2024 Full-Time and Green Dot Linebackers: Week 16
Through 16 weeks, what have learned about full-time and green dot LBs for 2024?
Suspensions, injuries, and flat-out quitting. It was a wild week for linebackers. With that in mind, who were the full-time LBs and wore the dot this week?
Let’s look at the state of the linebacker position as we head into Week 16 and the middle of the fantasy playoffs.
*-Injured
Arizona Cardinals
Kyzir White was the lone full-time LB for Arizona in Week 15. White saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. Mack Wilson, unfortunately, was lost after 4 snaps with a concussion. Krys Barnes replaced Wilson but still only played 44% of the snaps after Wilson exited. The Cardinals appeared to be in dime/single-LB with White for most of the game post-Wilson. I’m not sure I can recommend using a roster spot on Barnes if Wilson misses Week 16 with a concussion.
Week 15 Green Dot: Kyzir White
Atlanta Falcons
Ahead of Monday night’s game, Troy Andersen was placed on IR, so it appears his season is over. However, Kaden Elliss would be the only full-time off-ball LB for the Falcons. I figured Nate Landman would be the LB2 opposite Elliss, but he was on the field for just 30% of the snaps. The Falcons ran a modified dime, which featured two off-ball LBs for 13 snaps. The LBs were Elliss and JD Bertrand. Their base defense featured Elliss and Landman and five linemen, while they ran a modified nickel with just Elliss on the field. Bertrand would appear in 43% of the snaps. Without Andersen, it appears the LB2 doens’t have any IDP value in Atlanta’s defense.
Week 15 Green Dot: Kaden Elliss
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens returned from their bye and have eliminated Trenton Simpson from the rotation. Chris Board and Malik Harrison saw most of the snaps at the ILB spot opposite Roquan Smith in Week 15. Simpson saw just 4 snaps. Harrison saw the “starter” playing time and appeared in 54 snaps. Chris Board was on for 29 snaps. The Ravens blew out the Giants, so Smith wasn’t needed in garbage time. His fantasy managers could have used some extra tackles.
Week 15 Green Dot: Roquan Smith
Buffalo Bills
Matt Milano left the game in the 4th with a groin injury and Baylon Spector replaced him. Spector would play the majority of the 4th quarter snaps in their nickel. Terrel Bernard played 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. If Milano misses any games, Spector would be an LB4/5 in deeper leagues. He entered the game and recorded 3 tackles.
Week 15 Green Dot: Terrel Bernard
Carolina Panthers
Trevin Wallace was inactive and Claudin Cherelus got the start opposite Josey Jewell. Jewell and Cherilus seemed to get hurt on the same play, but Jewell only missed a few snaps and Cherelus would return. Cherilus appeared in 75% of the snaps with Wallace inactive. The Panthers were in nickel and base for most of the game. Near the end of the game, the Panthers were in a modified nickel with just one-off ball LB.
Week 15 Green Dot: Josey Jewell
Update 12/18/2024: Claudin Cherelus suffered a foot injury that has now knocked him out, and along with Trevin Wallace, has landed on IR. This opens up playing time alongside Josey Jewell. Jon Rhattigan saw one snap in Week 15, while Jacoby Windmon saw two snaps. Beat reporters are noting more snaps and a bigger role for Rhattigan, but we could see the modified/big nickel with the outside linebackers and just Jewell. If you needed a dart throw, my guess is Rhattigan gets the LB2 snaps alongside Jewell.
Chicago Bears
The Bears were in their typical nickel defense in Week 15, as they were in their base defense for just 6 snaps. Tremaine Edmunds and TJ Edwards were on the field for 100% of the snaps with Edmunds wearing the dot.
Week 15 Green Dot: Tremaine Edmunds
Cincinnati Bengals
Once again, the Bengals were a nickel defense without Logan Wilson. Germaine Pratt saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. Akeem Davis-Gaither saw all but one snap and is looking like a league saver (maybe not a winner) for Logan Wilson managers. Pratt and ADG combined for 20 tackles, with ADG nabbing 12. Pratt and ADG are weekly starters.
Week 15 Green Dot: Germaine Pratt
Cleveland Browns
Jordan Hicks played all but 3 snaps but wore the dot when he was on the field.
Week 15 Green Dot: Jordan Hicks
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys were still nickel-heavy, even without Demarvion Overshown. Marist Liufau got the start opposite Eric Kendricks and appeared in all but 7 snaps (45). Kendricks saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. Kendricks’ day was saved by an INT.
Week 15 Green Dot: Eric Kendricks
Denver Broncos
I think the most noteworthy nugget from Denver’s defense was Justin Strnad’s snaps. It might have had to do with Indy’s offense and countering their scheme, as Denver remained in nickel for most of the game. Strnad ended up playing 93% of the snaps and finished with 9 tackles—though just 2 solos. Strnad now has three straight games with 80% of the snaps—including consecutive games of 90%. Cody Barton saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot.
Week 15 Green Dot: Cody Barton
Detroit Lions
I guess we might need to pay attention to Ben Niemann—kind of. There was a four-man rotation at LB2 in Detroit’s nickel and base defense. Niemann saw 62% of the snaps (42 total). Ezekiel Turner and David Long were close to even in the rotation and Kwon Alexander saw just 12 snaps. Niemann recorded a nearly 12% tackle rate. Depending on your LB situation, Niemann could be an LB4/5 in Week 16.
Week 15 Green Dot: Jack Campbell
Green Bay Packers
Quay Walker started the game but didn’t finish. He’d suffer an ankle injury that would knock him out late in the 2nd quarter. Eric Wilson would be the LB to replace Walker with the dot and saw 100% of the snaps for the remainder of the game. Green Bay didn’t play a snap in their dime or base defense and went nickel against Seattle’s offense. Edgerrin Cooper returned after missing a few games and there was a rotation at the LB2 spot with Coop and Isaiah McDuffie. Cooper out-snapped McDuffie 34-25, which is definitely something to keep an eye on for Week 16. Wilson is the priority add from the wire this week.
Week 15 Green Dot: Quay Walker. Eric Wilson when Walker left with an ankle injury.
Houston Texans
Out of the bye week, it does look like Henry To’oTo’o will remain the playcaller of the defense. Toto played 100% of the snaps and wore the dot in Week 15. Christian Harris was practicing most of the week, so there were some questions regarding the LB group as a whole. With Toto wearing the dot, it was Harris who was the LB2 in nickel packages. Neville Hewitt was an afterthought as he saw just 2 snaps. Harris ended up appearing in 82% of the snaps in his first game back. It looks like Harris is the target here.
Week 15 Green Dot: Henry To’oTo’o
Indianapolis Colts
The Colts were nickel-heavy in Week 15, featuring Zaire Frankin and EJ Speed. They combined for 22 tackles with Speed leading the way with 13. Franklin recorded an INT to go along with his 9 stops.
Week 15 Green Dot: Zaire Franklin
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars continued to deploy their typical two off-ball LB rotation in Week 15. Foyesade Oluokun saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. As usual, Devin Lloyd was in on nickel as the LB2, and they were in base for 15 snaps with Ventrell Miller. The Jaguars are running enough nickel/base packages for Lloyd to be useful as an LB3/4.
Week 15 Green Dot: Foyesade Oluokun
Kansas City Chiefs
Nick Bolton saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot in Week 15. Drue Tranquill saw his usual in nickel and base, seeing nearly 80% of the snaps.
Week 15 Green Dot: Nick Bolton
Las Vegas Raiders
Robert Spillane remained the lone full-time LB in Week 15. Spillane saw 100% of the snaps while wearing the dot. Spillane’s production has still been a yo-yo since Week 5, but he now has 7+ tackles in four of his last five and is coming off an 8 tackle performance in Week 15, where he also added an INT. Divine Deablo saw 66% of the snaps, as he rotated on and off the field in their nickel defense. I games where Deablo sees fewer than 75% of the snaps, he’s averaging 3 tackles/gm.
Week 15 Green Dot: Robert Spillane
Los Angeles Chargers
Denzel Perryman was inactive in Week 15 which meant snaps for Troy Dye. Junior Colson was active once again, and there was a similar rotation this week between the two. Dye ended up playing 54% of the snaps while Colson saw 25% of the snaps. The Chargers remained dime/single-LB heavy in Week 15. Dye had a productive game, but the inconsistency might be tough to trust in Week 16 if he’s playing half the snaps. Daiyan Henley was the lone full-time off-ball LB, as he saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot.
Week 15 Green Dot: Daiyan Henley
Los Angeles Rams
Christian Rozeboom was the lone full-time LB for the Rams in Week 15, as he was on the field for 87% of the snaps. The Rams were in dime for 15 snaps, but 7 of those snaps were zero-LB. Even though the 49ers ran just 54 plays, Rozeboom turned out a productive night with 9 tackles and tacked on a sack. Omar Speights played 67% of the snaps and recorded an efficient 19.4% tackle rate—resulting in 7 tackles. With Rozeboom’s current usage, and as long as Troy Reeder remains out, he’s looking like an LB2/3 for the next few weeks. Speights is more a matchup play LB4 in deeper leagues.
Week 15 Green Dot: Quentin Lake
Miami Dolphins
It doesn’t look like Tyrel Dodson is going to be a factor in Miami’s defense. Jordyn Brooks and Anthony Walker were the three-down LBs, each appearing in 100% of the snaps. Dodson saw 0 defensive snaps. Walker continues to wear the dot.
Week 15 Green Dot: Anthony Walker
Minnesota Vikings
Blake Cashman remains the lone full-time off-ball LB in the Vikings defense. Minnesota was in their dime defense for 20 snaps. Even Minnesota’s modified nickel featured Cashman as the lone off-ball LB for the majority of those snaps. Kamu Grugier-Hill and Brian Asamoah combined for 20 snaps. The Vikings going 5/6 DB heavy and featuring Cashman. No other Vikings LB is worth considering.
Week 15 Green Dot: Blake Cashman
New England Patriots
The Patriots continued to rotate the green dot between Jahlani Tavai and Christian Elliss. Tavai continued to come off the field in dime/single-LB packages and that’s when Elliss had the dot. When Tavai and Elliss were on the field in nickel or base, Tavai wore it. Elliss and Sione Takitaki rotated in nickel opposite Tavai. Elliss appeared in 53% of the snaps while Takitaki saw 51%.
Week 15 Green Dot: Jahlani Tavai and Christian Elliss
New Orleans Saints
After seeing 63% of the snaps last week, Pete Werner had a full-time role against Washington’s offense. Werner would appear in 85% of the snaps, as New Orleans went nickel-heavy. Demario Davis was on for 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. Davis had his ceiling game at the right time for his managers, recording 14 tackles and adding a sack.
Week 15 Green Dot: Demario Davis
New York Giants
Bobby Okereke was inactive once again, so Micah McFadden got the start and the green dot in Week 15. It’s worth noting, Darius Mausau saw 100% of the snaps opposite McFadden. It was a rough tackling game for both, as they each missed 3 tackles. The Giants were in nickel against Baltimore’s offense. If Okereke continues to miss time, Mausau is a waiver flyer in deeper leagues. If McFadden isn’t already gone, he’s a priority add.
Week 15 Green Dot: Micah McFadden
New York Jets
Jamien Sherwood wore the dot in Week 15 but ended up missing 11 snaps due to a head injury. He was evaluated for a concussion and returned. Chazz Surratt replaced Sherwood in their nickel defense, and Quincy Williams would take over the dot. Sherwood would get cleared to return. Quincy would finish with just 4 tackles and has had a disappointing season, as he still has yet to hit the 90-tackle mark. His defensive usage, however, has him as an LB3/4. Sherwood added 9 more tackles and now has 125 on the season.
Week 15 Green Dot: Jamien Sherwood
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles held the Steelers to just 43 plays and Nakobe Dean was ultra-efficient with a 25% tackle rate and produced a forced fumble. Initial grading has him at a 90.1. Zack Baun managed 5 tackles. There weren’t many opportunities against the Steeler offense. Dean wore the dot when he was on the field and Baun was on for 100% of the snaps.
Week 15 Green Dot: Nakobe Dean
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Eagles ran 80 plays against Pittsburgh’s defense. Queen was on the field for 100% of those snaps and wore the dot. The LB2 rotation continued, but Elandon Roberts saw the majority of the snaps, as Roberts saw 49 snaps compared to Payton Wilson’s 30. During the playoffs, I wouldn’t risk Wilson or Roberts in my lineup.
Week 15 Green Dot: Patrick Queen
San Francisco 49ers
It was great to see Dre Greenlaw return to the field in just under a year after tearing his Achilles in the Super Bowl. Greenlaw played 26 of the 29 first-half snaps but would play just 4 more snaps after he complained of tightness in his knee. There was a difference in the 49ers’ defense with Dre on and off the field. Greenlaw would end up playing in 46% of the snaps. However, there was a stat correction at the end. Greenlaw was credited with 10 tackles at half-time, but his final tally was 8. Warner saw all but a handful of snaps and wore the dot. The 49ers were primarily in nickel, as they had 4 total snaps in their base and dime defense.
The big story, however, was De’Vondre Campbell walking out on his team after Greenlaw exited and Dee Winters got hurt. I think Campbell has, effectively, killed his career with this move. From an IDP standpoint, if you haven’t already, feel free to drop in all formats. I’m hoping Greenlaw’s injury isn’t too severe and he’s able to suit up next week. I mentioned him as a stash in my Week 8 IDP wire piece, but he’ll be someone to add this week.
Week 15 Green Dot: Fred Warner
Seattle Seahawks
Ernest Jones and Tyrice Knight were full-time off-ball LBs in Week 15, as both played over 95% of the snaps in Week 15. Jones wore the dot as usual. The Seahawks were in dime for just one snap, but their base still featured just two off-ball LBs. Jones and Knight are weekly starters heading into Week 16.
Week 15 Green Dot: Ernest Jones
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs received some reinforcements at LB, as they got JJ Russell back in Week 15. KJ Britt was inactive and the newly signed, Deion Jones, couldn’t get up to speed quickly enough to get elevated to the active roster. The Bucs remained in dime/single-LB for around 40% of the time. Russell appeared in 60% of the snaps. Lavonte David came in clutch for his managers, recording 12 tackles and adding 1.5 sacks. David saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. Russell isn’t anything more than a desperation LB4/5 in deep leagues.
Week 15 Green Dot: Lavonte David
Tennessee Titans
Jerome Baker and Otis Reese were inactive, which left a spot for Luke Gifford. Gifford was in line for another big game when he was knocked out with a concussion. However, if you started him, you got 8 tackles and an INT. The Titans were in nickel for the majority of the game and it was James Williams who came in for Gifford. Kenneth Murray returned after being inactive in Week 14 and took back over the dot. Murray would end up getting dinged but he’d miss just a few snaps.
The Titans are thin at LB. If Baker/Reese/Gifford are out in Week 16, Williams could be a sneaky waiver add. The LB2 has IDP value in Tennessee’s nickel defense.
Week 15 Green Dot: Kenneth Murray
Washington Commanders
Did anyone let Frankie Luvu know there was a game today? When his managers needed him most, like the Grinch, he sucked all the presents from Luvu-ville. No tackles, no sacks over 47 snaps. Granted, the Saints didn’t manage much offense, but no sacks on Jake Haener or an INT of Spencer Rattler? Bobby Wagner wore the dot and managed 5 tackles. Here’s to hoping Luvu didn’t go Enola Gay and drop the bomb on your playoff chances.
Week 15 Green Dot: Bobby Wagner
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