This article is part of our IDP Analysis series.
RISING
Chandler Jones, DE, NE
Jones has missed his last five games, as well as the bye week, with a hip injury that knocked him out back in Week 7, but it looks like the star third-year end is set to make his return very soon, perhaps as soon as Sunday against the Chargers. Jones is technically questionable for Sunday, but he's been practicing since last week, so he appears to have a good chance to return either this week or next. He's one of the league's best IDPs on the defensive line when he's on the field, as he had 26 tackles, 4.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a touchdown in seven games before suffering the injury.
Telvin Smith, OLB, JAC
Smith continues to prove himself to be a big steal in the fifth round of the most recent draft. He has established himself as a three-down player for the Jacksonville defense, earning one of the two nickel roles alongside J.T. Thomas. After posting 10 tackles against the Giants last week, Smith is up to 63 tackles (six for a loss), two sacks, a forced fumble, an interception and two fumble recoveries on 435 snaps, meaning he looks like he'll be an easy 130-tackle candidate in 2015 as long as he plays 950 or so snaps. Smith is a great bargain target in dynasty IDP formats.
Rashad Johnson and Deone Bucannon, S, ARZ
Both Johnson and Bucannon should see a boost in their snap and
RISING
Chandler Jones, DE, NE
Jones has missed his last five games, as well as the bye week, with a hip injury that knocked him out back in Week 7, but it looks like the star third-year end is set to make his return very soon, perhaps as soon as Sunday against the Chargers. Jones is technically questionable for Sunday, but he's been practicing since last week, so he appears to have a good chance to return either this week or next. He's one of the league's best IDPs on the defensive line when he's on the field, as he had 26 tackles, 4.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a touchdown in seven games before suffering the injury.
Telvin Smith, OLB, JAC
Smith continues to prove himself to be a big steal in the fifth round of the most recent draft. He has established himself as a three-down player for the Jacksonville defense, earning one of the two nickel roles alongside J.T. Thomas. After posting 10 tackles against the Giants last week, Smith is up to 63 tackles (six for a loss), two sacks, a forced fumble, an interception and two fumble recoveries on 435 snaps, meaning he looks like he'll be an easy 130-tackle candidate in 2015 as long as he plays 950 or so snaps. Smith is a great bargain target in dynasty IDP formats.
Rashad Johnson and Deone Bucannon, S, ARZ
Both Johnson and Bucannon should see a boost in their snap and stat totals as long as Tyrann Mathieu sits with a cracked thumb – a time span expected to last about two weeks. Mathieu has played 372 snaps this year and, while they haven't all been at safety, his inactivity should allow Bucannon and Johnson to see more plays and more numbers from those plays. Bucannon has picked up steam in the last month or so, posting 24 tackles and two sacks in the last four games, and Johnson has been good all season, owning 76 tackles, one sack, four interceptions and two touchdowns in 12 games, Johnson is clearly in DB1 territory.
Ryan Shazier, (3-4) ILB, PIT
Shazier's rookie season has been a disappointment so far, totaling just 26 tackles in five games, but that's been due to injury. Shazier's most recent issue cost him four games with an ankle injury, but he's set to return as the Steelers take on the Bengals on Sunday. Shazier still has all the indications of standout IDP potential despite his slow start, boasting wildly productive college numbers and unmatched athleticism, so he's worth picking up in anticipation of a matchup with Cincinnati's run-heavy offense.
FALLING
Antoine Cason, CB, FA
Cason has been a useful IDP at cornerback this year, which made him a nice source of cheap stats for those who turned to him earlier this year. Unfortunately, as is so often the case with IDP-viable cornerbacks, Cason's IDP utility was the result of his real-life liabilities, and he only piled up the tackles he did because of how bad he was on the actual field. Prior to the Week 12 bye, Cason piled up 57 tackles in 11 games, adding two interceptions and four forced fumbles, but the fact that he was getting torched constantly got him cut after Week 13. He obviously has no IDP value as a free agent.
Haloti Ngata, (3-4) DE, BAL
Ngata has been suspended for the rest of 2014 due to testing positive for Adderall use. Even before the suspension, Ngata wasn't as valuable of an IDP as he was in the past. After posting four straight seasons with 50-plus tackles, including two with more than 60, Ngata finishes 2014 with just 31 tackles in 12 games to go along with two sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.
Robert Ayers, DE, NYG
A torn pectoral muscle ended Ayers' 2014 season, his first with the Giants after leaving Denver in free agency. He played in mostly a rotational role for the Giants in 12 games, but he proved to be quite productive, posting 22 tackles and five sacks on just 377 snaps. With Jason Pierre-Paul a free agent, it's possible that Ayers will see a promotion in 2015, in which case he'd be a good candidate to push for 10 or more sacks.
Jadeveon Clowney, (3-4) OLB, HOU
Clowney's rookie year is over after a season-ending knee surgery, meaning the first overall pick sees his 2014 season end after posting just seven tackles on 143 snaps. The production was as disappointing as the injuries, and it's not unfair to say Clowney's rookie season was a waste. It is too soon to say that he's a bust, however. Clowney won't be 22 until February, and he ought to be at full health well in advance of the 2015 season.
