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Fred Warner 2022 NFL Player Outlook: NFL’s Best Aren’t Always Fantasy Beasts
2 years agoSan Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner is the perfect example of a great NFL defender who isn't an elite fantasy option. The BYU product is arguably the best pure inside linebacker in the league today, providing elite coverage and top-notch run support in every game. However, for fantasy purposes, Warner isn't particularly impressive. While the former Cougar put up a career-high in total tackles last season, he still finished just 13th in the NFL in that category and 18th in solo tackles. During this career-high season, 13 linebackers still outpaced Warner in total and solo tackles. The 49ers' star hasn't produced in terms of big plays, either. Since 2020 Warner has totaled just 1.5 sacks, 12 TFLs, and four turnovers across 32 regular-season games. For his career, the former All-Pro has single-digit totals in sacks (4.5) and forced turnovers (9) across four seasons. When a linebacker doesn't collect elite tackle numbers and doesn't regularly force turnovers or sacks, his fantasy value is limited. That is why Warner is a better NFL player than a fantasy asset. Consider him nothing more than an LB2 in drafts.
