Every Down Linebacker- Week 15

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Every Down Linebacker- Week 15

Identifying Each Team’s Every down Linebackers is crucial to success in IDP Leagues.

Week 15 Everydown Linebackers

Name Team Snap % (14) Tackles (14) Points (14) Snap % (13) Tackles (13) Points (13)
Kyzir White ARI 100.0% 13 12.8 100.0% 6 14.8
Mack Wilson ARI 83.6% 5 5.3 94.1% 7 24.3
Kaden Elliss ATL 100.0% 10 19.3 97.8% 5 14.0
Malik Harrison BAL BYE 66.7% 2 1.5
Roquan Smith BAL BYE 100.0% 11 11.8
Matt Milano BUF 86.1% 3 6.3 76.6% 5 6.0
Terrel Bernard BUF 100.0% 10 10.5 100.0% 9 9.0
Josey Jewell CAR 100.0% 10 22.3 100.0% 10 21.0
Trevin Wallace CAR 66.1% 6 6.8 79.2% 5 12.5
T.J. Edwards CHI 100.0% 10 22.5 100.0% 6 9.0
Tremaine Edmunds CHI 100.0% 8 8.3 100.0% 5 6.0
Akeem Davis-Gaither CIN 88.1% 8 11.3 98.5% 13 12.8
Germaine Pratt CIN 100.0% 7 11.5 100.0% 13 16.0
Jordan Hicks CLE 100.0% 5 6.8 95.1% 12 12.8
Mohamoud Diabate CLE 83.9% 7 9.3 73.8% 4 4.5
DeMarvion Overshown DAL 70.8% 6 9.0 98.3% 9 27.0
Eric Kendricks DAL 100.0% 12 17.5 100.0% 10 20.8
Cody Barton DEN BYE 100.0% 8 16.3
Justin Strnad DEN BYE 90.5% 5 8.3
Jack Campbell DET 100.0% 8 8.3 100.0% 3 4.5
Malcolm Rodriguez DET - 69.5% 5 6.8
Trevor Nowaske DET 64.4% 3 3.8 47.5% 0 -
Isaiah McDuffie GB 100.0% 15 14.3 89.2% 10 20.8
Quay Walker GB 98.7% 10 14.5 100.0% 10 21.0
Henry To'oTo'o HST BYE 97.0% 8 8.3
Neville Hewitt HST BYE 68.7% 8 9.0
E.J. Speed IND BYE 96.9% 9 16.8
Zaire Franklin IND BYE 100.0% 12 30.5
Devin Lloyd JAX 75.8% 8 6.8 72.1% 6 10.8
Foye Oluokun JAX 100.0% 11 12.8 90.2% 4 8.3
Drue Tranquill KC 87.7% 7 8.3 76.2% 5 9.0
Nick Bolton KC 91.2% 5 14.0 95.2% 11 22.3
Daiyan Henley LAC 100.0% 8 12.0 96.1% 10 12.3
Troy Dye LAC 50.8% 6 7.5 76.6% 14 17.3
Christian Rozeboom LAR 79.6% 8 8.3 89.7% 12 18.3
Omar Speights LAR 63.0% 4 4.5 66.2% 10 11.3
Divine Deablo LV 62.7% 0 - 71.6% 3 3.8
Robert Spillane LV 100.0% 7 9.0 100.0% 9 12.0
Anthony Walker MIA 92.1% 7 8.3 -
Jordyn Brooks MIA 100.0% 9 17.8 94.3% 9 13.0
Tyrel Dodson MIA 7.9% 2 1.5 100.0% 10 11.3
Blake Cashman MIN 85.7% 7 10.5 100.0% 11 15.0
Christian Elliss NE BYE 67.2% 4 11.8
Jahlani Tavai NE BYE 93.1% 4 4.5
Demario Davis NO 100.0% 8 16.3 100.0% 3 3.8
Pete Werner NO 62.2% 6 8.3 87.3% 8 11.3
Bobby Okereke NYG - 98.5% 9 17.0
Darius Muasau NYG 75.8% 8 11.3 20.6% 1 0.8
Micah McFadden NYG 98.5% 10 26.8 82.4% 4 5.3
Jamien Sherwood NYJ 98.5% 18 29.8 98.2% 4 6.0
Quincy Williams NYJ 98.5% 2 2.3 100.0% 7 21.3
Nakobe Dean PHI 97.1% 12 15.8 97.2% 10 11.3
Zack Baun PHI 98.6% 11 24.3 100.0% 13 24.3
Patrick Queen PIT 100.0% 10 12.8 100.0% 9 9.8
Tyrice Knight SEA 81.0% 12 14.3 77.4% 4 9.3
Ernest Jones SEA 100.0% 8 17.0 100.0% 8 10.5
Dee Winters SF 51.9% 2 4.5 73.2% 4 4.5
De'Vondre Campbell SF 63.5% 7 9.8 71.4% 5 8.5
Fred Warner SF 86.5% 3 3.0 76.8% 4 5.3
J.J. Russell TB - 60.3% 5 6.8
Lavonte David TB 100.0% 7 19.5 100.0% 8 10.5
Jerome Baker TEN - 90.9% 6 6.0
Kenneth Murray, Jr. TEN - 88.3% 10 19.8
Luke Gifford TEN 100.0% 11 16.8 11.7% 2 3.0
Otis Reese TEN 98.3% 5 15.0 9.1% 1 1.5
Bobby Wagner WAS BYE 100.0% 5 6.8
Frankie Luvu WAS BYE 100.0% 3 11.0
Generated by wpDataTables

Here are some of the most intriguing storylines we have seen heading into Week 15.

Atlanta Falcons

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As mentioned before, Kaden Elliss remains the every-down player, delivering a solid performance with 10 tackles and a sack. This should be clear by now. But let’s take a look at the LB2 and see if any of his is worth holding for a playoff run. In an otherwise, awful boring situation, I present to you The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

The Good: Troy Andersen is starting to get more snaps. For fantasy managers, that’s promising, but let’s dive deeper.

The Bad: Unfortunately, despite the increased playing time, Andersen only recorded two tackles on 48% of the snaps.

The Ugly: The situation it poses on Fantasy managers. While I would not drop Anderson,  I’d recommend looking elsewhere for IDP options.

While Andersen’s increased involvement is a positive, he’s best left on the bench for now until we see if he can get back to that elite playing level again.

Detroit Lions

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I was particularly curious this week to see who would step into the LB2 role, previously held by Jack Campbell and Malcolm Rodriguez, which had shown at least some perceived value.

As if in a cruel twist, none of the candidates delivered much. David Long played 32% of the snaps and recorded just one tackle. Zeke Turner (one tackle) and Kwon Alexander (two tackles) each saw 34% of the snaps. Frankly, those numbers make this rotation an easy pass for IDP purposes. Jack Campbell, with his 8 tackles, remains the only every-down linebacker on this team worth rostering.

Dallas Cowboys

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With the Monday Night Football news confirming that DeMarvion Overshown is out for the season following knee surgery, the focus shifts to finding his replacement. Overshown’s absence for a second consecutive season leaves a significant gap in the unit, compounded by Damone Clark also being sidelined. This leaves Eric Kendricks as the only experienced linebacker on the roster.

Enter Marist Liufau. The Cowboys have shown trust in him, as he’s been working with the starters throughout the offseason. When Overshown went down, Liufau stepped in, logging 32% of the snaps and contributing 1.5 sacks before the injury. A rookie out of Notre Dame, Liufau profiles as a solid Mike linebacker prospect with effective blitzing skills. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him take over this role moving forward.

Houston Texans

Here is a bit of a bonus as this team was on a bye this week. We will likely cover this in this week’s injury report, but it helps to write two articles. As Christian Harris comes off IR, and we know Azeez Al-Shaair is suspended for three games, there’s a good chance that Harris could see playing time as early as next week. Scoop him up.

We unraveled this entire conspiracy on last week’s podcast you can view it all here at 12:30 Top IDP Streamers+Waivers Week 14+IDP+Betting+TNF Preview as it is unfolding to be true.

This development particularly impacts Neville Hewitt managers, so be sure to monitor this and if possible pick up both.

Los Angeles Chargers

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Everyone knows that every down role belongs to Daiyan Henley but concerns emerge from the LB2 room. As previously reported Troy Dye, due to all the injuries, got the start at LB2 but he is hard to trust due to historical usage. That nugget of information remained true this week as he only received 48.2% limiting his tackles to just 6. This is a far cry considering the week before he played out of his mind with 77% and 14 tackles. Consider this week more of a baseline on what to expect out of this journeyman player. Rookie Junior Colson trending upward with 18.8% snaps but not enough yet to take notice.

Miami Dolphins

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Here is some big news.  Anthony Walker has emerged back as this team’s LB2…again. Walker donned the green dot playing 91% of the snaps and producing 7 tackles. As you could assume this is bad news for Tyrel Dodson, as he went back to the bench from whence he came, logging 8.8% but that was just six snaps. This is concerning as it indicates Walker will remain on the field and Dodson did in fact not take over his role. I’d hold Dodson a few games in redrafts just to see if this assumption is correct.

Jordyn Brooks is always 100% every down-getter and can be relied on as LB19 rest of the season.

New York Giants

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As we reported earlier this week, Bobby Okereke was out, so Micah McFadden had every opportunity to become a three-down role. McFadden played 100% and produced a whopping 11 tackles. This was solid production out of McFadden as this is his second eleven-tackle game in the last three weeks.

Darius Muasau stepped into the LB2 role producing 76% snapshare with eight solo tackles. With Bobby Okereke expected to return next week, Mausau’s is not worth picking up and will go to the bench. As for McFadden, however, he could be a valuable flex as he makes tackles regardless of LB1 or LB2 status or his usage.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Payton Wilson and Elandon Roberts continue to compete for the LB2 spot, and watching the tape reveals that Roberts is the one making more impactful plays. Historically, he has been an above-average run defender, as shown in previous seasons.

Roberts played 39% of the snaps, recording three tackles, while rookie Wilson saw 49% of the snaps and logged four tackles. They are still sharing time, and this situation is unlikely to be settled before the playoffs. Patrick Queen, however, was the only full-time linebacker, wearing the green dot and playing 100% of the snaps.

San Francisco 49ers

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This is tough. Fantasy Managers are going to have to come to terms with recent developments and make decisions about Fred Warner in the coming weeks. I not playing him as it is harder to trust him, especially during playoff weeks. As previously reported Fred Warner is playing hurt, with a fractured ankle, and it is showing up in the stat line.  He played 86.8% with just a measly three tackles. Jalen Graham (a defensive back listed on Sleeper) was the direct replacement, as indicated by taking the rest of his snaps with 13.2% so it is safe to assume he would likely inherit Warner’s green dot role if Warner were to get hurt. Keep in mind this is speculation as Dre Greenlaw is set to come back after Week 15 and is lurking in this rotation. A clever manager who has room might be interested in picking up both of them as a wait-and-see.

De’Vondre Campbell (64%) led this game with seven tackles but left the game in the third quarter, his direct replacement Dee Winters logged 50% snaps but just one tackle. As previously reported, I would need to see more out of Winters before I considered ever playing him.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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With Lavonte David as this team’s only 100% down-linebacker, questions remain as to who the team will serve as its LB2. Tampa’s linebacker group took another injury this week, this time to J.J. Russell, and previously reported  K.J. Britt. The next man up became Vi Jones playing 59.2% and producing four tackles, while Antonio Grier only was used in relief with 3% snaps. Neither of these guys is playable and should not be waivered even in the deepest of leagues. As Britt or Jones is likely to return next week, these guys are replaceable in lineups and can be dropped even in the deepest of IDP formats.

Tennessee Titans

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This was one of those rare occasions where both linebackers were out and the team had to make do with scraps. Otis Reese IV received 98% of snaps and five tackles but the story here was special teamer Luke Gifford wearing the green dot became an everydown player and produced 11 tackles, likely because the team ran the ball at him. Cedric Gray and James Williams puzzling still did not see the field, Luke Gifford looks to be the LB3 if Jerome Baker or Kenneth Murray were to miss next week.


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