2025 Full-Time and Green Dot Linebackers: Week 11
What did Week 11 teach us about the state of the green dot LBs for 2025?
We’re in Week 11, and everything is pretty much settled at the LB position. The major developments we need to monitor will be the injuries in Carolina and San Francisco. Who filled in and who will be the waiver targets? We’ll also get the answers to Dallas’ LB situation on Monday Night Football.
Here were my observations of the LB position in Week 11.
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 11.
*-Injured
Arizona Cardinals
Mack Wilson was declared out late in the week, so Cody Simon got another opportunity to wear the dot in Week 11. Simon was on the field for 100% of the snaps and was the lone full-time LB this week. Akeem Davis-Gaither was on for 73% of the snaps as the LB2 in their nickel defense. The Cards did run some dime/single-LB packages this week (14 snaps). As long as Mack is out, Simon is the LB to target on the wire.
Week 11 Green Dot: Cody Simon
Atlanta Falcons
Kaden Elliss and Ronnie Harrison were the full-time LBs for the Falcons this week. The Falcons were in nickel for most of the game, as Harrison was on the field for all but 2 snaps. JD Bertrand saw 0 snaps, and this will continue as Divine Deablo is expected back next week. I wouldn’t chase Harrison’s usage and production from this week, as he could end up in a rotation with Deablo if they ease him back from injury.
Week 11 Green Dot: Kaden Elliss
Baltimore Ravens
Roquan Smith was the lone full-time LB this week, as he saw 100% of the snaps with the dot. It looks like Teddye Buchanan has lost his full-time role, especially with Kyle Hamilton playing so well near the line of scrimmage (LOS). Buchanan saw just 66% of the snaps this week. The Ravens are playing three safeties with Hamilton, Alohi Gilman, and Malaki Starks, which is limiting Buchanan’s usage. Early grades, however, are positive for Buchanan, who I’d consider a dynasty hold, but a drop in shallow redraft formats.
Week 11 Green Dot: Roquan Smith
Buffalo Bills
Terrel Bernard was the lone full-time LB this week and he finally had his ceiling game, recording 11 tackles. Bernard saw 100% of the snaps with the dot. Matt Milano was on for 72% of the snaps and doesn’t appear to have a full-time role. Dorian Williams saw snaps in their base/3-LB defense, but saw just 28 snaps.
Week 11 Green Dot: Terrel Bernard
Carolina Panthers
Keep an eye on Christian Rozeboom this week. He suffered a hamstring injury near the end of the game and didn’t return. Claudin Cherilus took over the dot and was on for 100% of the snaps in overtime. If Trevin Wallace continues to miss, and Rozeboom misses, Cherilus will be the waiver target. I think you can ignore Maema Njongmeta, as he saw just 5 snaps.
Week 11 Green Dot: Christian Rozeboom. Claudin Cherilus took over after Rozeboom left.
Chicago Bears
The Bears were without TJ Edwards once again, so Noah Sewell got the start and wore the dot on defense. Sewell has been a solid replacement-level LB in IDP leagues, recording his second 10+ tackle game this season. Sewell saw all but a handful of snaps as Chicago mostly in their nickel/2-LB defense against Minnesota. No other off-ball LB saw snaps, outside of Sewell and Tremaine Edmunds, who saw 100% of the snaps and added 9 tackles. As long as Edwards is out, Sewell is a solid LB3.
Week 11 Green Dot: Noah Sewell
Cincinnati Bengals
I’d be a bit concerned if I were a Barrett Carter manager in redraft leagues. He continues to play poorly—I charted 4 missed tackles. Carter is lucky the LB depth behind him is shaky. He was on for 100% of the snaps with the dot. Demetrius Knight appears to have lost his full-time role as the LB2, as he was on for 50% of the snaps and was in a rotation with Oren Burks throughout the game.
Cincinnati brought up Brian Asamoah from the practice squad, so they may bring him up to speed this week. It’s not Carter’s fault; he’s a 4th-round rookie thrust into playing time. He doesn’t have elite speed or range, and it’s showing.
Week 11 Green Dot: Barrett Carter
Cleveland Browns
Carson Schwesinger continues to impress and make plays while being hobbled with an ankle sprain. Once again, he filled the stat sheet with 10 tackles (8 solos), 2 TFLs, and an INT off a tipped pass. He’s taking advantage of playing behind a stout defensive line, but is playing with instincts. Devin Bush was on the field for 92% of the snaps and contributed a pick-6. The Browns were mostly in their nickel/2-LB defense, and Bush and Schwesinger are weekly IDP starters.
Week 11 Green Dot: Carson Schwesinger
Dallas Cowboys
Updated after Monday Night Football.
Week 11 Green Dot: TBD
Denver Broncos
With Alex Singleton sidelined for the next few weeks (at least) while he recovers from cancer surgery, Justin Strnad had the three-down role and wore the dot on defense in Week 11. Dre Greenlaw did not have a full-time role and played just 61% of the snaps. The Broncos went dime/single-LB for 26 snaps against Kansas City’s personnel. Strnad is the LB to target this week while Singleton is recovering. Greenlaw is an LB4/5 in deeper leagues.
Week 11 Green Dot: Justin Strnad
Detroit Lions
There were no major changes with the Lions defense this week. They were in their base/3-LB defense for 58 snaps. Jack Campbell, Alex Anzalone, and Derrick Barnes were full-time LBs in Week 11. Campbell saw 100% of the snaps with the dot and dominated the tackle share with 15 tackles. Anzalone was on for all but 4 snaps and Barnes was on for 87% of the snaps. Barnes was used on the edge for 56% of his snaps. This is Jack Campbell’s defense.
Week 11 Green Dot: Jack Campbell
Green Bay Packers
Keep an eye on Quay Walker, as he left the game with a neck injury in the 3rd and never returned to the game. Isaiah McDuffie took over his role and was on for 100% of the snaps with the dot as Walker’s replacement. Edgerrin Cooper was on the field for 100% of the snaps. The Packers were mostly in their nickel/2-LB defense. For waivers, McDuffie will be the target if Walker is to miss any time.
Week 11 Green Dot: Quay Walker
Houston Texans
Azeez Al-Shaair was the lone full-time LB in Houston’s defense this week. Al-Shaair was on for 100% of the snaps with the dot. EJ Speed was the LB2 in their nickel/2-LB defense and was on the field for 78% of the snaps (just missing a full-time role). Henry To’oTo’o is the LB3 and primarily used in their base/3-LB defense and has no IDP value outside of injury.
Week 11 Green Dot: Azeez Al-Shaair
Indianapolis Colts
Bye week.
Week 11 Green Dot: Bye Week
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars were in their nickel/2-LB defense for most of the game in Week 11. They were in dime/single-LB for a handful of snaps and they didn’t utilize a 3rd off-ball LB. Devin Lloyd saw all but 8 snaps and was on the field for 85% of the snaps. Foyesade Oluokun was on for 100% of the snaps with the dot. The Jaguars limited the Chargers to just 48 snaps, so not many tackle opportunities this week.
Week 11 Green Dot: Foyesade Oluokun
Kansas City Chiefs
Nick Bolton saw 100% of the snaps with the dot in Week 11. Drue Tranquill had a full-time role this week, as he saw 87% of the snaps. The Chiefs were in dime for just 7 snaps, and were in their base and nickel for most of the game, as Leo Chenal was on for 48% of the snaps in their 3-LB defense.
Week 11 Green Dot: Nick Bolton
Las Vegas Raiders
Updated after Monday Night Football.
Week 11 Green Dot: TBD
Los Angeles Chargers
It was an ugly game for the Chargers. Daiyan Henley was on for most of the game but sat out the final defensive series as the game was out of hand. Denzel Perryman was on for 33 snaps, and Troy Dye got some time this week with 31 snaps the starters in garbage time.
Week 11 Green Dot: Daiyan Henley
Los Angeles Rams
There were no real changes with the Rams defense, as they were in their dime/single-LB defense for 27 snaps and a handful of zero-LB snaps. Nate Landman was the three-down LB this week and was on the field for all but 3 snaps with the dot, as he came off the field on those zero-LB snaps. Omar Speights saw nearly 70% of the snaps in their nickel/2-LB defense, as he was on for 68% of the snaps and recorded 7 tackles. Landman, even though he had 7 tackles, has a nice matchup next week and is the only off-ball LB to trust from this defense.
Week 11 Green Dot: Nate Landman
Miami Dolphins
There were no major changes with the Dolphins defense and how they deployed their off-ball LBs. Tyrel Dodson and Jordyn Brooks were the three-down LBs and Dodson wore the dot. The Dolphins were in their nickel/2-LB defense. Brooks dominated the tackle share, recording 20 tackles (10 solos). Brooks was all over the field. Dodson added 11 tackles (just 3 solos), but a sack gave his fantasy points a boost.
Week 11 Green Dot: Tyrel Dodson
Minnesota Vikings
If only we had a healthy Blake Cashman at the beginning of the season, he might have a shot at LB1. He now has four consecutive games of 11+ tackles and has his second game of 14+. He has been a tackle machine for the defense. Brian Flores continues to use a nickel/2-LB defense as Eric Wilson was on the field for all but 8 snaps. Wilson has been a weapon in the pass rush. Wilson had 14 pass rush snaps and added a QB hit along with his 6 tackles. Cashman was on the field for 100% of the snaps with the dot.
Week 11 Green Dot: Blake Cashman
New England Patriots
The Patriots were in their dime/single-LB for 12 snaps and were in nickel/2-LB for 39 snaps with Jack Gibbens and Jahlani Tavai rotating at the LB2 spot. Gibbens played 67% of the early downs and ended up appearing in 51% of the snaps and started 4 of the final 5 defensive series of the game. Tavai exited in the 4th.
Gibbens is like that situational RB who’s efficient and productive with his snaps. Even though Gibbens played 29 snaps, he recorded a 20.7% tackle rate (6 tackles) and has a 22.9% rate over the last two weeks. His tackle production can be volatile given his usage, but if you’re in a 5+ LB league, he might be worth a look with a big bye week looming in Week 12.
Robert Spillane was the lone full-time LB, as he saw 100% of the snaps with the dot.
Week 11 Green Dot: Robert Spillane
New Orleans Saints
Bye week.
Week 11 Green Dot: Bye Week
New York Giants
With no Darius Muasau this week, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles was the LB2 for the Giants’ defense. The Giants were in nickel/2-LB for most of the game; Fowles saw all but 7 snaps. Bobby Okereke was on the field for 100% of the snaps with the dot. Fowles is an LB4/5 in deeper leagues if desperate for an LB with four teams on bye next week.
Week 11 Green Dot: Bobby Okereke
New York Jets
So, the phantom benching for Quincy Williams might have been a motivational tool to get him to play better. After posting a 72.2 PFF coverage grade in Week 10, he did regress in Week 11, as he was caught out of position, had late reactions, and let his coverage assignment beat him. Williams was on the field for all but 3 snaps, so he does appear to have his job back over Francisco Mauigoa. Jamien Sherwood was on the field for 100% of the snaps with the dot.
The Jets were in dime for 5 snaps, with Williams on the field for 2 of those snaps. The Jets were primarily in their nickel/2-LB defense.
Week 11 Green Dot: Jamien Sherwood
Philadelphia Eagles
There were no real changes to the Eagles defense and they used similar rotations and personnel this week. Zack Baun was the lone full-time LB, as he was on for 100% of the snaps with the dot. Nakobe Dean was on the field for 67% of the snaps, while Jihaad Campbell was on for 34% of the snaps. The Eagles were in base/dime for just 2 snaps, while Dean and Campbell rotated in their nickel. Dean out-snapped Campbell 39 to 20.
Week 11 Green Dot: Zack Baun
Pittsburgh Steelers
Cole Holcomb was inactive this week, so Malik Harrison saw snaps; however, it was just a 33% usage rate. The Steelers were in their nickel/2-LB defense for most of the game with Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson. Wilson saw just under 80% of the snaps at 76% this week. Queen was on for 100% of the snaps with the dot and finished with 10 tackles.
Week 11 Green Dot: Patrick Queen
San Francisco 49ers
We had another injury to a three-down LB here. Tatum Bethune suffered an ankle injury that limited him to 24 snaps. He was seen on the sidelines taped up but didn’t have his helmet. He wasn’t needed, as the game was out of hand. Curtis Robinson took over the dot when Bethune exited and played most of the snaps with the dot. An injury knocked him out for a bit, but he was able to finish the game.
Keep an eye on Bethune. Robinson will be the waiver target, as he should get the dot. The 49ers are a nickel defense, so Robinson and Dee Winters will have a three-down role. Winters sat late in the 4th with the game out of hand. Rookie Nick Martin saw 14 snaps and produced a 42.8% tackle rate, resulting in 6 tackles. He’s a name to keep on your radar in dynasty leagues.
Week 11 Green Dot: Tatum Bethune
Seattle Seahawks
Ernest Jones returned from a knee injury in time for a revenge game against his former team, the Rams. He finished with 6 tackles. Jones was in on 100% of the snaps with the dot this week. Tyrice Knight didn’t see a snap while Drake Thomas was on the field for 73% of the snaps; all of their nickel/2-LB snaps. Nick Emmanwori continued to see snaps at off-ball LB (16). The Seahawks were mostly in nickel, but did run dime/single-LB a bit more this week (14 snaps).
Week 11 Green Dot: Ernest Jones
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
There were no changes in Tampa Bay’s defense, as they were in their nickel/2-LB defense for most of the game. Lavonte David and SirVocea Dennis were both on the field for 100% of the snaps, with David wearing the dot.
Week 11 Green Dot: Lavonte David
Tennessee Titans
There were no changes with the Titans’ off-ball LBs this week. Cedric Gray and Cody Barton were both on the field for 100% of the snaps, with Barton wearing the dot. Gray continues to be a tackle machine and a weekly LB1.
Week 11 Green Dot: Cody Barton
Washington Commanders
Frankie Luvu continues to split time on the edge and off-ball. Luvu had 24 EDGE snaps and 28 snaps at off-ball LB. It led to just 5 assists. Bobby Wagner saw 100% of the snaps with the dot and notched 8 tackles, on his way to a 14th consecutive 100-tackle season. Although they lost, Wagner had a few touchdown-saving plays. Wagner is the only Washington off-ball LB I trust for production. Jordan Magee saw 27 snaps in their base defense.
Week 11 Green Dot: Bobby Wagner
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