Every Down Linebacker- Week 16
Identifying Each Team’s Every down Linebackers is crucial to success in IDP Leagues.
| Name | Team | Snap % (15) | Tackles (15) | Points (15) | Snap % (14) | Tackles (14) | Points (14) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyzir White | ARI | 100.0% | 12 | 12.8 | 100.0% | 13 | 12.8 |
| Mack Wilson | ARI | 8.2% | 0 | - | 83.6% | 5 | 5.3 |
| Kaden Elliss | ATL | 100.0% | 11 | 19.3 | 100.0% | 10 | 19.3 |
| Malik Harrison | BAL | 83.3% | 6 | 11.8 | BYE | ||
| Roquan Smith | BAL | 76.7% | 5 | 7.5 | BYE | ||
| Matt Milano | BUF | 58.4% | 3 | 6.3 | 86.1% | 3 | 6.3 |
| Terrel Bernard | BUF | 100.0% | 10 | 13.0 | 100.0% | 10 | 10.5 |
| Claudin Cherelus | CAR | 71.4% | 9 | 10.5 | - | ||
| Josey Jewell | CAR | 95.7% | 10 | 12.8 | 100.0% | 10 | 22.3 |
| Trevin Wallace | CAR | - | 66.1% | 6 | 6.8 | ||
| T.J. Edwards | CHI | 100.0% | 8 | 18.8 | 100.0% | 10 | 22.5 |
| Tremaine Edmunds | CHI | 100.0% | 7 | 12.3 | 100.0% | 8 | 8.3 |
| Akeem Davis-Gaither | CIN | 98.5% | 12 | 13.5 | 88.1% | 8 | 11.3 |
| Germaine Pratt | CIN | 100.0% | 8 | 10.8 | 100.0% | 7 | 11.5 |
| Jordan Hicks | CLE | 92.0% | 9 | 12.8 | 100.0% | 5 | 6.8 |
| Mohamoud Diabate | CLE | 58.7% | 3 | 3.0 | 83.9% | 7 | 9.3 |
| DeMarvion Overshown | DAL | - | 70.8% | 6 | 9.0 | ||
| Eric Kendricks | DAL | 100.0% | 5 | 11.8 | 100.0% | 12 | 17.5 |
| Marist Liufau | DAL | 88.0% | 5 | 11.8 | 32.3% | 2 | 10.8 |
| Cody Barton | DEN | 100.0% | 8 | 9.0 | BYE | ||
| Justin Strnad | DEN | 93.1% | 9 | 10.8 | BYE | ||
| Ben Niemann | DET | 63.2% | 5 | 6.8 | 2.2% | 0 | - |
| Jack Campbell | DET | 100.0% | 10 | 15.0 | 100.0% | 8 | 8.3 |
| Trevor Nowaske | DET | - | 64.4% | 3 | 3.8 | ||
| Eric Wilson | GB | 64.3% | 1 | 0.8 | 55.3% | 3 | 3.0 |
| Isaiah McDuffie | GB | 42.9% | 3 | 3.8 | 100.0% | 15 | 14.3 |
| Quay Walker | GB | 35.7% | 3 | 4.5 | 98.7% | 10 | 14.5 |
| Christian Harris | HST | 82.3% | 8 | 9.0 | |||
| Henry To'oTo'o | HST | 100.0% | 11 | 17.3 | BYE | ||
| E.J. Speed | IND | 96.7% | 13 | 15.0 | BYE | ||
| Zaire Franklin | IND | 100.0% | 9 | 22.8 | BYE | ||
| Devin Lloyd | JAX | 72.2% | 1 | 0.8 | 75.8% | 8 | 6.8 |
| Foye Oluokun | JAX | 98.1% | 4 | 7.8 | 100.0% | 11 | 12.8 |
| Drue Tranquill | KC | 73.3% | 5 | 11.3 | 87.7% | 7 | 8.3 |
| Nick Bolton | KC | 96.7% | 5 | 14.5 | 91.2% | 5 | 14.0 |
| Daiyan Henley | LAC | 95.5% | 9 | 10.5 | 100.0% | 8 | 12.0 |
| Christian Rozeboom | LAR | 86.8% | 9 | 18.5 | 79.6% | 8 | 8.3 |
| Omar Speights | LAR | 66.0% | 7 | 10.0 | 63.0% | 4 | 4.5 |
| Divine Deablo | LV | 64.9% | 6 | 10.8 | 62.7% | 0 | - |
| Robert Spillane | LV | 98.2% | 8 | 15.5 | 100.0% | 7 | 9.0 |
| Anthony Walker | MIA | 98.0% | 7 | 12.3 | 92.1% | 7 | 8.3 |
| Jordyn Brooks | MIA | 98.0% | 8 | 17.0 | 100.0% | 9 | 17.8 |
| Blake Cashman | MIN | 85.7% | 8 | 15.3 | 85.7% | 7 | 10.5 |
| Jahlani Tavai | NE | 81.3% | 7 | 9.0 | BYE | ||
| Demario Davis | NO | 100.0% | 14 | 26.3 | 100.0% | 8 | 16.3 |
| Pete Werner | NO | 83.8% | 7 | 6.8 | 62.2% | 6 | 8.3 |
| Darius Muasau | NYG | 100.0% | 6 | 5.3 | 75.8% | 8 | 11.3 |
| Micah McFadden | NYG | 100.0% | 11 | 17.5 | 98.5% | 10 | 26.8 |
| Jamien Sherwood | NYJ | 87.0% | 9 | 11.3 | 98.5% | 18 | 29.8 |
| Quincy Williams | NYJ | 96.1% | 4 | 6.8 | 98.5% | 2 | 2.3 |
| Nakobe Dean | PHI | 92.7% | 10 | 16.8 | 97.1% | 12 | 15.8 |
| Zack Baun | PHI | 100.0% | 5 | 7.5 | 98.6% | 11 | 24.3 |
| Elandon Roberts | PIT | 62.3% | 4 | 4.5 | 40.6% | 3 | 5.5 |
| Patrick Queen | PIT | 100.0% | 11 | 12.8 | 100.0% | 10 | 12.8 |
| Tyrice Knight | SEA | 98.4% | 6 | 6.8 | 81.0% | 12 | 14.3 |
| Ernest Jones | SEA | 95.1% | 9 | 15.3 | 100.0% | 8 | 17.0 |
| De'Vondre Campbell | SF | - | 63.5% | 7 | 9.8 | ||
| Fred Warner | SF | 98.5% | 15 | 18.8 | 86.5% | 3 | 3.0 |
| Lavonte David | TB | 97.9% | 12 | 23.5 | 100.0% | 7 | 19.5 |
| James Williams | TEN | 64.1% | 7 | 9.8 | - | ||
| Kenneth Murray, Jr. | TEN | 93.8% | 7 | 9.0 | - | ||
| Luke Gifford | TEN | 40.6% | 8 | 16.3 | 100.0% | 11 | 16.8 |
| Otis Reese | TEN | - | 98.3% | 5 | 15.0 | ||
| Bobby Wagner | WAS | 100.0% | 5 | 8.5 | BYE | ||
| Frankie Luvu | WAS | 100.0% | 0 | 1.5 | BYE |
Here are some of the most intriguing storylines we have seen heading into Week 16.
Arizona Cardinals
Kyzir White is the only linebacker to own here for your playoffs and is the last every-down linebacker left standing. Delivering 12 tackles on 100% snap count. The big news here is that Mack Wilson left the game after just four snaps due to a concussion. His replacement just does not have the same value. Krys Barnes stepped in to replace Wilson but played only 44% of the snaps and four tackles. I’d be looking somewhere else for linebackers this week.
Buffalo Bills
Matt Milano suffered a groin injury and was replaced by Baylon Spector. Even before this setback, Milano hasn’t been the same player since returning from his earlier injury. His snap counts—77%, 84%, and 58%—suggest he’s now being used more like a two-down linebacker. Initially, it seemed the team might be easing him back due to injury concerns, but the tape shows he’s consistently coming off the field on third downs and obvious passing situations. This is disappointing, some assumed that Milano would overtake Bernard incorrectly. It’s also saddening, considering coverage has been one of Milano’s strengths in previous seasons. For playoff rounds, I’d recommend looking elsewhere.
As for Spector, he played most of the fourth quarter after Milano went down, recording three tackles in just 23% of the snaps. Meanwhile, Terrel Bernard remained his dependable every-down self, logging 10 tackles and a 100% snap share while wearing the green dot communicator. Keep an eye on Milano’s status in the injury report—if he misses time, Spector could be a sneaky fill-in option with flex appeal. Notably, this is unusual since Dorian Williams is typically Milano’s backup, but he’s also dealing with injuries.
Carolina Panthers
The key takeaway is that Claudin Cherelus started alongside Josey Jewell due to Trevin Wallace‘s injury. Cherelus played 73% of the snaps and recorded nine tackles. If Wallace remains out next week, Cherelus could be considered for deeper league formats only. Meanwhile, Josey Jewell continued as an every-down player with 96% of the snaps and tallied ten tackles, solidifying his status as an underrated IDP starter.
Dallas Cowboys
With DeMarvion Overshown now done for the season, Marist Liufau had 87.3% snaps producing five tackles and a forced fumble. What I found interesting is that The Cowboys gave both Kendricks and Liufau close to every down work. Liufau only came out for seven plays while Kendricks was on the field for 100% of the snaps, it wasn’t a great performance out of him but he did have one interception.
Denver Broncos
Justin Strnad has three successful weeks of snaps over 75%+ so he could be used in your flex. With Strnad back again as a playing option in IDP, but also real-life football, he gave fans 93% of the snaps producing 9 tackles.
Detroit Lions
This is a mess. As the injuries mount up in this front seven, the only player I feel comfortable starting would be Jack Campbell. The Lions this week went back to a four-linebacker rotation as the team’s other roles are not defined with mixed results.
Nick Niemann led that group with 62% of the snaps (42 total), while Ezekiel Turner (40%) and David Long (41.4%) split the other snaps, and Kwon Alexander came in for a dozen plays. I don’t want to have to rely on any of this even in deep formats. It’s possible Niemann might be able to carve out a role as an IDP manager speculative stash, but I am not going to as this could be a rotation situation that has too many questions and too many players rotating in and culturing snaps for me to be concerned with it.
Green Bay Packers
The news here is Quay Walker got injured in the first quarter, while we see the return of Edgerrin Cooper. Fun Facts: Before the injury, Quay Walker received 100% of the possible 22 plays in the game while Cooper and Wilson split time with each other getting (12) 50% of the remaining snaps. It gets interesting when Walker gets hurt though, Eric Wilson wore the green dot, and returns as the every down linebacker receiving all the snaps the rest of the way. Use this breakdown as a way to understand how the Packers value this rotation. McDuffie got 43.4% with leftover duties.
Houston Texans
Christian Harris, so good to have you back. pic.twitter.com/fvUD0XV26b
— big ounce (@_bigounce) December 15, 2024
As we predicted, Christian Harris returned but as the teams LB2 with 82% snaps share and generated 8 tackles. In his return to the field, as the video shows, he is still one of the fastest players on the field. Neville Hewitt is droppable now. Confirmed.
Los Angeles Chargers
Nothing new. Except this. Troy Dye might show up in the box scores, having 9 tackles and a sack! Wow right, but his snaps are far less ideal. Dye had 55.6% snaps, 48% the week before it’s just too volatile and unsustainable. I would be very mindful as that would be unsustainable from week to week. The other linebacker was rookie Junior Colson, who despite having a limited snap share 29.2% did grind out 6 tackles in a little bit of time. As above, while the tackles are fine, the snaps are limited and would feel better looking somewhere else outside of Henley.
New England Patriots
The Patriots are rotating linebackers again. It may be matchup-based weekly. I would be okay using Jahlani Tavai (79%) in one of my flex spots, and he wears the Green dot and as a play caller should be on the field more and lined up for the most action. I’m worried about both Christian Elliss (53% ) and Sione Takitaki (51%) virtually splitting and playing such a small count. Elliss did have 8 tackles and a sack but with that small of snap percentage, it’s just too risky to play this late in the fantasy season.
New Orleans Saints
Pete Werner is showing up to be an every-down linebacker now with 85% of the snaps, a huge uptick from last week. Demario Davis played his usual role with 100% of the snaps. I’d be okay playing them and trusting that volume.
New York Giants
Both Micah McFadden and Darius Muasau received 100% snaps this week. As previously mentioned when Bobby Okereke gets injured, it is Micah McFadden in a full-down role. If Bobby Okereke were to miss again for some reason, Muasau would become a top waiver target for deeper leagues, while Micah McFadden should already be a priority as he already carved out his own role.
Philadelphia Eagles
Did you know that Nakobe Dean now has 50 tackles in his last five games? Four of those five games were double-digit points and he get’s a top running team (Commanders) in the playoff in Week 16? Even though Zack Baun is the team’s LB1, they both have a role now. Pick Dean up and win your leagues.
San Francisco 49ers
Dre Greenlaw would end up playing in 46% of the snaps, as he was eased back into action, but he still managed to rack up 8 tackles. Barring injury, he will be an every-down linebacker moving forward. As we all expected Greenlaw came back and played over De’Vondre Campbell. Let’s just say, Campbell was none too pleased with the demotion and has now been suspended for the remainder of the year.
Seattle Seahawks
Nothing new except Tyrice Knight‘s 98.4% snaps becoming every down player this week.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
With K.J. Britt being inactive, SirVocea Dennis out for the season, and recently signed Deion Jones not ready yet for prime time, this LB2 rotation has been indeed interesting. J.J. Russell returned from injury and filled in as a stopgap playing 60% of the snaps, but he’s only a desperation play only in deep leagues. Lavonte David is the only player worth owning, with 100% tackles producing 12 tackles and 1.5 sacks. I’d stay away from the others.
Tennessee Titans
With Jerome Baker and Otis Reese IV both out, we got to see an active platoon and see the pecking order play out. Luke Gifford got the starting nod again and got hurt, resulting in 42% snaps. Had he not been injured he would have still gotten the coach’s confidence and went on playing. He is your LB2 regardless of the snap count. We mentioned this on last week’s podcast at 24:15. Here. (117) Week 15 Playoff Preview! IDP+Top Offense Best Waiver Wire & Stream Pickups: TNF | Betting – YouTube
Rookie 7th-round pick James Williams came in and received a whopping 62.4% snaps. Odd considering 4th round rookie Cedric Gray was only available 1% of snaps. This is damning for Gray’s value and shows you there must be something wrong here. If Gifford can’t go this week, consider adding James Williams, he also has DB-eligibility on Sleeper.
Kenneth Murray remains your only sure thing, having an every-down role and 94.2% usage.
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