8 Breakout Linebackers to Target in IDP Leagues in 2024

Aug 08, 2024

David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports

What constitutes a breakout? Can you break out again if you've already broken out previously? I'm not sure what the rules are.

For this exercise, I think what serves you, the audience, best is a look at linebackers who I believe are currently undervalued based on ADP.

Regardless of your league's format and scoring system, linebackers are crucial in IDP. With the rise of defensive sub-packages like dime and nickel, fewer linebackers are on the field than ever before. Traditional 4-3 fronts with three linebackers are almost nonexistent, even on early downs. Only 31 linebackers played in 90% or more of their team's snaps last season, with just 16 linebackers playing over 1,000 total snaps. Elite linebackers are comparable to the workhorse running backs of the past.

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Breakout Linebackers

E.J. Speed

My initial projections of E.J. Speed gave me pause, and I had to go back and ensure I didn't mess anything up. I dialed it back a bit, but I'm still comfortably above market on Indianapolis's LB2. Speed is an interesting case, breaking out late (he's 29) and taking advantage of his increased snap share after last season's Shaq Leonard release.

Speed finished the season strong with 10, 12, 12, and 13 combined tackles in Weeks 15-18, respectfully. He also posted an elite 5.96 snaps per TA in limited work back in 2022, so he's shown the ability to flash massive tackle upside on a per-snap basis. Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley had Speed on the field for at least 90% of the snaps in each of his final six starts, alongside Zaire Franklin, who played every snap. That's a shift from how Bradley deployed his second linebacker earlier in the season, which I consider to be a positive indicator for Speed's projection this season.