Which teams need ILB help the most?

[lukkynumber13]

As we anxiously wait for free agency, cuts, the Draft, etc, I thought it might be helpful to look at which teams need ILB/MLB/WLB help the most. As we saw last year, sometimes the best LBs in fantasy are waiver wire heroes (Zach Orr, Will Compton, Zach Brown, Craig Robertson, etc)

Here's how I rated each team:
HIGH probability that this team has at least 1 fantasy starter in '17 that's NOT currently on the roster
VERY POSSIBLE that this team has at least 1 fantasy starter in '17 that's NOT currently on the roster
SMALL CHANCE that this team has any fantasy starters in '17 that are NOT currently on the roster
VERY LOW possibility that this team has any fantasy starters in '17 that are NOT currently on the roster

AFC:
Patriots: so much is unknown here. We all got excited for E. Roberts but it seems Bill B didn't share quite as much love for the rookie. Maybe he'll step into a full time role his 2nd year? Hightower will probably end up leaving, IMO. So the Pats should end up with 1 or 2 new starters at WLB & MLB HIGH

Dolphins: They like Kiko, but I have to imagine they move on from J. Jenkins. Maybe Hewitt or Peysinger becomes a starter? VERY POSSIBLE

Jets should have Lee & Harris as their starters in 17 VERY LOW

Buffalo will have Ragland & 1 or both of the Browns, rotating @ the 2 LB spots VERY LOW

Indy will most likely add at least 1 new starter, whether it's Geathers becoming an ILB, Morrison starting, or they draft a guy. I expect Dqwell to be gone, and Edwin Jackson should keep his starting job HIGH

Texans are probably set with BM & Cushing SMALL CHANCE

Tennessee is interesting. Maybe their 3-headed yucky monster continues? They have worse holes than at ILB, so I doubt they make a big splash VERY POSSIBLE

Jacksonville is set VERY LOW

The Chargers are similar to Buffalo, plenty of options. I expect J. Brown & Perryman to start VERY LOW

Denver sustained ZERO fantasy starters, and I don't expect that to change much. Hopefully we see Marshall at least climb back into LB3 territory. Whatever happens, I doubt they add a guy SMALL CHANCE

KC intrigues me. I predict Derrick Johnson to start at least one more year, with Ramik Wilson starting in a 2-down role. But they could draft an ILB early as Johnson's heir VERY POSSIBLE

Oakland NEEDS help badly, at WLB & MLB. They may draft a couple guys, or pay to keep Malcom Smith around? Corey James, anyone? HIGH

Cleveland is set with Collins & Kirksey VERY LOW

Pittsburgh should continue to roll with Timmons & Shazier for another year at least VERY LOW

Baltimore will of course have a new guy starting next to Mosley. The question is, will he be a 3-downer, or will it be a committee job? Even the Ravens probably don't know. I suspect McLellan to start, although Correa is the sexy name VERY POSSIBLE

Cincinnati has Burfict, but what about MLB? Maybe Vigil? Probably won't be making any early splashes in the draft at the LB position VERY LOW

NFC:
The Giants. Ugh. They should draft a MLB or WLB early, but who knows. They will probably have at least one new starter come late fall, but maybe nobody startable in fantasy. They haven't produced startable LBs in some time VERY POSSIBLE

Dallas should be set. Lee is a stud when healthy, and their MLB is an ugly committee. Hopefully Jaylon Smith changes that last part? VERY LOW

Who knows with the Eagles; I expect Hicks to be a full time guy, but they may very well draft a WLB VERY POSSIBLE

Washington, like Indy, could really use upgrades at both ILB spots but might not be able to afford drafting them very high. Expect Compton & Foster to compete for 1 job, and they draft the 2nd guy. Cravens is allegedly going to SS full time in 17 HIGH

Atlanta is set with their rookies VERY LOW

New Orleans, HAH! We thought we had at least one stud... I don't even wanna guess VERY POSSIBLE

Tampa is set VERY LOW

Carolina is set, as in they won't be drafting anyone high, but we shall see whether it's Shaq or TD next to Kuechly VERY LOW

I think the Cardinals are set with their underwhelming duo of DB & KM SMALL CHANCE

Seattle is set VERY LOW

The Rams appear to be set VERY LOW

San Fran would be wise to draft at least one ILB early, especially if the new regime doesn't like Hodges, Bellore, or Wilhoite enough to re-sign them. Expect Bowman to have a new bunk mate this year HIGH

Chicago is set VERY LOW

Green Bay appears headed for a 3-headed monster of Martinez, Ryan, & Thomas VERY LOW

Minnesota is set with Kendricks, and we shall see what they do with Brothers & Barr SMALL CHANCE

Detroit is PROBABLY set, but maybe they tire of Levy's growing injury list, and replace him? I doubt it, but it's a real possibility SMALL CHANCE

[bruiser]

Good thread... entirely up in the air, some of these. Detroit is quite fluid at the moment. I heard a Detroit die-hard today say that Tahir Whitehead will be replaced at MIKE and is the worst player on the team. Sounded extreme to me, but shows what little I know.

I've been seeing Foster mocked at #10 to.......................

Cincinnati. Wouldn't that just bleeping suck?!! Just when you thought you could reasonably rule them out.....

The Giants seem pretty smart about not over-investing at the LB position (it is not as important as we tend to value it in IDP fantasy leagues). I can't remember the last time they drafted a premiere ILB. There's just so much talent in the 5th & 6th rounds. Maybe I'm being selective, but I see loads of starting-caliber guys that were day 2-3 rookies.

I can see the 49ers continuing their defensive rebuild by drafting a starter at ILB. They've followed the plan so far: get a secondary in place first, then some young d-linemen, capped off with a fresh crop of ILBs. Of course it easier said than done to get the right players and coaches, then keep them together. But in the NFL, teams can go from rags to riches in a two-year turnaround (cept Cleveland).

[bruiser]

One thing I failed to mention is that Detroit cannot move on from Levy because he'd carry significant dead cap (I believe it was $7m). Cutting Whitehead would not cost much at all.

[Coogan Football]

Nice work here

[dlf_tomk]

Really liked this Lukky.

I hate Deandre Levy. We've wasted so much time on a player who has basically had one good season over.

[lukkynumber13]

Really liked this Lukky.

I hate Deandre Levy. We've wasted so much time on a player who has basically had one good season over.

Haha tell us how you feel!

[Death_From_Above]

Solid analysis man. well done

[bruiser]

Levy is a buy low (shhhh)

[lukkynumber13]

Well, DQwell got cut finally!

[GridironGuerilla]

Doe's that boost any of the Indy LB's or was his release sort of a foregone conclusion anyhow?

[lukkynumber13]

Doe's that boost any of the Indy LB's or was his release sort of a foregone conclusion anyhow?

I assumed it but wasn't sure. I think it cements Ed Jackson as a starter this year, and I will be very surprised if we don't draft an ILB in the 1st 4-5 rounds

[dlf_tomk]

Levy is a buy low (shhhh)

@#?&!

[bruiser]

Levy is a buy low (shhhh)

@#?&!

I know, I know. But his price is probably zilch and his ceiling.....2014? Just don't overpay.

[lukkynumber13]

Levy is a buy low (shhhh)

@#?&!

I know, I know. But his price is probably zilch and his ceiling.....2014? Just don't overpay.

I would argue that literally EVERY starting LB has a top 8-10 overall ceiling, because of the nature of the position. So I'd rather grab the Whiteheads, Orrs, Comptons, for free. I think Levy would still command a price tag similar to an aging LB1, because of his name

[bruiser]

I would argue that literally EVERY starting LB has a top 8-10 overall ceiling, because of the nature of the position. So I'd rather grab the Whiteheads, Orrs, Comptons, for free. I think Levy would still command a price tag similar to an aging LB1, because of his name

I agree that a starting WLB has a good ceiling, but Levy has soured so much on his owners that they are currently cutting him for roster space. To this, I say: "buy low." Two years off of football should give the 30yr old plenty of rest in essentially a contract year.