2024 Full-Time and Green Dot Linebackers: Week 10
Through nine weeks, what have learned about full-time and green dot LBs for 2024?
Week 10 is here — and with its arrival come some changes in Week 9 that I outline below that you need to be mindful of.
Here’s a look at the full-time/green dot linebackers from Week 9, as we head into Week 10.
*-Injured
Arizona Cardinals
Kyzir White was the lone full-time LB in Week 9 for the Cardinals. He saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. A half-sack was the lone bright spot of his fantasy day. His production is definitely off the pace from last year. Mack Wilson saw 7% of the snaps as Arizona went single-LB a bit more often than weeks past as the Bears were playing catch up.
Week 9 Green Dot: Kyzir White
Atlanta Falcons
We had the Kaden Elliss ceiling game this week, as he recorded 13 tackles and a sack. He had 16 pass-rush snaps, produced 6 QB pressures, and added a QB hit. Definitely his best game of the season. The Falcons played in nickel primarily with JD Bertrand and Troy Andersen inactive. Rashaan Evans was elevated to the 53-man roster but didn’t see a snap this week. It’s hard to trust Andersen’s return, as he was supposedly set to return a few weeks ago, but he’s now missed 5 games.
Week 9 Green Dot: Kaden Elliss
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens obliterated the Broncos and Roquan Smith’s day ended early in the 4th. Malik Harrison relieved him and wore the dot when he left. Not a great day, fantasy-wise, for Smith. Trenton Simpson should now be considered in IDP leagues, as he’s had back-to-back weeks of 90% usage. He finished with 9 tackles and added a sack. I wouldn’t worry about Roquan, and Simpson should be in your waiver queue.
Week 9 Green Dot: Roquan Smith
Buffalo Bills
Terrel Bernard returned in Week 9 and saw 100% of the snaps while wearing the dot. He ended up with 8 tackles, and it seemed the return was a boom for Dorian Williams. Williams was on for 87% of the snaps and took advantage of the Miami offense for 12 tackles. The Bills returned their nickel-heavy look but did deploy some dime/single-LB for 8 snaps. Williams has delivered elite efficiency and should be a weekly starter. Bernard’s role as the playcaller has him as a weekly starter, as well.
Week 9 Green Dot: Terrel Bernard
Carolina Panthers
The good news is that Josey Jewell and Trevin Wallace are featured off-ball LBs. The bad news is that they didn’t have much production in a decent matchup. Jewell saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot in Week 9. Wallace continues to see a full-time role in the defense. Wallace ended up playing 87% of the snaps, as Carolina went single-LB for 10 snaps. Jewell and Wallace combined for 10 tackles (just 3 solos between them).
Week 9 Green Dot: Josey Jewell
Chicago Bears
The Bears deployed their typical 2-LB defense with TJ Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds. They each saw 100% of the snaps and Edmunds wore the dot. Jack Sanborn saw fewer snaps than last week in their base defense.
Week 9 Green Dot: Tremaine Edmunds
Cincinnati Bengals
Nothing out of the ordinary for the Bengal defense this week. Logan Wilson saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. However, Germaine Pratt having a goose egg until late in the 4th was unexpected. Pratt finished with an assisted tackle while playing in 93% of the snaps. The Bengals are primarily a nickel defense, so I can’t suggest cutting Pratt for a bad week. He’s a weekly starter, and unfortunately for Pratt, he had one bad floor week in Week 9.
Week 9 Green Dot: Logan Wilson
Cleveland Browns
While I don’t think Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah would have helped, it was clear he was missed in the middle of the defense. JOK will miss the next 4 games, and Mohamoud Diabate looks to be the playcaller of the defense during his absence. Devin Bush was the primary LB2 in their nickel defense and played 46 snaps. He’ll have IDP value in JOK’s absence.
Week 9 Green Dot: Mohamoud Diabate
Dallas Cowboys
Eric Kendricks and Demarvion Overshown were the three-down LBs in Week 9. Overshown saw all but 1 snap this week. The Cowboys were in base for just a handful of snaps as Marist Liufau saw just 5 snaps. Damone Clark is an afterthought at this point. If Overshown is still on your wire, he should be added. The Cowboys are featuring two off-ball LBs in their nickel defense, so Kendricks and Overshown are providing weekly IDP value.
Week 9 Green Dot: Eric Kendricks
Denver Broncos
The Broncos look to be a single-LB/dime-heavy defense, as Cody Barton was the lone three-down LB and he wore the dot. Kwon Alexander seems to have officially overtaken Justin Strnad as the LB2, however, Kwon saw just 56% of the snaps. Justin Strnad saw just 13 total snaps. As of now, Barton is the only Denver LB to roster. I’d leave Kwon and Strnad on the wire.
Week 9 Green Dot: Cody Barton
Detroit Lions
With Malcolm Rodriguez inactive, Jack Campbell, once again, had a full-time role and saw all but 5 snaps alongside Alex Anzalone. Anazlone wore the dot in Week 9. The Lions have been nickel but featured two off-ball LBs without much of a rotation. Jalen Reeves-Maybin was the LB3 in the Lions’ base defense and he saw 23 snaps. Even when Rodriguez comes back, it’s hard to imagine taking Campbell off the field.
Week 9 Green Dot: Alex Anzalone
Green Bay Packers
Quay Walker returned from his concussion, saw 100% of the snaps, and wore the dot. It was reported that Eric Wilson was going to see more snaps even with Walker returning. That was indeed the case, however, it wasn’t at the expense of Walker. Wilson saw 39 snaps (72%) and the Packers looked to be in base/3-LB more often, featuring Wilson and Edgerrin Cooper. Cooper saw 72% of the snaps and notched 6 tackles. Walker led the way with 12. Isaiah McDuffie was the low man on the LB totem pole, as he saw just 19 snaps. McDuffie is droppable in redraft leagues.
Week 9 Green Dot: Quay Walker
Houston Texans
We had a change in the green dot this week. Henry To’oTo’o returned from a concussion and took over the play-calling duties, as he wore the dot in Week 9. It’s possible he’s been the backup signal caller, but Neville Hewitt wore it because Toto was out. Hewitt played 86% of the snaps as he was off the field 8 snaps, mostly on 3rd downs. Although Hewitt recorded 8 tackles, just one was a solo. He could have gotten credit for a few more solos, but others swarmed to the ball.
The recently added Devin White had a muffin and a cup of coffee, as he saw 10 snaps. Azeez Al-Shaair’s knee injury is lingering and looks to have been more serious. AAS’s status will be questionable, at best, so keep holding on to Toto and bless the rains in Africa. Hewitt still has value as an LB3/4 with his full-time role.
Week 9 Green Dot: Henry To’oTo’o
Indianapolis Colts
No major changes to the Colts defense and their LB grouping this week. Grant Stuard saw more snaps in their base/3-LB defense, appearing in 40% of the snaps. Zaire Franklin and EJ Speed were the three-down LBs, with Franklin on for 100% of the snaps and wearing the dot. Speed was on the field for all but 3 snaps and led the defense with 12 tackles.
Week 9 Green Dot: Zaire Franklin
Jacksonville Jaguars
I don’t want to draw conclusions yet, but it looks like the rotation in Jacksonville might be over. Foyesade Oluokun and Devin Lloyd were the off-ball LBs in nickel, but Jacksonville went base/3-LB more often this week. Ventrell Miller saw 45 snaps, including the series before the half, over Lloyd. Foye was off the field for 8 snaps and Lloyd saw 77% of the snaps. The LB situation in Jacksonville is still far from ideal, some semblance of an LB tandem is showing.
Week 9 Green Dot: Foyesade Oluokun
Kansas City Chiefs
Nick Bolton was the lone full-time LB for the Chiefs in Week 9. Bolton saw all but 4 snaps, and it was the last series before half-time. As usual, Bolton wore the dot, but turned in an underwhelming game with 3 tackles. Drue Tranquill now has four straight games of fewer than 80% of the snaps. Three out of the last four, he’s been on for fewer than 72%. KC was in dime for 33% of their defensive snaps and Tranquill saw just 4 total 3rd down snaps. Tranquill, however, remains productive.
Week 9 Green Dot: Nick Bolton
Las Vegas Raiders
Robert Spillane was questionable all week and ended up active in Week 9, however, the game was in hand, so he didn’t see any snaps in the 4th quarter. Spillane was on for 100% of the snaps and wore the dot until that point. Divine Deablo was on the field for all but 4 snaps and wore the dot with Spillane off the field. Deablo is back on the IDP radar with his usage in the defense, as the Raiders are going more nickel and featuring two off-ball LBs.
Week 9 Green Dot: Robert Spillane
Los Angeles Chargers
Daiyan Henley was the lone full-time LB and he saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. He seemed to be everywhere and made some impact plays throughout the game. The Chargers went dime-heavy and Derwin James was patrolling the LOS. Junior Colson saw just 10 snaps and was spotted in a walking boot after suffering an ankle injury. Henley is the lone Charger LB to roster in IDP leagues.
Week 9 Green Dot: Daiyan Henley
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams went dime-heavy, as they featured 3 safeties for the majority of the game. Christian Rozeboom saw all but 2 snaps in Week 9 and finished with 11 tackles. The Omar Speights died quicker than the hopes and playoff dreams of my Cleveland Browns. Speights saw just 4 snaps. Quentin Lake wore the dot once again. Rozeboom looks to be the primary off-ball LB with Reeder expected to miss the next 3-4 games. If you’re looking for a potential Konami Code, Jaylon McCollough played 70% of the snaps and 70% of those snaps at the off-ball LB position. He finished with 6 tackles and an INT.
Week 9 Green Dot: Quentin Lake
Miami Dolphins
It would have been nice to have some sort of heads-up that David Long was going to get benched. After a horrible game against Arizona (35.4 PFF grade), that’s exactly what happened to Long this week, as he was benched for Anthony Walker. Walker was on for 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. Jordyn Brooks saw 100% of the snaps alongside Walker. The Dolphins were in nickel and featured two off-ball LBs for the entire game, so if Walker continues to play over Long, he’ll have value, especially as the playcaller.
Week 9 Green Dot: Anthony Walker
Minnesota Vikings
Blake Cashman’s turf toe kept him out for another game, so it was Ivan Pace, once again, calling the plays. Pace was off the field for a few snaps with an injury, but came back, after missing just 2 snaps. The Vikings were primarily in dime/nickel, as Kamu Grugier-Hill saw just 18 snaps in their base defense. We’ll have to see if Cashman is close to returning this week.
Week 9 Green Dot: Ivan Pace
New England Patriots
Jahlani Tavai showed up in Week 9, and I’m sure his numbers were on the waiver wire (which is where he should have been, honestly). Christian Elliss saw 58% of the snaps and saw just one snap on the edge this week after seeing a full-time role last in Week 8. When the Pats went dime/single-LB, Elliss was the off-ball on the field. Marte Mapu wore the dot this week, however, he did leave temporarily and it was Elliss who wore the dot, so something to take note of if an injury lingers for Mapu.
Week 9 Green Dot: Marte Mapu
New Orleans Saints
Pete Werner saw all but one snap in Week 9 and now has 17 tackles over the last two weeks. Demario Davis saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. It looks like the Saints are consistently featuring two off-ball LBs, so Werner is starting to get on the IDP radar after a few productive weeks in a row.
Week 9 Green Dot: Demario Davis
New York Giants
Once again, Micah McFadden’s defensive usage is maddening and not worth stressing out over in weekly leagues. This week, he saw all but 8 snaps. Figuring out the productive and high usage weeks is going to be an exercise in futility over the next few weeks. Bobby Okereke saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. His production has been on the rise, as he now has 23 tackles over the last two weeks.
Week 9 Green Dot: Bobby Okereke
New York Jets
CJ Mosley suffered a neck injury ahead of Week 8 and he ended up not playing a snap, despite being active. The neck injury lingered into the week and ended up inactive. Jamien Sherwood and Quincy Williams were the three-down LBs, with Sherwood wearing the dot. Sherwood and Williams each recorded 7 solos, but Sherwood was active in the pass rush. Sherwood had 7 pass-rush snaps and recorded 2 sacks. The Jets were primarily in nickel with two off-ball LBs.
Week 9 Green Dot: Jamien Sherwood
Philadelphia Eagles
No major changes in Philly. They went primarily two off-ball LBs and were nickel-heavy, as Nakobe Dean and Zack Baun were the three-down LBs and Dean wore the dot.
Week 9 Green Dot: Nakobe Dean
Pittsburgh Steelers
Bye week.
Week 9 Green Dot: Bye Week
San Francisco 49ers
Bye week.
Week 9 Green Dot: Bye Week
Seattle Seahawks
No major changes in Seattle this week. Tyrel Dodson and Ernest Jones each saw 100% of the snaps with Dodson continuing to wear the dot. Jones, however, is very vocal and has no issues pointing things out or communicating with others pre-snap. The Seahawks remain a nickel-heavy defense and feature two off-ball LBs.
Week 9 Green Dot: Tyrel Dodson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Lavonte David was active in Week 9 and was the lone full-time LB for Tampa. He saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. The Bucs went dime for a few snaps, but a rotation started between JJ Russell and KJ Britt, as Britt started coming off the field on passing situations and most 3rd downs. Britt saw 54% of the snaps while Russell saw 36% of the snaps. Britt was still efficient with his snaps, producing a 19.6% tackle rate, resulting in 9 tackles. The rotation and usage is a bit of a concern if this continues, as his production could become inconsistent. Something to consider when plugging him into your lineup.
Week 9 Green Dot: Lavonte David
Tennessee Titans
I’m not quite sure what to make of the acquisition of Jerome Baker. Was it to trade Ernest Jones and they just needed a replacement? Baker was active but didn’t play a down in Week 9. Kenneth Murray and Jack Gibbens each saw 100% of the snaps, and Murray continued to wear the dot. Gibbens came up huge with 14 tackles and a half-sack, and as of now, looks to be the LB2 and guy to roster in IDP leagues. Obviously, there’s risk with Gibbens because of Baker, but as of now, Gibbens appears to be a full-time LB and Baker might just have a part-time role in their base defense.
Week 9 Green Dot: Kenneth Murray
Washington Commanders
No major updates for the Commanders. Washington continues to feature two off-ball LBs in their defense, as Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu saw 100% of the snaps.
Week 9 Green Dot: Bobby Wagner
Be sure to subscribe to The IDP Show on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube.
Love the Toto reference! Speaking of Love, he is my one DB starter, but he’s on bye so I’m looking for a fill in for this week. DeShon Elliott is out there on waivers, but so is potential Konami McCullough and Lenoir, who’s been stuffing the stat sheet. Would you have a recommendation for this week? Standard IDP scoring.