IDPeeved: Linebackers – 2020’s Disappointing IDPs

Leighton Vander Esch

Daniel Simpkins Posted On July 26, 2021

If a general manager has played the IDP format for any length of time, they have encountered the following situation. Through the draft or by trade, they acquire an individual defensive player who is projected to do well that year. The year comes and goes and at the end of it, that player was a massive disappointment. Perhaps it was an injury. Maybe it was related to reduced snaps. It could be that the player just was not efficient with his opportunities.

This is a fairly common occurrence in IDP. It probably happened to many of us last year. As we get ready for 2021, we are wondering if we should trade the player away or at least find a suitable replacement. This article will look at some of those situations among the linebacker group and help general managers make the tough calls about what to do with some of the IDP disappointments of 2020.

Linebackers

Devin Bush, LB PIT

2020 Preseason Consensus Dynasty Rank: 23 Overall IDP
2020 Fantasy Finish: Between LB 123 and LB 129 depending on format.
Current DLF Consensus Rank: LB 23

What Went Wrong: Bush suffered a knee injury in week five against the rival Browns. It could be argued that Bush has not played up to his top-ten draft selection to this point, even when on the field.

2021 Outlook: Bush is a young player who was in the midst of his second NFL season before his ACL tear. It is not time to give up on him just yet. Additionally, we could see his opportunities improved as this team’s offense declines and its defense is on the field for more snaps.

Isaiah Simmons, LB ARI

2020 Preseason Consensus Dynasty Rank: 39 Overall IDP
2020 Fantasy Finish: Between LB 68 and LB 76 depending on format.
Current DLF Consensus Rank: LB 18

What Went Wrong: The coaching staff did not seem to have a clear plan for the eighth-overall pick and his snap counts were not that of a full-time player. Simmons’ playing time did increase near the end of the year, but was still nowhere near where drafters thought it would be.

2021 Outlook: Like Bush, Simmons is also very young and may have needed more time to adjust to the NFL than fantasy general managers (myself included) were willing to give. While drafting Zaven Collins is a bit of a concern, it is encouraging that the team was reportedly shopping Jordan Hicks this off-season. If that is true, it is likely they believe Simmons can step into one of the two open full-time spots. Getting 1,000 snaps would go a long way toward helping Simmons achieve a solid LB2 season.

Tremaine Edmunds, LB BUF

2020 Preseason Consensus Dynasty Rank: IDP 14 Overall
2020 Fantasy Finish: Between LB 24 and LB 29 depending on format.
Current DLF Consensus Rank: LB 21

What Went Wrong: Simply put, Edmunds has been a massive letdown to general managers who viewed him as a prospect who could be a top-five linebacker. He came into the NFL with raw athleticism and has not developed the instincts and play recognition to stop the run that many had hoped he would.

2021 Outlook: I think it is safe to say headed into year four that Edmunds is the player he is going to be, which is a decent fantasy LB2 and a good fantasy LB3. Adjust expectations and move forward. If there is still someone in your league willing to pay an LB1 price to acquire him, let them deal with the disappointment while you reset the clock.

Shaq Green-Thompson, LB CAR

2020 Preseason Consensus Dynasty Rank: IDP 41 Overall
2020 Fantasy Finish: Between LB 30 and LB 37 depending on format.
Current DLF Consensus Rank: LB22

What Went Wrong: For a player who logged over 1,000 snaps in 2020, his output was extremely disappointing. Rookie Jeremy Chinn beat him to many of the run-and-chase tackle opportunities that existed.

2021 Outlook: I do not expect things to change. While 1,000 snaps is still likely, he is going to struggle to beat a more athletic Chinn to the play. Expecting LB3-4 production again this year is the safest and most likely outcome.

Jordyn Brooks, LB SEA

2020 Preseason Consensus Dynasty Rank: LB 43
2020 Fantasy Finish: Between LB 92 and LB 98 depending on format.
Current DLF Consensus Rank: LB 24

What Went Wrong: General managers thought his role would be bigger in his rookie year than it was. Bobby Wagner and KJ Wright continued to dominate production for the unit.

2021 Outlook: There is still uncertainty about whether Wright will rejoin the team on a one-year deal. Regardless, I think there is more opportunity coming for Brooks in about a year. I do not see Wagner being with the team beyond this year. The question is whether Brooks has the talent to live up to the expectations of being as good as either of those players when they are both gone. I think his upside is closer to that of Wright than Wagner. If I were waiting to buy low, I might wait one more year and buy before year three, when general managers are most likely to want to turn the page.

Willie Gay, LB KC

2020 Preseason Consensus Dynasty Rank: LB 33
2020 Fantasy Finish: Between LB 98 and LB 106 depending on format.
Current DLF Consensus Rank: LB 30

What Went Wrong: His talent is great, but the situation in Kansas City is suboptimal because of their linebacker usage. Things have to hit just right to get even a serviceable LB2 out of the Chiefs as of late. Playing only 267 snaps in his rookie year is not going to cut it.

2021 Outlook: Really, the Chiefs only have room for one top-24 linebacker, so the margin is already thin. Kansas City drafting two-down thumper Nick Bolton is a bit of a head-scratcher and makes one wonder if there is more to the story about Gay than we may currently know. Getting increased opportunity may not happen this year either. We need to see Gay earn either the full-time MLB or WLB spot to have a shot. With Hitchens still around, I am doubtful that will happen without an injury situation.

Leighton Vander Esch, LB DAL

2020 Preseason Consensus Dynasty Rank: 30 Overall IDP
2020 Fantasy Finish: Between LB 76 and LB 89 depending on format.
Current DLF Consensus Rank: LB 34

What Went Wrong: Vander Esch once again missed time with injury. He has not been able to stay healthy over the past three years. The Cowboys declined to pick up his fifth-year option, meaning Vander Esch will likely be on another team next year.

2021 Outlook: If not for injuries, I think Vander Esch would be a top IDP contributor. Unfortunately, there are some players who are great, but just cannot stay healthy. I think Vander Esch is such a player. For as long as he is healthy, you can deploy him, but have backup options ready to go, because getting a full season of production is unlikely. He may recover some dynasty value next year with a fresh start elsewhere on a team with less linebacker competition.

Rashaan Evans, LB TEN

2020 Preseason Consensus Dynasty Rank: 48 Overall IDP
2020 Fantasy Finish: Between LB 38 and LB 50 depending on format.
Current DLF Consensus Rank: LB 59

What Went Wrong: Evans has just never become the player general managers were hoping he would be. Coming out of college, we saw a player with potential to rush the quarterback, stop the run, and play in coverage. Evans has only been able to successfully stop the run and not well at that.

2021 Outlook: A two-down thumper, Evans is not going to hit his fantasy ceiling. He will get a new team fit next year, but I think the problem is more player-related and not an issue with what the Titans are asking him to do. They have wanted to rely on him more, especially when Jayon Brown has been injured, but he has not shown himself to be a reliable three-down player. If you can get anything of value for him in a trade, make the move. I recently flipped him for Carson Wentz in a league. The chances of Wentz bouncing back are not great, but they are better than Evans’ prospects of living up to his potential.