In IDP leagues, no position is more important than linebacker—the reality is that in most leagues, if you don't have a strong group of linebackers, you're done. Roasted. All over but the crying. Linebackers are usually the highest-scoring and most consistent players in fantasy. By a wide margin.
The reason for that is tackles. Linebackers who rack up big-time tackle numbers have both a high fantasy ceiling and a high floor. And while talent is, of course, a factor in which linebackers pile up gaudy numbers of stops, there's another major consideration—opportunity.
The key to opportunity for most linebackers is simply being on the field. Snaps. It's hard to tackle a guy from the sideline—unless you are Mike Tomlin.
That joke stays in this column for eternity. Forever.
The problem is that in this day of nickel sets as the base defense, the age of three off-ball linebackers on the field most of the time is long since over. As a matter of fact, with many NFL teams playing either more dime or three-safety looks, there are quite a few situations in which just one off-ball linebacker is on the field for a team.
Often, that lone linebacker is wearing a sticker on his helmet—the green dot that signifies that the player is wearing the helmet communicator on defense and making the defensive play calls. That player very rarely leaves the field, and while teams sometimes use a safety in that capacity, the overwhelming majority of NFL teams give that assignment to a linebacker.
With the number of every-down linebackers decreasing by the year, knowing who those green dot linebackers are is valuable information for IDP managers. In order to provide those managers with that information, once again in 2024 at Footballguys, we'll be maintaining an updated list of both who is wearing the green dot for all 32 NFL teams and who the other three-down linebackers are.
There will also be notes to keep fantasy managers apprised as to why any changes to the list happened--whether due to injury or performance, the dot can (and will) change hands.
Can I have a minute? I (sniffle) need a minute.
OK, I’m cool.
The linebackers are messed up, y’all. It’s just bad. The number of weekly starters who have been felled by the Mole People (That’s who causes all NFL injuries. The More You Know.) a month in is legitimately—excessive. Never mind guys who aren’t sniffing expectations. If you’re that unicorn of fantasy managers looking at a healthy corps of tackle machines, then you are most assuredly more exception than rule.
Also, get bent. With love. Jerk.
Chart time.
WEEK 5 GREEN DOT LB
NOTES
Atlanta Falcons
With Troy Andersen sidelined in Week 5 by a knee injury, rookie JD Bertrand saw his first career start opposite Kaden Elliss for the Falcons against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bertrand was on the field for 72 percent of the snaps and finished third on the team with five total tackles. Those numbers aren’t especially impressive, but Bertrand could still be a desperation waiver grab next week if Andersen’s injury lingers. The linebacker position in IDP leagues really is that jacked up.
Buffalo Bills
In a season that has been loaded with bad news at linebacker, there’s finally some good news—Terrel Bernard is nearing a return after straining his pectoral muscle a few weeks back. Bernard was a limited participant in practice all three days this week and is officially questionable for Sunday’s trip to Houston. It’s possible Bernard could be eased back into action—Baylon Spector has played relatively well. But Bernard will be an every-down green-dot wearer soon enough. We hope.
Carolina Panthers
Back to the bad news. The Panthers were devastated by injuries at linebacker last week—Shaq Thompson tore his Achilles tendon, while Josey Jewell suffered a groin injury that will at least sideline him in Week 5. Rookie Trevin Wallace will take over Thompson’s role as defensive signal-caller and was one of this week’s hottest IDP waiver wire pickups, while second-year pro Claudin Cherelus will also make his first career NFL start against the Chicago Bears.
Cleveland Browns
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. “So, Jordan Hicks walks into a bar—and gets hurt.” Hicks was iffy for last week’s loss to the Raiders with arm and rib injuries, and he played just a handful of snaps before exiting. With Hicks out, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah took over green-dot duties, while former first-round pick Devin Bush replaced Hicks. Bush played over 85 percent of the Browns' snaps, but his four total tackles aren’t a number that inspires a lot of IDP confidence.
Denver Broncos
We got our first look at the post-Alex Singleton Broncos last week, and it went about as expected. Cody Barton took over play-calling responsibilities and a full-time role, while fifth-year veteran Justin Strnad played 77 percent of Denver’s snaps as the team’s LB2. Strnad’s tackle production wasn’t great (four stops), but he had two tackles for loss and a sack on a day when both teams struggled to produce offensively in bad weather.
Jacksonville Jaguars
There isn’t a cloudier linebacker situation east of Los Angeles right now than the Jacksonville Jaguars. With both Foyesade Oluokun and Devin Lloyd out last week, Chad Muma wore the green dot and played the most snaps, but Ventrell Miller posted the better stat line—11 total stops and eight solos. There’s a possibility that Lloyd could play in Week 5, however, and his return means someone heads to the bench. The problem is a lack of surety as to who that will be.
Las Vegas Raiders
Robert Spillane has been a steady presence inside for the Raiders, but the spot next to him is very much in flux right now. Starter Divine Deablo (oblique) is questionable after a limited practice Friday. Backup Luke Masterson has been ruled out with a knee injury. The most likely starter for the Raiders opposite Spillane may well be rookie Tommy Eichenberg. The Godfather hopes so—Eichenberg can play. Not like Vegas has much to lose. Deablo has been Deablad.
Miami Dolphins
Wait, more good news? After missing time with a hamstring injury (a malady that has been a regular over his five-plus years in the NFL), David Long Jr. is off the injury report and appears to be all systems go against the New England Patriots. Long was off to a solid start before the injury, with top-20 numbers over the season’s first two weeks. But any time the words “David Long Jr” and “hamstring” are in the same sentence some apprehension is justified.
New Orleans Saints
The Saints could either be back to business as usual next week or going to the well. With Demario Davis (hamstring) sidelined in Week 4, it was Pete Werner as the green dot linebacker, with Willie Gay Jr seeing a bump in snaps—until he got hurt. Davis got in some practice time this week, but he’s a 35-year-old linebacker with a yanked hammy. It won’t be a stunner if third-year pro D’Marco Jackson joins the legion of “Who?” playing real snaps in Week 5.
Pittsburgh Steelers
I have been doing this for a long time. At least, it feels like a long time. I have never seen a player with Patrick Queen’s talent and salary playing on an excellent defense manage to apparently avoid ever tackling anyone. Pittsburgh’s ability to get opponents off the field is part of it, but Queen has literally played every defensive snap for the Steelers—and his numbers are mind-bogglingly bad. Just needed to vent for a minute. Carry on.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The good news for IDP managers (and pundits—including this one) who bought into K.J. Britt season in Tampa Bay is that the snaps are there now—a season-high 93 percent in Thursday’s loss in Atlanta. The bad news is that while Britt’s nine stops were an OK stat line, his play in coverage figured prominently in the Buccaneers losing that game. It was bad enough that I expect Tampa to spend the mini-bye looking to make full-time Britt a short-term problem.
