Deep Dynasty LB Stashes: Waiver Wire Fodder with Dynasty Upside
Deep Dynasty LB Stashes: Waiver Wire Fodder with Dynasty Upside
Who are the LBs nobody is talking about that should be on your deep dynasty radar?
Even casual season-long fantasy footballers know the importance of working the waiver wire. In dynasty IDP leagues, the fruits of the labor are even more rewarding. This is especially true at linebacker, where the development of coverage skills, understanding of offenses, discipline to stay in the right gap, buildup of NFL strength, refinement of technique, and opportunity can require patience.
Each year injuries taketh, and the waiver wire giveth. And each year it giveth a few future dynasty assets. Just consider the past three years:
In 2021, Quincy Williams emerged from the ashes of a quick burnout in Jacksonville to provide season-long low-end LB2 production with the Jets. And in San Francisco, a Dre Greenlaw groin injury in week one opened the door for Azeez Al-Shaair to play his way into high-end LB2 numbers.
The next season, Frankie Luvu exploded onto the scene with high-end LB1 production as a combo off-ball/edge for the Panthers. And the Colts’ Zaire Franklin shined as an LB1 (next to Bobby Okereke) with Shaquille Leonard fading due to injuries.
And last season, Nate Landman became a suitable LB2 after Troy Andersen was lost for a season-ending shoulder injury after week three, and Blake Cashman emerged as an LB2 from a somewhat murky Houston linebacker corps that included sophomore Christian Harris, veteran Denzel Perryman (missed five games) and rookie Henry To’oTo’o (not ready for prime time).
It may be too early to really know the level of payoff of Landman or Cashman, but Franklin (my No. 7 dynasty linebacker), Williams (No. 11), Al-Shaair (No. 13), and Luvu (No. 18) are all ranked in my dynasty IDP top 40 players. And in the vast majority of leagues, all were just sitting there for the taking before their breakout seasons.
In addition, there will be off-ball options who won’t work out long-term but can help carry your linebacker lineup for at least one season. Kamu Grugier-Hill, a low-end LB1 in 2021, and Tae Crowder, a low-end LB3 that same season, are good examples of backups who ascended to major roles due to unforeseen issues or injury.
So which linebackers currently available on waivers are set to hop on the dynasty rankings rocketship? Or at least provide starter value in 2024? I’ve listed a number of options below who likely offer higher league-winning upside than the streaming corner or developmental edge rusher parked at the bottom of your roster.
(I’d advise taking all of what’s below in context. Particularly for everyone in leagues of 12 teams and fewer, and having lineup requirements that allow you to get by with two or fewer off-ball starters, first consult Mike Woellert’s Projected Full-Time and Green Dot Linebackers article before punching in your FAAB bids.)
Ernest Goes to ... Where? And, 'Omar's Comin', Yo!'
It's possibly too late to act on Sunday morning’s drama out of Los Angeles, where the Rams let IDP star Ernest Jones know that they’re good if he wants to pack his bags, leave his key under the welcome mat, and find greener pastures. Supposing Jones is indeed traded to a team more amenable to his price tag via a contract extension, voluminous snaps will open up in the middle of the Rams defense. It’s debatable whether those snaps would be filled by a single off-ball linebacker, and I'm going to wager that at least over the first half of the season, we'll have a rotation of players and coverage packages that won't allow for fantasy goodness among a group of Christian Rozeboom, rookie Omar Speights, Jake Hummel, and Troy Reeder, assuming an established linebacker doesn't come back to the Rams in a trade of Jones.
In fact, I'd bet on the immediate big winners being nickel safety Quentin Lake, playing the star position, and safety Kam Curl, who given his skillset as a read-and-react downhill enforcer should work toward the line often in run defense. It’s easy to forget that in the Sean McVay era, the Rams didn't field a true full-time linebacker during the 2020 and 2021 seasons, and they won a Super Bowl in the latter.
I don’t see Rozeboom's role as the No. 2 linebacker changing, so if another off-ball emerges, it's likely to be either:
Hummel, who entering his third season has served as the defensive signal caller at times during training camp. The Iowa State product sports a 9.48 RAS and collected six solo tackles, two assists, and a pass defensed on 56 snaps across the two preseason games.
Speights, an undrafted rookie who reportedly has so impressed coaches that he's considered a lock to be active on game days. This tweet from The Athletic's Jourdan Rodrigue on Saturday proved prescient to what was to publicly unfold Sunday morning.
So if either Hummel or Speights (or Lake, for that matter) is still out there on your waiver wire, I'd make a move to rectify that. For dynasty in particular, Speights is a no-doubt high-priority add right now.
Is This Bill Just Your Average Joe?
Buffalo also deserves its own stand-alone real estate in this article, so let’s go ahead and get the Bills’ linebacker room out of the way.
Dorian Williams was one of the first names I jotted down when brainstorming for this article. But even after an uneven and disappointing rookie season, Williams was stashed on taxi squads or already rostered in the majority of deep dynasty leagues. And in other leagues with first-come, first-served waivers, Williams was certainly jumped on after Matt Milano tore a bicep during practice on August 13.
Following Saturday night's primetime preseason matchup with Pittsburgh, a decent portion of the IDP world lost its mind over Joe Andreessen's 12-tackle showing. I'm not going to tell you to pay the rookie no mind, but do keep in mind:
Bernard's backup at the MIKE, Baylon Spector, missed the game with a calf strain. He's spent the past two seasons learning the ropes of Buffalo's defense, and I might make an argument that FAAB should be on Spector should something happen to Bernard.
Nicholas Morrow, who reportedly is close to returning to the field from a groin injury suffered on August 4, offers a veteran presence and seems more likely to stick on the 53-man roster than Andreessen.
So if you’re looking to burn a roster spot beyond Bernard and Williams, I might rather take a swing on Spector over Andreessen. There would be a certain satisfaction with having the talk of the town rostered though, so as long as the cost is low, I’d take Andreessen too. More than likely if something were to happen to Bernard or Williams, the Bills would likely just decide to go dime-heavy with Taylor Rapp, Cole Bishop, Mike Edwards, Taron Johnson, Rasul Douglas, and Christian Benford.
Other Obvious Adds
Two Chiefs: The two linebackers atop the Chiefs’ depth chart, Nick Bolton and Drue Tranquill, haven’t been the model of good health over the course of their NFL careers. Bolton missed half of the 2023 season, while Tranquill has played in 35 of a possible 63 regular season games over his five-year career. Waiting in the wings for either an injury opportunity or for Bolton to depart as a free agent after the 2024 season is our RAS King, Leo Chenal. The Wisconsin product has been a much stronger run defender than against coverage through his first two years, and seemingly hasn’t yet made the leap into a well-rounded linebacker.
Still, the upside is nice, and I’d take Chenal over anyone else listed in this article. Less obvious in this room but still worthy of roster consideration is third-year off-ball Jack Cochrane, who according to The Athletic’s Nate Taylor “has been one of the best performers in camp.” An undrafted free agent, Cochrane would have an uphill battle to achieve long-term value, but should Bolton or Tranquill pick up an early-season injury, Cochrane may offer a better shot at immediate production.
Jet Set: One of my favorite “final roster spot” stashes this offseason has been Jamien Sherwood. Widely available even in 32-team, double-copy leagues, Sherwood is the Jets’ No. 3 option behind 32-year-old C.J. Mosley and Quincy Williams. Since being drafted as a safety in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Sherwood has been somewhat slow to take to the linebacker position, but he’s managed to hang around on the strength of his special teams play, and according to ESPN reporter Rich Cimini in a tweet earlier this month, Sherwood “might be one of the most improved players on defense” and “would be the ‘Mike’ LB” if Mosley couldn’t play. Another practice reporter said “Sherwood looks like a different player. Decisive, fast, explosive in making plays.” Granted it would take an injury for Sherwood to have value in 2024, but he still offers dynasty appeal with free agency approaching next offseason.
Winters Is Coming. Is Graham Coming with Him? San Francisco’s linebacker room actually seems pretty murky once you get past All Pro Fred Warner - particularly for dynasty. With Dre Greenlaw recovering from an Achilles tear suffered during the Super Bowl, the 49ers brought in De’Vondre Campbell to play a likely full-time role. Now 31, Campbell missed six games last season with ankle and neck injuries. Both he and Greenlaw are scheduled to reach free agency next offseason.
All preseason, the buzz has been strong for two second-year ‘backers picked late on day three of the 2023 NFL Draft. Dee Winters and Jalen Graham have both been described as playing fast and aggressive, and more at ease with assignments. Winters has the better chance at 2023 relevance as the preferred No. 3 linebacker. Graham’s physicality apparently has stood out, and he’s also been feisty, getting into two fights that I saw mentioned on Twitter.
Winters should be owned in every 12-team and larger dynasty league. It may not pay off this season, but the drumbeat is strong right now for a major role in 2025. Graham is also worth trying to squeeze onto the back end of your roster even though it sounds like, of the two, Winters is the chosen one.
Mr. Wilson: Kyzir White is the undisputed linebacker to own in Arizona, but the Cardinals seemingly prioritized Mack Wilson in free agency, agreeing to terms with the former Brown and Patriot on a three-year contract on the first day of “legal tampering.” Wilson likely won’t fill a three-down role, but Josh Woods and Krys Barnes both had their moments as LB3/LB4 fill-ins last season. I’d expect the same from Wilson this year, making him a low-upside but somewhat intriguing LB5 for your roster. He’s just 26, and White and Barnes are on one-year deals. Owen Pappoe is also worth keeping an eye on here, and in deep leagues with ample taxi squad spots, Pappoe should be stashed in case he starts making the leap in year two.
His Name is Jonas: It’s easy to forget about Jonas Griffith given he hasn’t played a down of regular season defense since mid-November 2022. Returning from a torn ACL suffered one year ago, Griffith is pushing for the No. 2 linebacker job in Denver next to tackle hog Alex Singleton. And even if Cody Barton edges out Griffith, it will take just one injury for Griffith to see a major role. Over his career, he’s played 591 defensive snaps in 14 games and posted 92 combined tackles. So he’s been productive when on the field.
Just Below the Surface Options
Yes, Sir!(Vocea) - Or Rather, Let Russ Cook: The return of 34-year-old Lavonte David and the emergence of K.J. Britt certainly doused any flames under the seat of rising sophomore SirVocea Dennis, but keep in mind both Tampa Bay starters are on expiring contracts. So Dennis at least has dynasty upside and is a nice stash in deep leagues where second-year players are taxi squad-eligible. The 2023 fifth-rounder had a promising training camp last offseason, had one week of decent production as a rookie (week 12, when he had five solos, an assist, a pass defended, and a pressure on 66 snaps), and missed most of the Bucs’ 2024 training camp with an undisclosed injury.
Sans his injury — or injuries — Dennis would have immediate appeal as a linebacker who is one injury away from starting consideration in fantasy. Dennis’ missed opportunity has instead opened a door for 2022 undrafted free agent J.J. Russell to grab the top backup job. Like Dennis, Russell also had one serviceable game in 2023, and it was also in week 12 when he logged six solos, one assist, and a sack on four pressures. If SirVocea is the preferred dynasty stash, J.J. is potential immediate “dy-no-mite!”
Walker This Way: With four fantasy-relevant seasons under his belt, Anthony Walker stands out among other linebackers on this list in that he’s already a proven veteran. He’s also clearly the third option in Miami behind Jordyn Brooks and David Long, but at least the Dolphins are expected to keep two linebackers on the field under new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. Should either starter miss games, Walker is one of the more trustworthy fill-ins in the NFL.
Akeem the Dream? The Bengals’ Akeem Davis-Gaither hasn’t exactly lived up to his draft potential, but he’s always been a serviceable fill-in. While quiet last season, in 2022 Davis-Gaither posted double-digit tackle weeks while serving as the injury replacement for Logan Wilson and then Germaine Pratt. Should either starter miss extended time, Davis-Gaither is well-positioned for fantasy production.
Colt Conversion: Indianapolis’ lack of a proper starting safety to pair with Julan Blackmon has sucked up a lot of oxygen this preseason. There’s reason to be concerned about depth in the linebacker room behind Zaire Franklin and E.J. Speed too, and that’s one reason I’m interested in rookie Jaylon Carlies. A huge (6-foot-2, 227 pounds) college safety at Missouri, Carlies is converting to linebacker, and backing up E.J. Speed. Granted it’s a position transition, but one we’ve seen other big college safeties make, including the Raiders Divine Deablo and the aforementioned Sherwood. While Carlies reportedly made a positive early impression, he missed a good chunk of training camp with a hip injury. I consider him a nice dynasty stash with Speed playing out his rookie contract in 2024.
Muma’s the Word: New Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen recently had good things to say about Chad Muma, a former draft darling who has busted for fantasy while taking a distant back seat to Foye Oluokun and Devin Lloyd. The dynasty shine has certainly worn off the former third-round pick, but it’s clear that if anything were to happen to Oluokun or Lloyd, Muma would get the call. And he’s been fine so far in the preseason with six solo tackles plus an assist on 31 snaps.
Watch List Linebackers
Troy Dye, LAC: Dye never lived up to his potential during his four years in Minnesota, topping out in snaps (202) and production (28 combined tackles) as a rookie in 2020. The Southern California native's return to the West Coast seems to be agreeing with him though, and The Athletic's Daniel Popper touted Dye as one of the Bolts' training camp standouts. Granted Dye currently sits fourth on the off-ball depth chart behind Denzel Perryman, Daiyan Henley and Junior Colson, but all three have question marks. Perryman is 31 and has only exceeded 575 snaps once in his nine-year career, Henley is unproven, and Colson - also unproven - has missed most of the preseason after having his abdomen cut open and an organ removed (OK, OK, it was just his appendix, but surgery does involve separation of the abdominal muscles).
Mohamoud Diabate, CLE: The sophomore gave us nothing to judge him on during his rookie season, but he is a great athlete in a decent spot for opportunity in Cleveland, and has impressed at times this preseason. Starting MIKE Jordan Hicks is on the shelf with an undisclosed injury, which to me is worrisome given he’s 32 and dealt with a scary “compartment syndrome” condition in his leg that required surgery last November.
Mykal Walker, WAS: The former Falcon and Steeler has 220 combined tackles over four seasons, but still has zero dynasty value. He’s actually set up well right now with the Commanders given Bobby Wagner’s advanced age, Luvu’s hybrid edge/off-ball role, Jamin Davis’ move to the edge - and likely off the roster - and rookie Jordan Magee’s knee injury (torn meniscus).
Dyontae Johnson, NYG: The 2023 undrafted free agent suffered an ankle injury in the preseason opener, but until then had the upper hand in the battle for the third linebacker spot for Big Blue. Even if he’s not ready for the season, he’s worth monitoring in case something happens to Bobby Okereke or Micah McFadden, whose recent groin injury reportedly won’t cost him regular season games.
Chris Board, BAL: The projected No. 3 inside linebacker in Baltimore, Board has had an unfortunate preseason after suffering a concussion in week one of the preseason. The Ravens apparently prefer Malik Harrison as a pass rusher, so I’m assuming Board, once back on the field, would be the choice should something unfortunate happen to Roquan Smith or Trenton Simpson.
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