This article is part of our IDP Analysis series.
RISING
Bobby Wagner, MLB, SEA
Wagner was a limited practice participant Wednesday and a full participant Thursday, giving reason to expect him to finally make his return to the field as the Seahawks take on the Cardinals this week. With 310 tackles, eight sacks and five interceptions in his 35 career games, Wagner is clearly one of the absolute best defenders in the league, both in real life terms and in IDP terms. Although he might not see a full play count in his first game back from his severe turf toe injury, Wagner should provide at least LB2 utility even if he only plays around 70 percent of the snaps.
Chris Borland, (3-4) ILB, SF
As Paul Worrilow has shown, IDP dominance doesn't necessarily equate to dominance in real life football, but it's still amazing what Borland has done in his four starts for the 49ers. He has 56 tackles in the last four weeks – numbers that are likely unsustainable, but he just doesn't seem to slow down. His numbers have been very even on a week-to-week basis, posting eight, 18, 17 and 13 tackles in the four respective starts. Borland is arguably the top IDP at linebacker until further notice.
Christian Kirksey, (3-4) ILB, CLE
The MCL sprain suffered by Karlos Dansby on Sunday opens up a huge opportunity for Kirksey, a rookie third-round pick out of Iowa. Kirksey spent an unusual amount of his career with the Hawkeyes serving as an edge-setting linebacker
RISING
Bobby Wagner, MLB, SEA
Wagner was a limited practice participant Wednesday and a full participant Thursday, giving reason to expect him to finally make his return to the field as the Seahawks take on the Cardinals this week. With 310 tackles, eight sacks and five interceptions in his 35 career games, Wagner is clearly one of the absolute best defenders in the league, both in real life terms and in IDP terms. Although he might not see a full play count in his first game back from his severe turf toe injury, Wagner should provide at least LB2 utility even if he only plays around 70 percent of the snaps.
Chris Borland, (3-4) ILB, SF
As Paul Worrilow has shown, IDP dominance doesn't necessarily equate to dominance in real life football, but it's still amazing what Borland has done in his four starts for the 49ers. He has 56 tackles in the last four weeks – numbers that are likely unsustainable, but he just doesn't seem to slow down. His numbers have been very even on a week-to-week basis, posting eight, 18, 17 and 13 tackles in the four respective starts. Borland is arguably the top IDP at linebacker until further notice.
Christian Kirksey, (3-4) ILB, CLE
The MCL sprain suffered by Karlos Dansby on Sunday opens up a huge opportunity for Kirksey, a rookie third-round pick out of Iowa. Kirksey spent an unusual amount of his career with the Hawkeyes serving as an edge-setting linebacker in under fronts, which limited his playmaking opportunities, but the highly athletic rookie translates more as a pursue/disrupt defender in the NFL, which could translate to significant IDP value now that a three-down role awaits him. Kirksey is very athletic with upside both as a blitzer and in coverage, and he has 50 tackles and two sacks despite playing just 59 percent of Cleveland's snaps so far, even with Dansby piling up 73 tackles and three sacks.
Mike Adams, S, IND
Some skepticism is usually warranted when an 11th-year player like Adams breaks out after failing to exceed 80 tackles in any of his previous NFL seasons, but he's on a roll right now in the Indianapolis secondary. He has 31 tackles in his last three games, throwing in two Tom Brady interceptions for good measure. Although some regression is to be expected, Adams seems like a worthwhile DB2 start for the time being.
Ron Parker, DB, KC
Although he's a CB/S tweener currently starting at cornerback for Kansas City, Parker's IDP production of late would lead you to think he's playing as an in-the-box safety rather than an outside cornerback. He has 66 stops (58 solo), one sack, one interception and one forced fumble in 11 games this year, with 33 of those tackles in the last four games. It appears that opposing offenses prefer to target Parker than fellow corner Sean Smith which, while not a good sign for Parker's long-term starting prospects, is nonetheless a promising development for his IDP value. So long as the ball keeps going Parker's way, he'll keep getting chances to pull down opposing receivers and pile up tackles.
Rolando McClain, MLB, DAL
McClain was off to a fast start for Dallas this year, posting 15 tackles, one sack and one interception in his first two games, but injury problems became a constant disruption from there. In the eight games since, McClain totaled just 29 tackles. With two weeks of rest from a knee injury, McClain looks locked back in to the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants, at which point he'll be an LB2 curiosity again.
Devon Kennard, OLB, NYG
Jacquian Williams (concussion) is out for the Giants, which leaves them without their leading tackler against the Cowboys this week. Jameel McClain is the lead linebacker so long as Williams is out, but the favorite for the other three-down, nickel linebacker role appears to be Kennard, an undrafted rookie out of USC. Kennard played 81 percent of the Giants' snaps against San Francisco last week, totaling nine tackles. He's a risky IDP start since the Giants have so little invested in him at this point, but he's probably a justifiable LB3 gamble with Williams sitting.
FALLING
Malcolm Smith, OLB, SEA
With Wagner back, it likely leaves Smith in a part-time role going forward. He was one of the three-down linebackers in Seattle alongside K.J. Wright, but Wagner is the lead man at linebacker for the Seahawks, which leaves Wagner first and Wright second in line, at least once Wagner reaches full health. Smith had a nice three-game span as a bargain linebacker, totaling 22 tackles, but it's hard to see that continuing.
Bruce Carter, OLB, DAL
Rolando McClain's return could harm rookie fourth-round pick Anthony Hitchens more than Carter, a fourth-year player, but it was Hitchens who played more snaps than Carter in Dallas' last game, playing 61 to Carter's 58. The week before that, Hitchens played 50 snaps compared to Carter's 14. That could be because Carter played that game with a broken finger, but he started the game and played a full serving of special teams snaps. Hitchens has 17 tackles in his last two games and is probably a threat to Carter's play count, even if not fully formed at this particular point.
