2024 Full-Time and Green Dot Linebackers: Week 17
Through 16 weeks, what have learned about full-time and green dot LBs for 2024?
We had a few changes in play-calling responsibility this week, as well as a few key injury situations that are worth monitoring. Let’s look at the state of the linebacker position as we head into Week 17 — championship week for most.
*-Injured
Arizona Cardinals
Mack Wilson was inactive, but Krys Barnes didn’t factor into the game with just 12 snaps, as the Cardinals were mostly in dime/big nickel packages for the game. Kyzir White was the lone three-down LB and wore the dot. White came up with a big game, adding a sack to his 8 tackles. Monitor Wilson’s injury throughout the week. You can ignore Barnes on the wire.
Week 16 Green Dot: Kyzir White
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons dominated the Giants from beginning to end. Kaden Elliss only played 44 snaps and wasn’t needed for most of the 4th. Nate Landman and JD Bertrand saw more snaps in the final quarter. Elliss put together a solid game with 7 tackles and a strip sack. Elliss wore the dot while he was on the field. Nate Landman wore the dot in the final few defensive series in the 4th.
Week 16 Green Dot: Kaden Elliss
Baltimore Ravens
Roquan Smith was the lone full-time LB for the Ravens in Week 16. He saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. He came up big for his managers this week, recording 10 tackles. Malik Harrison saw the majority of snaps at LB but was still on the field for just 60% of the snaps. Chris Board saw snaps in their base. Trenton Simpson is out of the rotation completely, as he didn’t see a single snap.
Week 16 Green Dot: Roquan Smith
Buffalo Bills
Matt Milano was inactive this week and there was a rotation at his spot between Dorian Williams and Baylon Spector. Terrel Bernard was the lone full-tine off-ball LB, playing 100% of the snaps and wearing the green dot. Spector got hurt in the 3rd and Williams saw most of the snaps in the 4th, appearing in 20 of the 22 snaps. Williams, apparently, also played through injury, so the entire LB group is a walking MASH unit.
Week 16 Green Dot: Terrel Bernard
Carolina Panthers
Trevin Wallace and Claudin Cherelus were placed on IR. Jon Rhattigan and Jacoby Windmon got talked up, but Rhattigan was called out as someone who could see an increased role. That didn’t happen. Rhattigan didn’t see a defensive snap, as it was Windmon who got the nickel snaps alongside Josey Jewell. Windmon saw 77% of the snaps and recorded 8 tackles and a sack. The Panthers ended up going dime/single-LB for 16 snaps. Jewell saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. If looking for a replacement LB in Week 17, Windmon could be an LB4/5.
Week 16 Green Dot: Josey Jewell
Chicago Bears
The Bears ran their typical nickel defense and featured TJ Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds, who wore the dot, as usual. Both LBs were on the field for 100% of the snaps.
Week 16 Green Dot: Tremaine Edmunds
Cincinnati Bengals
There was a change in the green dot this week. Akeem Davis-Gaither wore the dot and was on for 100% of the snaps. Germaine Pratt had a full-time role and was on the field for all but 3 snaps. The change in the green dot doesn’t have any impact on their IDP value, as they are both three-down players.
Week 16 Green Dot: Akeem Davis-Gaither
Cleveland Browns
Jordan Hicks was the lone full-time LB for the Browns in Week 16. Hicks saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. He came up big if you rolled with him as your LB3/4, finishing with 9 tackles (7 solos). Mohamoud Diabate saw just 38 snaps, while Devin Bush was on the field for 23 snaps in their base package. Hicks is the only Cleveland LB worth grabbing for Week 17.
Week 16 Green Dot: Jordan Hicks
Dallas Cowboys
Eric Kendricks was inactive this week, and it was Marist Liufau who wore the dot. Liufau played 100% of the snaps. Nick Vigil was the LB2 in Dallas’s nickel and played in all but 3 snaps. The Cowboys just went two off-ball LBs for the majority of the game, as Damone Clark saw just one snap. The Cowboys have been eliminated from the playoffs, so we’ll have to see what they do with Kendricks. Liufau had IDP value when Demarvion Overshown got hurt, and Vigil will have IDP value as long as Kendricks remains out.
Week 16 Green Dot: Marist Liufau
Denver Broncos
The Broncos had two full-time off-ball LBs in Week 16. Cody Barton was on the field for all but one snap and wore the dot. Justin Strnad saw a full-time role once again and was on the field for 87% of the snaps. Denver was in dime for just 2 snaps, and their base defense featured a 5-2-4 look, while their nickel was a 4-2-5. The Chargers have been a middle-of-the-road matchup for LBs, so Barton and Strnad combined for 11 tackles, with Barton leading the way with 7.
Week 16 Green Dot: Cody Barton
Detroit Lions
Jack Campbell was the lone full-time off-ball LB for the Lions in Week 16. It’s worth noting that Ben Niemann saw increased usage in their nickel defense but saw just 65% of the snaps, finishing with just 4 tackles. Kwon Alexander was inactive, so Ezekiel Turner absorbed some of those snaps (23), but no one outside of Campbell is worth starting in Detroit. The Lions are mixing in some dime and big nickel looks.
Week 16 Green Dot: Jack Campbell
Green Bay Packers
With Quay Walker inactive, Eric Wilson wore the green dot as the play caller. Wilson saw 100% of the snaps in Week 16. Green Bay was in nickel for most of the game and they featured Wilson and Edgerrin Cooper. Cooper saw 70% of the snaps and out snapped Isaiah McDuffie, who was relegated to their base defense. Cooper also sat out for the final few series. If Walker misses Week 17, Wilson will be the target and Cooper should be picked up, as well.
Week 16 Green Dot: Eric Wilson
Houston Texans
Henry To’oTo’o and Christian Harris played 100% of the snaps for the Texans in Week 16. To’oTo’o wore the dot and led the defense in tackles with 10. Harris contributed 7 tackles of his own and had a big sack where he exploded up the middle to get to Mahomes. The Texans were nickel-heavy and were rarely in their base defense. Harris looks to have value as an LB3 heading into Week 17.
Week 16 Green Dot: Henry To’oTo’o
Indianapolis Colts
EJ Speed was inactive, but there’s no real info on who’d take his place as the nickel LB2. Of course, the info came out after kickoff. Jaylon Carlies was the LB2 opposite Zaire Franklin. Carlies was on the field for all but one snap and Grant Stuard saw just 16 snaps in their base defense. Franklin saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. Carlies looks to be the LB to target.
Week 16 Green Dot: Zaire Franklin
Jacksonville Jaguars
Foyesade Oluokun was on the field for all but 4 snaps and wore the dot while he was on the field. Devin Lloyd saw a full-time role, playing in 81% of the snaps.
Week 16 Green Dot: Foyesade Oluokun
Kansas City Chiefs
Nick Bolton saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot in Week 16. Drue Tranquill saw 88% of the snaps and managed 7 tackles. Once again, a disappointing game out of Bolton. Since recording 11 tackles in Week 13, he’s combined for just 14 tackles over the last 3.
Week 16 Green Dot: Nick Bolton
Las Vegas Raiders
Robert Spillane was the lone full-time LB. Spillane played 100% of the snaps while wearing the dot. Spillane turned in a solid game with 8 tackles.
Week 16 Green Dot: Robert Spillane
Los Angeles Chargers
Out of their 62 snaps, the Chargers were in base for just 13. They featured more of their big nickel and Junior Colson out-snapped Denzel Perryman. Colson was on the field for 56% of the snaps while Perryman saw just 17%. Daiyan Henley was on for 100% of the snaps and wore the dot.
Week 16 Green Dot: Daiyan Henley
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams featured one off-ball LB in Christian Rozeboom, as he was on the field for all but 3 snaps and has been a life saver for most of his managers. The Rams were in their dime defense for 29 snaps, and their big dime for 3 snaps. Omar Speights saw 38 snaps, but mostly in their base and nickel packages.
Week 16 Green Dot: Quentin Lake
Miami Dolphins
Anthony Walker played 100% of the snaps while wearing the dot, however, the news will be the health of Jordyn Brooks. Brooks suffered dual injuries: quad and knee. He did return for the final defensive series in the 4th, so that’s good news. Brooks seemed to be moving fine. A 75% Brooks is still better than a 100% Duke Riley. Brooks would miss 14 snaps and play in 78% of the game.
Week 16 Green Dot: Anthony Walker
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings went with one off-ball LB in Week 16. Blake Cashman was the lone off-ball LB and was on for 100% of the snaps while wearing the dot. The Vikings went dime/big nickel for the entire game.
Week 16 Green Dot: Blake Cashman
New England Patriots
Kyle Dugger took over the play-calling duties as he’s now the defender wearing the dot. There wasn’t a true full-time off-ball LB in New England’s defense this week. Jahlani Tavai saw 70% of the snaps while Christian Elliss saw 67%. Sione Takitaki saw a handful of snaps (11). Tavai, as far as initial grades go, fared the best with a 71.5 PFF grade. In the words of Dr. King Schultz, trusting an NE LB in Week 17 “would be a dubious proposition at best.”
Week 16 Green Dot: Kyle Dugger
New Orleans Saints
The Saints were in nickel for most of the game, as Demario Davis and Pete Werner were full-time off-ball LBs in Week 16. Werner was on the field for all but 6 snaps while Davis played 100% of the snaps wearing the dot. Davis has picked up his tackle production just in time for the playoffs—recording 32 tackles over the last 3 games.
Week 16 Green Dot: Demario Davis
New York Giants
Bobby Okereke will miss the remainder of the year, as he was placed on IR. However, Micah McFadden suffered a neck injury and didn’t return. The Giants season is toast, so my guess is they take any chances with McFadden. Darius Muasau took over the play-calling duties when McFadden left and was in on all but one snap. Ty Summers took over the Muasau role. The Giants run mostly nickel, so Summers could be a dart throw in Week 17 if McFadden inactive. Summers should see 60%-70% of the snaps as the LB2 role in their nickel defene. Muasau is the LB to target should McFadden miss Week 17. Summers in deeper leagues if playing 4+ LBs.
Week 16 Green Dot: Micah McFadden. It was then Darius Muasau after McFadden exited.
New York Jets
The Jets were in their nickel defense for most of the game with Jamien Sherwood wearing the dot. Quincy Williams saw all but one snap. The Jets were rarely in their base defense, as Chazz Surratt saw just 5 snaps.
Week 16 Green Dot: Jamien Sherwood
Philadelphia Eagles
There was a bit of worry for Nakobe Dean, as he suffered an undisclosed injury mid-way through the 2nd quarter. He only missed 9 snaps before he returned later in the 2nd. He’d end up playing 58 snaps and wore the dot while on the field. Zack Baun was on the field for 100% of the snaps. Both are startable in Week 17.
Week 16 Green Dot: Nakobe Dean
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers played the run and wanted to stop Derrick Henry. Elandon Roberts saw 76% of the snaps, but that was more to combat Baltimore’s run threat, and I’m not expecting that usage next week. Even with more snaps, Roberts managed just 2 tackles. Patrick Queen saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot.
Week 16 Green Dot: Patrick Queen
San Francisco 49ers
Just as soon as the 49ers got Dre Greenlaw back, they lost him. A strained calf knocked him out of the game after 4 snaps. Fred Warner saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. Dee Winters got the majority of the snaps as the nickel LB once Greenlaw left, as he saw 76% of the snaps. Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles saw some nickel snaps but was mostly in on their base defense, appearing in 20 snaps. I’d say the target is Winters.
Week 16 Green Dot: Fred Warner
Seattle Seahawks
Ernest Jones was the lone full-time LB for Seattle; however, Tyrice Knight saw 77% of the snaps. The Seahawks went dime/single-LB a few more snaps than usual in Week 16. Jones saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot.
Week 16 Green Dot: Ernest Jones
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
KJ Britt was inactive for Week 16 so JJ Russell got another start this week. Russell ended up seeing 73% of the snaps. They went with a modified nickel with three safeties and Lavonte David. David was the lone full-time LB and wore the dot this week.
Week 16 Green Dot: Lavonte David
Tennessee Titans
It’s another muddy LB situation here. Kenneth Murray had 3 DNPs but was active. Jerome Baker and Luke Gifford ended up inactive. Otis Reese and Murray looked to be the off-ball LBs in Tennessee’s nickel before both got hurt. Murray suffered a wrist injury while Reese had an ankle injury. James Williams got in the game, while Cedric Gray took over the green dot. There are some key injuries here, so monitor the injury report. Gray is the target should Murray miss Week 17.
Week 16 Green Dot: Kenneth Murray. Cedric Gray when Murray left with the wrist injury.
Washington Commanders
Washington was in nickel for most of the game. Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu were the three-down LBs and were both on the field for 100% of the snaps. Wagner wore the dot as usual.
Week 16 Green Dot: Bobby Wagner
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Good afternoon! Do you have a crystal ball? If you were looking for youngish LB’s with potential to be high % snappers to stash for next year…how would you rank Knight, McFadden and Cedric Gray? Do you have your eye on any other up and comers that might take over?