2025 Full-Time and Green Dot Linebackers: Week 8
What did Week 8 teach us about the state of the green dot LBs for 2025?
More shenanigans befell IDP managers this week. There was a 1st quarter benching out of nowhere for the Jets. Then, an active (but injured) LB in Buffalo. Not to mention a big injury in Cleveland that leaves a star LB out for several weeks.
It was a wild week. Here were my observations of the LB position in Week 8.
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 8.
*-Injured
Arizona Cardinals
Bye week.
Week 8 Green Dot: Bye Week
Atlanta Falcons
As I mentioned last week, Divine Deablo suffered a forearm injury, which opened the door for JD Bertrand to see a full-time role. Well, Deablo is now on IR with a fractured forearm. It came out near the end of the week that there could be a committee for the LB2 spot opposite Kaden Elliss.
Turns out, that was coach speak. Bertrand was on the field for all but one snap in Atlanta’s nickel/2-LB defense and finished with 9 tackles. He looks to have the full-time role and should be a waiver target this week, if you didn’t grab him last week. Elliss was on the field for 100% of the snaps with the dot.
Week 8 Green Dot: Kaden Elliss
Baltimore Ravens
Roquan Smith returned to the field in Week 8. He was the lone full-time LB, was on the field for 100% of the snaps, and reclaimed the dot. He led the way with 12 tackles. Teddye Buchanan remained the LB2 in their nickel/2-LB defense, but only played 70% of the snaps. He had a rough game, so keep an eye on his playing time going forward. I don’t think Trenton Simpson is a threat (just 10 snaps), but Jay Higgins could start seeing some defensive snaps. I charted Buchanan with 3 missed tackles.
Week 8 Green Dot: Roquan Smith
Buffalo Bills
Terrel Bernard was active and available, but didn’t play… great news for those who started him. Shaq Thompson and Dorian Williams got the start at off-ball LB, with Thompson on the field for 100% of the snaps with the dot. Williams was on for 83% of the snaps and was off the field for dime/single-LB packages. Joe Andreessen got snaps, but mostly in their base/3-LB defense. Keep an eye on Bernard’s injury. He might be ready for Week 9, which puts the kibosh on Thompson’s or Williams’ IDP value. I imagine if Bernard were healthy, Thompson would go to the bench.
Week 8 Green Dot: Shaq Thompson
Carolina Panthers
Trevin Wallace started the game with the dot, but didn’t finish. He left the game late in the 3rd quarter and didn’t return. Christian Rozeboom took over the dot and was on the field for 100% of the snaps in the 4th. Claudin Cherilus took over for Wallace and played 18 snaps. Rozeboom will be the waiver target for Week 9 if Wallace is out for an extended period of time.
Week 8 Green Dot: Trevin Wallace. (Christian Rozeboom took over when Wallace left.)
Chicago Bears
There were no major changes to Chicago’s defense. They were in nickel/2-LB for most of the game. TJ Edwards was on for 100% of the snaps with the dot, while Tremaine Edmunds was on the field for all but four snaps.
Week 8 Green Dot: TJ Edwards
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals were in their nickel/2-LB defense for most of the game in Week 8. Barrett Carter was on the field for 100% of the snaps with the dot. Although he didn’t hit double-digits, he recorded 8 tackles (5 solos). Demetrius Knight Jr. had a full-time role in the defense, as he saw 88% of the snaps. Logan Wilson recently requested a trade, so we’ll have to see if there’s any movement, but Wilson saw just 20 snaps this week.
Week 8 Green Dot: Barrett Carter
Cleveland Browns
Should Carson Schwesinger have been in the game? Eh, it’s debatable. Schwesinger got rolled up on near the end of the 4th, but at least he walked off on his own power. Albeit limping, but he was walking. Unfortunately, it appears he suffered a high ankle sprain and is expected to miss the next 4-6 weeks. Mohamoud Diabate finished with the dot, and he is the waiver target and Schwesinger’s replacement. Devin Bush saw his normal role in Cleveland’s nickel/2-LB defense, as he saw 91% of the snaps.
Week 8 Green Dot: Carson Schwesinger. (Mohamoud Diabate finished with the dot when Schwesinger left.)
Dallas Cowboys
Jack Sanborn ended up inactive this week, which continues to pave the way for Shemar James to see a full-time role, which was the case in Week 8. The Cowboys were in their nickel/2-LB defense for the majority of the game, as Marist Liufau saw just 16 snaps in their base defense. James was on the field for all but three snaps, while Kenneth Murray was on for 100% of the snaps with the dot. Even when Sanborn is back, I don’t see him as a threat to James’ snaps and usage in the defense. Sanborn will probably see just base downs when he returns.
Week 8 Green Dot: Kenneth Murray
Denver Broncos
The week Dre Greenlaw returns, he ends up getting suspended at the end of the game for agitating a referee. So, with no Greenlaw, Justin Strnad started the game and saw 77% of the snaps. Alex Singleton was the lone three-down LB for Denver. He was on for all but two snaps with the dot. I suspect Strnad’s usage will go down when Greenlaw returns from his suspension in Week 9.
Week 8 Green Dot: Alex Singleton
Detroit Lions
Bye week.
Week 8 Green Dot: Bye Week
Green Bay Packers
There were no major changes with Green Bay’s defense and how they deployed their off-ball LBs. They were mostly in their nickel/2-LB defense, but used their base for 25 snaps, as Isaiah McDuffie saw 40% of the snaps. Quay Walker and Edgerrin Cooper were the three-down LBs with Walker wearing the dot.
Week 8 Green Dot: Quay Walker
Houston Texans
The Texans’ defense held the 49ers to 48 offensive snaps. Azeez Al-Shaair was on the field for 100% of the snaps with the dot. He was the lone full-time LB. Henry To’oTo’o and EJ Speed continue to rotate snaps in nickel. Al-Shaair is the only Houston off-ball to trust.
Week 8 Green Dot: Azeez Al-Shaair
Indianapolis Colts
Another week, another Colts blowout and resting starters in the 4th. Zaire Frankin wore the dot, but only played 75% of the snaps. Germaine Pratt was limited in his usage in the defense and played just 49% of the snaps. Pratt is going to be tough to trust going forward, whether it’s a blowout or not.
Week 8 Green Dot: Zaire Franklin
Jacksonville Jaguars
Bye week.
Week 8 Green Dot: Bye Week
Kansas City Chiefs
Nick Bolton and Drue Tranquill were both on the field for 46 snaps and limited the Commanders to 53 total offensive plays. With the game in hand, Bolton sat the final defensive series. It did come out that he dinged his knee, but he made his media appearance after the game, so that’s a good sign it might not be severe. Bolton wore the dot in Week 8.
Week 8 Green Dot: Nick Bolton
Las Vegas Raiders
Bye week.
Week 8 Green Dot: Bye Week
Los Angeles Chargers
Daiyan Henley’s 2025 production decline will need to be studied. Henley was on the field for 100% of the snaps with the dot. He doubled his tackle output from Week 7; unfortunately, that resulted in just 2 tackles. Denzel Perryman was on for most of the snaps in Los Angeles’ nickel/2-LB defense and saw most of the early down work. He left the game early in the 4th, allowing Troy Dye to see most of the snaps in the 4th. Henley left early in the 4th with the game well in hand.
Week 8 Green Dot: Daiyan Henley
Los Angeles Rams
Bye week.
Week 8 Green Dot: Bye Week
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphns certainly bounced back after the drubbing they received at the hands of the Browns. Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson were the three-down LBs with Dodson manning the dot. With the game out of hand, Brooks and Dodson sat out most of the 4th quarter.
Week 8 Green Dot: Tyrel Dodson
Minnesota Vikings
Blake Cashman was on for 100% of the snaps with the dot. Eric Wilson continues to get the snaps as the LB2 opposite Cashman, as he saw 82% of the snaps and saw 96% of the snaps when the Vikings were in nickel/2-LB packages. The Vikings were in dime/single-LB for just 11 snaps. Pace saw just 4% of the snaps in nickel and was mostly used in their base/3-LB defense (15 snaps). Cashman and Wilson are startable in most IDP formats. Wilson still has a full-time role.
Week 8 Green Dot: Blake Cashman
New England Patriots
Robert Spillane was the lone three-down LB for New England’s defense, as he saw 100% of the snaps with the dot. Christian Elliss saw an increase in usage against Cleveland’s personnel, as he was on for 72% of the snaps. No other New England off-ball LB saw more than 15 snaps.
Week 8 Green Dot: Robert Spillane
New Orleans Saints
Pete Werner’s lack of usage in the defense continued this week. Werner saw just 50% of the snaps in Week 8 (24). Danny Stutsman and Isaiah Stalbird continue to get a few snaps that eat into Werner’s usage, and are going with dime/single-LB looks a bit more often. Werner is droppable. Demario Davis was the lone three-down LB for the Saints and wore the dot. Another double-digit tackle game for Davis this week.
Week 8 Green Dot: Demario Davis
New York Giants
Bobby Okereke was the lone three-down LB for the Giants in Week 8, as he was on for 100% of the snaps with the dot. Darius Muasau had a full-time role, as he was on for 80% of the snaps; his second week in a row with a full-time role. The Giants were in nickel/2-LB, but did use dime/single-LB a bit more often this week against Philadelphia’s personnel.
Week 8 Green Dot: Bobby Okereke
New York Jets
Well, we had some LB shenanigans to start this one. Apparently, Jamien Sherwood needed a timeout to think about his play. Sherwood was out for the first quarter, while Francisco Mauigoa and the returning Quincy Williams got the first team snaps. Sherwood came into the game in the 2nd quarter and resumed the green dot responsibilities. The Jets were in their nickel/2-LB defense for most of the game, and Williams and Sherwood were the three-down LBs. You can drop Mauigoa in most formats now that Williams is back.
Week 8 Green Dot: Francisco Mauigoa started. Jamien Sherwood finished.
Philadelphia Eagles
It looks like Nakobe Dean is carving out a full-time role in Philly’s defense, or at least starting to. Dean out snapped Jihaad Campbell 33 to 21 this week. Zack Baun was the lone three-down LB, as he was on for 100% of the snaps with the dot. Campbell played 40% of the snaps. If you are a Campbell manager, you might want to consider other options from the wire if available. Dean is a good waiver add if his usage rate continues to increase.
Week 8 Green Dot: Zack Baun
Pittsburgh Steelers
The LB2 rotation in Pittsburgh’s nickel/2-LB defense continued into Week 8. Payton Wilson, even though he saw 67% of the snaps, continues to be productive. Wilson led the way with 8 tackles. Wilson took on more early down snaps than last week and continues to be in on passing downs. Cole Holcomb was on for 33% of the snaps. Patrick Queen was the lone three-down LB, as he was on for 100% of the snaps with the dot. Wilson, with his production, is an LB4/5 in deeper leagues.
Week 8 Green Dot: Patrick Queen
San Francisco 49ers
Another Sunday, another injury to a defensive starter. Dee Winters suffered an injury in the 3rd quarter but ended up returning at the 9:00 mark in the 3rd. He then exited early in the 4th and did not return. It’s being called a knee injury, so keep an eye on his status throughout the week. Curtis Robinson would replace him in their nickel defense. Luke Gifford saw 27 snaps in their base/3-LB defense. If Winters were to miss time, it looks like Robinson is the next man up, but that’s shaky at best.
Tatum Bethune was on the field for 100% of the snaps with the dot.
Week 8 Green Dot: Tatum Bethune
Seattle Seahawks
Bye week.
Week 8 Green Dot: Bye Week
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
There were no major changes with Tampa Bay’s defense in Week 8. They were nickel/2-LB heavy as Lavonte David and SirVocea Dennis were full-time LBs in Week 8. David sat out the final defensive series, so he was on the field for all but 7 snaps. Dennis was on for 100% of the snaps.
Week 8 Green Dot: Lavonte David
Tennessee Titans
There were no major changes to Tennessee’s defense this week, as they were nickel/2-LB heavy in Week 8. Cody Barton was on for 100% of the snaps with the dot. Cedric Gray was on the field for all but 3 snaps. Just a down game for Gray. It happens. Continue to start Gray in Week 9, as you normally would.
Week 8 Green Dot: Cody Barton
Washington Commanders
The Commanders changed things up a bit this week at LB. They wanted to get faster against the Chiefs, although it didn’t really matter. Jordan Magee got the majority of the snaps at off-ball LB this week opposite Bobby Wagner. Magee saw 84% of the snaps this week, and if he’s going to continue to get full-time snaps, is worth a look in deeper leagues. Luvu saw all but 8 snaps, but played 79% of his snaps on the edge and had just 11 snaps at off-ball LB. Wagner was on the field for 100% of the snaps with the dot. The ageless Wagner is now on pace for 176 tackles.
Week 8 Green Dot: Bobby Wagner
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Do you see a path for Greenlaw to be green dot in Denver?