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Why Tiers?

Most fantasy owners are used to drafting off a simple ranking of players, but that can mask underlying differences that exist between players. For example, two players may be ranked right next to each other on a cheatsheet but there could be a wide gap in the expected production for them. In that case, you would probably want to draft the higher-ranked player a full-round earlier than the lower-ranked player. Similarly, there may be a large group of players with very similar projections that are bunched together on a ranking sheet. It may seem that a player ranked 10^th is much more valuable than a player ranked 15^th, but if only a few projected points separate them then they are roughly equivalent in value. Rather than force yourself to pick one, it may be best to focus on another position and then come back to this position in the next round since you’re likely to get a player of nearly identical value.

Grouping players into distinct tiers or buckets provides additional context that allows a drafter to make more informed decisions. The projections we offer at Footballguys also help a lot in this regard, but those are still static projections that may not fully indicate the range of likely outcomes for a player. For example, two players may be projected with similar numbers but one may have significantly more upside and/or a higher floor than the other. Those types of risk vs reward decisions are inherent in any fantasy draft. While drafting the safe players will typically help you build a solid team, you often need to take some chances and hit on some players who significantly exceed their preseason expectations to win.

Rankings are typically helpful in ordering players within the same position group, but tiers can help you figure out which position to take as you move through a draft. If you see a large group of linebackers that are all capable of putting up LB1-type numbers but only one defensive lineman likely to put up elite numbers, it’s wise to grab the lineman and assume at least one of the linebackers will be there for your next pick. This helps you maximize the value of your picks, and is a strategy that all strong fantasy players likely use to some extent.

How to Use the Tiers

1. These tiers are based on expected performance for the 2019 season in a balanced scoring system. While dynasty owners always need to consider long-term outcomes to some extent, the upcoming season is most critical for player value. I’ll highlight some dynasty stash options in a separate tier that you can focus on if you are less concerned about 2019 and want to focus on 2020 and beyond.
2. Positional classifications can differ depending on what your league-hosting website uses. For consistency, I will rely on the official Footballguys player classifications. For the most part, these should match up well with the major sources that exist online but there could be differences. Assigning edge rushers to linebacker or defensive end is the main area that causes issues here as the classification can have a huge impact on fantasy value.
3. Look for an asterisk (*) next to players that have added value in big-play scoring systems. There is a lot of scoring variability that exists among IDP leagues, so if your league places added value on big plays (i.e., sacks, interceptions, forced fumbles, etc.), this information should help you identify some key targets in each tier.

LINEBACKERS TIER 1: ELITE LB1

• Darius Leonard, IND *
• Devin White, TB *
• Roquan Smith, CHI *
• Zach Cunningham, HOU
• Blake Martinez, NYG
• Fred Warner, SF
• Joe Schobert, PIT
• Bobby Wagner, SEA

These are core pieces for any fantasy roster with IDPs and the type of players you can build a championship team with. They are all going to play just about every snap for their respective teams and have a proven history of production in the league. There is a compelling case to break out Darius Leonard into his own tier at the top given his incredible all-around production. Devin White isn’t far behind though after posting 9 sacks and 97 solo tackles last year. The rest of this group all have a proven track record of high tackle numbers combined with a handful of big plays to help set them apart from the field.

LINEBACKERS TIER 2: LOW-END LB1/HIGH-END LB2

• Deion Jones, ATL *
• Foye Oluokun, ATL
• C.J. Mosley, NYJ
• Patrick Queen, BAL *
• Myles Jack, JAX
• Devin Bush, PIT *
• Jerome Baker, MIA *
• Tremaine Edmunds, BUF
• Jayon Brown, TEN *
• Eric Kendricks, MIN

This group includes several players with elite potential who figure to play a huge role for their teams, but they all carry slightly more risk that warrants a slight drop in value. Each linebacker on this list has a realistic chance to finish in the top-10 among fantasy linebackers this year provided they can stay healthy. Some figure to play a lot of snaps on bad teams, which will inevitably boost their tackle numbers while others are quite talented but may not get enough opportunities on a strong team to fully realize their fantasy potential.

LINEBACKERS TIER 3: SOLID LB2

• Isaiah Simmons, ARI *
• Lavonte David, TB
• Jamie Collins Sr DET *
• Demario Davis, NO
• Anthony Walker, CLE
• Matt Milano, BUF *
• Alex Singleton, PHI
• A.J. Johnson, DEN
• Logan Wilson, CIN
• Shaq Thompson, CAR
• Bobby Okereke, IND
• Kenneth Murray, LAC
• Jaylon Smith, DAL
• Christian Kirksey, HOU

This group includes some very good linebackers with a range of experience levels who will likely post some high-scoring weeks but lack the consistency of the players ranked above them. These players provide a solid baseline at the position and can be counted on as reliable starters without focusing too much on the matchups each week. One or two may break out but it’s safe to consider these stable high-floor options with limited upside.

LINEBACKERS TIER 4: LB3

• Zaven Collins, ARI
• Eric Wilson, PHI
• Damien Wilson, JAX
• Dre Greenlaw, SF
• Jamin Davis, WAS
• Troy Reeder, LAR
• DeVondre Campbell, GB
• Danny Trevathan, CHI
• Micah Parsons, DAL
• T.J. Watt, PIT *
• Jordyn Brooks, SEA

This group of players carries a bit more risk and consists of players whose production from week-to-week will often be heavily influenced by their matchup or the game script. As a result, you may not be able to simply plug them into your starting lineup each week and feel confident that they will produce. There are some very talented rookies in this group who could need some time to emerge as 3-down players as well as some veterans who figure to see a boost following a change in teams or roles this offseason.

LINEBACKERS TIER 5: TOP BACKUPS WITH UPSIDE

• Josey Jewell, DEN
• Kwon Alexander, NO
• Cory Littleton, LV
• Krys Barnes, GB
• Nick Bolton, KC
• Cole Holcomb, WAS
• Willie Gay Jr Jr, KC
• Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, CLE
• Kenny Young, LAR
• Malik Harrison, BAL

This group highlights some of the top players left who you may want to target for bench spots on your team since they have some clear potential to outperform expectations.

LINEBACKERS TIER 6A: TOP TACKLE-HEAVY BACKUPS

• Leighton Vander Esch, DAL
• Alex Anzalone, DET
• Rashaan Evans, TEN
• Germaine Pratt, CIN
• Nick Vigil, MIN
• JaWhaun Bentley, NE
• Nick Kwiatkoski, LV
• Nicholas Morrow, LV
• Elandon Roberts, MIA
  Jordan Hicks, ARI

These are the types of linebackers who may not offer much in the way of upside but they should get enough of a workload to make them viable options when your depth is tested by injuries or bye weeks. Most have a good chance to reach 100 combined tackles but are unlikely to contribute much in the big play categories.

LINEBACKERS TIER 6B: TOP SACK-HEAVY BACKUPS

• Chandler Jones, ARI *
• Khalil Mack, CHI *
• Shaquil Barrett, TB *
• ZaDarius Smith, GB *
• Harold Landry, TEN *
• Kyle Van Noy, NE
• Von Miller, DEN *
• Leonard Floyd, LAR *
• Jason Pierre-Paul, TB *
• Bradley Chubb, DEN *
• Bud Dupree, TEN *
• Jaelan Phillips, MIA

These players are primarily edge-rushers who derive most of their value from rushing the quarterback in passing situations so they will have added value in big-play scoring systems. They may top out around 40 or 50 solo tackles but should supplement that production with 7+ sacks.

LINEBACKERS TIER 7: DYNASTY STASHES

• Pete Werner, NO
• Zack Baun, NO
• Ernest Jones, LAR
• Derrick Barnes, DET
• Chazz Surratt, MIN

Many of the high-end rookies from the past couple of drafts are projected to play 3-down roles and therefore fall into the higher tiers above. This group includes some younger players who may not start right away but could develop into full-time contributors and fantasy starters before too long.