This article is part of our IDP Analysis series.
RISING
Isaiah Simmons, LB, ARI
Jordan Hicks remains locked in a three-down role, but it seems like Simmons might have passed De'Vondre Campbell on the depth chart for what's a roughly two-down role in the Arizona defense. Simmons played great as his workload escalated in recent weeks, which could make him a candidate for more inside linebacker snaps yet after producing 16 tackles (14 solo), one sack and one interception on his last 114 snaps. There's a way for Simmons to make a big IDP impact going forward even if he doesn't increase his share of inside linebacker snaps, though, because he can also earn snaps at defensive end, safety or cornerback – he played 44 such snaps over the last four weeks, according to PFF. Simmons is comically huge and fast and he's already made some of the most impressive defensive plays of the 2020 season – there's so much upside here if the snaps keep trending upward.
Kenny Clark, (3-4) DT, GB
Clark is rounding back into form following a Week 1 groin injury that knocked him out for the first month of the year and perhaps affected him somewhat afterward. Clark returned in Week 6 but only regained his full customary workload beginning in Week 10, from which point he played 121 snaps and totaled 11 tackles and a sack in the next two weeks. Prior to this year Clark showed a 60-tackle, six-sack sort of baseline over a 16-game sample, and as long
RISING
Isaiah Simmons, LB, ARI
Jordan Hicks remains locked in a three-down role, but it seems like Simmons might have passed De'Vondre Campbell on the depth chart for what's a roughly two-down role in the Arizona defense. Simmons played great as his workload escalated in recent weeks, which could make him a candidate for more inside linebacker snaps yet after producing 16 tackles (14 solo), one sack and one interception on his last 114 snaps. There's a way for Simmons to make a big IDP impact going forward even if he doesn't increase his share of inside linebacker snaps, though, because he can also earn snaps at defensive end, safety or cornerback – he played 44 such snaps over the last four weeks, according to PFF. Simmons is comically huge and fast and he's already made some of the most impressive defensive plays of the 2020 season – there's so much upside here if the snaps keep trending upward.
Kenny Clark, (3-4) DT, GB
Clark is rounding back into form following a Week 1 groin injury that knocked him out for the first month of the year and perhaps affected him somewhat afterward. Clark returned in Week 6 but only regained his full customary workload beginning in Week 10, from which point he played 121 snaps and totaled 11 tackles and a sack in the next two weeks. Prior to this year Clark showed a 60-tackle, six-sack sort of baseline over a 16-game sample, and as long as he's playing 55 or so snaps per game he should reestablish that rate of production despite his currently low total of 22 tackles and one sack in seven games.
Brian Burns, DE, CAR
Nothing has really changed with Burns, but he ends up on the 'riser' list to more formally herald his inclusion among the league's top defensive ends. Burns sacked Matthew Stafford twice Sunday, giving him 41 tackles and six sacks over 11 games and 546 snaps. Combined with his rookie year that's 66 tackles and 13.5 sacks on 1,029 snaps – very impressive particularly given that he won't be 23 until April. With elite athleticism and a long frame, Burns can keep improving despite the blazing fast start to his NFL career.
Alex Singleton, OLB, PHI
We can't take for granted that he'll remain in a three-down role once Nathan Gerry is back, but Singleton's recent play might have earned him precedent over Gerry even if Gerry displaces T.J. Edwards and Duke Riley. Singleton held or tied for the team lead in linebacker snaps in each of Philadelphia's last three games, which occurred with a bye week after the first game. On those 200 snaps he totaled 36 tackles (22 solo) and one sack, giving him 54 tackles on 359 defensive snaps according to PFF. Perhaps Singleton could still make improvements as a real-life linebacker, but in the meantime his extremely high tackle rate makes him unique among the Eagles linebacker options.
Lonnie Johnson, S, HOU
According to PFF, Johnson has 31 tackles on 357 defensive snaps, a rate that would project him for around 87 tackles over a 1,000-snap sample. Johnson is a standout athlete by safety standards and is in only his 11th week at the position after previously playing corner, so he has a good shot of building on his current per-snap production while holding serve in a role that amounts to 50 or more snaps most weeks. Johnson's IDP upside would otherwise get a major boost if he could just take away the 15 or so safety snaps still played by safet/slot corner Eric Murray, but it's not clear whether that's on the table.
FALLING
Jadeveon Clowney, DE, TEN
Clowney landed on IR with an unspecified knee injury, one without even a vague prognosis. It practically marks the end of what's been an incredibly useless season from Clowney, on a Titans defense that was memorably bungled at all levels in 2020. Clowney played 426 snaps in eight games to this point, totaling just 19 tackles and zero sacks. Even if he returns to the lineup for the Titans this year, there's no evidence that Clowney will necessarily be worth owning in any redraft IDP league format.
Josh Allen, DE, JAC
Knee troubles at two points have already all but ruined Allen's 2020 season, as he has just 13 tackles and 2.5 sacks on 397 snaps in eight games and now will miss an unspecified amount of time with the latest knee issue. Although it might not happen in 2020, Allen should eventually get back on track once his health cooperates, because he's one of the league's most athletic pass rushers and posted strong production prior to this year. At 6-5, 262 he boasts a 4.63-second 40 and posted 10.5 sacks on just 646 snaps as a 22-year-old rookie in 2019. If he can secure a 900-snap workload in 2021 then Allen would be a good candidate to bounce back to the tune of at least 12 sacks.
Tracy Walker, S, DET
After generally earning high coverage grades from PFF in his first two seasons with Detroit, Walker has seen worse results in 2020. That might be the reason why Jayron Kearse was able to get his foot in the door for a part-time rover-like role similar to the one played by Walker, seemingly playing those snaps at Walker's expense. Walker played a roughly three-down role until Week 9, when a foot injury cost him a game. Kearse not only served as the replacement starter for that game, but he also played more snaps in each of the two games Walker played since returning from the injury in Week 10. As much as Walker produces tackles at a blistering rate for IDP investors, it's not clear whether he can earn enough snaps from this point to accumulate much volume.
