Three-Down Linebackers for 2019 IDP Leagues (Updated Weekly)
Volume and usage play an important role in fantasy. Bottom line, if you're not on the field, you're not going to produce. It's the same philosophy in IDP—you can't score points if your defender is not on the field.
Here are the linebackers who are expected to be on the field for the majority of the snaps. The Y in the last category indicates the linebacker is both receiving and calling the plays for the defense.
Be sure to follow this article throughout the 2019 season for updates.
* - Injury update. New playcaller.
| Team | Player | Snaps | Team Snaps | Snap Rate | Play Caller |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARI | Jordan Hicks | 1051 | 1,051 | 100.0% | Y |
| ARI | Joe Walker | 465 | 1,051 | 44.2% | |
| ATL | De'Vondre Campbell | 877 | 992 | 88.4% | |
| ATL | Deion Jones | 903 | 992 | 91.0% | Y |
| BUF | Tremaine Edmunds | 971 | 971 | 100.0% | Y |
| BUF | Matt Milano | 884 | 971 | 91.0% | |
| CAR | Luke Kuechly | 1025 | 1,026 | 99.9% | Y |
| CAR | Shaq Thompson | 962 | 1,026 | 93.8% | |
| CHI | Nick Kwiatkoski | 463 | 1,023 | 45.3% | Y |
| CIN | Nick Vigil | 936 | 1,017 | 92.0% | Y |
| CLE | Joe Schobert | 994 | 1,004 | 99.0% | Y |
| CLE | Mack Wilson | 875 | 1,004 | 87.2% | |
| DAL | Jaylon Smith | 933 | 1,014 | 92.0% | Y |
| DAL | Sean Lee | 584 | 1,014 | 57.6% | |
| DEN | Todd Davis | 839 | 987 | 85.0% | Y |
| DEN | Alexander Johnson | 662 | 987 | 67.1% | |
| DET | Jalen Reeves-Maybin | 215 | 1,064 | 20.2% | |
| GB | Blake Martinez | 910 | 919 | 99.0% | Y |
| HOU | Zach Cunningham | 921 | 1,023 | 90.0% | |
| HOU | Benardrick McKinney | 845 | 1,023 | 82.6% | |
| IND | Darius Leonard | 760 | 962 | 79.0% | Y |
| IND | Anthony Walker | 746 | 962 | 77.5% | |
| JAX | Donald Payne | 292 | 1,006 | 29.0% | Y |
| LAR | Cory Littleton | 1006 | 1,047 | 96.1% | |
| MIA | Jerome Baker | 1022 | 1,053 | 97.1% | Y |
| MIN | Eric Kendricks | 911 | 939 | 97.0% | |
| MIN | Anthony Barr | 859 | 939 | 91.5% | Y |
| NE | Jamie Collins | 758 | 940 | 80.6% | |
| NE | Kyle Van Noy | 747 | 940 | 79.5% | |
| NO | Demario Davis | 948 | 987 | 96.0% | Y |
| NO | AJ Klein | 698 | 987 | 70.7% | |
| NYG | Alec Ogletree | 803 | 1,042 | 77.1% | |
| NYG | David Mayo | 558 | 1,042 | 53.6% | Y |
| NYJ | James Burgess | 599 | 1,050 | 57.0% | Y |
| NYJ | Neville Hewitt | 707 | 1,050 | 67.3% | |
| OAK | Tahir Whitehead | 895 | 983 | 91.0% | |
| OAK | Will Compton | 185 | 983 | 18.8% | Y* |
| PHI | Nigel Bradham | 643 | 945 | 68.0% | Y |
| SEA | Bobby Wagner | 1006 | 1,026 | 98.1% | Y |
| SEA | K.J. Wright | 954 | 1,026 | 93.0% | |
| SF | Fred Warner | 913 | 951 | 96.0% | Y |
| SF | Dre Greenlaw | 651 | 951 | 68.5% | |
| TB | Lavonte David | 1035 | 1,045 | 99.0% | Y |
| TB | Devin White | 737 | 1,045 | 70.5% | |
| TEN | Rashaan Evans | 895 | 1,045 | 85.6% | |
| TEN | Jayon Brown | 774 | 1,045 | 74.1% | Y |
| WAS | Jon Bostic | 963 | 1,058 | 91.0% | Y |
Arizona Cardinals
Week 16: If you're heading into your championship week in 17, Hicks is the only LB I trust. Joe Walker received 82% of the snaps against Seattle, so he's off the radar for me.
Atlanta Falcons
Week 16: Deion Jones and Devondre Campbell both were on for all of the snaps for the Falcons against Jacksonville. Deion disappointed in a favorable matchup. If you're in a championship, you still might have to roll with him.
Baltimore Ravens
Week 15: Chuck Clark is still wearing the dot for the Baltimore defense. I'm not trusting any Baltimore LB in Week 17.
Buffalo Bills
Week 16: Tremaine Edmunds and Matt Milano each saw 100% of the snaps against Patriots. Both came up big, combining for 21 tackles - Milano notching 12. You're still rolling them out in Week 17.
Carolina Panthers
Week 16: Luke Kuechly and Jermaine Carter were the three-down LBs with Shaq Thompson inactive. Kuechly is an every-week starter. I couldn't trust Carter with my title on the line, as he only recorded two tackles.
Chicago Bears
Week 16: Nick Kwiatkoski is calling the plays and was on for 100% of the snaps against KC - recording 11 tackles. Kevin Pierre-Louis was on for 82% of the snaps and recorded 12 tackles. I don't mind Pierre-Louis in deeper leagues, where you're starting three or more LBs.
Cincinnati Bengals
Week 15: Even though Germaine Pratt was on for 70% of the snaps, he had elite efficiency - recording a 17.5% tackle rate on his way to 11 tackles. Nick Vigil was a disappointment in his 78 snaps. I think Pratt has more upside heading into Week 17.
Cleveland Browns
Week 16: Joe Schobert and Mack Wilson were the three-down LBs against Baltimore. Sione Takitaki saw 49% of the snaps this week, so he could see some increased time in Week 17.
Dallas Cowboys
Week 16: The Cowboys' could be shutting down Leighton Vander Esch, so Sean Lee will be useful in Week 17. Lee and Jaylon Smith were the three-down LBs against Philadelphia. They are going to be needed heavily if they want to win the NFC East.
Denver Broncos
Week 16: Todd Davis was the only three-down LB for Denver this week. At this point, he's the only one I trust in Week 17.
Detroit Lions
Week 16: Jaylen Reeves-Maybin is going to be the LB to own in Detroit. Jahlani Tavai went down with an injury and Maybin was in on 92% of the snaps against Denver. Maybin finished with nine tackles and will be a wavier priority. Tavon Wilson was calling the plays for the Lions this week.
Green Bay Packers
Week 16: Blake Martinez is the only Green Bay LB to trust heading into Week 17.
Houston Texans
Week 16: Zach Cunningham was on for 100% of the snaps with Benardrick McKinney inactive. Should McKinney miss this week, there's not another Houston ILB I'd target. Tyrell Adams was on for just 66% of the snap with McKinney out. Adams was wearing the dot in McKinney's absence.
Indianapolis Colts
Week 16: Darius Leonard was in on the majority of the snaps, while Anthony Walker saw just 70% of the snaps - even though Walker was more productive. I'd still only trust in deeper leagues this week.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 16: For the second straight week, there were rumors of an LB shake-up. For the second straight week, Donald Payne called the plays, was on for 100% of the snaps, and recorded double-digit tackles. Just keep him in your starting lineup this week. Austin Calitro should be on your radar for a waiver-wire addition.
Kansas City Chiefs
Week 16: I'm not trusting any KC linebacker in Week 17. Ben Niemann was wearing the dot but saw fewer than 50% of the snaps, while Anthony Hitchens was on for 59% of the snaps.
Los Angeles Chargers
Week 16: This is another situation I'm avoiding in Week 17. It's way too inconsistent and the rotations and snap usage are all over the place.
Los Angeles Rams
Week 15: Cory Littleton was the only three-down LB for the Rams this week - as usual.
Miami Dolphins
Week 16: Jerome Baker should be the only linebacker you trust for Week 17. Andrew Van Ginkel received 72% of the snaps against the Bengals. Sam Eguavoen saw 49% of the snaps, while Vince Beigel suffered an injury that thrust those guys into more snaps.
Minnesota Vikings
Week 16: Eric Kendricks suffered a quad injury knocked him out early. Anthony Barr was on the field for all but a few snaps. If Kendricks misses this week, Eric Wilson will be the waiver target for you in Week 17.
New England Patriots
Week 16: This is another situation that I'm avoiding in Week 17. This week, Kyle Van Noy saw 100% of the snaps. Next week, he could see just 60%.
New Orleans Saints
Week 16: Demario Davis and AJ Klein were the three-down LBs for the Saints this week. I trust Davis more in Week 17 if you're still playing.
New York Giants
Week 16: With Alec Ogletree inactive, David Mayo was on for 100% of the snaps against the Redskins. If Ogletree is shut down, David Mayo will be a priority add this week.
New York Jets
Week 16: James Burgess was the three-down LB this week, appearing in 100% of the snaps. Neville Hewitt saw a dip in snaps, appearing in 85% of them. I trust Burgess more than Hewitt this week.
Oakland Raiders
Week 16: Will Compton's role in the defense continued and received 100% of the snaps. Tahir Whitehead saw just 61% of the snaps. If you're playing in Week 17, Compton should be on your list of waiver adds. Compton is also wearing the dot.
Philadelphia Eagles
Week 16: Nigel Bradham was on the field for 100% of the snaps. I'm still staying away from him in Week 17.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 16: Hard to really trust any Pittsburgh LB. I thought Bush could overcome the usage, but his production has been average. If you're a Bush owner and playing in Week 17, I'd look to some other LB options on the wire this week.
San Francisco 49ers
Week 16: Fred Warner had a big game against the Rams, and he and Dre Greenlaw were the three-down LBs this week.
Seattle Seahawks
Week 1: Bobby Wagner showed why he's an elite LB. He recorded 13 tackles and a sack in Week 16. It just shows, you can't sit your studs and more dependable IDPs. Wagner was in 100% of the snaps while KJ Wright saw 88% of the snaps this week.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 16: Lavonte David was another IDP who came up big for his owners in Week 16. David recorded 10 tackles and was in on 100% of the snaps. Devin White also appeared in 100% of the snaps and you can trust him in Week 17,
Tennessee Titans
Week 16: Jayon Brown and Rashaan Evans were the three-down LBs for the Titans in Week 17. I think Tennessee will need both of these guys in Week 17.
Washington Redskins
Week 16: Jon Bostic appeared 100% of the snaps this week for Washington.
