2024 Full-Time and Green Dot Linebackers: Week 9
Through eight weeks, what have learned about full-time and green dot LBs for 2024?
We’ve hit the mid-point of the season, Week 9. Snap rates and defensive schemes are pretty much set in stone, and we’re starting to see some players return from injury.
As always, there are some injuries to watch throughout the week and two teams have their bye in Week 9. Here’s a look at the full-time/green dot linebackers from Week 8, to help you get a head start on Week 9.
*-Injured
Arizona Cardinals
Kyzir White was the lone three-down LB this week and he wore the dot. Mack Wilson continued seeing a full-time role, as he saw 83% of the snaps. After allowing 34 tackles to the Colts’ LBs, White and Wilson combined for just 11, so a bit of a disappointing game. White led the tackle share among the LBs with 7. Even in a full-time role, Wilson’s production is inconsistent at best, as has White’s. With injuries and byes, White still should be a weekly LB3.
Week 8 Green Dot: Kyzir White
Atlanta Falcons
An injury knocked out Kaden Ellis, but it only caused him to miss a few snaps. He saw 64 of the 67 snaps and wore the dot when on the field. Nate Landman wore the dot when Elliss was off the field. Troy Andersen was inactive, so it was Landman, but he ended up in a rotation with JD Bertrand, so Landman ended up playing 73% of the snaps. With Andersen set to return soon, possibly next week, Landman’s IDP value will take a hit, as I envision Andersen getting the full-time role in their nickel defense.
Week 8 Green Dot: Kaden Elliss
Update 11/2/2024: Rashaan Evans was signed to the active roster this week, and Troy Andersen is questionable heading into the game. This week, the only LB I trust is Kaden Elliss, even if Andersen is active.
Baltimore Ravens
Roqaun Smith saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot for Baltimore’s defense. It was interesting to note that the Ravens were in nickel for most of the game, as Cleveland looked to be in 11-personnel for most of the game. Trenton Simpson saw all but 2 snaps, resulting in a 97% snap rate. Although it only resulted in 4 tackles, it’s encouraging and hopefully a sign to come. We’ll see if Simpson’s usage continues against the Broncos, as they run 11 personnel around 65% of the time.
Week 8 Green Dot: Roquan Smith
Buffalo Bills
Terrel Bernard was inactive, so Baylon Spector received the start and saw 100% of the snaps. Like last week, Spector wore the dot on defense. Dorian Williams saw just 63% of the snaps after some lapses in coverage. He ended up coming off the field on 3rd downs and passing situations. Williams has recorded 10+ tackles in five of the last six but only managed 2 tackles in Week 8. Hopefully, Bernard doesn’t miss time, because Spector and Williams were tough to watch on the field together.
Week 8 Green Dot: Baylon Spector
Carolina Panthers
Josey Jewell returned to the field after missing the last few games and took over Trevin Wallace’s play-calling duties. Jewell saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. In a revenge game, Jewell recorded 10 tackles against his former team. Wallace still had a full-time role and appeared in 89% of the snaps. The Panthers went dime/single-LB for 8 snaps. Tough game for Wallace, but even with Jewell back, he still has a full-time role and is a weekly LB3/4.
Week 8 Green Dot: Josey Jewell
Chicago Bears
The Bears featured two off-ball LBs on 100% of the snaps with Tremaine Edmunds and TJ Edwards. The Bears were in base for around 30% of their snaps, and Jack Sanborn was the LB3 for those packages.
Week 8 Green Dot: Tremaine Edmunds
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals were in their normal defense but went single-LB on a few more snaps. Germaine Pratt saw all but 5 snaps this week. Logan Wilson saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. The Bengals are primarily a nickel defense, so I’m not concerned about Pratt’s usage. Wilson and Pratt are weekly starters.
Week 8 Green Dot: Logan Wilson
Cleveland Browns
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah suffered a scary neck injury in a collision with Derrick Henry. While JOK was on the field, he wore the dot. Mohamoud Diabate was JOK’s replacement, as he saw 100% of the snaps when JOK exited and wore the dot. He was productive with his snaps and finished with 8 tackles. It did look like Devin Bush was on for the majority of the snaps alongside Diabate and finished with 34 snaps. Diabate will be the priority add if JOK misses any games.
Week 8 Green Dot: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. Mohamoud Diabate wore the dot when JOK exited.
Update 11/2/2024: JOK and Jordan Hicks ruled out. JOK left late in the 3rd, and Devin Bush was on for 70% of the 4th quarter snaps, as Cleveland was in dime for 4 of the 24 snaps. Bush was in on early downs and had just one of the three 3rd down snaps. I think Bush should see around 75% of the snaps this week, so he’s shaping up to be an LB3/4 if you’re starting 3+ LBs.
Dallas Cowboys
Eric Kendricks and Demarvion Overshown were three-down LBs in Week 8, as both appeared in 100% of the snaps. Kendricks wore the dot and finished with 9 tackles. Overshown added 8 stops of his own and added a sack. It looks like Marist Liufau has overtaken Damone Clark for snaps in their base defense/3-LB, as Clark didn’t see a snap. Liufau saw 50% of the snaps this week.
Week 8 Green Dot: Eric Kendricks
Denver Broncos
It appears Cody Barton is the lone full-time LB in the Denver defense, seeing 100% of the snaps and wearing the dot. Kwon Alexander continues to eat into Justin Strnad’s snaps, as Alexander saw 12 snaps and Strnad’s snap rate fell to 61%. Initial grades aren’t favorable to Strnad, especially tackling, as he was credited with 2 misses. Even with limited snaps, Strnad still led the LBs in tackles (7) and Barton notched just 2.
Week 8 Green Dot: Cody Barton
Detroit Lions
Alex Anzalone saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot in Week 8. Malcolm Rodriguez suffered an ankle injury, and while it’s not season-ending, it could cause him to miss some time. This opened up snaps for Jack Campbell, as he saw all but 4 snaps, as he played 94% of the snaps and recorded a 16.4% tackle rate. The Lions were in nickel most of the game, with a few snaps in base, but if Rodriguez misses games, Campbell is in line for what looks to be a full-time role.
Week 8 Green Dot: Alex Anzalone
Green Bay Packers
Quay Walker was inactive due to a concussion. Eric Wilson was in on 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. Wilson, on the early look, looks to have received positive PFF grades, including a 78 grade in coverage. Wilson would finish with 9 tackles. It looked like Green Bay went more base/3-LB to get Edgerrin Cooper on the field. Isaiah McDuffie did out-snap Cooper 38-34. Cooper and McDuffie were each credited with 2 missed tackles.
Week 8 Green Dot: Eric Wilson
Update 11/2/2024: I’d be cautious if I had Quay Walker. Walker is off the injury report, but Eric Wilson has played well in his absence. In his two starts, Wilson has averaged an 81.9 grade, whereas Walker has just one game of a 75+ grade. Pete Dougherty and Eric Baranczyk have noted that the run defense has been better with Wilson at the helm, as he isn’t making the same mistakes Walker is still making. This could lead to Walker ceding snaps to Wilson, so a rotation with the green dot could be coming. If I have better options over Walker, I’d consider starting them and benching Walker.
Houston Texans
The Texans were once again without Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To’oTo’o, but the Texans brought reserves with the mighty Devin White. Using the term ‘mighty’ very loosely. Neville Hewitt saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot as Al-Shaair’s replacement. There was no clear LB2, as Jake Hansen and White each saw 32 snaps. As of now, Hansen and White have no IDP value and decrease even more (if that’s possible), once Al-Shaair and Toto return from their respective injuries. Christian Harris is also looming, but his injury appears to be longer term.
Week 8 Green Dot: Neville Hewitt
Indianapolis Colts
EJ Speed returned to the field after missing Week 7. Speed didn’t miss a beat, as he and Zaire Franklin each saw 100% of the snaps and combined for 21 tackles. Grant Stuard earned more playing time, as the Colts were in base/3-LB packages for 44% of the game. Franklin, as usual, wore the dot.
Week 8 Green Dot: Zaire Franklin
Jacksonville Jaguars
Foyesade Oluokun was activated off IR and ended up starting the game and wore the dot when he was on the field. The majority of the rotation was between Ventrell Miller and Devin Lloyd. Foye looked to be off the field for the second series, as it was Miller and Lloyd, with Lloyd wearing the dot. On the third series, it was Miller and Foye. Oluokun would be off the field for 4 total snaps, while Miller out-snapped Lloyd 42-39. Neither saw more than 65% of the snaps. I think both Lloyd and Miller are droppable with their roles in the defense.
Week 8 Green Dot: Foyesade Oluokun
Kansas City Chiefs
Nick Bolton saw all but 4 snaps and wore the dot. It did look like the Chiefs were in zero LB for a few snaps. Drue Tranquill’s usage rate fell below 70%, as he saw 69% of the snaps, but had a productive day with 6 tackles and a sack. Bolton led the defense in tackles with 9.
Week 8 Green Dot: Nick Bolton
Las Vegas Raiders
Robert Spillane wore the dot on defense, but his day could have been over early. He suffered, what looked like, a pretty rough knee injury. He missed just one snap and returned to the field on the next series. It did look like Deablo wore the dot on the snap Spillane missed. Deablo saw 85% of the snaps and it looks like the Raiders are deploying more nickel over the last few weeks. Thanks to injuries and more bye weeks, Deablo is on the IDP radar.
Week 8 Green Dot: Robert Spillane
Update 11/2/2024: Robert Spillane is coming down to a game-time decision. Spillane missed just one snap after suffering a knee injury in Week 8. I expect Divine Deablo to wear the dot with Tommy Eichenberg as the LB2 alongside him. The Raiders LB depth will be tested. Eichenberg’s PFF grades have been rough, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Eichenberg didn’t play a full-time role and rotated with guys like Amari Burney and Kana'i Mauga.
Los Angeles Chargers
It does look like Daiyan Henley has emerged as the three-down LB for the Chargers. He was the lone LB to appear in over 80% of the snaps, as he saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. The Chargers went dime/single-LB on 3rd down situations/passing situations for 36 snaps. Perryman saw just 35% of the snaps and just one 3rd down snaps. Colson saw just 14% of the snaps. The Chargers were up early and put the Saints in passing mode. As of now, Henley is the only Charger LB to roster. Perryman and Colson are droppable in redraft.
Week 8 Green Dot: Daiyan Henley
Los Angeles Rams
Troy Reeder suffered a hamstring which has landed him on IR, so he’ll miss the next 4 games. Excitement swirled ahead of Thursday’s game, as it was spotted that Omar Speights was running with the first-team defense. Speights got the start alongside Christian Rozeboom, however, he rotated at the LB2 spot with Jake Hummel. However, Speights out-snapped Hummel 22-10. Speights looked to get the early down work but saw just 51% of the 1st/2nd down snaps. Rozeboom was the full-time off-ball LB, as he saw all but 3 snaps, resulting in a 94% snap rate. The Rams went zero LB, for what looked like, 3 total snaps. Quentin Lake ended up wearing the dot on defense, and we’ll see if that’s the case while Reeder is on IR. As of now, Rozeboom will the waiver target for Week 9, as it appears he’ll have a full-time role with Reeder out.
Week 8 Green Dot: Quentin Lake
Miami Dolphins
It looks as though the dot rotation between David Long and Anthony Walker is done. Long was on for 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. Jordyn Brooks saw 100% of the snaps, as Miami was in nickel for most of the game, so Long and Brooks saw three-down roles. Long and Brooks combined for 18 tackles, as each recorded 9 stops. Long is fine to add in leagues if you’re starting more than 3 LBs weekly.
Week 8 Green Dot: David Long
Minnesota Vikings
Blake Cashman continues to deal with a turf toe injury which caused him to miss Week 8. Ivan Pace wore the dot in Week 8 and was on the field for 100% of the snaps. The Vikings, without Cashman, deployed just one off-ball LB as Kamu Grugier-Hill saw just a handful of snaps (6). Brian Flores opted to use three safety sets and deploy Harrison Smith, Josh Metellus, and Camryn Bynum around the line of scrimmage. Pace is the only LB of value with Cashman still out.
Week 8 Green Dot: Ivan Pace
Update 11/2/2024: Blake Cashman’s turf toe injury will cause him to miss Week 9, his third missed game. Kevin O’ Connell said he’s close to returning, but didn’t want to push him this week. Another week of Ivan Pace.
New England Patriots
The Patriots’ playcaller, Kyle Dugger, was inactive and it was Marte Mapu who wore the dot. It does look like Christian Elliss has overtaken a full-time role at LB, as he outsnapped Jahlani Tavai 52-49. It did look like Tavai was off the field when the Pats went dime/single-LB, as Elliss was the dime LB, and Tavai was in on just 4 third-down snaps. Elliss had a solid day tackling and was sent in on 8 pass rush snaps and recorded a sack. Christian Elliss is looking like a deep-league flier if he’s going to see an 80% snap rate.
Week 8 Green Dot: Marte Mapu
New Orleans Saints
The Saints featured two off-ball LBs for the majority of the game with Pete Werner back. The Saints were in base for just 32% of the snaps and it was Willie Gay who saw those base down snaps. With Werner healthy, Gay is droppable. Demario Davis and Werner were three-down LBs and Davis wore the dot. Werner’s production puts him on the IDP radar as a depth LB3/4.
Week 8 Green Dot: Demario Davis
New York Giants
No major changes with the Giants defense in Week 8. Bobby Okereke was the three-down LB and wore the dot. He took advantage of a good matchup and recorded a season-high, 14 tackles. The Giants went dime with just one snap, but there was more of a rotation with Micah McFadden, Isaiah Simmons, and Darius Mausau. In the 2nd quarter, the Giants used a combination of Okereke/Mausau, where Mausau saw 9 of his 14 snaps. Most of McFadden’s snaps were on early downs, as he saw just 4 third-down snaps. At this point, Okereke is the only Giants’ LB to own.
Week 8 Green Dot: Bobby Okereke
New York Jets
CJ Mosley was active, but didn’t start, and I don’t think he played any snaps. Chazz Surratt got the start in their base/3-LB packages and played in 23 snaps. On Twitter, Mosley was deemed questionable with a neck injury but hadn’t played, so it’s unsure when he got hurt. Jamien Sherwood saw all but 2 snaps and wore the dot. Quincy Williams was on for 100% of the snaps. The Jets remain a nickel-heavy defense, featuring two off-ball LBs. You can probably drop Mosley. I have added Sherwood to the chart.
Week 8 Green Dot: Jamien Sherwood
Philadelphia Eagles
Nakobe Dean turned in another solid game. He recorded 9 more tackles and now has 31 tackles in his last 3 games. Zack Baun also had a productive day. Baun had 14 tackles in his last 2 games but recorded 12 in Week 8. Dean wore the dot while on the field. Baun and Dean each with PFF grades in the 90s. They are weekly starters in Philly’s nickel defense.
Week 8 Green Dot: Nakobe Dean
Pittsburgh Steelers
Patrick Queen was the lone full-time for the Steeler, as he saw 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. Once again, more rotations at the LB2 spot with Payton Wilson and Elandon Roberts. Roberts was mostly early downs, but Payton Wilson did out snap him 30-24.
Week 8 Green Dot: Patrick Queen
San Francisco 49ers
No real changes for the 49ers’ LB usage. The 49ers were in their base defense for 11 snaps, as they were primarily in nickel. Fred Warner and De’Vondre Campbell were both on the field for 100% of the snaps. Warner wore the dot as usual. Something to keep in the back of your mind, the 49ers have their bye week and Dre Greenlaw could be returning soon.
Week 8 Green Dot: Fred Warner
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks acquired Ernest Jones from the Titans and the staff said he’d play right away. Well, he must have picked up the playbook quickly, because he saw 100% of the snaps and led the team in tackles with 15. Tyrel Dodson saw 100% of the snaps, as well and continued to wear the dot on defense. Dodson at least picked up his production and finished with 7 tackles. At this point, it doesn’t matter. No matter where Jones plays, he’s going to be productive. The Seahawks remain a nickel-based defense that features two off-ball LBs.
Week 8 Green Dot: Tyrel Dodson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Lavonte David suffered an injury that knocked him out late in the 3rd quarter. KJ Britt ended up wearing the dot for the remainder of the game. JJ Russell came on in as David’s replacement and saw 7 snaps. The Bucs are a nickel defense featuring two off-ball LBs, so if David misses time, it looks like Russell will be his replacement. If Britt is still on your wire, he’s the priority over Russell.
Week 8 Green Dot: Lavonte David. KJ Britt when David left.
Update 11/2/2024: Lavonte David is dealing with a few injuries and has been a DNP at practices and is looking like the GTD heading into Monday. If you have healthy options, I’d start them. KJ Britt and JJ Russell will be the off-ball LBs if David is inactive, so if you want to take the chance on David and he’s inactive, Britt would be the priority add over Russell.
Tennessee Titans
The Titans acquired Jerome Baker but chose to inactivate him, as he just might not have been ready to go. Kenneth Murray and Jack Gibbens for the snaps, as they both saw 100% of the snaps. Murray continued to wear the dot, and I assume that will continue even when Baker gets into the fold. I do believe the Titans will also remain a nickel-heavy defense, but we’ll see what kind of usage he gets alongside Murray. There could be a rotation with Gibbens and Baker.
Week 8 Green Dot: Kenneth Murray
Washington Commanders
The Commanders were in nickel for the majority of the game with Mykal Walker making an appearance for a snap. Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu each saw 100% of the snaps with Wagner wearing the dot.
Week 8 Green Dot: Bobby Wagner
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