This article is part of our IDP Analysis series.
RISING
Nick Kwiatkoski, (3-4) ILB, CHI
With Jerrell Freeman suspended the next four games due to violating the league's PED policy, Kwiatkoski is expected to step into a starting role for the Bears, and very possibly a three-down role. A rookie fourth-round pick out of West Virginia, Kwiatkoski has above average athleticism for a linebacker, and he was a three-year starter in college, where he surpassed double-digit tackles for loss each of his last two years. Kwiatkoski is in position to earn LB2 consideration while Freeman is suspended, and he should see plenty of tackle opportunities this week against a Tennessee offense averaging 29.7 rush attempts per game so far.
Tahir Whitehead, MLB, DET
Generally known as a backup or part-time player prior to this year, Whitehead has taken a step forward in 2016 and established himself as the Lions' top linebacker in the absence of DeAndre Levy. After a 12-tackle effort against the Vikings on Thanksgiving, Whitehead is among the league's leading tacklers with 101 in 11 games. That makes Whitehead a solid LB1 to this point, and the fact that he has seven games with double-digit tackles shows he has plenty of upside in any given week. Even when Levy returns, Whitehead should be a good candidate to finish in the top 12 among IDP linebackers this year.
James Ihedigbo, S, BUF
Robert Blanton is likely to miss this week's game against Jacksonville with a foot injury, leaving an opening for Ihedigbo to join
RISING
Nick Kwiatkoski, (3-4) ILB, CHI
With Jerrell Freeman suspended the next four games due to violating the league's PED policy, Kwiatkoski is expected to step into a starting role for the Bears, and very possibly a three-down role. A rookie fourth-round pick out of West Virginia, Kwiatkoski has above average athleticism for a linebacker, and he was a three-year starter in college, where he surpassed double-digit tackles for loss each of his last two years. Kwiatkoski is in position to earn LB2 consideration while Freeman is suspended, and he should see plenty of tackle opportunities this week against a Tennessee offense averaging 29.7 rush attempts per game so far.
Tahir Whitehead, MLB, DET
Generally known as a backup or part-time player prior to this year, Whitehead has taken a step forward in 2016 and established himself as the Lions' top linebacker in the absence of DeAndre Levy. After a 12-tackle effort against the Vikings on Thanksgiving, Whitehead is among the league's leading tacklers with 101 in 11 games. That makes Whitehead a solid LB1 to this point, and the fact that he has seven games with double-digit tackles shows he has plenty of upside in any given week. Even when Levy returns, Whitehead should be a good candidate to finish in the top 12 among IDP linebackers this year.
James Ihedigbo, S, BUF
Robert Blanton is likely to miss this week's game against Jacksonville with a foot injury, leaving an opening for Ihedigbo to join the starting lineup Sunday. Although he was just signed by Buffalo prior to last week's game against Cincinnati, Ihedigbo played 15 snaps and actually started the game, though Blanton played 48 snaps. Given the possibility of pushing for 60 snaps while Blanton is out Sunday, Ihedigbo is at least a decent gamble for those who need help at defensive back in IDP leagues.
Ryan Shazier, (3-4) ILB, PIT
Along with Dallas defensive back Byron Jones, Shazier is a candidate for the distinction of being the league's top athletic talent, possessing sub-4.4 speed at at 6-foot-1, 237 pounds, with equally elite numbers in the vertical (42 inches) and broad jump (130 inches). He's also one of the league's most skilled blitzers at the linebacker position, giving him incredible upside both in real life and IDP terms. But constant injury issues had prevented him from realizing his potential before this year, and even earlier this year he missed three games due to a knee injury. He's been gaining momentum since then, though, totaling 31 tackles, 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in the last four games. With a little durability luck, look for Shazier to maintain that tackle pace going forward, but with potentially even better sack production.
Marcus Peters, CB, KC
After missing last week's game against Tampa Bay with a hip issue, Peters looks like he'll be back on the field for Sunday's game against Denver. Peters is one of the very few cornerbacks worth IDP consideration, as his unique rate of interception production gives him as high of a game-to-game upside as anyone. A total of 13 interceptions in 25 career games is no fluke -- this guy is going to keep finding the football. Playing against a quarterback as bad as Trevor Siemian is certainly helpful.
FALLING
Luke Kuechly, MLB, CAR
The alarming concussion Kuechly suffered against the Saints will keep him out against the Raiders on Sunday, depriving the league of its best IDP. It's a concerning development for the long term as well, because Kuechly missed about a month of the 2015 season due to a concussion. Hopefully his symptoms clear up soon, but given last year's events, a multi-week absence shouldn't surprise anyone. Shaq Thompson figures to see the biggest workload increase as the result of Kuechly's concussion.
Eric Kendricks, MLB, MIN
Kendricks is a good real life linebacker in the midst of a strong season as the leading linebacker on one of the league's top defenses, but so far in his career he has shown surprisingly little IDP upside. Through 10 games this year he has just 65 tackles, and in 14 games as a rookie he totaled 92 tackles. Kendricks is an athletic, instinctive linebacker with playmaking ability as both a blitzer and in coverage, but 157 tackles in 1,298 career snaps projects to just roughly 115 tackles per 950 snaps. That puts him on the fringe for LB2 consideration, which is lower than general expectations.
