Germaine Pratt

The Bengals are in the next phase of contending, and that entails them deciding which defensive stalwarts they can retain, and which ones will depart. That they re-signed Pratt to a three-year, $21 million deal in March speaks volumes to his improvement. Pratt had a career-high 99 tackles, a sack, two interceptions and 10 passes defensed - after a previous career-high of two passes defended. Pratt's skills in pass coverage will be especially critical after the Bengals lost both starting safeties to free agency.

Pratt took a step forward at middle linebacker in his third season with the Bengals, tallying 91 tackles (including 39 in his last four regular season games), and then clinched the team's Wild Card Round win over the Raiders with an interception in the waning seconds. The Bengals don't ask Pratt to rush the passer very often, so his fantasy upside is capped in all but the deepest of IDP leagues.

Pratt doesn't quite notch enough tackles or do anything else to be an elite IDP linebacker. His 12 tackles in Week 1 were a season high, and he didn't exceed eight tackles in any other week, totaling 89 tackles in 16 games with no sacks, forced or recovered fumbles, or interceptions. He might lead the Bengals' linebacking corps in tackles, but in many IDP leagues he won't have enough production across the board to merit a roster spot.

Pratt is a speedy 2019 third-round pick out of North Carolina State who should contend for a three-down role in the 2020 Cincinnati defense, making him one of the top breakout candidates at linebacker. As long as he holds off one of third-round pick Logan Wilson or fourth-round pick Akeem Davis-Gaither, Pratt will likely push for 900 or more snaps this year. After totaling 76 tackles last year while playing just 443 defensive snaps, Pratt would go into 2020 with a tackle over/under around 125 should he be named starter. Pratt did struggle in coverage as a rookie, though, and both Wilson and Davis-Gaither have talent, so the matter isn't quite settled yet.