Links to similar discussions on other positions:
Why Tiers?
Most fantasy owners are used to drafting off a simple ranking of players, but that can mask underlying differences that exist between players. For example, two players may be ranked right next to each other on a cheatsheet, but there could be a wide gap in the expected production for them. In that case, you would probably want to draft the higher-ranked player a full round earlier than the lower-ranked player. Similarly, there may be a large group of players with very similar projections that are bunched together on a ranking sheet. It may seem that a player ranked 10th is much more valuable than a player ranked 15th, but if only a few projected points separate them, then they are roughly equivalent in value. Rather than force yourself to pick one, it may be best to focus on another position and then come back to this position in the next round since you’re likely to get a player of nearly identical value.
Grouping players into distinct tiers or buckets provides additional context that allows a drafter to make more informed decisions. The projections we offer at Footballguys also help a lot in this regard, but those are still static projections that may not fully indicate the range of likely outcomes for a player. For example, two players may be projected with similar numbers, but one may have significantly more upside and/or a higher floor than the other. Those types of risk vs. reward decisions are inherent in any fantasy draft. While drafting the safe players will typically help you build a solid team, you often need to take some chances and hit on some players who exceed their preseason expectations to win.
Rankings are helpful in ordering players within the same position group, but tiers can help you figure out which position to take as you move through a draft. If you see a large group of linebackers that are all capable of putting up top-12 numbers but only one defensive lineman likely to put up elite numbers, it’s wise to grab the lineman and assume a quality linebacker will last until your next pick. This helps maximize the value of your pick and is a strategy that all strong fantasy players use to some extent.
How to Use the Tiers
- These tiers are based on expected performance for the 2023 season in a balanced scoring system. While dynasty owners always need to consider long-term outcomes to some extent, the upcoming season is most critical for player value. I’ll highlight some dynasty stash options in a separate tier that you can focus on if you are less concerned about this year and want to focus on building for the future.
- Positional classifications can differ depending on what your league-hosting website uses. For consistency, I will rely on the official Footballguys player classifications. For the most part, these should match up well with the major sources that exist online, but there could be differences. Edge rushers are typically where the most questions come from, as a linebacker vs. defensive end classification can have a huge impact on fantasy value.
- Will add an asterisk (*) for some players that have added value in big-play scoring systems. There is a lot of scoring variability that exists among IDP leagues, so if your league places added value on big plays (i.e., sacks, interceptions, forced fumbles, etc.), this information should help you identify some key targets within each tier.
LINEBACKERS TIER 1: ELITE LB1
• Foyesade Oluokun, JAX
• Roquan Smith, CHI *
• Nick Bolton, KC
• C.J. Mosley, NYJ
These are core pieces for any fantasy roster with IDPs and the type of players you can build a championship team with. They are all going to play just about every snap for their respective teams and have a history of production in the league, including high tackle output combined with big-play potential. Foyesade Oluokun was the top-ranked linebacker in 2021 with Atlanta and then backed it up with another #1 finish in 2022 with the Jaguars. Roquan Smith has been a top-5 linebacker for several years in a row, and his game found a new level after the trade to Baltimore. Nick Bolton is perhaps the least proven here, with just one elite season so far, but he’s also just 23 years old and had 180 combined tackles last year. C.J. Mosley may not have the big-play upside you’d expect from an elite player, but he feels closer to this group than the next.
LINEBACKERS TIER 2: LOW-END LB1/HIGH-END LB2
• Devin White, TB
• Fred Warner, SF
• Zaire Franklin, IND
• Bobby Okereke, NYG
• Bobby Wagner, SEA
• Eric Kendricks, LAC
• De'Vondre Campbell, GB
This group includes several players with elite potential who figure to play a huge role for their teams, but they all carry slightly more risk that warrants a slight drop in value. Each linebacker on this list has a realistic chance to finish in the top 15 among fantasy linebackers this year, provided they can stay healthy. Some figure to play a lot of snaps on bad teams (i.e., Devin White, Zaire Franklin, De'Vondre Campbell), which will inevitably boost their tackle numbers, while others are quite talented but may not get enough opportunities on a strong team to fully realize their fantasy potential (i.e., Fred Warner, Eric Kendricks). Bobby Wagner is 33 years old and likely to start slowing down, but he’ll play a big role in Seattle while Jordyn Brooks recovers from a torn ACL. Bobby Okereke has proven himself in Indianapolis the past two seasons but could emerge as a star after signing with the Giants this year.
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LINEBACKERS TIER 3: SOLID LB2
• T.J. Edwards, CHI
• Dre Greenlaw, SF
• Logan Wilson, CIN
• Matt Milano, BUF*
• Shaquille Leonard, IND*
• Tremaine Edmunds, CHI
• Ernest Jones, LAR*
• Pete Werner, NO
• Josey Jewell, DEN
• Cole Holcomb, PIT
• Lavonte David, TB*
This group includes some very good linebackers with a range of experience levels who will likely post some high-scoring weeks but likely lack the consistency of the players ranked above them. These players provide a solid baseline at the position and can be counted on as reliable starters without focusing too much on the matchups each week. There could be a few breakout players in this group who finish among the top 10 at their position, but it’s safe to consider these stable high-floor options with limited upside. The Bears spent big money to rebuild their inside linebacker group with T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds, but will there be enough opportunities for both to reach their potential? Shaquille Leonard has been an elite player in the past but has had difficulty staying healthy of late. Logan Wilson and Matt Milano are excellent all-around players on great teams, while young players like Ernest Jones and Pete Werner have breakout potential. Josey Jewell, Cole Holcomb, and Lavonte David should all be high-floor options with 3-down roles.
LINEBACKERS TIER 4: LB3
• Quay Walker, GB
• Frankie Luvu, CAR*
• Patrick Queen, BAL*
• Nakobe Dean, PHI
• Jack Campbell, DET
• Demario Davis, NO*
• Jordan Hicks, MIN
• Azeez Al-Shaair, TEN
• David Long Jr, TEN
• Divine Deablo, LV
• Jamin Davis, WAS
• Troy Andersen, ATL
This group of players carries a bit more risk and consists of players whose production from week to week may be more influenced by their matchup or the game script. As a result, you may not be able to simply plug them into your starting lineup each week and feel confident that they will produce. You’ll notice several young or unproven players in this group who could need a bit more time to develop into quality 3-down players, such as Quay Walker, Nakobe Dean, Jack Campbell, and Troy Andersen. There are also some intriguing veterans who changed teams and should be productive once they get acclimated to their new roles, like Azeez Al-Shaair and David Long. Frankie Luvu had a breakout year in Carolina last year with 7 sacks, and Patrick Queen also appeared to unlock his potential once Roquan Smith was acquired. Demario Davis and Jordan Hicks are proven players with a history of consistent production, while Divine Deablo and Jamin Davis are less proven but find themselves in a great situation. Many players in this group are capable of LB1-type production but may just need some more time to develop or could be on the downside of their careers.
LINEBACKERS TIER 5: TOP BACKUPS WITH UPSIDE
• Alex Singleton, DEN
• Quincy Williams, NYJ
• Shaq Thompson, CAR
• Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, CLE
• Jerome Baker, MIA*
• Germaine Pratt, CIN
• Kyzir White, ARI
• Nicholas Morrow, PHI
• Ja'Whaun Bentley, NE
• Brian Asamoah II, MIN
• Devin Lloyd, JAX*
• Kaden Elliss, ATL*
• Christian Harris, HOU
• Cody Barton, WAS
• Denzel Perryman, HOU
• Willie Gay Jr, KC
• Alex Anzalone, DET
• Monty Rice, TEN
• Jordyn Brooks, SEA
This deep group highlights some of the top players left who you may want to target for bench spots on your team since they have some clear potential to outperform expectations. Some of these players are placed here because of uncertainty regarding their role or additional competition on the roster. For example, Alex Singleton was productive in Denver last year but may have to hold off a rookie in Drew Sanders. Devin Lloyd also may need to beat out Chad Muma in Jacksonville to reach his potential, and it’s unclear how the linebacker rotations will work in some places like Atlanta, Houston, Tennessee, or Detroit. Houston, in particular, bears watching as Christian Harris looks like a future starter but needs to beat out Denzel Perryman or Christian Kirksey. Some of the safer options in this group are likely Kyzir White, Nicholas Morrow, Quincy Williams, and Ja'Whaun Bentley, even if their upside is limited. The one player with clear upside in this group is Jordyn Brooks, who has consecutive 100 solo tackle seasons, but it’s not clear how quickly he’ll return to form from his late-season ACL injury. Brian Asomoah also seems likely to replace Eric Kendricks in Minnesota but has shown little to date.
LINEBACKERS TIER 6: TOP DEPTH OPTIONS
• Elandon Roberts, PIT
• Leighton Vander Esch, DAL
• Robert Spillane, LV
• Christian Kirksey, HOU
• Anthony Walker Jr., CLE
• Drue Tranquill, KC
• Devin Bush, SEA
• Malcolm Rodriguez, DET
• Mykal Walker, ATL
• Chad Muma, JAX
• Kenneth Murray Jr., LAC
• Sione Takitaki, CLE
These are the types of linebackers who may not offer much upside but who should get enough of a workload to make them viable options when your depth is tested by injuries or bye weeks. Most have a good chance to reach 100 combined tackles but are unlikely to contribute to the big play categories. A breakout from this group to the top-15 is unlikely but the top-36 is probably within reach. Drue Tranquill is an interesting player coming off a highly productive season with the Chargers, but he may compete with Willie Gay Jr for playing time in Kansas City. Mykal Walker also showed potential last year but will need to compete for a starting job.
LINEBACKERS TIER 7: DYNASTY STASHES
• Drew Sanders, DEN*
• Jack Sanborn, CHI
• Dorian Williams, BUF
• Daiyan Henley, LAC
• Trenton Simpson, BAL
• Terrel Bernard, BUF
• E.J. Speed, IND
• Micah McFadden, NYG
• Christian Rozeboom, LAR
• Marte Mapu, NE
Many of the high-end rookies from the past several drafts are projected to play 3-down roles and are placed into the higher tiers above. This group includes rookies who may not start right away but could develop into full-time contributors and fantasy starters before too long. For players like Drew Sanders, Dorian Williams or Terrel Bernard, and several others, there is a path to a starting role and reasonable fantasy value as early as this season, but most will likely need more time to reach their potential. Jack Sanborn looked like a potential high-end starter last year, but he’s now blocked behind two high-priced free agents.