- Plenty of new full-time linebackers emerge to start 2025: Scheme changes and new green-dot defenders have moved a lot of lesser-known linebackers into potentially big roles.
- Setting expectations for highly drafted rookies: Some rookies appear to have won starting jobs, while others may need expectations tempered heading into Year 1.
- PFF+ gives you the Fantasy blueprint: Test strategies with the No. 1 Mock Draft Simulator, use the Live Draft Assistant for pick suggestions and project next-round availability, and unlock industry-leading rankings.
Estimated reading time: 13 minutes
Coming out of training camp and the preseason, role expectations will often change as teams begin to hint at their plans heading into Week 1. Sometimes these are pleasant surprises, and other times, the information is concerning, leading to us pivoting our plans for certain players.
This will serve as one single hub for all the major changes that we have evidence of this offseason, recapping all the changes we potentially have to make for our 2025 IDP assets.
Be sure to check our IDP rankings page to see where these players compare to the rest of their peers heading into 2025.
Risers: Linebacker
- Mack Wilson, Arizona Cardinals
- Wilson is operating as the lone 100%-snap linebacker for the Cardinals this season and will wear the green dot for the first time in his NFL career. He’ll be a fine LB2 option for IDP as long as he holds that role.
- Divine Deablo, Atlanta Falcons
- With Troy Andersen unable to get healthy, it appears Deablo is set to start next to Kaden Elliss this season. With Jeff Ulbrich as the new defensive coordinator, Deablo should play a sizable role and be worthy of starting in non-shallow IDP leagues.
- Christian Rozeboom, Carolina Panthers
- After the release of Josey Jewell, Rozeboom has assumed the duties as a green-dot defender and the lone full-time linebacker in Carolina. He’ll be a startable IDP option with that role.
- Demetrius Knight Jr., Cincinnati Bengals
- The Bengals' second-round pick moved up the depth chart after the release of Germaine Pratt and should be in for a near full-time workload next to Logan Wilson. Knight should deliver consistent IDP value for us in Year 1.
- Carson Schwesinger, Cleveland Browns
- Another rookie defender thrust into a large workload, Schwesinger’s stock increased significantly following the retirement of Jordan Hicks and with Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah’s health knocking him out of 2025. Schwesinger is going to work as the Browns’ lone full-time linebacker and will have a shot to be much more effective than past Browns linebackers for IDP.
- Jack Sanborn, Dallas Cowboys
- Sanborn’s familiarity with Matt Eberflus’ defense and a lack of reliable starters have made him one of the biggest offseason risers at the position. He should be capable of delivering weekly IDP value as long as he remains a full-time player.
- Joe Bachie, Indianapolis Colts
- With Jaylon Carlies unable to get on the field, the Colts may have to rely on Bachie to play significant snaps next to Zaire Franklin, at least until Carlies is healthy. While we don’t know when Carlies will be back, Bachie stands out as a great fill-in option to plug into deeper IDP lineups.
- Devin White, Las Vegas Raiders
- White has a history of inefficiency and inconsistency, which has sometimes cost him his spot on rosters. However, the Raiders have trusted him with the dot and if he’s going to be a full-time linebacker, then he’ll return IDP value worth targeting in non-shallow formats.
- Nate Landman, Los Angeles Rams
- Another new green-dot linebacker heading into 2025, Landman is in a great spot to be productive in a zone-heavy Rams defense for as long as he holds down his full-time spot. He offers the same value as our other new green dot defenders in the LB2-3 range of drafts.
- Christian Elliss, New England Patriots
- Elliss is the favorite to play starting snaps next to Robert Spillane, though this role isn’t likely to be a full-time position. He’ll be in play for deeper leagues and on Sleeper, where he holds DL-eligibility.
- Jihaad Campbell, Philadelphia Eagles
- For as long as Nakobe Dean is out, rookie first-rounder Jihaad Campbell is set to start next to Zack Baun. While Campbell may get some usage on the edge once Baun is back in the lineup, he should still be an option for non-shallow leagues.
- Dee Winters, San Francisco 49ers
- SirVocea Dennis, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Following the recent release of Anthony Walker, Dennis’ role as LB2 in Tampa Bay seems set in stone. He should be close to full-time with a shot to be another starting option in deeper IDP leagues.
- Cedric Gray, Tennessee Titans
- Gray overtook James Williams as Tennessee’s other linebacker starter next to Cody Barton. While it’s unclear whether this will be a full-time role, Gray should still be a solid option in non-shallow formats.
Fallers: Linebacker
- Akeem Davis-Gaither, Arizona Cardinals
- Davis-Gaither was a candidate for the team’s LB1 role in 2025, but the team chose to go with Wilson. Davis-Gaither’s LB2 role is unlikely to be full-time, making him an option for deeper IDP leagues only.
- Jaylon Carlies, Indianapolis Colts
- Carlies’ inability to get on the field has put his job at risk as Bachie fills in and is in danger of not getting that role back. If Carlies can’t get healthy soon, he will be droppable, even in Sleeper leagues where he has DB-eligibility.
- Devin Lloyd, Jacksonville Jaguars
- Lloyd’s spot as LB2 in Jacksonville doesn’t mean he’ll be a full-time option – in fact, it appears to be far from that. Not only was Lloyd rotating off in certain packages, but there’s a possibility that he could rotate off for entire drives as Ventrell Miller and Jack Kiser earn more snaps.
- Germaine Pratt, Las Vegas Raiders
- Pratt playing a part-time LB2 role next to White is one thing, but after he was used on the edge for 50% of his snaps this preseason is even more of a concern. Pratt’s tackle efficiency and overall opportunity for tackles are going to be on the low end for the position, making him a very deep league target only.
- Junior Colson, Los Angeles Chargers
- Colson is another player dealing with constant injuries, which keep him from getting on the field. He’s currently behind Denzel Perryman, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a heavy rotation at the position outside of Daiyan Henley.
- Bobby Okereke, New York Giants
- There are clear red flags with Okereke’s usage in the second preseason game, as he lost the green dot beyond the first drive and even rotated off in certain situations. He also ceded the dot to Darius Muasau in the same game and stayed in after Micah McFadden’s day was done. It’s possible that Okereke is not a full-time player in 2025, which significantly hurts his IDP value.
- Nick Martin, San Francisco 49ers
- Martin is far behind Dee Winters on the depth chart at this point and possibly behind Tatum Bethune and others, as Martin only appeared in the second half of the last preseason game, which did not include any of the expected starters. Martin remains a taxi squad stash in dynasty but nothing more for now.
Risers: Defensive back
- Xavier Watts, Atlanta Falcons
- It appeared that Jordan Fuller was slightly ahead of Watts on the depth chart throughout the preseason, but the team cut Fuller on deadline day. There’s now no question that Watts will start next to Jessie Bates this season.
- Billy Bowman Jr., Atlanta Falcons
- Bowman has been battling Dee Alford for the team’s nickel corner role, and after he got the rest treatment for Preseason Week 3 and Alford played, it appears Bowman is the favorite to be Atlanta’s primary slot defender.
- Cole Bishop, Buffalo Bills
- Bishop appears to have overtaken Damar Hamlin as the starting safety next to Taylor Rapp this season. Bishop has experience playing around the line of scrimmage coming out of college and could be a nice late target in IDP drafts this season.
- Nick Scott, Carolina Panthers
- For now, Scott appears to be the starter next to Trevon Moehrig over Demani Richardson and rookie Lathan Ransom. Scott has lost his starting job in the past, so this may be temporary, but he does at least appear set to start come Week 1.
- Ronnie Hickman, Cleveland Browns
- Hickman had to battle with Rayshawn Jenkins for starting snaps, and it appears that Hickman has won the job. He’ll be a deep league option well after Grant Delpit for most IDP leagues.
- Andrew Wingard/Eric Murray, Jacksonville Jaguars
- Last year’s starters, Antonio Johnson and Darnell Savage, are still on the team, but a new defensive coordinator has demoted them to backups this season. Wingard and Murray are deep league options only for now.
- Chamarri Conner, Kansas City Chiefs
- Conner worked as the team’s primary nickel corner last season but following Justin Reid‘s departure, he will play both in the slot and as a full-time safety. Conner should get the best usage among the Chiefs‘ defensive backs, making him a strong IDP target.
- Ifeatu Melifonwu, Miami Dolphins
- With Ashtyn Davis out, Melifonwu appears to have won the starting job next to Minkah Fitzpatrick this season. Melifonwu is likely to play more of a deep role while Fitzpatrick moves around more, though he can still be an IDP option for deeper leagues.
- Jaylinn Hawkins, New England Patriots
- With Kyle Dugger losing his starting job, Hawkins may be the best option to fill in and be a deeper IDP option. Hawkins worked as the top option in the preseason along with Jabrill Peppers, though rookie Craig Woodson could also take over at some point.
- Jason Pinnock, San Francisco 49ers
- Both Richie Grant and Malik Mustapha have been banged up, so Pinnock is looking like the starter next to Ji’Ayir Brown to begin the year. Pinnock is also a deeper league option.
- Tykee Smith, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Smith is set to make the move from the slot to a full-time safety role this season. Smith should get strong IDP usage near the line of scrimmage, making him a startable weekly option this season.
Fallers: Defensive back
- Dee Alford, Atlanta Falcons
- It appears that rookie Billy Bowman will take on the role of primary nickel cornerback based on preseason usage.
- Damar Hamlin, Buffalo Bills
- Antonio Johnson/Darnell Savage, Jacksonville Jaguars
- New defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile has chosen Wingard and Murray as his starters, highlighted above, leaving Johnson and Savage on the outs.
- Jaden Hicks, Kansas City Chiefs
- Hicks’ role is technically that of a starter, but he is only getting used in certain packages, which keeps him from being a full-time player. He won’t be an IDP option for as long as he’s not getting full-time snaps.
- Ashtyn Davis, Miami Dolphins
- Davis’ health has kept him from competing for the starting safety job with Ifeatu Melifonwu and now appears to be third on the depth chart.
- Kyle Dugger, New England Patriots
- A trade and cut candidate, Dugger is unlikely to be a starter for the Patriots this season. If he lands elsewhere, then we can reevaluate his IDP value, but for now, he’s not worth drafting.
- Nick Emmanwori, Seattle Seahawks
- Much like with Jaden Hicks, Emmanwori is only being used in certain packages, which keeps him from being a full-time player. This, in turn, keeps him from being a consistent IDP starter and should just be held on the taxi squad in dynasty leagues for now.
Other rookies of note
- James Pearce Jr., Atlanta Falcons
- Pearce earned solid pass-rushing marks in his two preseason appearances, including a 21.1% win rate and 18.4% pressure rate. On a thinner Falcons edge group, Pearce could earn a larger workload as a rookie.
- Mike Green, Baltimore Ravens
- Similar to Pearce, Green has looked good this preseason, and while he’s currently behind Odafe Oweh and Kyle Van Noy, if he continues to flash potential, his role could grow. Green boasted strong pass-rush and run defense metrics coming out of college that could have him in play as a solid IDP in Year 1.
- Princely Umanmielen, Carolina Panthers
- The Panthers‘ edge unit is thin, currently led by DJ Wonnum and Pat Jones, who are less-than-stellar pass rushers capable of losing snaps to younger, more capable players. While second-round pick Nic Scourton is currently hurt, Umanmielen has looked good through three games with a 75.5 pass-rush grade and five total pressures.
- Mason Graham, Cleveland Browns
- As the fifth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, expectations might be high for Graham to play a significant role on this Browns defense. Graham has played 100% of the snaps with the starters in the preseason and should continue to play a ton in the regular season, greatly helping his IDP potential.
- Jamaree Caldwell, Los Angeles Chargers
- Caldwell is on a thin defensive tackle unit with the Chargers, and he has highlighted strong play through the preseason, earning an 82.4 PFF grade and 85.5 run-defense grade. Caldwell could be a name to monitor in DT-required dynasty formats.
- Donovan Ezeiruaku, Dallas Cowboys
- JT Tuimoloau, Indianapolis Colts
- Another second-round edge, Tuimoloau had a great start to his preseason, earning a 90.6 pass-rush grade, and he recorded a sack…although against poor Ravens backups. Tuimoloau’s next two games resulted in 48.0 and 59.2 pass-rush grades with no pressures, as he also played late in those games with the backups.
- Shemar Stewart, Cincinnati Bengals
- After finally signing his rookie contract, Stewart was able to get on the field and contribute this preseason, playing behind Myles Murphy and Joseph Ossai in the first game. With Murphy out for the second game, Stewart started next to Ossai, and if Murphy and Trey Hendrickson are going to continue missing time, then he could have a sizable role as a rookie.
- Lathan Ransom, Carolina Panthers
- For now, Nick Scott has the starting job, though it’s likely a loose grip as he’s lost his job before. Ransom is a rookie safety with IDP potential, but for no,w he’ll just be a taxi squad stash.
- Andrew Mukuba, Philadelphia Eagles
- Mukuba and Sydney Brown were getting decent playing time as starters in the preseason, but they both appear to be behind both Reed Blankenship and Cooper DeJean, who looks to be making the move to safety this year. Whoever emerges as S3 will likely only be a sub-package option if DeJean is truly going to spend more time at safety this year.
Miscellaneous notes:
- Chop Robinson, Miami Dolphins
- With Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb fully healthy, Robinson’s role could take a hit from last year, as indicated in Preseason Week 3 when he played one of seven possible first drive snaps while Phillips and Chubb played all seven. Robinson can have value as a designated pass rusher, but it will be difficult for him to be a consistent weekly IDP if his snaps are limited now that the other starters are back healthy.
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