This article is part of our IDP Analysis series.
Sorry for the short article this week, guys, I just couldn't find much going on in the IDP world.
RISING
DeAndre Levy, OLB, DET
Finally seeing the field after sitting since Week 1, dealing with unspecified quadriceps and knee issues for the 11 games in between, Levy was predictably eased back onto the field against the Bears on Sunday, finishing the game with just 18 snaps. But that snap count is going to increase in the upcoming games, and Levy gave reason for optimism by piling up four tackles on those 18 snaps. That would safely project into the 10-tackle range on a snap count of around 60 snaps, and Levy has a long history of producing at least at an LB2 level when healthy.
Corey Nelson, (3-4) ILB, DEN
Nelson is in the starting lineup for however long Brandon Marshall (hamstring) sits out, and Marshall will miss at least this week's game against the Patriots. Playing 66 snaps against the Titans on Sunday, Nelson finished the game with six tackles. So long as he's playing 60-plus snaps, Nelson should be in a spot to provide owners with six or more tackles per game.
Kiko Alonso, MLB, MIA
After missing last week's game against the Cardinals due to a hamstring injury, Alonso is expected to return to the field for Saturday's game against the Jets. Despite missing most of the 2014 and 2015 seasons due to knee injury, Alonso's career is back on a positive trajectory in what's
Sorry for the short article this week, guys, I just couldn't find much going on in the IDP world.
RISING
DeAndre Levy, OLB, DET
Finally seeing the field after sitting since Week 1, dealing with unspecified quadriceps and knee issues for the 11 games in between, Levy was predictably eased back onto the field against the Bears on Sunday, finishing the game with just 18 snaps. But that snap count is going to increase in the upcoming games, and Levy gave reason for optimism by piling up four tackles on those 18 snaps. That would safely project into the 10-tackle range on a snap count of around 60 snaps, and Levy has a long history of producing at least at an LB2 level when healthy.
Corey Nelson, (3-4) ILB, DEN
Nelson is in the starting lineup for however long Brandon Marshall (hamstring) sits out, and Marshall will miss at least this week's game against the Patriots. Playing 66 snaps against the Titans on Sunday, Nelson finished the game with six tackles. So long as he's playing 60-plus snaps, Nelson should be in a spot to provide owners with six or more tackles per game.
Kiko Alonso, MLB, MIA
After missing last week's game against the Cardinals due to a hamstring injury, Alonso is expected to return to the field for Saturday's game against the Jets. Despite missing most of the 2014 and 2015 seasons due to knee injury, Alonso's career is back on a positive trajectory in what's been an encouraging bounce-back season in 2016. He has been close to an LB1 value when healthy this year, totaling 97 tackles and two interceptions -- one returned for a touchdown – in just 12 games so far. He should make a push for the 120-tackle mark in the next three weeks.
Corey White, CB, BUF
James Ihedigbo is out for the year with a broken leg, marking the third Buffalo starting safety to suffer a season-ending injury (Aaron Williams and Robert Blanton being the others). White isn't a lock to step into Ihedigbo's starting role, but he seems like the general leading candidate after playing the most safety snaps among Buffalo's healthy non-Corey Graham safeties. Jonathan Meeks figures to get some snaps, too, especially in run-stopping situations, but White seems likely to push for about three fourths of the snaps now up for grabs.
FALLING
Deone Bucannon, (3-4) ILB, ARZ
Bucannon's season is over after suffering a high ankle sprain on a Cardinals squad unlikely to make the playoffs. His hybrid role as a linebacker-safety makes him difficult to categorize, but given his technical LB designation, 2016 was a disappointment even before this injury. Much more valuable with a DB designation, where he doesn't have to compete with the many linebackers who offer triple-digit tackle totals, Bucannon finished with decent but not great production in his 13 games. He posted a healthy total of 91 tackles in those games, but with no sacks or interceptions. A defensive back with 91 tackles in 13 games is a clearly elite IDP asset, but at linebacker Bucannon's production was only of a LB2/LB3 sort. Long-term IDP owners should hope for a move back to the safety designation.
Robert Quinn, DE, LAR
The concussion Quinn's been dealing with the last two weeks will prove to be a season-ending issue, as he was placed on IR on Thursday. He concludes his 2016 season with just 10 tackles and four sacks in nine games, marking the second season in a row where he's been a major disappointment, mostly due to injuries. Quinn had no injury troubles prior to a back issue flaring up in 2015, so there's reason to think the 26-year-old can bounce back in 2017, but the same was true heading into this year.
