This article is part of our IDP Analysis series.
RISING
Keanu Neal, LB, Cowboys 
Heading into Week 1, Neal and rookie Micah Parsons were designated as the nickel linebackers, while Leighton Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith earned base defense duties. During Thursday's 31-29 loss to the Buccaneers in which Tom Brady attempted 50 passes, Neal and Parsons played more than 75 percent of snaps while Vander Esch and Smith played fewer than 25 percent. While their snap share could decrease moving forward, Neal and Parsons held their own in the run game, and they could secure every-down roles eventually. Regardless, we can expect the Cowboys to use plenty of nickel packages because of how efficient their offense is, meaning Neal and Parsons have an edge in this battle.
Logan Ryan, FS, Giants 
Ryan is making a seamless transition to safety, lining up all over the formation and delivering 10 tackles, a quarterback hit and a fumble recovery during Sunday's 27-13 loss to the Broncos. He generated 8.5 sacks between the 2018 and 2019 seasons, and his coverage skills are tight from his time as a cornerback. The 30-year-old probably retains more upside than we originally thought.
Trey Hendrickson, DE, Bengals 
Vikings QB Kirk Cousins went down easy last year, getting sacked on 7.0 percent of his dropbacks (25th in the league). Hendrickson couldn't get to him Sunday. Instead, backup B.J. Hill took Cousins down twice. Buy the dip on Hendrickson. He's a proven pass rusher with 13.5 sacks last season. The Bears are his Week 2
RISING
Keanu Neal, LB, Cowboys
Heading into Week 1, Neal and rookie Micah Parsons were designated as the nickel linebackers, while Leighton Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith earned base defense duties. During Thursday's 31-29 loss to the Buccaneers in which Tom Brady attempted 50 passes, Neal and Parsons played more than 75 percent of snaps while Vander Esch and Smith played fewer than 25 percent. While their snap share could decrease moving forward, Neal and Parsons held their own in the run game, and they could secure every-down roles eventually. Regardless, we can expect the Cowboys to use plenty of nickel packages because of how efficient their offense is, meaning Neal and Parsons have an edge in this battle.
Logan Ryan, FS, Giants
Ryan is making a seamless transition to safety, lining up all over the formation and delivering 10 tackles, a quarterback hit and a fumble recovery during Sunday's 27-13 loss to the Broncos. He generated 8.5 sacks between the 2018 and 2019 seasons, and his coverage skills are tight from his time as a cornerback. The 30-year-old probably retains more upside than we originally thought.
Trey Hendrickson, DE, Bengals
Vikings QB Kirk Cousins went down easy last year, getting sacked on 7.0 percent of his dropbacks (25th in the league). Hendrickson couldn't get to him Sunday. Instead, backup B.J. Hill took Cousins down twice. Buy the dip on Hendrickson. He's a proven pass rusher with 13.5 sacks last season. The Bears are his Week 2 matchup, and they could be without their top two left tackles.
Akiem Hicks, DT, Bears 
A superb run-stuffer who can line up inside or outside, Hicks profiles well for a Week 2 matchup with the Bengals. The 31-year-old produced 49 tackles and 3.5 sacks last year, and he managed a half sack in Week 1. He'll square off against Cincinnati's putrid offensive front next. Bengals QB Joe Burrow was sacked five times in the season opener, including twice by Vikings DT Michael Pierce. Hicks could expose their offensive front on the inside for a second straight week.
Damien Wilson, LB, Jaguars 
When Joe Schobert was shipped to Pittsburgh, Wilson looked like the front runner to take his starting role, but Shaquille Quarterman was earning some praise, too. However, Wilson's role was confirmed Sunday, as he lined up next to Myles Jack on nearly every snap, notching seven tackles in the process. There's not a ton of upside for Wilson since he doesn't rush the passer and isn't active in coverage, but he has enough standalone value by virtue of tackles, especially if Jacksonville's offense continues its dysfunction.
Del'Shawn Phillips, LB, Jets 
Phillips led the Jets with 12 tackles (three solo) after entering the game in place of rookie Jamien Sherwood (leg) during Sunday's loss to the Panthers. While he had an impressive stat line, fantasy managers should beware that the 24-year-old has one-hit-wonder vibes. He entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2019 and had just 14 snaps -- all on special teams -- to his name through two seasons. Nevertheless, he may be worth a flier in deeper leagues if Sherwood misses time because the Jets should face plenty of negative game scripts this year.
FALLING
Kamren Curl, S, Football Team 
After stepping up as a rookie following Landon Collins' season-ending injury, Curl is now the No. 3 safety in Washington behind Collins and Bobby McCain. Curl still managed to play 46 percent of the snaps Sunday, but both Collins and McCain logged more than 80 percent. Still, the 2020 seventh-round pick has significant upside if either Collins or McCain suffers an injury, as he posted 88 tackles, four pass breakups, three interceptions and two sacks last year.
Donovan Wilson, S, Patriots
Wilson stacked up 69 tackles over the final 11 games and looked the part while doing it. Despite leading all Cowboys safeties in snaps, Wilson didn't record a tackle in the season opener, while fellow safety Jayron Kearse popped off for 11 stops. The snap count is encouraging, but it's going to be tough to count on Wilson against the Chargers in Week 2.
Adrian Phillips, S, Patriots 
Phillips was a high-end IDP asset last season, but he handled just 61 percent of the defensive snaps while both Kyle Dugger and Devin McCourty finished above 90 percent. While Phillips was trusted to rush the passer Sunday, he finished with just three tackles, while McCourty and Dugger tied for the team high with seven stops. The Patriots are looking toward the future, so keeping Dugger -- a superb athlete in need of development -- on the field is their best option, meaning Phillips IDP upside is hampered for the time being.
Foyesade Oluokun, LB, Falcons 
It's tough to fade Oluokun after a 117-tackle season, but this is more specific to the matchup. The Buccaneers got into a shootout last week against the Cowboys and ended up handing it off to their running backs just 13 times. Their Week 2 game plan could be similar, as the Bucs' secondary is banged-up enough to break against a (potentially) high-powered Falcons offense.
