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Chris Gregory looks at NFL linebackers who may be fantasy football IDP sleepers or busts in the 2022 NFL season. Individual defensive players to draft or avoid.
With the offseason finally slipping into our rearview mirror, we at RotoBaller want to give IDP managers an early look at how each defensive position is playing out in the fantasy realm.
To do that, we will look at how IDP analysts and managers value players at every defensive position. Based on that, we will tell you who is rated too high and who is a great value.
Today, we continue our IDP positional analysis with the Linebacker group. Here we will go over LBs who are going higher than they should and ones who are a steal at their current ranking. We will also consider a couple of other ‘backers who fans need to know more about before their drafts. So, let's talk big burly men in shiny helmets, shall we?
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IDP Linebackers to Bust
Our bust label does not mean a player will outright fail or disappoint. Rather, it means these players are being ranked/drafted in a place unlikely to return equal or greater value than your investment.
Foyesade Oluokun, LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Oluokun was a fantasy revelation over the past two seasons, rising from obscurity to become one of the most consistent fantasy linebackers in the game. Unfortunately, the Yale grad changed teams this offseason, and the unknowns surrounding that change makes him too expensive at his current cost as the 11th defender off the board.
Of course, there are plenty of reasons for optimism with this former Falcon, including the fact he led the NFL in tackles last year, and the Jaguars liked him enough to guarantee $28 million in his new deal. Even better, his new defensive coordinator was the Buccaneer’s linebacker coach when Devin White put together his elite fantasy season in 2020. That said, Mike Caldwell is no guarantee of fantasy success. This is Caldwell’s first time as a defensive coordinator, and his linebackers disappointed in 2021.
The Jaguars also just invested a first-round pick in Devin Lloyd and a third-round pick in Chad Muma, both of whom are versatile linebackers who could excel in nickel packages. Odds are Oluokun will see plenty of snaps and opportunities to maintain his fantasy dominance, but this wouldn’t be the first time we saw a defender’s production drop significantly when he changed teams and faced increased competition.
Denzel Perryman, LB, Las Vegas Raiders
In college, Denzel Perryman had the look of an anchor in the middle, but it took him seven years to produce like one in the pros. When the Miami product finally reached his potential last year, he finished third in the NFL in solo tackles and sixth in total takedowns, both of which are terrific stats in a tackle premium IDP league. Unfortunately, even in this former Hurricane’s breakout year, he registered a mere 11 big plays (3 PDs, 1 FF, 2 FR, and 5 TFLs).
Beyond the concern about Perryman's lack of big plays are worries about his age (he will turn 30 this season) and the fact he could be a poor fit for new Raiders Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham’s system. Graham has openly stated he sees 3-4 and 4-3 schemes as outdated, stating nickel packages are his base scheme. If that's true, we can expect the Raiders to play just two linebackers routinely, and those linebackers will have to be versatile if they want to stay on the field.
Perryman’s coverage skills are below average and suggest he may struggle in such a role, limiting his snaps later in the season. If that happens, he will be a huge disappointment to those ranking him as an LB1.
Fred Warner, LB, San Francisco 49ers
While Fred Warner is an elite football player, he has never registered more than three sacks in a season, he’s never secured double-digit tackles for loss (his high is seven), and he’s forced a mere 2.5 turnovers per year. Even when DeMeco Ryans promised Warner would blitz more often in 2021, the former Cougar produced the second-fewest sacks of his career. Worse, the All-Pro set a career-high in tackle output in 2021… and tied for just the 11th most in the NFL.
All these statistical points suggest Warner might be an elite defender who isn't an elite fantasy defender. Like many shutdown corners, Warner’s stellar and frequent use in coverage often forces opposing quarterbacks to avoid him completely. The downside of being avoided is the BYU product doesn’t get near the ball enough to produce elite stats, especially when he spends 57.1% of his snaps in coverage like last year. Therefore, we are ranking Warner as an LB2 option rather than the LB1 most consider him to be.
Shaq Thompson, LB, Carolina Panthers
Because most IDP formats are tackle premium, your average IDP manager will require consistent tackle production from their starting linebackers. Unfortunately, Shaq Thompson doesn't give you that. In the seven seasons in which Thompson has started 14+ games, he has never registered 120+ total tackles, and he's never finished higher than 26th in the NFL in total tackles or 21st in solos.
While the Washington product does produce enough big plays in the passing game to make him an LB3 in most formats, his average of 0.89 big plays per game isn't good enough to raise him any higher. That’s why we are avoiding him at his current price of LB21 overall.
Jerome Baker, LB, Miami Dolphins
We know what Jerome Baker is at this point, after four NFL seasons and 64 games. The former Buckeye is the defensive equivalent of a deep threat, like DeSean Jackson. Some weeks you will feast when Baker puts two sacks and an interception on your table, and some weeks you'll find yourself leaving the dinner table hungry after the Dolphins’ starter gives you a measly two fantasy points.
For those willing to ride the Baker wave, you’ll appreciate the fact his mercurial nature has him in the LB2 discussion each week. However, there are a lot of linebackers who provide more consistency than the Ohio State product does, and many of them come at a lower cost. So, if you draft Baker, be prepared for him to bust some weeks and boom in others. That profile is too inconsistent for us to take him at his current price of LB23 in anything but IDP formats that significantly discount tackles and overvalue big plays.
IDP Linebacker Draft Day Bargains
T.J. Edwards, LB, Philadelphia Eagles
Edwards was a sleeper coming out of Wisconsin in 2019, and last year he finally got the opportunity to be a full-time starter in Philadelphia. The former Badger performed well in that audition, collecting 130 tackles despite seeing less than half his team’s defensive snaps through Week 7.
It has become clear this offseason that the Eagles value Edwards as much as fantasy fans do. Coaches now refer to him as a leader, team beat writers say he’s improved in coverage, and the biggest offseason threat to his playing time is a rookie practicing with the third string. Given all that, Edwards should have a safe path to a lion’s share of Philadelphia's defensive snaps this season. With that kind of role in this defense and his skill set, we project Edwards to outperform his current rank of LB32 overall.
Dre Greenlaw, LB, San Francisco 49ers
Dre Greenlaw is perhaps the most frequent flyer on our annual pre-season IDP Sleepers/Bargains list, and for good reason. When the former Razorback has received 70% or more of the 49ers' defensive snaps, he's averaged 7.6 tackles with four turnovers and 12 TFLs. Even better, he notched 8+ tackles in 44% of those contests. The problem is Greenlaw isn’t always healthy, and his frequent injuries have allowed Azeez Al-Shaair to pass him in almost every current IDP ranking.
This dichotomy between teammates makes Greenlaw a bargain prospect for us in 2022. The Arkansas product is ranked at LB51 overall, while Al-Shaair sits nine spots ahead of him. That poses a problem because when Greenlaw returned from injury last year, he quickly took back the nickel role next to Fred Warner, and he’s kept that role in this year’s camp. If these trends continue and Al-Shaair sits half of San Francisco’s defensive snaps, Greenlaw could be the best fantasy value amongst all 49er linebackers at cost.
Ernest Jones, LB, Los Angeles Rams
Ernest Jones put together a promising rookie season in 2021, averaging 6.75 tackles across eight starts, including the Super Bowl. As someone handpicked by his current defensive coordinator in last year’s draft, we anticipate his usage rate and output to grow in 2022 despite the addition of Bobby Wagner.
One reason we like Jones’ chance to ascend is his three-down capacity. Coming out of South Carolina, Jones was viewed as a two-down 'backer who would leave the field on passing downs, but that wasn't the case last season. In fact, the rookie earned positive coverage and pass rush grades from PFF while collecting two sacks, two interceptions, and five PDs in eight starts. Jones now enters his second year with a chance to play every down alongside Bobby Wagner, which should raise his floor considerably.
With Jones falling to an average ranking of LB70 amongst the IDP analysts who bother to rank him, there is definite potential for a bargain here. If Jones can stay on the field in both the Rams’ 3-4 and nickel packages, he should obliterate current fantasy expectations.
Logan Wilson, LB, Cincinnati Bengals
Logan Wilson’s place on this list may seem odd, considering his consensus ranking amongst IDP analysts is an acceptable LB14 overall. However, the Wyoming product’s overall ranking ignores his high fantasy ceiling as a big-play defender who seemed to grow and improve once the Bengals entered the playoffs.
It is worth remembering that last year was Wilson’s first as a full-time NFL starter, and he faced a harsh learning curve coming from Wyoming to the pros. Despite his youth and inexperience, Wilson was an every-down linebacker for the Bengals throughout 2021 and he played a whopping 100% of the Bengals’ defensive snaps during the playoffs. That kind of usage on a young and ascending defense spells a safe fantasy floor, and Wilson's ability to snag interceptions spells a higher ceiling than LB14.
Nakobe Dean, LB, Philadelphia Eagles
Nakobe Dean’s place on this list should come as no surprise to those who read our rookie defender article earlier this summer. The leader of Georgia’s championship defense has the head and instincts to be an absolute terror when healthy, and reports indicate he is just that. While concerns about Dean’s athletic upside and his opportunities as a rookie are valid, the fact he is healthy enough to practice is all we need to include him on this list.
It seems prudent to offer this disclaimer: Dean isn’t currently projected as a starter for Philly or fantasy managers to start 2021. That means his place on this list has more to do with his long-term value in dynasty leagues and his upside as a stash in redrafts with long benches or deep defensive lineups. Right now, the consensus on Dean (LB50) is reasonable if you're in shallow redraft format. However, in dynasty and deeper IDP formats, he could be a massive bargain later in the year.
Additional Notes on Linebackers
Seattle staff has repeatedly stated that Cody Barton will fill the role Jordyn Brooks held last season as Brooks moves inside to replace Bobby Wagner. The word is that the Seahawks intend for Brooks to focus more on run defense while Barton, a former safety, takes on additional responsibility in coverage. In that role, Barton has the potential to outperform his current consensus ranking of LB34.
Alex Singleton is likely to be drafted as if he is still a consistent fantasy producer for the Eagles, but he isn’t. Singleton is now with the Broncos, and he isn’t seeing action with their starting linebacker group in camp. To make matters worse, the Broncos just brought Joe Schobert in for a meeting, which further clouds the picture for Singleton. Many will draft Singleton, assuming he still has fantasy value, but all signs towards the opposite.
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