barr is proving to be one of the most disruptive in the league. He's a strong contender to lead the leagues in sacks in 2014.
Major Wright, S, TB
With former seventh overall pick Mark Barron traded to St. Louis, the Buccaneers will presumably turn to Wright as Barron's full-time replacement in the starting lineup. Brought over from Chicago as an unwanted free agent, Wright should have a solid hold on a three-down role due to coach Lovie Smith's past connection to Wright. Wright had 100 tackles and two interceptions for the Bears in 15 games last year.
J.T. Thomas, MLB, JAC
With Paul Posluszny out for the year with a pectoral injury, Thomas was the Jaguars' first choice to step in as the replacement as both Jacksonville's starting middle linebacker and the team's primary three-down linebacker. He played all of the Jaguars' 66 snaps against the Dolphins, finishing with six tackles and an interception. If he can maintain a three-down role with the Jaguars, Thomas should have some LB3 appeal by default at the very least.
RISING
Everson Griffen, DE, MIN
Griffen has been an absolute monster for the Vikings lately, which is what you might expect out of a 270-pound lineman who runs more like a defensive back. Griffen has six sacks in his last four games, giving him eight sacks in eight games for the Vikings, and the front seven rotation of Griffen, Brian Robison, Linval Joseph, Sharrif Floyd and Anthony Barr is proving to be one of the most disruptive in the league. He's a strong contender to lead the leagues in sacks in 2014.
Major Wright, S, TB
With former seventh overall pick Mark Barron traded to St. Louis, the Buccaneers will presumably turn to Wright as Barron's full-time replacement in the starting lineup. Brought over from Chicago as an unwanted free agent, Wright should have a solid hold on a three-down role due to coach Lovie Smith's past connection to Wright. Wright had 100 tackles and two interceptions for the Bears in 15 games last year.
J.T. Thomas, MLB, JAC
With Paul Posluszny out for the year with a pectoral injury, Thomas was the Jaguars' first choice to step in as the replacement as both Jacksonville's starting middle linebacker and the team's primary three-down linebacker. He played all of the Jaguars' 66 snaps against the Dolphins, finishing with six tackles and an interception. If he can maintain a three-down role with the Jaguars, Thomas should have some LB3 appeal by default at the very least.
Telvin Smith, OLB, JAC
Smith is mostly a player to monitor outside of deep and dynasty IDP formats, but the fifth-round pick out of Florida State is a very talented player who has seen his opportunities increase as he's made plays in recent weeks. He only fell to the fifth round due to a failed drug test at the Combine – Smith was a top-40 talent in the most recent draft, in my opinion – so he can be expected to produce well if he continues seeing snaps. Playing roughly 60 percent of Jacksonville's snaps the last two weeks, Smith responded with nine tackles, one sack, one interception, one forced fumble and three passes defended. Smith is an incredibly instinctive playmaker with great athleticism, and it's hard to see how Jacksonville can resist giving him more snaps.
Anthony Barr, OLB, MIN
The Vikings are looking pretty smart for spending the eighth overall pick on Barr, a player with high athletic potential but was also the recipient of a lot of motor and technique criticism coming out of the draft. After dominating as an edge rusher at UCLA, coach Mike Zimmer moved Barr to outside linebacker in the 4-3 while keeping Barr in a blitz-heavy role. Through the first eight games at his new position, Barr is on pace for 108 tackles, six sacks, two forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries. Most importantly, Barr has been picking up steam lately. In his last six games, the surging rookie totaled 42 tackles, three sacks, a forced fumble, three fumble recoveries and a fumble returned for a touchdown.
FALLING
Lamarr Houston, DE, CHI
Houston will miss the rest of the 2014 season due to a torn ACL suffered against the Patriots on Sunday. A coveted free agent signing from Oakland in the offseason, Houston provided defensive end-defensive tackle versatility for the Bears and was expected to be a valuable part of an improved defense, but he finishes his first year in Chicago with just 11 tackles and one sack. His absence could result in a few more snaps for Jared Allen and Willie Young.
Vontaze Burfict, OLB, CIN
If you believe in bad karma, you perhaps weren't shocked to learn that Burfict might miss around a month after undergoing a knee scope Wednesday, roughly 2.5 weeks after brazenly attempting to injure the ankles of Greg Olsen and Cam Newton. With Burfict week-to-week, the Bengals should lean on Emmanuel Lamur and Vincent Rey as their top two linebackers.
Justin Durant, OLB, DAL
Durant was a worthwhile sleeper target at linebacker in plenty of IDP formats heading into this year, but injuries have undone his opportunity to step up in what was previously an unproven group of Dallas linebackers. Even before Durant's season-ending biceps injury from Monday, he saw Rolando McClain and Bruce Carter step up at linebacker, mostly blocking Durant's chance to emerge as the Cowboys' lead linebacker.
Rodney McLeod, S, STL
McLeod only has 33 tackles in seven games this year and therefore isn't a primary IDP option in most leagues, but those in deeper formats who are relying on the 23-game starter might have to look elsewhere starting this week. The Rams traded for former seventh overall pick Mark Barron on Tuesday, and it's doubtful that Barron replaces 2013 third-round pick T.J. McDonald rather than McLeod.
