2024 Full-Time and Green Dot Linebackers: Week 11
Through 10 weeks, what have learned about full-time and green dot LBs for 2024?
With Week 11 in view, there were no major changes in the defensive schemes or play callers. We had a few linebackers return from injury and another take over the dot.
Here’s a look at the full-time/green dot linebackers from Week 10, as we head into Week 11.
*-Injured
Arizona Cardinals
Not sure we can rank Kyzir White as a top LB anymore. In fact, I had him as my LB36 this past week, as he’s performing barely like an LB3. White saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. Mack Wilson saw 80% of the snaps and recorded 2 tackles. Wilson is droppable, as his juice ain’t worth the squeeze. The Cardinals remain nickel-heavy but are sprinkling more dime/single off-ball LB packages. I know it’s not much, but Zaven Collins did see 6 snaps at off-ball LB.
Week 10 Green Dot: Kyzir White
Atlanta Falcons
Troy Andersen returned in Week 10, but it looks like he’s getting eased in, as he saw just 13 snaps in his first game back. Nate Landman got the majority of the snaps at LB2 opposite Kaden Elliss, as he saw 83% of the snaps. Kaden Elliss saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. The Falcons still look to feature two off-ball LBs in their defense, but this could be the last of Landman’s usefulness in IDP leagues if the Falcons continue to ramp up Andersen’s snaps. Elliss has been an elite LB1 over the last 4 weeks, recording 10+ tackles in four straight games.
Week 10 Green Dot: Kaden Elliss
Baltimore Ravens
I’ve added Trenton Simpson to the chart, as he now has three consecutive games with a 90%+ snap rate, and looks like he’s solidified a full-time role. Simpson recorded 7 total tackles while appearing in 90% of the snaps. The Ravens were in dime/single-LB for 6 snaps and he was off the field for 2 third-down snaps. Roquan Smith was on the field for 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. Roquan’s production has kicked up a notch, as he has just one game of fewer than 7 tackles over the last six games.
Week 10 Green Dot: Roquan Smith
Buffalo Bills
Terrel Bernard was the lone full-time LB for Buffalo, but Dorian Williams continues to be productive seeing around 75% of the snaps, which was Dorian’s usage this week. Dorian produced a 20.5% tackle rate, resulting in 9 tackles. Bernard recorded 9 of his own, as he saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. There’s no reason to sit either Buffalo LB in IDP leagues.
Week 10 Green Dot: Terrel Bernard
Carolina Panthers
A bit of a change to Carolina’s defense this week, as it looked like they went single-LB/modified nickel with DJ Wonnum back on the field. Trevin Wallace saw just 69% of the snaps this week, however, was still efficient. Stats keepers were stingy with the solos in Germany. Wallace finished with 7 tackles, just 2 solos. Two big plays gave Josey Jewell’s day a boost (INT/fumble recovery). Jewell was the lone full-time LB, as he saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. We’ll see if the deployment of dime/single-LB packages continues into next week.
Week 10 Green Dot: Josey Jewell
Chicago Bears
Chicago with no real changes this week. They did deploy base/3-LB on fewer snaps, as Jack Sanborn saw just 12 snaps this week. Tremaine Edmunds and TJ Edwards were on the field for 100% of the snaps with Edmunds wearing the dot. I think Edmunds is borderline droppable at this point. He has just two games of double-digit tackles and has recorded 6 or fewer tackles in 7 games.
Week 10 Green Dot: Tremaine Edmunds
Cincinnati Bengals
No big changes here for the Bengals and their LB deployment. The main difference is that Cinci went dime on 5 more snaps than last week (7). Pratt was on the field for all but 6 snaps this week while Logan Wilson saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. Pratt and Wilson combined for 16 tackles, each contributing 8. The Bengals remained nickel-heavy this week, and Pratt was off the field for 3rd down situations but still had a 90% snap rate.
Week 10 Green Dot: Logan Wilson
Cleveland Browns
Bye week.
Week 10 Green Dot: Bye Week
Dallas Cowboys
I think when the final grades shake out, this won’t be one of Eric Kendricks’s finer games. He just can’t play in space and is too reactive, waiting for the play to come to him. Kendricks saw 60 snaps, but the game was out of hand and sat the final series. Demarvion Overshown had a non-contact injury scare, but he ended up returning for reasons beyond me. He missed a few snaps from the injury and then sat in the 4th. Damone Clark came on in relief of Overshown and Nick Vigil wore the dot when Kendricks left the field.
Week 10 Green Dot: Eric Kendricks
Denver Broncos
Cody Barton continues to be the lone full-time off-ball LB in Denver’s defense. Justin Strnad played just 62% of the snaps. Kwon Alexander had no more practice squad elevations, so they elevated Zach Cunningham who had no defensive snaps in Week 10. The Broncos went with a single off-ball LB for the majority of the game with Barton.
Week 10 Green Dot: Cody Barton
Detroit Lions
Jack Campbell now has three straight games of 90%+ of the snaps and was on the field for 100% of the snaps alongside Alex Anzalone. Anzlone wore the dot once again for the Lions defense. Malcolm Rodriguez has been on IR, so we’ll see if Campbell’s usage continues when he returns.
Week 10 Green Dot: Alex Anzalone
Green Bay Packers
Bye week.
Week 10 Green Dot: Bye Week
Houston Texans
Azeez Al-Shaair returned from his knee injury in Week 10 and wore the dot when he was on the field. In the first half, he did come off the field on a few passing downs, but come the second, he was on for every snap and ended up appearing in 94% of the snaps, as he was on the field for all but 4 snaps. Henry To’oTo’o saw all but one snap. Houston was in nickel for most of the game and featured two off-ball LBs.
Week 10 Green Dot: Azeez Al-Shaair
Indianapolis Colts
The Colts were nickel-heavy in Week 10 and were in their base defense for just 10 snaps with Grant Stuard. After missing a few practices, Zaire Franklin was active, as he and Speed each saw 100% of the snaps with Franklin wearing the dot. Although Speed recorded just 5 tackles, an INT gave his IDP day a bit of a boost. Franklin and Speed are weekly starters.
Week 10 Green Dot: Zaire Franklin
Jacksonville Jaguars
Foyesade Oluokun saw 100% of the snaps for the first time this season and wore the dot. Foye had a solid game with 11 tackles and an INT. Devin Lloyd was on the field for 77% of the snaps and exploded for 16 tackles, including 9 solos. The Jaguars went single-LB/dime on, what looked like, most third downs. The Jags were in their base/3-LB packages mostly with Ventrell Miller, as he saw 60% of the snaps. If your league mates dropped Lloyd (which I wouldn’t blame them), he’s back on the IDP radar, especially with the bye weeks.
Week 10 Green Dot: Foyesade Oluokun
Kansas City Chiefs
After seeing fewer than 80% of the snaps in Week 9, Drue Tranquill was back to a full-time role in Week 10 as he saw 85% of the snaps in Week 10. It was a “meh” day for Tranquill, recording just 5 tackles. Nick Bolton hasn’t been Nick Bolton all season, but a sack gave his fantasy day boost on top of his 6 tackles. The Chiefs have been primarily a nickel-heavy defense, but Tranquill isn’t a must-start and Bolton is looking more like an LB2/3.
Week 10 Green Dot: Nick Bolton
Las Vegas Raiders
Bye week.
Week 10 Green Dot: Bye Week
Los Angeles Chargers
It’s the Daiyan Henley show with the Chargers. Henley was the lone full-time off-ball LB for the Chargers, as he saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. If you’re holding on to Denzel Perryman, you can safely drop him. He might have some spike weeks, but with his current role in the defense, you’ll drive yourself nuts trying to figure out which weeks they will occur. Perryman saw just 54% of the snaps.
Week 10 Green Dot: Daiyan Henley
Los Angeles Rams
We’ve been hoodwinked, bamboozled, led astray, and flat-out deceived by the Rams. After seeing over 90% of the snaps in Week 9, Christian Rozeboom saw just 62% of the snaps and recorded just 2 tackles. Omar Speights led the way for the off-ball LB group, and was on the field for 74% of the snaps. The Rams looked to be in their base defense for about half the game, and the Rams nickel featured 3 OLB (Michael Hoecht, Jared Verse, and Byron Young) and Speights. So the Konami Code that was Jaylen McCollough, turned out to be a red herring. McCollough saw just 13 snaps, with 5 at off-ball LB.
Week 10 Green Dot: Quentin Lake
Miami Dolphins
So the David Long benching appears to be permanent, as Anthony Walker saw all but one snap in Week 10 and wore the dot. He didn’t make waiver write up, but Walker should be picked up in most IDP formats/leagues. Jordyn Brooks saw 100% of the snaps. The Dolphins were in nickel defense for most of the game, as both Brooks and Walker were on the field for the entire game.
Week 10 Green Dot: Anthony Walker
Update 11/12/2024: We could have a new dot in Miami, as they claimed the recently recently released, Tyrel Dodson off waivers. Dodson wore the dot in Seattle and had played 98% of the snaps, so the release was a surprise. The Dolphins recently benched David Long and Anthony Walker has been holding the fort down. We’ll see if Dodson is installed into the defense this week, but he could have value if overtakes Walker for the green dot duties.
Minnesota Vikings
There weren’t many opportunities for the Vikings defense, as they were on the field for just 44 snaps. Blake Cashman returned after missing the last several weeks with turf toe, and it looked like he’d have his three-down role, as he was on the first series with the dot. Ivan Pace Jr. got the start alongside but was off the field on the second snap, and Andrew Van Ginkel was lined up at off-ball LB. Pace was off on the third down of that series, as well.
Pace saw the snaps in the second series with the dot. For their third series, Cashman was back with the dot and it looks like Pace is getting early down snaps. Pace was still efficient and productive with his snaps, producing a 19.2% tackle rate and adding a sack. Cashman ended up with 80% of the snaps and wore the dot when he was on the field. I’d expect Cashman to be back close to a three-down role next week.
Week 10 Green Dot: Blake Cashman/Ivan Pace Jr. (one series)
New England Patriots
Kyle Dugger was inactive in Week 10, and Marte Mapu was dealing with a neck injury. That injury limited Mapu to 24 snaps. Jahlani Tavai was the lone full-time off-ball LB as he saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot in Week 10. Sione Takitaki saw snaps at the LB2 opposite Tavai but ended up playing 28 snaps. The Patriots defense seems to be dime-heavy and features one off-ball LB. It looks like Tavai might be on the IDP radar once again if Mapu is still hampered by the neck injury. We’ll also need to monitor Christian Elliss throughout the week, as he was inactive, as well.
Week 10 Green Dot: Jahlani Tavai
New Orleans Saints
Just as it looked like Pete Werner was getting his footing, a hand injury forced him from the game after 52 snaps and it looked like he didn’t return. Demario Davis was on for 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. Although Davis recorded 10 tackles, just 2 were solo. Willie Gay saw 13 snaps and looks to get the snaps at the LB2 opposite Davis if Werner misses any time.
Week 10 Green Dot: Demario Davis
New York Giants
Bobby Okereke was the lone full-time LB, as he was off the field for 3 snaps. Okereke wore the dot when on the field and recorded 11 tackles (4 solos). Micah McFadden had his usual role, off on most 3rd downs. He saw a healthy snap rate (75%) and added 7 of his own tackles. Isaiah Simmons had some snaps at off-ball LB (7).
Week 10 Green Dot: Bobby Okereke
New York Jets
The Jets defense didn’t change up at LB. CJ Mosley was inactive in Week 10, and I’m not even sure we see him for the remainder of the year. Jamien Sherwood wore the dot in Week 10 and recorded 17 tackles (7 solos) and now has 44 tackles over his last 4 games. He’s also one of 3 LBs to have 90+ tackles. Quincy Williams saw 100% of the snaps and recorded 10 of his own tackles. The Jets remain nickel-based but ran more base/3-LB packages as Sam Eguavoen saw 38 snaps.
Week 10 Green Dot: Jamien Sherwood
Philadelphia Eagles
Nakobe Dean saw 44 snaps and wore the dot when he was on the field. Dean was off the field, for what looked like, the last two snaps of the first half. Dean played his last snap at the end of the 3rd quarter. Oren Burks was the LB2 for Dean and it was then Zack Baun who wore the dot. Baun’s day ended in the 4th, around the 10:27 mark, due to the blowout. Burks and Jeremiah Trotter were the off-ball LBs for the final few defensive series. Baun was dominant with 8 tackles and 2 forced fumbles.
Week 10 Green Dot: Nakobe Dean
Pittsburgh Steelers
Patrick Queen was the lone full-time off-ball LB as he was on for all 64 snaps and wore the dot. Elandon Roberts was the LB2, as he outsnapped Payton Wilson 43-13. When he was on the field, Wilson looked a bit lost and confused, especially on his lone coverage target. Queen continues to be the lone off-ball LB to roster from Pittsburgh.
Week 10 Green Dot: Patrick Queen
San Francisco 49ers
There were no real changes for the San Francisco 49ers in the way they deployed their LBs. The 49ers were in base for just 10 snaps with Dee Winters, as they were mostly in nickel. Fred Warner and De’Vondre Campbell were each on the field for 100% of the snaps. Warner wore the dot, as usual.
Week 10 Green Dot: Fred Warner
Seattle Seahawks
Bye week.
Week 10 Green Dot: Bye Week
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
JJ Russell continues to see snaps over KJ Britt. Britt continues to come off on passing situations, as he saw 64% of the snaps. He’s not productive enough to warrant a roster spot with his current role in the defense. Lavonte David is the lone full-time off-ball LB, as he saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot.
Week 10 Green Dot: Lavonte David
Tennessee Titans
The Titans, once again, featured two off-ball LBs and they were Kenneth Murray and Jack Gibbens. Brian Callahan said he loves the way Gibbens is playing and it’s difficult to take him off the field. It remains true. Gibbens was Tennessee’s second-highest graded defender (77.6). On the opposite end of the spectrum, Murray was graded the worst among defenders (28.8). If we see Jerome Baker, will it be at Murray’s expense? I can’t see him taking any of Gibbens’s snaps as of now.
Week 10 Green Dot: Kenneth Murray
Washington Commanders
Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu each saw 100% of the snaps with Wagner wearing the dot. Mykal Walker saw a few more snaps in their base (19). The Commanders remain a nickel-heavy defense under Dan Quinn.
Week 10 Green Dot: Bobby Wagner
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