Week 1 is in the books, which means we can finally fold up the offseason depth charts and place them in the same drawer as preseason coach-speak and those tiny Temu instruction manuals nobody can understand.
All summer, we tried to determine who would wear the green dot, who would stay on the field in nickel and which linebacker rotations were real. Now we have actual football. Some players locked down every-down roles. Others disappeared faster than your FAAB after a rookie posts 14 tackles. And a few defenses turned a simple two-linebacker question into a group project nobody asked for.
As always, starting linebacker does not automatically mean every-down linebacker. Box scores flirt. Snap counts commit. Green dots, nickel usage and role security
tell us which players we can actually trust in our lineups.
Let’s open the Week 1 receipts and see who passed the every-down test:
Week 1 Top 100 Linebacker Usage ChartWeek 1 Linebacker Review
Arizona Cardinals
Jack Gibbens registered seven tackles, one sack and one quarterback hit. More importantly, he appeared to beat Cody Simon for Arizona’s second linebacker position. Gibbens is a legitimate LB3 and one of the better linebacker waiver options from Week 1.
Mack Wilson Sr. finished with six tackles and a pass defended. His production was quieter than Gibbens’, but Wilson remains the safer option and the likely green-dot linebacker. Wilson should remain ranked ahead of Gibbens until the snap counts prove otherwise.
Cody Simon recorded no defensive stats. After considerable preseason speculation, Week 1 strongly suggested that he opened as Arizona’s third linebacker. Simon can be dropped in ordinary redraft leagues.
Atlanta Falcons
Divine Deablo played all 67 defensive snaps, recording seven tackles, one tackle for loss and a fumble recovery. The every-down role is more important than the fumble recovery. Deablo enters the LB2/LB3 range with a dependable weekly floor.
Kendal Daniels opened ahead of Harold Perkins and appears to be Atlanta’s second linebacker. Daniels is an intriguing deep-league addition, especially if his playing time grows.
Harold Perkins recorded only one tackle and remained behind Daniels in the linebacker hierarchy. Perkins still offers long-term athletic upside, but he is a bench stash rather than a usable redraft linebacker.
Baltimore Ravens
Roquan Smith is bulletproof. He played every defensive snap and delivered 11 tackles, an interception and a pass defended. There is no role concern, competition concern or reason to overthink his weekly ranking. Smith remains Baltimore’s green-dot linebacker and one of the safest elite LB1 options in IDP.
Trenton Simpson played only 32 of Baltimore’s 54 defensive snaps. He recorded four tackles and two tackles for loss, but a 59% role does not provide dependable weekly volume.
The most concerning part for Simpson is that Teddye Buchanan did not play while recovering from his knee injury. Simpson had an opportunity to claim the job with Buchanan unavailable and still failed to earn an every-down role.
Baltimore used Buchanan alongside Smith in nickel packages during the preseason. Once Buchanan is healthy, he could replace Simpson in those situations and reduce Simpson’s playing time even further. Buchanan remains a worthwhile stash in deeper leagues because the Ravens may ultimately view him as their preferred coverage linebacker beside Smith.
The Ravens’ linebacker hierarchy is straightforward: Smith is bulletproof, Simpson is risky and Buchanan is the stash who could eventually take Simpson’s most valuable snaps.
Buffalo Bills
Terrel Bernard remained Buffalo’s defensive signal-caller and the clear winner within the linebacker room. His role is considerably safer than the position beside him, keeping Bernard in weekly starting consideration.
Dorian Williams played 67.1% of the defensive snaps and recorded nine tackles. The production was useful, but his participation was still dependent on personnel and game script. Williams cannot be trusted as an every-week starter until Buffalo commits to him in all packages.
Kaleb Elarms-Orr played only eight defensive snaps. That confirmed Williams was ahead of him, but Buffalo still did not give Williams a complete role.
Carolina Panthers
Devin Lloyd (74 snaps, 100%) never left the field and immediately established himself as the center of Carolina's defense. His combination of range, coverage ability and tackling gives him the best fantasy ceiling in this linebacker room. Lloyd should be viewed as a dependable weekly starter rather than a matchup-dependent option.
Bobby Okereke (66 snaps, 89%) received enough work to remain fantasy-relevant, but Carolina did not treat him as a true every-down linebacker. He can still provide useful tackle production, although Lloyd clearly owns the more dependable and valuable role. Okereke is a reasonable LB3 or waiver target, but managers should not mistake him for an every-down option.
Chicago Bears
T.J. Edwards (100%) retained the green dot and never left the field. That keeps him fantasy-relevant, but his poor tackling performance deserves attention. His role remains secure for now, though he needs a cleaner showing in Week 2.
Devin Bush (missed three snaps) received excellent usage but failed to distinguish himself despite playing in a high-scoring game with plenty of defensive opportunities. The snap share gives him short-term value, but Bush remains a volume-dependent linebacker without much big-play upside. He is a deeper-league LB3 rather than someone managers should aggressively pursue.
Dallas Cowboys
Jaishawn Barham recorded six tackles and one tackle for loss. He is worth monitoring, but Dallas used enough different linebackers that another week of participation data is needed.
Dee Winters collected four solo tackles and a tackle for loss. His production was useful, but the crowded linebacker distribution limits his immediate reliability.
DeMarvion Overshown recorded seven tackles before leaving with a hamstring strain. He is expected to miss approximately one to two weeks, removing him from immediate lineup consideration. The injury could create additional opportunities for Barham and Winters, but neither should automatically be projected for Overshown's entire workload.
Detroit Lions
Jack Campbell (90 snaps, 100%) remained Detroit's every-down defensive centerpiece and provided the stable, tackle-based role fantasy managers drafted him to deliver.
Derrick Barnes (77 snaps, 86%) produced five tackles, one sack, an interception and two passes defended. The splash plays will not occur every week, but his versatile role creates several paths to fantasy production.
Campbell and Barnes are the only Detroit linebackers worth starting. Campbell offers the dependable every-down floor, while Barnes supplies more volatility and big-play upside.
Green Bay Packers
Edgerrin Cooper recorded seven tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and a quarterback hit. His combination of tackle production and backfield involvement gives him a stable LB2 floor with legitimate LB1 upside.
Zaire Franklin carries mediocre expectations in this defense. His previous fantasy reputation was built largely on enormous tackle volume, but managers should not automatically project the same production in Green Bay. Cooper offers considerably more explosiveness and big-play upside, while Franklin profiles as a floor-based LB3.
Franklin can still deliver usable weeks, but managers should not pay for his name or previous statistical ceiling. Cooper is the Packers linebacker to prioritize.
Houston Texans
Azeez Al-Shaair played all 57 defensive snaps and remains Houston’s stable, every-down linebacker. Even when his individual production fluctuates, the participation keeps him in the LB2 range.
Henry To’oTo’o played 51 snaps but recorded only two tackles before suffering a shoulder injury. He is expected to miss time, removing him from immediate fantasy consideration.
Jake Hansen is the likely replacement for To’oTo’o. Hansen has previous starting experience and becomes a worthwhile waiver target in deeper leagues, although Al-Shaair remains Houston’s only completely secure linebacker.
Indianapolis Colts
Akeem Davis-Gaither finished with eight tackles and emerged as the safest short-term Colts linebacker. Until Indianapolis establishes a different every-down option, Davis-Gaither is the linebacker to target from this defense.
Jaylon Carlies played 42 defensive snaps without recording a tackle. The playing time offered some encouragement, but the complete lack of production was one of Week 1’s most disappointing linebacker results. He is a hold in deeper formats rather than a recommended starter.
Bryce Boettcher registered six tackles and deserves monitoring, but his long-term role remains less secure than Davis-Gaither’s.
Las Vegas Raiders
Nakobe Dean played 55 of 56 defensive snaps and produced six tackles, one sack, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble. The nearly every-down role is legitimate, placing Dean firmly in the LB1/LB2 range.
Quay Walker also played 55 defensive snaps, finishing with six tackles and a fumble recovery. The fantasy performance was less explosive than Dean’s, but the usage establishes Walker as a stable LB2/LB3. The Raiders gave both Dean and Walker essentially every-down roles. This was one of the cleanest two-linebacker situations to emerge from Week 1.
Los Angeles Chargers
Daiyan Henley recorded eight tackles and a sack. He remains the Chargers’ safest linebacker and should be valued as a strong weekly LB2.
Troy Dye produced five tackles and a sack. The result was encouraging, but the sack may disguise a rotational role. Dye is a speculative waiver option rather than an automatic starter.
Del’Shawn Phillips recorded five tackles and a quarterback hit while leading the Chargers linebackers with 41 defensive snaps. That was still not an every-down role, limiting Phillips to deeper formats.
The Chargers used a three-man distribution instead of establishing a dependable every-down running mate beside Henley. That makes Henley the only linebacker from this defense who can be started confidently.
Miami Dolphins
Jacob Rodriguez played all 68 defensive snaps, wore the green dot and accumulated 14 tackles. This was about as convincing a debut as an IDP manager could ask for. Rodriguez is a priority waiver claim and immediately enters the LB2 conversation.
Jordyn Brooks recorded nine tackles and one quarterback hit. Rodriguez’s arrival did not eliminate Brooks’ fantasy value. Miami supported two productive linebackers, although the defense’s 68-snap workload helped both players. Brooks remains a dependable LB2.
Willie Gay Jr. recorded only one assisted tackle. With Rodriguez and Brooks controlling the primary roles, Gay can be dropped in standard redraft leagues.
Minnesota Vikings
Blake Cashman (65 snaps) collected seven tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and two quarterback hits. His playing time and repeatable tackle production make him Minnesota's safest linebacker and a strong weekly LB2.
Eric Wilson received favorable playing time but failed to take advantage of it, finishing with only three tackles. That was poor production considering the opportunity, and it prevents him from making a meaningful early-season fantasy impact. Wilson needs a much more productive showing before he can be trusted in lineups.
New Orleans Saints
Kaden Elliss recorded nine tackles, three quarterback hits and a pass defended. His combination of tackle volume and pressure involvement provides multiple scoring paths, keeping him in the LB2 range with LB1 upside.
Pete Werner (53%) finished with seven tackles while operating as New Orleans' LB2. The production was encouraging, but seven tackles on such limited playing time will be difficult to sustain from week to week.
The positive takeaway is that the Saints appeared comfortable establishing Werner as their next man up at linebacker. He deserves monitoring and can be added in deeper leagues, but managers should wait for his playing time to increase before placing him into weekly lineups.
New York Giants
Tremaine Edmunds recorded eight tackles while operating as an every-down linebacker. He is the safest Giants linebacker and should be valued as a dependable LB2/LB3.
Arvell Reese remained on the field throughout the game and finished with five solo tackles, one tackle for loss and a quarterback hit. The rookie’s immediate playing time makes him one of the strongest linebacker waiver additions from Week 1.
New York Jets
Demario Davis (50 snaps, 100%) led the Jets with eight tackles and a pass defended. He was active, decisive and looked comfortable directing the defense. Davis won Week 1 and offers immediate short-term fantasy value.
Jamien Sherwood (45 snaps, 90%) recorded only four tackles after leading the Jets with 154 tackles last season. The disappointing total appears more connected to New York controlling possession and Tennessee running only 50 meaningful plays than to Sherwood suddenly losing all fantasy value.
However, Davis playing every snap while Sherwood left the field for five plays is worth monitoring. Sherwood remains a hold and the more interesting long-term fantasy asset, but his LB1 expectations should be lowered until we see whether Davis consistently receives the better role.
Philadelphia Eagles
Jihaad Campbell missed only three defensive snaps. The near-every-down usage was more important than his Week 1 fantasy total and immediately places him in weekly starting consideration.
Zack Baun remains Philadelphia’s established linebacker and safest weekly option. Campbell’s expanded role does not necessarily remove Baun’s value because the Eagles demonstrated a willingness to keep both linebackers on the field.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Payton Wilson played 58 of Pittsburgh’s 60 defensive snaps and exploded for 12 defensive tackles with two tackles for loss. That 97% participation rate represents one of Week 1’s most important linebacker developments. Wilson should be treated as an LB2 and a priority addition wherever available.
Patrick Queen recorded seven tackles, but Wilson was the more active and productive linebacker. Queen remains a viable fantasy starter, although Wilson’s emergence could prevent him from reaching his best-case tackle ceiling.
Tennessee Titans
Anthony Hill Jr. emerged as one of Week 1's biggest linebacker discoveries. The rookie produced 16 tackles and two passes defended while posting an elite tackle rate. More importantly, Hill wore the green dot and leapfrogged Cody Barton to become Tennessee's most valuable fantasy linebacker. Hill should be added in every IDP format where he is available. His combination of athleticism, tackle production and defensive responsibility gives him immediate LB2 value with considerably more upside.
Cody Barton (65 snaps, 100%) technically remained an every-down linebacker, but Hill surpassed him in production, impact and defensive importance. Barton's playing time keeps him relevant, although his ceiling takes a significant hit if Hill continues controlling the tackle opportunities and communication duties.
For Barton, this marks the second consecutive season in which a rookie has entered the picture and outperformed him. He may still be Tennessee's LB2 on the field, but Hill has already become the LB1 for fantasy purposes.
Washington Commanders
Sonny Styles recorded a sack and two tackles for loss, but the box score does not tell the complete story. At the beginning of the game, Styles, Frankie Luvu and Leo Chenal rotated through Washington's linebacker packages. That rotation changed when an injury knocked Luvu out of the lineup. Styles quickly capitalized on the opportunity and became a much larger part of the defense.
IDP managers should take notice, but this situation requires serious monitoring. Styles is still a rookie; Luvu's eventual return could restore the rotation and one strong game does not guarantee an every-down role.
Still, the film showed more than temporary opportunity. Styles displayed the size, range and attacking ability of a future superstar in the making. He is a priority speculative addition because the talent could eventually force Washington to keep him on the field, regardless of the original rotation.
Biggest Week 1 Linebacker Takeaways
- Roquan Smith is bulletproof. He remains an elite every-down LB1 with the green dot.
- Jacob Rodriguez was Week 1’s biggest linebacker revelation. He immediately claimed Miami’s green dot, played every snap and produced 14 tackles.
- Payton Wilson experienced the role breakout fantasy managers wanted. He played 97% of Pittsburgh’s defensive snaps.
- Teddye Buchanan remains a significant stash. Baltimore used him beside Smith in nickel packages during the preseason and Trenton Simpson failed to secure an every-down role while Buchanan was unavailable.
- Arvell Reese earned an immediate full-time opportunity and should be treated as a priority rookie addition.
- Jack Gibbens appears to have defeated Cody Simon for Arizona’s second linebacker position.
- Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker both received every-down roles, eliminating concerns about a damaging Raiders rotation.
- Trenton Simpson was one of Week 1’s biggest disappointments. Even without Buchanan, Simpson played only 59% of Baltimore’s defensive snaps.
- Dorian Williams produced nine tackles, but his 67.1% role remained too dependent on Buffalo’s personnel packages.
- Henry To’oTo’o’s shoulder injury creates an immediate opportunity for Jake Hansen in Houston.
Week 1 Linebacker Waiver Priority
- Jacob Rodriguez
- Payton Wilson
- Arvell Reese
- Jack Gibbens
- Sonny Styles
- Teddye Buchanan
- Jake Hansen
- Bobby Okereke
- Kendal Daniels
- Troy Dye
- Dorian Williams
This article originally appeared on The Huddle: Week 1 Linebacker Usage and Review
