Benardrick McKinney

McKinney's recovery from offseason ankle surgery will warrant monitoring, but if he's prepared for Week 1 then he should approach LB2 utility in most IDP formats. His upside as an IDP appears limited aside from the ankle question, however. McKinney's pass rush impact has all but disappeared since he posted five sacks in 2016, totaling just 1.5 over the last two years, and fellow linebacker Zach Cunningham steals the higher share of tackle production. McKinney is highly athletic and generally plays well on the real field, but for IDP purposes his returns probably diminish a bit.

McKinney is likely better on the real field than in IDP scoring, as his tackle rate dropped from 129 on 920 snaps in 2016 to 200 tackles over his 1,883 snaps since then. The Houston run defense was strong all the while, though his IDP owners couldn't cash in on that fact. There's still hope for McKinney given that he could by pure luck return to his former tackle rate, and beyond that he has standout blitzing upside despite only one sack last year. McKinney totaled eight sacks over the two years prior, so a 120-tackle, four-sack season wouldn't surprise.

One of the top size/speed specimens on this list, McKinney (6-4, 250) boasts 4.66 speed, a 40.5-inch vertical, and a pass-rushing skill set that implies breakout IDP potential despite a down year in 2017. His snap count actually increased from 2016 to last year, yet McKinney fell below triple-digit tackles after posting 129 the year before. He should split the difference at worst in 2018, and with all of J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney and Whitney Mercilus expected back healthy, McKinney's blitzing and turnover opportunities should swing upward, too.

One of the league's top athletes, McKinney is huge at 6-4, 260, but boasts 4.66 speed and a 41-inch vertical. That size and range makes him a unique dual-threat as a tackler and pass rusher, and in 2016 he put himself on the map as a top IDP linebacker. That he did it on just 920 defensive snaps at age 23 gives hope that he can reach even greater heights in his third NFL season. Additionally, the Texans could have more leads this year with Deshaun Watson replacing Brock Osweiler, which could yield more blitzing opportunities.

Brian Cushing has long been the face of Houston's LB crew, but it may be time for McKinney to claim the distinction for himself. The Texans clearly had big plans, investing a 2015 second-round pick (43rd overall) in the MSU product. He was brought along slowly as a rookie, logging just 411 snaps on defense, but the fact that McKinney finished with 63 tackles implies he's ready for more. Huge (6-foot-4, 246 pounds) and highly-athletic for his build, McKinney has the tools to project as an eventual source of sacks and interceptions, in addition to 130-tackle upside.

The Texans traded up in the second round to draft McKinney at 43rd overall this spring. He’s got an outside linebacker’s build, but played inside linebacker at Mississippi State, where he led the team in tackles the last two seasons. While it looks like he fits on the outside, there are some quickness and technique issues he’ll need to incorporate before making that transition. Otherwise, he can stay at inside linebacker, a position of need for the Texans.