A Linebacker You Should Avoid in 2025

In the NFL, timing is everything. Some players bide their time, honing their craft on the sidelines, waiting for a chance to shine. Others are thrust into the spotlight, expected to deliver under pressure from day one. Regardless of the path, one truth remains: when opportunity knocks, you must answer. E.J. Speed's career is a tale of two halves.

The first half spans four years of relentless grinding, a patient climb toward a coveted starting role with the Indianapolis Colts. The second half is unfolding now, as he seizes the moment and writes his legacy with every snap with his new team, the Houston Texans. Yet, in the unpredictable world of the NFL, not every ascent to the top endures. Speed's rise may glitter, but it risks becoming IDP fool's gold. As you weigh drafting him, consider the factors that could define, or derail, his story.

Catching Up To Speed

E.J. Speed's ascent as a linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts began to take shape in 2023, though his journey with the team started much earlier. Selected in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Speed entered a linebacker room dominated by the legendary Shaquille Leonard, whose All-Pro presence, alongside capable partners like Bobby Okereke and Zaire Franklin, defined the Colts' defensive identity.

For years, Speed toiled in the shadows, refining his craft behind these elite linebackers. When Leonard and the Colts parted ways in 2023, a void emerged at the position. Zaire Franklin stepped into the marquee role, but Indianapolis has a storied history of supporting two elite linebackers in IDP formats, and Speed was poised to claim the secondary mantle.

In 2023, he seized the opportunity, posting career highs across the board, including tackles and tackles for loss. The momentum carried into 2024, with Speed again setting personal bests in tackles and passes defended, cementing his status as a statistical force. His ability to deliver when given the chance is undeniable, but the question lingers: Is his rise a sustainable triumph or a fleeting mirage for IDP managers to chase?

New Team, New Me?

E.J. Speed's emergence as a top-15 IDP linebacker in 2023 with the Indianapolis Colts was a surprising yet traceable development. For nearly a decade, the Colts' defensive identity has consistently supported two high-caliber IDP linebackers, a trait not exclusive to Indianapolis but notably absent in Speed's new team, the Houston Texans.

Under head coach DeMeco Ryans, the Texans employ a 4-3 base defense, with Azeez Al-Shaair likely anchoring the middle linebacker role and Speed slotted as a weakside or strongside linebacker. This alignment poses a challenge for IDP managers, as 4-3 schemes rarely sustain two top-tier fantasy linebackers. In a 4-3, the middle linebacker typically commands the lion's share of tackles, leaving the outside linebackers with diminished opportunities.

For comparison, consider the Green Bay Packers, another 4-3 team, where Quay Walker and Edgerrin Cooper each recorded over 80 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 2024; yet, neither cracked the top 25 IDP linebackers due to their tackle distribution. In contrast, 3-4 defenses often deploy outside linebackers as edge rushers, concentrating tackle production among two inside linebackers. In a 4-3, outside linebackers like Speed are frequently tasked with pass coverage, pulling them away from the line of scrimmage and reducing their involvement in plays.

While Speed's experience in the Colts' 4-3 system provides familiarity, Ryans' defensive-minded coaching philosophy demands a higher level of execution and adaptability compared to teams with offensive identities, potentially capping Speed's fantasy ceiling and making him a riskier IDP investment.