2025 Full-Time and Green Dot Linebackers: Week 10
What did Week 10 teach us about the state of the green dot LBs for 2025?
After a few tumultuous weeks, there were no major developments from Week 10. Carson Schwesinger played despite his high ankle sprain, while Ernest Jones and Mack Wilson were out this week. Who were their replacements?
Here were my observations of the LB position in Week 10.
What is the green dot?
Think of him as the quarterback of the defense. He has the comms helmet with the green helmet sticker, relays play calls from the defense coordinator to the rest of the defense, and is responsible for getting everyone aligned before the snap. Most of the time, it’s a linebacker wearing the dot, but we’ve seen safeties take on that role, too.
Here’s how the snaps and usage played out in Week 10.
*-Injured
Arizona Cardinals
Mack Wilson was declared out late in the week. It was announced Cody Simon would wear the dot and that’s how things played out. The Ohio State rookie was on for 100% of the snaps with the dot. The Cardinals were in nickel for most of the game. Akeem Davis-Gaither saw a full-time role, as he played 80% of the snaps as the LB2. Simon played well, considering the outcome, and the game didn’t look too fast for him. He was targeted just two times and didn’t have a missed tackle. Simon’s IDP value for next week will be tied to Wilson’s health.
Week 10 Green Dot: Cody Simon
Atlanta Falcons
Kaden Elliss was the lone full-time LB for the Falcons in Week 10. Elliss was on 100% of the snaps with the dot. Once again, JD Bertrand saw limited, situational work, which he’s more suited for, as he’s not a three-down LB. Betrand was on the field for just 36% of the snaps. Ronnie Harrison out snapped him 35 to 28. Neither Harrison nor Betrand is trustworthy in any IDP format at this point.
Week 10 Green Dot: Kaden Elliss
Baltimore Ravens
Teddye Buchanan looks to have lost a full-time role in the defense. It looked like Baltimore went more dime/single-LB as Buchanan saw just 58% of the snaps. His tackle production definitely dipped, as he had 4 tackles. With his usage rate, production will be volatile and inconsistent if Baltimore continues to go more single-LB. It wasn’t even him losing snaps to Trenton Simpson, as Simpson had just 6 snaps. Roquan Smith was the lone three-down LB, as he was on for 100% of the snaps with the dot.
Week 10 Green Dot: Roquan Smith
Buffalo Bills
Although the Bills limited the Dolphins to 53 snaps, they allowed 30 points. Terrel Bernard was on the field for 100% of the snaps with the dot. Matt Milano ended up with a full-time role, seeing 81% of the snaps. There were not many tackle opportunities for the LBs this week. The Bills were in some single-LB, but were mostly a nickel/2-LB and their base.
Week 10 Green Dot: Terrel Bernard
Carolina Panthers
Trevin Wallace started with the dot, but a shoulder injury knocked him out of the game late in the 3rd. We’ll have to wait to hear on the severity. Christian Rozeboom took over the three-down role after Wallace left and wore the dot. Claudin Cherilus was the LB2 in Carolina’s nickel/2-LB defense. If Wallace misses any games, Cherilus is the waiver pickup in deeper leagues.
Week 10 Green Dot: Trevin Wallace. Christian Rozeboom wore it after Wallace left.
Chicago Bears
TJ Edwards was inactive this week, and I’m not sure what his status will be for the remainder of the season, so I’d add Noah Sewell from the wire if you can. Sewell was on for 100% of the snaps alongside Tremaine Edmunds, who also saw 100% of the snaps. Sewell wore the dot on defense this week. The Bears were strictly in their nickel/2-LB defense and didn’t utilize an LB3.
Week 10 Green Dot: Noah Sewell
Cincinnati Bengals
Bye week.
Week 10 Green Dot: Bye Week
Cleveland Browns
Carson Schwesinger was supposed to miss a few games with a high ankle sprain. Tell him that. He did have a few key missed tackles, but overall, he played well for a guy with a high ankle sprain. Schwesinger played 100% of the snaps with the dot and it doesn’t sound like there was a re-aggravation. Devin Bush had his normal LB2 role in their nickel and played 95% of the snaps.
Week 10 Green Dot: Carson Schwesinger
Dallas Cowboys
Bye week.
Week 10 Green Dot: Bye Week
Denver Broncos
It’s good to see Dre Greenlaw’s usage ramp up. After seeing fewer than 40% of the snaps in each of his first two games back, Greenlaw was on for 62% of the snaps in Week 10. Although the Broncos were in dime for just 7 snaps, Justin Strnad saw just 6 total snaps. The Broncos ran a modified nickel with just one-off ball LB and added Dondrea Tillman and Jonah Elliss. Alex Singleton was the lone three-down LB, as he saw 100% of the snaps with the dot. Greenlaw is worth adding in deeper leagues, as it looks like his usage is creeping higher.
Week 10 Green Dot: Alex Singleton
Detroit Lions
There were no major changes to Detroit’s defense this week. They continue to be a 3-LB defense, as Jack Campbell, Alex Anzalone, and Derrick Barnes were on the field for 100% of the snaps. Barnes played 50% of his snaps on the edge and 37% of his snaps off-ball.
Week 10 Green Dot: Jack Campbell
Green Bay Packers
Updated after Monday Night Football.
Week 10 Green Dot: TBD
Houston Texans
The Texans were mostly in their nickel/2-LB defense, and once again, Henry To’oTo’o took a back seat to EJ Speed. To’oTo’o was on the field for 86% of the snaps, but poor coverage resulted in him ceding snaps to Speed. To’oTo’o was mostly used in their base/3-LB defense, as Speed saw 82% of the snaps in their nickel. Azeez Al-Shaair was on the field for 100% of the snaps with the dot. If you need an LB from waivers, I might go Speed. Neither were very productive this week, though.
Week 10 Green Dot: Azeez Al-Shaair
Indianapolis Colts
We finally had a ceiling game from Zaire Franklin, and a sell window might have opened up. Franklin finished with 10 tackles and added a sack. Franklin was in on 100% of the snaps with the dot. Germaine Pratt had a full-time role this week, as he saw 87% of the snaps in Indianapolis’ nickel/2-LB defense. His usage has been up and down, so he’s a shaky LB3/4 in deeper leagues. It looked like Indianapolis went dime/single-LB for just a handful of snaps. We’ll see how Pratt’s usage shakes out next week, but he now has back-to-back weeks of an 85%+ usage rate.
Week 10 Green Dot: Zaire Franklin
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars were mostly in their nickel/2-LB defense this week. Devin Lloyd’s return sent Ventrell Miller back to the bench. Literally. Miller didn’t see a defensive snap. Foyesade Oluokun and Lloyd were the three-down LBs in Week 10. Lloyd was on the field for all but 3 snaps, while Oluokun saw 100% of the snaps with the dot.
Week 10 Green Dot: Foyesade Oluokun
Kansas City Chiefs
Bye week.
Week 10 Green Dot: Bye Week
Las Vegas Raiders
Devin White was the lone full-time LB for the Raiders in Week 10. White was on for 100% of the snaps with the dot. There was more of a rotation this week with Jamal Adams and Elandon Roberts in their nickel/2-LB defense. Roberts is droppable in all formats. He’s averaged 51% of the snaps over the last two weeks since seeing a full-time role in Week 7.
Week 10 Green Dot: Devin White
Los Angeles Chargers
Daiyan Henley was the lone full-time off-ball for the Chargers this week, as he was on for 100% of the snaps with the dot. The Chargers were in dime/single-LB for the majority of the snaps this week (19) while Denzel Perryman saw just 48% of the snaps. The Chargers’ defense limited the Steelers to just 52 offensive snaps.
Week 10 Green Dot: Daiyan Henley
Los Angeles Rams
Nate Landman was the lone full-time LB this week, as he saw all but one snap this week and wore the dot. Landman was picked on in coverage this week, as he allowed 70 yards and 100% of his targets to be caught. Omar Speights was the LB2 in their nickel/2-LB defense but played just 62% of the snaps. Speights was productive with his snaps, as he was one of three Rams’ defenders to record 11 tackles. The Rams were mostly in dime/single-LB this week, as the LB2 is going to have inconsistent production on a weekly basis.
Week 10 Green Dot: Nate Landman
Miami Dolphins
There were no major changes with Miami’s defense. They were nickel/2-LB heavy this week with Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson. Brooks and Dodson combined for 21 tackles this week, with Brooks leading the way with 12 and Dodson adding 9. Miami’s defense continues to support two productive off-ball LBs.
Week 10 Green Dot: Tyrel Dodson
Minnesota Vikings
There were no major changes to Minnesota’s defense as they continue to be a nickel/2-LB defense. I’m not quite sure what happened to Ivan Pace Jr. this season, but he saw just 13 snaps. Blake Cashman and Eric Wilson were both three-down LBs, with Cashman wearing the dot. Wilson, once again, was used heavily in the pass rush as an off-ball LB, as he was sent on 15 pass rush snaps. Wilson had a QB pressure and forced a fumble, so he continues to contribute big plays. Cashman had another double-digit tackle game with 11. Cashman and Wilson are weekly starters.
Week 10 Green Dot: Blake Cashman
New England Patriots
Christian Elliss was inactive, and it was Jack Gibbens who took the LB2 role in New England’s nickel/2-LB defense. Gibbens was productive, but didn’t see a full-time role, as he was on the field for just 59% of the snaps. Gibbens recorded a 24.4% tackle rate (10) tackles, but that kind of efficiency will be unsustainable with that kind of usage. Robert Spillane was the lone three-down LB, as he saw 100% of the snaps with the dot. Although Spillane finished with 9 tackles, he was credited with 1 solo.
Week 10 Green Dot: Robert Spillane
New Orleans Saints
Demario Davis was the lone three-down LB this week, as he was on for 100% of the snaps with the dot. Once again, Pete Werner’s usage was limited to short yardage and he played just 57% of the snaps. The Saints aren’t supporting two full-time off-ball LBs in their defense, so Davis is the only one to trust right now. Davis had a few pass rush snaps and a defended pass.
Week 10 Green Dot: Demario Davis
New York Giants
Bobby Okereke was the lone three-down LB for the Giants this week, and really the only full-time LB. Darius Muasau ended up inactive, and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles was the LB2 in their nickel/2-LB defense. Flannigan-Fowles suffered a pec injury but was able to return. Early returns aren’t great, as he had two missed tackles and some deficiencies in run support. He did have two QB hits. Fowles had close to a full-time role, appearing in 78% of the snaps. He finished with 7 tackles, so if Muasau continues to miss, he could be a deep league option.
Week 10 Green Dot: Bobby Okereke
New York Jets
Late last week, it was reported that Quincy Williams would be benched for poor play. Well, like MJ in The Last Dance, Williams took that personally. The Jets started Mykal Walker, and then realized… he’s Mykal Walker. Walker played just 21 snaps, while Williams played 52 snaps. Williams finished with 7 tackles and a sack. The Jets were in their nickel/2-LB defense and Jamien Sherwood was on for 100% of the snaps with the dot.
Week 10 Green Dot: Jamien Sherwood
Philadelphia Eagles
Updated after Monday Night Football.
Week 10 Green Dot: TBD
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers were in their nickel defense for the majority of the game, and there was more of a rotation between Payton Wilson and Malik Harrison this week. It looked like Harrison got some of the early down work. Wilson saw 56% of the snaps while Harrison saw 45% of the snaps. Patrick Queen was the lone full-time LB, as he was on for 100% of the snaps with the dot.
Week 10 Green Dot: Patrick Queen
San Francisco 49ers
Tatum Bethune popped up on the injury report with a thigh injury but he gave it a go this week. Bethune played 100% of the snaps with the dot and recorded 10 tackles (though just 2 solos). Dee Winters played 100% of the snaps alongside Bethune and recorded 8 of his own stops. Winters saw 8 pass rush snaps and recorded 8 QB hits, and also had a TFL. The 49ers were in their nickel/2-LB defense for the game, but did have snaps in their base/3-LB defense as Luke Gifford was on for 26 snaps. There’s no IDP value for Gifford outside of injury.
Week 10 Green Dot: Tatum Bethune
Seattle Seahawks
Ernest Jones was doubtful heading into Week 11, despite putting in some limited practices. He ended up inactive, and Drake Thomas slid into his role. Thomas was on for 100% of the snaps with the dot. It was Tyrice Knight who would stand out. Knight recorded back-to-back strip sacks and would add 8 tackles despite playing 70% of the snaps. Nick Emmanwori also saw snaps in the box, as he was on for 19 off-ball LB snaps. Knight’s IDP value will be tied to Jones’s health, so keep an eye on his practice status throughout the week.
Week 10 Green Dot: Drake Thomas
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
There were no major changes to Tampa Bay’s defense. Bobby Wagner and SirVocea Dennis were both the three-down LBs, and Tampa was in nickel/2-LB for the entire game. David and Dennis are weekly starters, although Dennis had a game to forget with just 1 solo.
Week 10 Green Dot: Lavonte David
Tennessee Titans
Bye week.
Week 10 Green Dot: Bye Week
Washington Commanders
There was nothing worth noting with Washington’s defense. They remained a nickel/2-LB heavy defense. Bobby Wagner was on the field for 100% of the snaps with the dot, and is now 1 tackle shy of 100. Frankie Luvu was on for 86% of the snaps, as he avoided a one-game suspension. The Commanders were in their base, as Jordan Magee saw 27 snaps this week.
Week 10 Green Dot: Bobby Wagner
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