2024 IDP Rankings Breakdown: Linebackers

The Green Dot King saved the best for last: it's time for the linebacker tiers!

I’ve been saving the best for last. Alright, you linebacker-thirsty IDP maniacs, it’s time to break down my linebacker rankings/projections into tiers.

It’s no secret that I love the linebacker position. I’ve always compared them to the RB position, as the number of true three-down LBs is finite, and therefore, more valuable. Defensive coordinators are opting for extra DBs as they deploy more nickel/dime (or as I refer to them, 2-LB/1-LB) packages, with 3-LB packages now the exception rather than the rule. That’s why you should ignore 4-3/3-4 defenses and follow the snaps.

Only 18 off-ball linebackers played in more than 90% of the snaps and Bobby Okereke was the lone iron man, appearing in 100% of the snaps. Still, even with those caveats, there is value to be had at the LB position. Some of the guys I discuss below will be desirable best ball candidates as opposed to seasonal leagues.

So, as the ayatollah of Rock ‘N Rolla, Chris Jericho says, let’s “break the walls down!”

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Tier 1

In the first tier, I believe these are guys who have the highest ceilings and safest floors. To sing the praises of Bobby Wagner, I’ll let the late, great, Whitney Houston sum it up: “And I will always love you!” Wagner in redraft formats is similar to Larry Fitzgerald: you’re getting elite production so, like your trusty Toyota Camry, ride that baby into the ground until it drives no more. The future HOF’er has just two seasons of fewer than 120 tackles and has six straight seasons of 135+ tackles with a career tackle rate of 14.4%. He’s good for a few big plays to heighten the ceiling with 9.5 sacks and 21 TFLs over the last two seasons. Until BWagz shows signs of slowing down, he’s a rock-solid LB1.

Over the last two seasons, Zaire Franklin has been a tackling machine and IDP darling. I’ll sum up his stats in a tweet I posted a few weeks ago (a tweet that was liked by the man himself):

Franklin has been the model of consistency over the last two seasons since he took over the playcalling responsibilities and is a safe LB1 in 2024.

From a football standpoint, I’m wondering if the Eagles wish they had a do-over on TJ Edwards, as he continues to be one of the more underrated LBs and a solid IDP producer over the last three seasons, which include consecutive 150+ tackle seasons. He adds a bit to his ceiling with big plays, producing 19 defended passes, 5.5 sacks, and 23 TFLs; resulting in 0.27 fantasy points per snap. He’s another rock-solid LB1.

I believe, even with their age, CJ Mosley and Lavonte David belong in this tier of linebacker as they have very safe floors. Especially David since, as of now, he’ll be playing alongside a first-time starter in KJ Britt.

• Foyesade Oluokun

• Roquan Smith

• Bobby Okereke

• Zaire Franklin

• Fred Warner

• T.J. Edwards

• Bobby Wagner

• Terrel Bernard

• Alex Singleton

• C.J. Mosley

• Lavonte David

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Tier 2

The linebackers in this tier are on the outside looking in and have an argument to be made for being in the first tier. Their ceiling might not be as high, but they offer a solid floor. These LBs provide consistent tackle numbers on a weekly basis.

If you were going to skip LBs in tier 1, I have no problem going Kyzir White and Ivan Pace Jr. here. Pace’s ADP should start to tick up now that he’s wearing the dot, which all but assures him of a three-down role. In 6 games where Pace had a full-time role, he produced a 15% tackle rate and added 2 sacks. Kyzir was on his way to a monster season before a biceps injury took him out after 8 games. Pace and White make a solid LB duo in IDP leagues.

I think Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah has a clear path to an 85% snap rate, if not more. Looking at the PFF grades, he had his highest career grade of 76.8. His pass-rush grade exploded to 87.4. JOK generated a 22.5 pressure rate and was a monster around the line of scrimmage. He appeared in a career-high 761 snaps and produced a 13.3% tackle rate and 20 TFLs (3rd in the NFL). JOK is looking like a solid LB2 with LB1 upside in certain scoring formats.

• Azeez Al-Shaair

• Nick Bolton

• Logan Wilson

• Patrick Queen

• E.J. Speed

• Ivan Pace

• Kyzir White

• Quincy Williams

• Eric Kendricks

• Robert Spillane

• Quay Walker

• Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah

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Tier 3

I like this group of linebackers if you want to go with a zero-LB approach and load up on elite edge rushers. This group has a path to 85% of the snaps and there are a few guys with three-down roles locked up.

Demario Davis might be boring, but in redraft leagues, boring is good. He continues to be a consistent IDP producer and finished as the LB20 in tackle-heavy formats. He’s had seven straight seasons of 100+ tackles and after two seasons of fewer than 110 tackles, he recorded 120 in 2023. He’s also increased his ceiling potential by recording 12 sacks over the last two seasons. Without a consistent LB2 playing alongside him, he seemingly has the tackle share all to himself. Like Bobby Wagner, continue to draft a consistent scorer in redraft leagues.

EJ Speed is another LB who looks to get an expanded role in Indy’s defense. Speed appeared in 68% of the snaps and more than doubled his snap count from the previous season (728). I’ve got Speed as my LB29 and I think has a clear path to a full-time role and should see at least 80% of the snaps. I’ve got him projected for over 900 and 134 tackles.

Speaking of boring, let’s talk about Jordan Hicks. I think Hicks gets the three-down role and dot in Cleveland and has produced 105+ tackles in five consecutive seasons. Though he missed 4 games in 2023, he still managed 107 tackles.

Jack Campbell looks to be wearing the dot this season according to Colton Pouncy. It’s being reported he’s finding his voice and commanding the group. In his rookie year, Campbell saw 59% of the snaps and was still 5 tackles short of 100. He finished with a 14.9% tackle rate and added 2 sacks. With a potential three-down role looming, his IDP stock, and ADP, are set to take off further than a SpaceX shuttle.

I like Divine Deablo’s cost better than Robert Spillane’s. I’m getting an LB who’s playing a full-time role and produced a similar tackle rate. Spillane has a slightly higher ceiling thanks to his big plays, but those are unreliable from season to season.

David Long appears set to wear the dot in Miami. Long is entering his sixth season and his only question mark has been his health. Long played in a full season for the first time in his career last season and appeared in 75% of the snaps. Jerome Baker has gone to Seattle, so Long is taking over the dot. Long is a solid target in tackle-heavy formats, but his ceiling is capped with a smattering of big plays. I still like him as a solid IDP target.

I dropped Frankie Luvu to this tier because he looks to be playing the Micah Parsons role in Dan Quinn’s defense. If he plays more snaps on the edge, it’s going to lower his tackle floor. It’s no coincidence that he had a career-high in tackles last season (125) playing primarily at off-ball LB. He still managed over 100-tackles in 2022, but played the majority of his snaps at off-ball.

• Demario Davis

• Devin Lloyd

• Kaden Elliss

• Kenneth Murray

• Devin White

• Jack Campbell

• Ja'Whaun Bentley

• Tremaine Edmunds

• Alex Anzalone

• Divine Deablo

• Frankie Luvu

• Trenton Simpson

• Tyrel Dodson

• David Long

• Germaine Pratt

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Tier 4

Tier 4 is the shaky ground, with a mixture of potential breakouts and players looking at 75-80% snap rates. In this tier, you will still find LBs with a full-time/three-down role.

I’m a fan of Trenton Simpson this season, but my bugaboo might be the defensive deployment. Last season, the Ravens were primarily a 2-LB defense. With Zach Orr and the dearth of DBs at their disposal, they could run more dime/1-LB packages. Nothing is set in stone. I think Simpson’s range of outcome in snap share is between 75-95%. I’m willing to bet that he falls in the 85% range. I’m targeting him as an LB3 in redraft leagues.

Two linebackers whose stock could be going down are Blake Cashman and Edgerrin Cooper. With Pace getting the dot, Cashman’s snaps could suffer. The Vikings ran 1-LB packages over 50% of the time, well above the league average. Isaiah McDuffie is, in the words of Dylan Thomas, “not going gently into that good night.” McDuffie isn’t going to willingly give up his role to a rookie. As much as I want to provide my targets, I’m trying to point out guys to avoid or, at the very least, don’t overpay for.

Micah McFadden had the quietest 100-tackle season and reached that number despite playing just 65% of the snaps. His missed tackle rate, however, is a whole lot of yuck. That justifies the 28.8 PFF tackle grade. McFadden and Isaiah Simmons rotated at the LB2 spot opposite Bobby Okereke, but Simmons is moving to the slot, so snaps at off-ball LB have opened up. The Giants ran 2-LB packages 96% of the snaps. McFadden could see a 75%-80% snap share. Darrian Beavers could see some snaps but is Okereke’s direct backup.

Demarvion Overshown missed his entire rookie year, but he’s going to get the chance to be a starter and have a full-time role in the Dallas defense. So far at camp, he’s been described as explosive and showing a quick pace. He appears to be in line for the LB2 role opposite Eric Kendricks. He’s a mid-to-late-round pick who has LB2/3 upside in a potential full-time role.

Keep an eye on Junior Colson. He’s losing valuable camp time after an appendectomy and is going to miss the next few weeks. This is allowing Daiyan Henley to get some valuable reps alongside Denzel Perryman. I know Jim Harbaugh and Colson have a relationship, so he has that going for him, but I don’t think anything is guaranteed.

Jack Gibbens is turning some heads in Tennessee and has been a vocal leader and isn’t yielding his time to Cedric Gray. Gibbens and Kenneth Murray look to be the starters, however, whoever earns the dot might have all IDP value. The Titans were in nickel/2-LB packages 70% of the time and were above the league average in dime/single-LB at 29%. They used 3 off-ball LBs on just 13 total snaps. Gibbens was productive playing just 66% of the snaps, so in deeper leagues, he’ll have LB4/5 value if he doesn’t get the dot.

• Jordan Hicks

• Shaq Thompson

• Josey Jewell

• Micah McFadden

• Jordyn Brooks

• Blake Cashman

• Christian Harris

• Drue Tranquill

• Isaiah McDuffie

• Demarvion Overshown

• K.J. Britt

• Jack Gibbens

• Denzel Perryman

• Cody Barton

• Jahlani Tavai

• Mack Wilson

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Tier 5

As we head into tier 5, we’re entering a dead zone. Not too much upside and risky floors. There are a few targets who if they hit, will provide a huge return.

Mack Wilson is getting the reps at LB2 opposite Kyzir White. This past season, Arizona deployed 2-LB packages on just over 77% of their defensive snaps and 1-LB on 20% of their snaps. I do think the LB2 will have value as an LB4. Wilson hasn’t had a three-down role since his rookie year, so he’s champing at the bit. I’ve got Wilson projected for 716 snaps and looks to be a nice late-round sleeper.

Payton Wilson is drawing rave reviews from teammates in a short time, but he’s still behind Patrick Queen and Elandon Roberts. Cole Holcomb is returning from a knee injury. Something tells me Wilson is going to make it tough on the coaches to keep him off the field and he ends up in a package rotation with Roberts. The Steelers still deployed dime/single-LB packages well above the league average, and Wilson has been working as the lone off-ball LB. However, that was OTAs.

Isaiah Simmons is running with the DBs and is manning the slot. This will be something to keep an eye on over camp. Simmons saw 409 slot snaps with Arizona in 2022, so it’s a role he’s accustomed to playing.

Keep an eye on the competition between Pete Werner and Willie Gay. Whoever wins the LB2 role will be the target in IDP leagues. Werner might have the edge, but Gay is nipping at his heels. I’ve always been a Willie Gay fan, so I’m rooting for him.

As I mentioned above with Junior Colson, Daiyan Henley has the opportunity to usurp and seize control of the LB2 spot with reps in camp. Henley can be had for free and is one of those $1 lottery scratch-off tickets.

I’m not so sure I’d rather draft Zack Baun than Nakobe Dean at this point. Vic Fangio is favoring him among the starters and is getting the majority of the reps with the first team. So far, it looks like Baun has been deployed as an off-ball LB, as he has just 1 edge snap during the preseason. Either way, I don’t consider Baun a must-draft, but more of an LB4/5 in deeper leagues. Let someone else draft Baun at a higher cost and take Dean at the tail-end of your draft.

I’ve decreased Ernest Jones’s snaps significantly after the trade to Tennessee. At this point, you need to hold unless your waiver is chock full of three-down LBs.

• Jerome Baker

• Pete Werner

• De'Vondre Campbell

• Edgerrin Cooper

• Zack Baun

• Nate Landman

• Ernest Jones

• Payton Wilson

• Willie Gay

• Christian Rozeboom

• Troy Andersen

• Leo Chenal

• Cole Holcomb

• Isaiah Simmons

• Daiyan Henley

• Nakobe Dean

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Tier 6

Tier 6 is the best of the rest.

Matt Milano is out for the year and Dorian Williams is getting reps with the first team alongside Terrel Bernard. Baylon Specter is going to be in the mix too, as he impressed last season. Nicholas Morrow is dealing with a core/groin injury and was on the roster bubble, but that changes with Milano’s injury. The Bills could also deploy more 3-safety looks. At this point, Williams looks to be next man up.

Jamin Davis has been used as an edge rusher during training camp and that carried over to the preseason. Davis’s IDP value is limited to nil.

• Dorian Williams

• Trevin Wallace

• Sione Takitaki

• Derrick Barnes

• Junior Colson

• Cedric Gray

• Krys Barnes

• Dre Greenlaw

• Jamin Davis

• Anthony Walker

• Brian Asamoah

• Damone Clark

• Sirvocea Dennis

• Tyrice Knight

• Nicholas Morrow

• Ty'Ron Hopper

• Tommy Eichenberg

• Jaylan Ford

• Jeremiah Trotter

• J.D. Bertrand

• Marist Liufau

• Jordan Magee

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