2024 Full-Time and Green Dot Linebackers: Week 2
2024 Full-Time and Green Dot Linebackers: Week 2
Week 1 is always full of surprises in the NFL. What did it teach us about the state of LBs for 2024?
As we look ahead to Week 2, let’s review who wore the dot in Week 1 and which linebackers had a full-time role. This article will be updated weekly as information is presented and potential roles change. Here's how snaps and usage are playing out, and I'll point out if a non-LB is wearing the dot.
And if you need a reminder on green dot LBs, here you go:
A defensive player who wears the green dot is the guy who wears the communication helmet and relays the defensive plays from the head coach or defensive coordinator. They are the quarterback of the defense. They need to quickly relay the plays and get the entire defense into position pre and post-snap. In most instances, the linebacker is wearing the dot, but in the past, a defensive back (safety) has worn it. Derwin James is one such player.
OK, let’s get to the update from Week 1.
Arizona Cardinals
It looked like the Cardinals would look to use 2 full-time off-ball LBs, but they utilized dime/single-LB packages more often against Buffalo’s offense. Kyzir White was the lone three-down LB, appearing in 100% of the snaps and wearing the dot. There was speculation Mack Wilson could see close to a full-time role, but ended up seeing 62% of the snaps and was consistently off the field on 3rd downs, which is a concern. He even played fewer than 80% of the snaps on first and second down. It’s tough to see him maintaining his efficiency (23.6%) with a snap rate of less than 70%. White picked up right where he left off last season with an 18% tackle rate and 11 tackles. For this week, White seems to be the lone LB to roster. If you’re in a league that rosters more than 6 LBs, Wilson is a depth piece only. In shallow leagues, don’t chase the points.
Week 1 Green Dot: Kyzir White
Atlanta Falcons
Although the Falcons were in nickel/2-LB packages, there was a rotation at the LB2 spot opposite Kaden Elliss. Elliss was the lone three-down LB, as he was on the field for 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. Troy Andersen and Nate Landman each were on the field. Andersen saw 3rd down work and passing situations, while it seemed Landman was in on early downs., as he had a higher usage rate on first/second downs. Andersen played around 46% of the snaps, while Landman was in on 54% of the snaps. Elliss is the only Falcons’ LB to own.
Week 1 Green Dot: Kaden Elliss
Baltimore Ravens
The Raven utilized Malik Harrison far more often than I expected. Roquan Smith was the lone three-down LB and was in for 100% of the snaps, wearing the dot. Trenton Simpson’s usage was disappointing in the first half, but as the game went on, he outsnapped Harrison. Simpson finished with 70% of the snaps, and just based on my eye test, is the better LB.
The Ravens used 3-safety looks and I mentioned it a few times during the preseason after the signing of Eddie Jackson. The 70% rate isn’t ideal for IDP, but I’m going to wait to see how the Ravens use Simpson in Week 2 before I make any rash decisions. If you have other options, I might start them over Simpson in Week 2.
Week 1 Green Dot: Roquan Smith
Buffalo Bills
At least for this week, it seems the LB2 situation is settled. Dorian Williams played 85% of the snaps and recorded a 15.4% tackle rate, resulting in 8 tackles. Terrel Bernard dominated the tackle share with 11 tackles (10 solos). Bernard was in on 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. Buffalo played dime/single-LB on just a few snaps, but it appears both Bernard and Dorian will have IDP value. Williams is looking like an LB3 and a waiver add this week. Bernard should be locked into your lineup weekly.
Week 1 Green Dot: Terrel Bernard
Carolina Panthers
In the words of Stephen A. Smith, “We’ve been hoodwinked, bamboozled, lead astray, run amok and flat out deceived.” Josey Jewell wore the dot during the preseason, however, it looks like that hasn’t translated to the regular season. Shaq Thompson ended up with the dot and appeared in 100% of the snaps. Jewell managers, don’t fret. He was in on all but 4 snaps and recorded 7 tackles. Thompson led the tackle share with 10. It looks like Ejiro Evero will be a nickel/2-LB defense, so both Jewell and Thompson will have IDP value for the foreseeable future.
Week 1 Green Dot: Shaq Thompson
Chicago Bears
One thing you can count on is the Bears running out 2 off-ball LBs. TJ Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds each played 100% of the snaps with Edmunds wearing the dot. Edwards dominated the tackle share for his managers and finished with a 23.4% tackle rate (15 tackles) and a 15.6% solo tackle rate. Edmunds, even though he’s a three-down LB, managed just 4 tackles. Over the last few seasons, Edmunds has been an inconsistent tackler. He should still be rostered, but he’s a match-up play if you have several LBs to choose from.
Week 1 Green Dot: Tremaine Edmunds
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals were nickel/2-LB heavy against the Patriots and featured 2 off-ball LBs. Logan Wilson was on for all 65 snaps and wore the dot, while Germaine Pratt was on the field for all but 2 snaps. Wilson produced a 20.3% tackle rate on his way to 13 tackles. Pratt would finish with 8 tackles. Wilson looked to be all over the field against the Pats. Pratt is looking like an LB3/4 in deeper leagues. You can lock Wilson in as an LB1.
Week 1 Green Dot: Logan Wilson
Cleveland Browns
At least Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was a three-down LB. JOK saw 100% of the snaps and is looking like a solid LB1. It did look like there was a rotation among Jordan Hicks, Tony Fields, and Mohamoud Diabate as the signal caller. Hicks played just 71% of the snaps. I think if you’re a Hicks manager, you might have to hold. Diabate and Fields got banged up, so Cleveland added Khaleke Hudson from the Saints’ practice squad. If Hicks is healthy enough, he should see a higher usage rate in Week 2.
Week 1 Green Dot: Jordan Hicks
Dallas Cowboys
It looks like both Dallas off-ball LBs are bringing some pass-rush upside for their managers. Eric Kendricks was in on 67% of the snaps and wore the dot when he was on the field. He looked very comfortable back in Mike Zimmer’s defense. He got dinged but did return to the field. Not only did Kendricks record 9 tackles, he added 2 sacks and an INT. Demarvion Overshown appeared in 58% of the snaps and added 9 tackles and a sack of his own. Damone Clark is droppable, as he saw just 34% of the snaps and played in garbage time. Nick Vigil also saw snaps in the blowout win against Cleveland. Zimmer appears to be running a nickel-heavy defense with 2 off-ball LBs. I’d consider adding Overshown from the wire. His speed was deadly.
Week 1 Green Dot: Eric Kendricks
Denver Broncos
Well, I think we can declare Cody Barton’s IDP usefulness dead. He played just 24 snaps, as Denver was primarily in dime/single-LB. They even started the game in a single-LB defense. Alex Singleton recorded an INT but got off to a slow start tackle-wise. He’d finish with 9 tackles. Singleton is the only Denver LB to roster.
Week 1 Green Dot: Alex Singleton
Detroit Lions
Yup. It’s Groundhog’s Day. I bought into the offseason hype that surrounded Jack Campbell. This was his team, he’s ready to lead the defense and wear the dot. Sure, it was all speculation and nothing was rooted in truth. It sounded great. Alex Anzalone was the lone three-down LB and wore the dot once again. I will say this, Anzalone has improved immensely as a football player and it’s clear the Lions defense rallies around this guy. Derrick Barnes outsnapped Campbell (64 to 44) and Campbell played fewer than 60% of the snaps. He also was off the field the majority of third downs for Barnes. Barnes appeared in 82% of the snaps but recorded just 4 tackles. Campbell’s efficiency will be unsustainable with a 56% snap rate. At this point, Anazlone is the lone Lions LB to roster, even though Barnes had a high snap rate at the LB2 spot. We’ll see how Dan Campbell utilizes his LB rotations.
Week 1 Green Dot: Alex Anzalone
Green Bay Packers
It looks like Jeff Hafley’s defense is going to be nickel-heavy as they went 2-LB for the majority of the game, which is great news for Isaiah McDuffie managers. Eric Wilson and Edgerrin Cooper rotated snaps as the LB3 when they added a third off-ball LB in their base defense. Quay Walker was on for 100% of the snaps and wore the dot, finishing with 11 tackles. McDuffie saw 96% of the snaps and finished with 6 tackles. However, the PFF grades tell a different story on his play. He received a 35.7 grade and Matt Lafleur said Edgerrin Cooper has earned more snaps going forward. McDuffie wouldn’t be a bad sell candidate.
Week 1 Green Dot: Quay Walker
Houston Texans
The Texans defense only saw 45 snaps, so not many tackle opportunities. Azeez Al-Shaair was on the field for all 45 snaps and wore the dot. Christian Harris is on the short-term IR, so Henry To'oTo'o is filling at the LB2 spot. To’oTo’o appeared in 89% of the snaps and led the defense in tackles (7). However, the Texans went single-LB on 3rd downs, as it appeared To’oTo’o was off the field on half the third downs. I’m not panicking on Al-Shaair, and To’oTo’o is a short-term pick-up if you need an LB.
Week 1 Green Dot: Azeez Al-Shaair
Indianapolis Colts
The Colts were in nickel/2-LB packages for the majority of the game. Zaire Franklin saw all 79 snaps and wore the dot. One of my favorite LBs heading into the season, EJ Speed, saw all but 2 snaps. Speed finished with 10 tackles while Franklin contributed 8. Speed and Franklin should be locked in as weekly starters.
Week 1 Green Dot: Zaire Franklin
Jacksonville Jaguars
So, I’m taking a wait-and-see on the usage for Foyesade Oluokun and Devin Lloyd. Each played over 80% of the snaps but were sitting out for extended periods of time. Was it due to the heat/humidity? I mean, they play in Jacksonville, so I’m not so sure. Foye came off the field for 8 snaps, while Lloyd was off for 14, and played just half the third down snaps. Chad Muma saw 10 snaps and played alongside Lloyd at a few points. The tackle production still remains for these two. Foye finished with 11 tackles and Lloyd chipped in 9. I’m not making any drastic moves with either of them. Ryan Nielsen is still running a nickel/2-LB defense.
Week 1 Green Dot: Foyesade Oluokun
Kansas City Chiefs
Nick Bolton appeared in all 80 snaps and wore the dot for the Chiefs defense. The Chiefs deployed 3-LB packages nearly 60% of the time, using Bolton, Drue Tranquill, and Leo Chenal to counter Baltimore’s 12-personnel and run game. Tranquill ended up being the LB2 in their nickel/2-LB packages and saw 84% of the snaps, as Chenal was the LB off the field. We’ll see going forward if KC continues to use 3-LB packages at this rate. If I’m a Tranquill manager, I’m feeling good about the usage in Week 1, even though Chenal replaced in certain third down situations. Bolton had a rough go with 2 missed tackles and was burned in coverage for a TD. I wouldn’t drop him unless you have a trove of options on your wire.
I’m not running to the waiver wire to add Leo Chenal. He’s going to have his boom/bust weeks and battle inconsistency. KC’s defense probably won’t see 80 snaps again, so Chenal’s snaps will decrease. If there are full-time LBs on your wire, they should get priority in your waiver order.
Week 1 Green Dot: Nick Bolton
Las Vegas Raiders
It looks like Robert Spillane is the lone full-time/three-down LB in Las Vegas. Divine Deablo appeared in 74% of the snaps. Spillane saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. I might hold Deablo in deeper leagues, but in shallow leagues, he’s droppable. It looks like, at the outset, the Raiders might deploy more dime/single-LB packages.
Week 1 Green Dot: Robert Spillane
Los Angeles Chargers
This is a full-blown rotation at the LB spot, as it looks like they are keeping everyone fresh. I didn’t notice Denzel Perryman with the dot, and it looked like Junior Colson and Daiyan Henley were rotating. I’m not listing any of the Charger LBs on the chart. Henley was the only LB to play more than 40 snaps. This is a messy situation, and one I might be staying away from, unless a full-time LB emerges.
Week 1 Green Dot: Junior Colson/Daiyan Henley
Los Angeles Rams
Welcome to Troy Reeder season. Sean McVay had said, post-Ernest Jones trade, that Reeder and Christian Rozeboom would be the off-ball LBs, and that held serve. Reeder wore the dot and was on the field for 100% of the snaps. The Rams were still dime/single-LB heavy, as Rozeboom saw 74% of the snaps. Jake Hummel and Omar Speights were special teamers and didn’t see a defensive snap. I probably won’t add Reeder to my Week 2 waiver article, just because this could be a week-to-week thing, but as of now, Reeder appears to be the LB to roster for the Rams. So if you NEED an LB in the short-term, he’s an option. Don’t go blowing your waiver priority or FAAB. I’d rather be proactive and grab Omar Speights for little to nothing and be ahead of your league. I can see him in sooner than later.
Week 1 Green Dot: Troy Reeder
Miami Dolphins
It appears Anthony Weaver will be utilizing 2 off-ball LBs. David Long was on for 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. Jordyn Brooks also saw 100% of the snaps alongside Long. Long was the more productive of the two, finishing with 8 tackles. If I’m a Brooks manager, however, I’m feeling good about the usage.
Week 1 Green Dot: David Long
Minnesota Vikings
I won’t be including Ivan Pace in the chart this week. Pace finished with a 13.2% tackle rate but played in just 38 snaps (62%). If I’m a Pace manager, I’d be looking to drop him for an LB with a full-time role. Blake Cashman saw 89% of the snaps and wore the dot. Cashman came off the field for the blowout, while Pace finished out the game. Cashman’s production wasn’t ideal either, but I trust the usage. The Giants offense wasn’t great.
Week 1 Green Dot: Blake Cashman
New England Patriots
Ju’Whaun Bentley was the lone full-time LB in Jerod Mayo’s defense. He saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. Bentley turned in a big performance with 12 tackles and pitched in a half-sack. Jahlani Tavai had a role similar to his 2023 season. He saw 72% of the snaps. He was in most early downs and lined up on the d-line, but would come off obvious passing downs and third downs. I’m only interested in Tavai in best-ball formats or leagues where you can roster 6+ linebackers. He’s more of a depth piece than a weekly starter.
Week 1 Green Dot: Ju’Whaun Bentley
New Orleans Saints
This was a clunker for the Saints. Demario Davis and Pete Werner weren’t needed for the entire game, as they saw fewer than 70% of the snaps in the blowout. When Davis was on the field, he wore the dot. Werner’s usage was a tad concerning, as it looked like he played just 48% of the first 25 snaps (not counting penalties/special teams plays). He would play 26 of the final 30, including 18 4th quarter snaps. The Panther offense may be a bad matchup for opposing LBs, just because of the lack of tackle opportunities. Davis saved his day with a sack. While the Saints were in dime 19 snaps, Werner got 6 of those snaps, with most of them in 4th. Werner is a shaky LB3 in Week 2.
Week 1 Green Dot: Demario Davis
New York Giants
Micah McFadden had been dealing with a groin injury during camp and preseason. He wasn’t on the injury report but didn’t play a snap in Week 1. Darius Muasau got the start and appeared in 82% of the snaps and was the LB off the field when they went dime/single-LB. He finished with an INT and 6 tackles. I’m not adding him yet, just because McFadden is looming and could return next week. Bobby Okereke saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. I’m looking for Bobby O to rebound next week.
Week 1 Green Dot: Bobby Okereke
New York Jets
CJ Mosley and Quincy Williams were the three-down LBs for the Jets in Week 1. The Jets were primarily a nickel/2-LB defense throughout the game. Mosley got dinged up with a wrist injury which caused him to miss a few snaps. Although he finished with 9 tackles, he did look a bit slow. Maybe it’s just getting his feet under him, but he has logged over 3,000 snaps over the last 3 seasons. Williams saw 100% of the snaps, but wasn’t as productive. He’s still a weekly LB2.
Week 1 Green Dot: CJ Mosley
Philadelphia Eagles
Has Devin White been Wally Pipp’d? White didn’t make the Brazil trip due to an ankle injury, and after seeing Nakobe Dean and Zack Baun play (especially Baun), they might just keep him away. Dean saw all but 3 snaps and wore the dot on defense. In Week 1, it seems I underestimated Baun’s play and abilities:
Baun was on for 100% of the snaps and seemed to be flying around the field, rejuvenated by Vic Fangio’s defense. Baun saw 12 snaps on the edge and finished with 2 sacks and a 23.1% pressure rate. Baun looks to have a hybrid rush-backer/off-ball role. Baun was all over the field and finished with a 22.4% tackle rate and will be worth adding from the wire this week. Dean’s PFF grades looked like one of my term papers in high school; lots of red. He might have opened the door for White.
It looks like Fangio’s defense will be 2-LB defense, so Dean and Baun will have three-down roles. Dean, however, should be looking over his shoulder.
Week 1 Green Dot: Nakobe Dean
Pittsburgh Steelers
Newly signed free agent LB, Patrick Queen, was on the field for 100% of the snaps and wore the dot, however, that was really about it. Lots of cardio for Queen. There was a rotation at the LB2 spot between Elandon Roberts and Payton Wilson. It looked like Pittsburgh went dime/single-LB on a few 2nd/3rd situations. Wilson ended up with 24 snaps while Roberts saw 23. Roberts and Wilson can be dropped in redraft leagues.
Week 1 Green Dot: Patrick Queen
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers rolled out 2-LBs as usual. Fred Warner and De’Vondre Campbell were each on the field for 100% of the snaps. Warner wore the dot. The Jets ran just 51 plays, so not much production from the LBs, as Warner and Campbell combined for 12 tackles. Warner looks like he’s taken his game to another level, as he was all over the field. Warner still managed a 13.7% tackle rate and is a weekly starter. Campbell is not a must start every week, but definitely a streamer or match-up play.
Week 1 Green Dot: Fred Warner
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks went 2 off-ball LBs in their defense. Tyrel Dodson saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. Jerome Baker was on the field for all but one snap but didn’t match Dodson’s production. Even with Baker’s usage, Dodson is the LB I want from Seattle.
Week 1 Green Dot: Tyrel Dodson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I’m not adding KJ Britt to the chart this week. Lavonte David was the lone full-time LB for the Bucs and wore the dot. Sirvocea Dennis replaced Britt on passing downs. Britt played just 67% of the snaps. Don’t chase Dennis’s 28.6% tackle rate, as he saw just 21 snaps. The Bucs went dime a bit heavier than they have in the past. If I’m a Britt manager, I’m not happy with this, but I’d see if his role continues as a two-down run stopper. I’d have Dennis on a watch list if he continues to eat into Britt’s snaps. If you can swap Britt for someone like Tyrel Dodson, I’d do that.
Week 1 Green Dot: Lavonte David
Tennessee Titans
Kenneth Murray was the lone three-down LB. He was on for 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. Jack Gibbens got the start and it looked like he’d get most of the snaps, but he ceded playing time to Ernest Jones as the game went on. The Titans do appear to be a 2-LB defense, but the LB2 looks to have no value at this point. Gibbens appeared in 30 snaps, while Jones finished with 26. As Jones gets acclimated, I could see him overtaking Gibbens in the rotation.
Week 1 Green Dot: Kenneth Murray
Washington Commanders
Set your clock to Bobby Wagner wearing the dot, no matter the team he plays for. Wagner appeared in 100% of the snaps and finished with 10 tackles in his Washington debut. Frankie Luvu was in all but 5 snaps and played 24% of his snaps on the edge. Wagner still looks like a tackle machine in Dan Quinn’s defense. Luvu managers are going to need some big plays.
Week 1 Green Dot: Bobby Wagner
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