2025 Full-Time and Green Dot Linebackers: Week 3
What did Week 3 teach us about the state of the green dot LBs for 2025?
So, Week 3 introduced chaos into our lives, as several teams began tinkering with deployments. Other notable LBs got benched. That’s what we’re investigating in this week’s article: which teams started messing with our IDP lives?
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 3.
*-Injured
Arizona Cardinals
Mack Wilson had his best IDP game of the year so far. Wilson recorded 12 tackles, including a TFL and two defended passes. Wilson was on for 100% of the snaps with the dot. Akeem Davis-Gaither saw an increase in usage and was on the field for 78% of the snaps. I’m not buying into the playing time this week, so if someone else claims him from the wire, I’m not losing sleep over it. The Cardinals were in nickel for the majority of the game, but did so single-LB enough to keep Davis-Gaither out of a full-time role this week.
Week 3 Green Dot: Mack Wilson
Atlanta Falcons
We got a vintage Kaden Elliss game today, as he recorded 9 tackles and a sack. Divine Deablo was not so lucky. He had only 3 tackles, but was on the field for 100% of the snaps. The Falcons were primarily in nickel with their two off-ball LBs. This is a defense supporting two three-down LBs, but Deablo might be more of a matchup play as an LB3/4.
Week 3 Green Dot: Kaden Elliss
Baltimore Ravens
Updated after Monday Night Football.
Week 3 Green Dot: TBD
Buffalo Bills
Matt Milano was inactive this week, so Dorian Williams got the start in his absence. Williams didn’t have a full-time role and played 75% of the snaps. The Bills went more dime/single-LB packages than in the last two games. Buffalo went 3 safeties in dime. Buffalo was in their base for 35% of their snaps, as Shaq Thompson saw more run as the LB3. Thompson had a 28.6% tackle rate, but that production will be inconsistent with his current usage. Let your league mates fight over him on waivers. Terrel Bernard was the lone three-down LB and wore the dot. Bernard had as many tackles this week as he had coming into the game (7), and added an INT to his day.
Week 3 Green Dot: Terrel Bernard
Carolina Panthers
As of now, Christian Rozeboom is the only useful LB from the Panthers for IDP. He was the lone full-time LB as he saw 100% of the snaps with the dot. I’ll probably remove Trevin Wallace, as he saw just 58% of the snaps. The Panthers went dime/single-LB for 41% of the snaps with three safeties. Wallace was always a shaky IDP, so he’s droppable in most redraft formats.
Week 3 Green Dot: Christian Rozeboom
Chicago Bears
We have a new green dot in Chicago. TJ Edwards was ruled out ahead of Sunday, and now it’s fair to wonder if he’ll be placed on short-term IR. Noah Sewell ended up wearing the dot on defense this week. Tremaine Edmunds was allowed to roam and ended up making big plays, including two INTs, one on a tipped pass, and one in the endzone. He also added 15 tackles. Sewell added 11 of his own. The Bears were in nickel/2-LB defense for most of the game and continue to support two off-ball LBs.
Week 3 Green Dot: Noah Sewell
Cincinnati Bengals
This was an ugly one that got out of hand early. Logan Wilson started with the dot, but ended up with just 42 snaps. During the game, Wilson lost snaps to Barrett Carter, and with the game out of hand, Carter took over near the end of the 3rd quarter. Wilson did come in during the 4th for a series, but it looked like he sat out most of the 4th. When Carter came on, he wore the dot. This was an ugly game with playing time all over the place. Demetrius Knight Jr. was on for 69% of the snaps, but also saw his snaps limited with the game out of hand.
Week 3 Green Dot: Logan Wilson
Cleveland Browns
Carson Schwesinger saw 100% of the snaps with the dot in Week 3. Devin Bush maintained a full-time role with 83% of the snaps. Bush turned in a decent game with 6 tackles, but probably should have had a forced fumble. Schwesinger had one of his best games early in his rookie year. He should have had two sacks, but one was overturned when the Browns defense had too many men on the field. He later got a sack on Jordan Love, who mistakenly held the ball too long on a 3rd down. Schwesinger finished with 9 tackles (6 solos). The Browns are primarily in nickel, so Bush still has LB3/4 appeal in deeper leagues.
Week 3 Green Dot: Carson Schwesinger
Dallas Cowboys
Kenneth Murray was on the field for 100% of the snaps with the dot in Week 3. Jack Sanborn had a full-time role for the second consecutive week, as he saw 81% of the snaps and was tied for the team lead in tackles (7) in Week 3. Sanborn is worth adding in deeper leagues, as long as he maintains his current usage. The Cowboys were in nickel for most of the game, allowing Sanborn to get those full-time snaps.
Week 3 Green Dot: Kenneth Murray
Denver Broncos
We finally got the big game out of Alex Singleton that we’d been waiting for. He finished with 12 tackles (4 solos) and added a QB hit. Dre Greenlaw was placed on IR over the weekend, so Justin Strnad slides into a full-time role. Strnad saw 81% of the snaps and recorded 5 assists and a defended pass. Strnad has IDP value as an LB4 in deeper leagues. He’ll bring pass rush upside, as he saw 8 pass rush snaps this week and has 22 on the year.
Week 3 Green Dot: Alex Singleton
Detroit Lions
Updated after Monday Night Football.
Week 3 Green Dot: TBD
Green Bay Packers
Quay Walker and Edgerrin Cooper were both on the field for 100% of the snaps, with Walker wearing the dot. Walker dominated the tackle share and just seemed to be everywhere the ball was, finishing with 14 tackles. Cooper finally recorded a few tackles late in the game. The Packers were in nickel for most of the game, but were in base/3-LB, as Isaiah McDuffie was on for 22 snaps. McDuffie’s IDP value will come from injury.
Week 3 Green Dot: Quay Walker
Houston Texans
Azeez Al-Shaair saw 100% of the snaps with the dot in Week 3. Henry To’oTo’o maintained a full-time role with 88% of the snaps. Al-Shaair recorded 8 tackles, and To’oTo’o notched 4. The Texans were in nickel for most of the game, and are supporting two off-ball LBs full-time.
Week 3 Green Dot: Azeez Al-Shaair
Indianapolis Colts
Well, it wasn’t double-digits, but at least we saw some signs of life from Zaire Franklin with his 7-tackle performance. We’re not getting the elite production that we paid for, however. He’s still the lone three-down LB as he saw 100% of the snaps with the dot. Joe Bachie saw just 33 snaps, and there seems to be a bit of three-man rotation at the LB2 with Bachie, Austin Ajiake, and Cameron McGrone. Can Jaylon Carlies save us from this mess?
Week 3 Green Dot: Zaire Franklin
Jacksonville Jaguars
Once again, Foyesade Oluokun was the lone full-time LB as he saw 100% of the snaps with the dot but only managed 6 tackles. Devin Lloyd saw 72% of the snaps. Dennis Gardeck saw 21 snaps and 7 of those snaps were at off-ball LB. Although the Jaguars were in nickel, they did go 3-safety in their nickel. Lloyd’s IDP value is limited to deeper leagues starting 4+ LBs.
Week 3 Green Dot: Foyesade Oluokun
Kansas City Chiefs
Nick Bolton doubled his tackle output with his Week 3 performance. Bolton was everywhere, as he had 14 tackles, including 2 TFLs. Drue Tranquill’s usage dipped below 80% this week, as KC went dime, but for some deployments. It wasn’t the traditional single-LB, as Leo Chenal was in opposite Bolton for a few snaps. Kansas City was mostly in nickel in Week 3. Tranquill hasn’t produced any big plays since Week 1 and hasn’t recorded more than 6 tackles. He can probably be left on the bench. Bolton is a weekly starter.
Week 3 Green Dot: Nick Bolton
Las Vegas Raiders
Devin White was on for 100% of the snaps with the dot, while Germaine Pratt was on the field for all but 2 snaps. Once again, Pratt saw more snaps on the defensive line than he did as an off-ball LB. As he sees more edge snaps, his tackle production will be more inconsistent. Elandon Roberts and Jamal Adams rotated at the LB3 in their base/3-LB defense. Roberts is droppable (if you haven’t already done so).
Week 3 Green Dot: Devin White
Los Angeles Chargers
Daiyan Henley was still dealing with an illness that caused him to be questionable on Monday, and he had the same designation heading into Sunday. He was active and played 100% of the snaps with the dot. Unfortunately, he finished with just 4 tackles. Troy Dye was the LB2 in their nickel, but saw 73% of the snaps. Henley is the only LB to trust on the Chargers.
Week 3 Green Dot: Daiyan Henley
Los Angeles Rams
Nate Landman saw all but 4 snaps with the dot in Week 4. The Rams went 0-LB for a few snaps. Omar Speight’s snaps and usage rate are creeping up, as he saw 78% of the snaps this week. Speights will have some IDP value in deeper leagues if you’re starting 4+ LBs.
Week 3 Green Dot: Nate Landman
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins were in their base defense for 38% of the snaps. However, they only featured three off-ball LBs on 8 of those snaps with Willie Gay as the LB3. Their modified base featured 3 down linemen and their two edge rushers (Bradley Chubb/Jaelan Phillips). Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson were the three-down LBs and Dodson wore the dot. Dodson exploded for 11 solos and dominated the tackle share this week. Dodson was lined up on both sides of the field (just 7 snaps in the middle) and seemed to be where the ball was. Seven of his 11 tackles were made in zone coverage. Dodson and Brooks are weekly starters with their 100% snap rate.
Week 3 Green Dot: Tyrel Dodson
Minnesota Vikings
The starters were pulled for most of the 4th in this game, as it got out of hand pretty quickly. Eric Wilson wore the dot and ended up with 41 snaps, but was efficient with his time on the field. Ivan Pace Jr. had a full-time role, as he was on for 86% of the snaps. Josh Metellus, though not an LB, played 14 snaps at off-ball LB with Harrison Smith back in the lineup. Wilson was off the field for the final 3 defensive series. The Vikings were in dime for just 11 snaps, but Minnesota’s nickel featured 3-safeties and, for a few snaps, single-LB.
Week 3 Green Dot: Eric Wilson
New England Patriots
Welcome to the 2025 season, Robert Spillane. After a quiet start to the season, Spillane exploded for 15 tackles and an INT. Spillane was the lone three-down LB, as he saw 100% of the snaps with the dot. Christian Elliss appears to have been benched in this one, as his initial PFF grades were ugly. Elliss saw just 19 snaps and Jack Gibbens ended up replacing him and appeared in 24 snaps. I’d dial up Gibbens as a potential waiver add if the benching is permanent. The Patriots were in dime/single-LB for more snaps this week, as NE went 3-safety a bit more often this week with Kyle Dugger getting 18 snaps. I’d definitely keep an eye on Elliss’ role this week and keep him on the bench for Week 4.
Week 3 Green Dot: Robert Spillane
New Orleans Saints
Pete Werner is hanging on to his full-time role, as he was on the field for 79% of the snaps. It wasn’t a case of taking starters off, as Demario Davis saw 100% of the snaps with the dot. The Saints were in nickel for the majority of the game. Werner had a productive game with 13 tackles, and Davis added 11 of his own. As long as Werner can average 8 tackles/game with his usage, he’ll be a usable LB3.
Week 3 Green Dot: Demario Davis
New York Giants
Bobby Okereke was the lone three-down LB for the Giants in Week 3. He was on for 100% of the snaps and wore the dot. The Giants are down a few linebackers due to injury, and Swayze Bozeman was the LB in base, but in nickel, they were using Abdul Carter at off-ball LB. Carter played 72% of his snaps off-ball and just 15 on the edge. We’ll have to see how this impacts his pass rush.
Week 3 Green Dot: Bobby Okereke
New York Jets
Jamien Sherwood was on the field for 100% of the snaps and wore the dot in Week 3. He turned in his best IDP performance thus far with 11 tackles. The big injury was to Quincy Williams. He suffered a shoulder injury in the 2nd and didn’t return to the game. Marcelino McCrary-Ball was the next man up and saw 95% of the snaps with Williams out. The Jets were primarily in nickel, so McCrary-Ball should be on your IDP wire radar if Williams misses any time.
Week 3 Green Dot: Jamien Sherwood
Philadelphia Eagles
Zack Baun saw 100% of the snaps with the dot, and Jihaad Campbell was on the field for all but 3 snaps. Campbell turned in another solid game with 8 tackles, and saw more snaps on the edge than last week, as he saw 30% of his snaps on the defensive line. Baun proved his production and big-play ability in Vic Fangio’s defense wasn’t a fluke, recording an INT and 2 defended passes. Through 3 weeks, the Eagles are a nickel-heavy defense; however, we’re getting close to a potential Nakobe Dean return.
Week 3 Green Dot: Zack Baun
Pittsburgh Steelers
Cole Holcomb got the start in Pittsburgh’s nickel over Payton Wilson in Week 3. Holcomb saw snaps on the first few drives, then Wilson came in, and it turned into a nightmare rotation at the LB2 spot. Unfortunately for Wilson, his grades haven’t been great (29.9 overall), so he probably won’t see a full-time role going forward. The Steelers looked to be in dime more often this week, as they went 6-DBs. New England’s personnel might have dictated the dime usage, but I’m benching Wilson next week and seeing how the Steelers utilize their LB2. Holcomb saw just 50% of the snaps, so really, it’s a situation to avoid in shallow leagues.
Week 3 Green Dot: Patrick Queen
San Francisco 49ers
Fred Warner and Dee Winters were on the field for 100% of the snaps, with Warner manning the dot. The 49ers were in nickel for most of the game with Luke Gifford acting as the LB3 in their base defense.
Week 3 Green Dot: Fred Warner
Seattle Seahawks
It looked like the starters were off the field for the final drive, as Ernest Jones was on the field for all but 6 snaps with the dot. You can drop Tyrice Knight in most redraft leagues at this point. Knight saw just 59% of the snaps. There was more of a rotation in nickel with Knight and Drake Thomas.
Week 3 Green Dot: Ernest Jones
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Lavonte David was on the field for all but one snap in Week 3. David got dinged late in the 4th, but he only missed a snap. David wore the dot, as usual. SirVocea Dennis was on the field for 100% of the snaps. David wore the dot and exploded with an 11-tackle game. He also added a sack and 2 TFLs. The Bucs have been nickel-heavy through three weeks, so as long as Dennis is on the field, he’ll have IDP value. Continue to start David as you normally would.
Week 3 Green Dot: Lavonte David
Tennessee Titans
Here’s another LB situation that got all mucked up in Week 3. The Titans decided to give Kyzir White snaps, because why not? White ended up with 20 snaps, which cut into Cedric Gray’s usage. Gray saw just 56% of the snaps, and it now appears there’s no true full-time LB2 in Tennessee. Cody Barton saw 100% of the snaps with the dot and is the only LB to trust in Tennessee. Barton’s production has him more in the LB3 range.
Week 3 Green Dot: Cody Barton
Washington Commanders
Bobby Wagner is an ageless wonder and just continues to be an IDP stud. Wagner finished with 11 tackles and added 2 sacks to his week. He was on for 100% of the snaps with the dot. Frankie Luvu saw fewer edge rush snaps this week and recorded 7 tackles. I still only trust Wagner right now, even with Luvu’s usage. The Commanders have been primarily a nickel defense through 3 weeks.
Week 3 Green Dot: Bobby Wagner
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