Redraft season is here! It is time for some rankings, so here are my top 25 redraft linebackers.
With preseason underway, it is time to get your brain thinking about your redraft leagues. With linebacker being the highest scoring position on your IDP roster, I figured it was best to start with them. All other positions will follow, with the defensive line coming next. You can check out IDPGUYS consensus rankings, but here are my top 25 redraft linebacker rankings.
Top 25 Redraft Linebacker Rankings
1. Darius Leonard – Indianapolis Colts
Leonard has been an absolute beast since entering the NFL. He has averaged 139 tackles (89 solos), 9 tackles for a loss, 5 sacks, 8 passes defended, 2 interceptions, and 3 forced fumbles per season over his first three seasons. With a high tackle floor and playmaking upside for days, Leonard is the easy LB1 choice for me in my redraft linebacker rankings.
2. Devin White – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A lot of people are being very reactionary with Devin White after his huge 2020 season. His tackle total spiked 50+ tackles and he produced 9 sacks. Those sacks vaulted White to LB1, but his usage did not change too much — he only blitzed on 16 more occasions over 16 games.
Before I make him the LB1, I need to see him replicate his numbers, much like Darius Leonard has. This leaves White at #2 in my redraft linebacker rankings.
3. Roquan Smith – Chicago Bears
Smith is coming off of a career year, having finally stayed fully healthy. Not only did he provide excellent tackle numbers, but Smith also showcased his playmaking ability. He should produce at a similar level for 2021.
4. Blake Martinez – New York Giants
Martinez is an absolute tackle machine. He posted at least 144 tackles or more in every season he was a full-time starter and has not missed a game in four years. The Giants did not add to the position and he should thrive once again.
5. Deion Jones – Atlanta Falcons
Deion Jones had some injury-riddled seasons and one down season, so most wrote him off. I was incredibly high on Jones and he proved me right. Jones is one of the top playmaking linebackers in the NFL and I think his tackle total of 106 in 2020 will rise.
6. Zach Cunningham – Houston Texans
Zach Cunningham is coming off of a league-leading 164 total tackles from 2020. He also has 306 tackles over the past two seasons. Bernardrick McKinney is gone as well and the Texans defense will be on the field a lot. Cunningham has a great chance to repeat as the tackle leader.
7. Bobby Wagner – Seattle Seahawks
Bobby Wagner has had no fewer than 133 tackles since 2015. He only missed two games over that same span of time. Wagner is the epidemy of consistency, plus K.J. Wright is gone. Wagner is still elite, though he is aging. He is a surefire LB1 for 2021.
8. Fred Warner – San Francisco 49ers
Fred Warner has progressively gotten better every season he has been in the NFL. The contract he just received reflects that. Warner has been one of the best coverage linebackers in the NFL since he entered and he blitzes well to boot.
9. Kenneth Murray – Los Angeles Chargers
As infuriating as the Chargers linebacker group can be for fantasy football, Murray is the constant. He eclipsed the 100 tackle mark as a rookie and was the only break the 90% snap share mark for the team. The new coaching staff wants to blitz more with Murray, which means he carries a good tackle floor with the possibility of improved playmaking. This is his first time in my top 10 redraft linebacker rankings.
10. Joe Schobert – Pittsburgh Steelers
Schobert has been a perennial top-five IDP linebacker for the past few seasons. He proved that he can produce, even while being next to upper-level talent. Schobert did it in Cleveland and in Jacksonville last year. In Pittsburgh, he should be the every-down linebacker shifting Devin Bush to a base set role. Fire Schobert up as an LB1 still.
11. T.J. Watt – Pittsburgh Steelers
12. Tremaine Edmunds – Buffalo Bills
13. Patrick Queen – Baltimore Ravens
14. Myles Jack – Jacksonville Jaguars
15. Micah Parsons – Dallas Cowboys
16. Eric Kendricks – Minnesota Vikings
17. Lavonte David – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
18. Demario Davis – New Orleans Saints
19. Zaven Collins – Arizona Cardinals
20. Jayon Brown – Tennessee Titans
21. Isaiah Simmons – Arizona Cardinals
22. Shaq Thompson – Carolina Panthers
23. Jamin Davis – Washington Football Team
24. Logan Wilson – Cincinnati Bengals
25. Devin Bush – Pittsburgh Steelers
Summary
There is a breakdown of my top 25 redraft linebacker rankings. Some surprises, but most should not be too crazy. Many of these guys have the possibility of being LB1s, though the top 10 are virtual locks for me. Be sure to check out when I drop my other positions coming soon.
Thank you for reading! Follow me on Twitter at @JoeyTheToothIDP, and check out all of my IDP, Devy, and Offensive work at idpguys.org. Stay up to date with the latest breaking news in fantasy football with The IDPGuys! Be sure to order our rookie draft magazines, which we load with fantastic player profiles and landing spot analysis.
