2024 Full-Time and Green Dot Linebackers: Week 13
Through 12 weeks, what have learned about full-time and green dot LBs for 2024?
With Week 13 and Thanksgiving on the horizon, we had a few surprises in LB deployments this week.
I’m here to help clarify things for you. Here’s a look at the full-time/green dot linebackers from Week 12, as we head into Week 13.
*-Injured
Arizona Cardinals
Kyzir White saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot in Week 12. Mack Wilson saw close to a three-down role, as he was on the field for 86% of the snaps. The Cardinals were in dime for 5 snaps. Wilson saw the majority of snaps at nickel, but Owen Pappoe saw 3 snaps as well. The Cardinals remain a nickel-heavy defense, and their base defense featured two off-ball LBs and 5 linemen.
Week 12 Green Dot: Kyzir White
Atlanta Falcons
Bye week.
Week 12 Green Dot: Bye Week
Baltimore Ravens
Roquan Smith was inactive in Week 12, so the Ravens went with a rotation at the LB position. Malik Harrison saw most of the playing at off-ball LB and played the in 72% of the snaps. Zach Orr mentioned a rotation between linebackers, but I figured it’d be between Harrison and Chris Board with Trenton Simpson seeing close to a three-down role. Simpson, however, looked to get benched after the first drive and he saw just 43% of the snaps, and just 10 total snaps in the second-half. When the Ravens were in dime, Chris Board was the dime LB on those 15 snaps. When in nickel, they used a rotation of all three linebackers. Board ended up out snapping Simpson 37-30. Harrison and Board looked like the best two LBs on the field together.
Week 12 Green Dot: Kyle Hamilton
Buffalo Bills
Bye week.
Week 12 Green Dot: Bye Week
Carolina Panthers
In Week 12, Josey Jewell was the lone three-down LB and wore the dot as he saw 100% of the snaps. I think the shine is off of Trevin Wallace. The Panthers seemed to run a modified nickel with 3 OLBs and Jewell with Wallace off the field. Wallace ended up playing 65% of the snaps and is droppable in redraft formats.
Week 12 Green Dot: Josey Jewell
Chicago Bears
If you bet the TJ Edwards over on tackles, you probably had a bit of a sweat going. He was non-existent for a good portion of the game, but he got you the cash with 9 tackles. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds were on the field for 100% of the snaps with the Edmunds wearing the dot.
Week 12 Green Dot: Tremaine Edmunds
Cincinnati Bengals
Bye week.
Week 12 Green Dot: Bye Week
Cleveland Browns
The Browns were in a mix of their base/nickel for Week 12 against Pittsburgh. Cleveland went base/2-LB for 27 snaps. Jordan Hicks was on the field for all but 7 snaps, as Winston Reid saw some snaps for Hicks, but mostly rotated with Devin Bush in base. Cleveland’s nickel primarily featured Hicks and Mohamoud Diabate. Hicks wore the dot when he was on the field. Diabate saw a full-time role, as he was on for 81% of the snaps. Bush saw over 70% of the snaps in Week 11, but his playing time fell below 60% in Week 12, as he saw just 57% of the snaps.
Week 12 Green Dot: Jordan Hicks
Dallas Cowboys
Eric Kendricks and Demarvion Overshown were full-time LBs, as Overshown saw 100% of the snaps. Kendricks was on the field for all but 5 snaps and recorded 10 tackles and had a fumble recovery. Overshown’s day was saved by a sack. The Cowboys continue to feature two off-ball LBs and I’m expecting a bounceback for Overshown.
Week 12 Green Dot: Eric Kendricks
Denver Broncos
The Broncos appeared to be in their nickel defense a bit more often as Justin Strnad saw 82% of the snaps alongside Cody Barton. Denver was in dime for just 4 snaps. Barton saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot on defense. Zach Cunnigham was elevated from the practice squad, but didn’t factor in the game with just 2 snaps. Strnad’s usage and Denver’s defensive deployment could have been an answer to the Vegas offense, so we’ll have to see how Strnad is used next week. Like a few other teams, their nickel at at times, featured 4 DBs and 5 linemen (2 DL/3 OLBs). I might trust Strnad more than someone like Trevin Wallace.
Week 12 Green Dot: Cody Barton
Detroit Lions
With Alex Anzalone on IR, Jack Campbell wore the dot on defense and saw 100% of the snaps. Malcolm Rodriguez saw a full-time role opposite Campbell, as he was on the field for 89% of the snaps. Rodrigo and Campbell combined for 16 tackles. David Long was recently acquired after Miami released him and he saw 13 snaps. He looks to be their LB3 in their base package.
Week 12 Green Dot: Jack Campbell
Green Bay Packers
I guess the Quay Walker bashing might have been more fan lip service, because Quay Walker continues to be a three-down player. Walker saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot in Week 12. Edgerrin Cooper was inactive, and surprisingly, Isaiah McDuffie was on the field for all but 2 snaps. The 49ers couldn’t do anything offensively. Eric Wilson ended up seeing 60% of the snaps. Not a whole lot of tackle opportunities, as San Francisco managed just 43 offensive plays.
Week 12 Green Dot: Quay Walker
Houston Texans
Henry To’oTo’o’s usage last week might have been aberration and the Texans saw what they had with Devin White. To’oTo’o saw a full-time role and appeared in 100% of the snaps. White saw a drastic cut in snaps from last week, as he was on the field for 17 snaps. Azeez Al-Shaair wore the dot and was on the field for all but one snap. Houston was primarily in nickel and featured two off-ball LBs. To’oTo’o’s usage hopefully will continue.
Week 12 Green Dot: Azeez Al-Shaair
Indianapolis Colts
The Colts were in nickel for most of the game, but Grant Stuard saw snaps in their base defense, as he was on for 27 snaps. EJ Speed and Zaire Franklin were three-down LBs, although Speed came off the field for just two snaps. Speed and Franklin have a productive combo, as they’ve combined for 228 tackles.
Week 12 Green Dot: Zaire Franklin
Jacksonville Jaguars
Bye week.
Week 12 Green Dot: Bye Week
Kansas City Chiefs
Are we approaching benching territory for Nick Bolton? Depending on your options, you might have been navigating that terrain for a few weeks. I’m surprised Bolton’s tackle rate is over 11%. Drue Tranquill is still borderline usable, as he saw 74% of the snaps in Week 12. It was another below-average game for both KC off-ball LBs.
Week 12 Green Dot: Nick Bolton
Las Vegas Raiders
Divine Deablo saw a full-time role with 81% of the snaps and hauled in a 34-yard catch on a fake punt. Robert Spillane was on the field for 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. The Broncos had allowed just over 16 tackles to the LB position over the last few weeks, so Spillane’s production was a bit disappointing. He’s still a weekly LB1.
Week 12 Green Dot: Robert Spillane
Los Angeles Chargers
Daiyan Henley was the lone three-down LB in Week 12 for the Chargers. Denzel Perryman was inactive, and there wasn’t a clear LB2. Nick Niemann ended up playing more snaps than Troy Dye. Niemann saw 49% of the snaps while Dye ended up playing 17 snaps total. The Chargers were in their dime defense for just 13 snaps and nickel for 16. Their base defense featured Henley and Niemann while opting to play 5 down linemen. Niemann looks to be the LB2 to target in deeper leagues if Perryman continues to miss more time. Only, if you’re playing in a deep league where you’re starting 5-6 LBs.
Week 12 Green Dot: Daiyan Henley
Los Angeles Rams
The Eagles offense might have forced the Rams to use their off-ball LBs more frequently in Week 12. Christian Rozeboom saw 55 snaps (75%) and Omar Speights was on for 56 snaps (77%). This week, the Rams were in dime for just 8 total snaps, but ran a modified nickel defense that featured one off-ball LB and their three OLBs (Byron Young, Michale Hoecht, and Jared Verse). Similar to last week. Speights was the off-ball LB in those packages.
Week 12 Green Dot: Quentin Lake
Miami Dolphins
A hamstring injury limited Anthony Walker to just 18 snaps. Tyrel Dodson was being worked into the defense this week, but is now fully immersed as he took over the green dot when Walker left, having a three-down role. Jordyn Brooks continues to be a three-down player, as he saw 100% of the snaps in Week 12. I wouldn’t say I’m surprised Brooks wasn’t wearing it, just because it’s a skillset he may not have to be able to receive and quickly call the play and get the defense in position. He did call the plays in Seattle, but Dodson might be the better communicator.
Week 12 Green Dot: Anthony Walker. Tyrel Dodson took over after Walker left in the 2nd.
Minnesota Vikings
Ivan Pace Jr. suffered a hamstring injury that limited him to just 5 snaps. Blake Cashman saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. Kamu Grugier-Hill replaced Pace, but the Vikings continue to deploy one off-ball LB and 5/6 DBs on defense. KGH saw 59% of the snaps and is more of a desperation add in deeper leagues if Pace misses any games. Cashman is really the only rosterable Vikings’ LB.
Week 12 Green Dot: Blake Cashman
New England Patriots
The Patriots continued to use Jahlani Tavai as their play caller in nickel packages and their base defense, and use Christian Elliss as their dime LB. Elliss played 36 total snaps in Week 12.
Week 12 Green Dot: Jahlani Tavai. Christian Elliss in their dime packages.
New Orleans Saints
Bye week.
Week 12 Green Dot: Bye Week
New York Giants
The Giants were in their nickel defense more this week, as Micah McFadden saw a full-time role with an 80% snap rate. McFadden led the LBs with 11 tackles while Bobby Okereke added 8 tackles of his own. McFadden logged his third game of double-digit tackles while Okereke is still stuck at two. At this point last season, Okereke had 6 games of 10+ tackles.
Week 12 Green Dot: Bobby Okereke
New York Jets
Bye week.
Week 12 Green Dot: Bye Week
Philadelphia Eagles
It looked like Nakobe Dean and Zack Baun’s day ended early due to the blowout. They weren’t on the field for the final defensive series when it was 37-14. Baun and Dean each played around 82% of the snaps.
Week 12 Green Dot: Nakobe Dean
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers were in their nickel defense but ran a base defense featuring 3 down linemen and two edge rushers (TJ Watt and Nick Herbig). Patrick Queen was the lone three-down LB as he saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. Elandon Roberts was mostly used on early downs, as he saw 65% of the first down work, but just 7 2nd/3rd down snaps. Roberts saw 0 snaps on 3rd downs, as Payton Wilson was mostly used on 3rd downs.
Week 12 Green Dot: Patrick Queen
San Francisco 49ers
Not a great showing for the 49ers in Week 12. The 49ers were in nickel for most of the game and Fred Warner and De’Vondre Campbell each had full-time roles. Warner saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot, while Campbell saw all but 5 snaps.
Week 12 Green Dot: Fred Warner
Seattle Seahawks
Tyrice Knight looks to be carving a full-time role out for himself in Seattle’s defense. Knight saw 81% of the snaps alongside Ernest Jones and turned in a productive day. Knight would finish with 9 tackles and added a sack. Ernest Jones saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot in Week 12. The Seahawks are using single-LB/dime packages a bit more, but are still a nickel-heavy defense. Feel free to add Tyrice Knight in waivers if you didn’t last week.
Week 12 Green Dot: Ernest Jones
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It’s worth noting that KJ Britt saw an uptick in snaps which resulted in close to a full-time role this week. Britt saw 43 snaps (73%) and there wasn’t much of a rotation with JJ Russell this week. Lavonte David had a full-time role but didn’t see any snaps near the end of the game, as he saw 16 of the 24 defensive snaps in the 4th. David, as usual, wore the dot. Britt might be a sleeper LB streamer with his snap rate.
Week 12 Green Dot: Lavonte David
Tennessee Titans
Jerome Baker and Kenneth Murray each saw 100% of the snaps in Week 12. With Gibbens out for the year, Baker looks to be the clear LB2 in Tennessee’s defense. The Titans are nickel-heavy and are featuring their two off-ball LBs. Baker and Murray have a solid matchup vs Washington in Week 13, as they are 10th in tackles allowed to the LB position.
Week 12 Green Dot: Kenneth Murray
Washington Commanders
No major changes to Washington’s defense or the way they used Frankie Luvu and Bobby Wagner. They were both on the field for 100% of the snaps with Wagner wearing the dot.
Week 12 Green Dot: Bobby Wagner
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