| Rank |
Player |
Team |
Bye |
Comments |
| 1 |
Zach Thomas |
MIA |
9 |
Thomas is as good as it gets at the LB position. He is dominant against the run, and solid vs the pass. |
| 2 |
Keith Bulluck |
TEN |
4 |
Bullock is always near the top of the LB scoring, and has the opportunity to be #1 every year. |
| 3 |
DeMeco Ryans |
HOU |
10 |
Ryans exploded onto the scene a year ago, and figures to be a fixture in the top 5 for years to come. |
| 4 |
Mike Peterson |
JAC |
4 |
Many will forget about Peterson, and someone will steal him later in the draft. Keep him on your radar. |
| 5 |
Ray Lewis |
BAL |
8 |
Ray Ray's only concern is his health. When he is healthy, he is as good as it gets. |
| 6 |
Lance Briggs |
CHI |
9 |
Briggs situation is shaky at best, but if he returns, expect another huge season for the WLB. |
| 7 |
London Fletcher |
WAS |
4 |
Fletcher moves to Washington, and little will change with him. He is a tackling machine. |
| 8 |
Brian Urlacher |
CHI |
9 |
Urlacher had his best season statistically since 2002, but his assists were inflated in 2006. |
| 9 |
AJ Hawk |
GBP |
7 |
Hawk started slowly, but turned it on as the season went on. Hawk will be a regular in the top 10. |
| 10 |
Antonio Pierce |
NYG |
9 |
Pierce needs to stay healthy for a full season, to give owners a reason to draft him with confidence. |
| 11 |
Will Witherspoon |
STL |
9 |
Witherspoon also started last year strong, only to fade down the stretch. Expect a lot more in 2007. |
| 12 |
Kirk Morrison |
OAK |
5 |
Morrison is the perfect #2 LB, who puts up #1 LB stats. Don’t let him fall too far in drafts. |
| 13 |
Gary Brackett |
IND |
6 |
Brackett should see an increase in numbers, with the talented Cato June, onto greener pastures. |
| 14 |
Keith Brooking |
ATL |
8 |
Brooking is currently listed as the Falcons MLB. But his natural spot is on the weak side. |
| 15 |
Lofa Tatupu |
SEA |
8 |
Lofa is a great player, but sometimes disappears in games, and frustrates fantasy owners. |
| 16 |
James Farrior |
PIT |
6 |
Farrior's stats may increase, if Pittsburgh plays some 4-3 defense, along with their usual 3-4. |
| 17 |
Paul Posluszny |
BUF |
6 |
Posluszny is currently listed as the teams MLB, but may get moved to weak side before the season. |
| 18 |
Freddie Keiaho |
IND |
6 |
Keiaho takes over the very productive WLB spot in Indy, which made David Thornton and Cato June studs. |
| 19 |
DJ Williams |
DEN |
6 |
Williams makes the move from strong side, to man the middle. Expect better stats than Al Wilson at MLB. |
| 20 |
Ernie Sims |
DET |
6 |
Sims was the most talked about rookie LB early on last year. But he didn’t finish how he started. |
| 21 |
Julian Peterson |
SEA |
8 |
Peterson is literally all over the field. This guy makes plays rushing the passer, or in deep coverage. |
| 22 |
Bart Scott |
BAL |
8 |
Scott is a small LB, who is asked to do many things, and he seemed to tire as the season went on. |
| 23 |
Andra Davis |
CLE |
7 |
Davis consistency is the only thing that eliminates him from being a top 10 LB. But he is better than #20. |
| 24 |
Donnie Edwards |
KCC |
8 |
Edwards moves back to Kansas City where he became a great player. But he moves outside for the Chiefs. |
| 25 |
Derrick Brooks |
TBB |
10 |
Brooks continues to get it done. He is an ageless wonder, who shows plenty in the tank for another year. |
| 26 |
Angelo Crowell |
BUF |
6 |
Crowell was rumored before the draft to be the teams MLB, then it was WLB, and now it looks to be SLB. |
| 27 |
Jonathon Vilma |
NYJ |
10 |
Vilma's numbers nose dived in 2006, and many will right him off as a result. Get him at a discount. |
| 28 |
Nick Barnett |
GBP |
7 |
Barnett is still the Packers MLB, but will move to SLB when Hodge finally gets his opportunity to play. |
| 29 |
Omar Gaither |
PHI |
5 |
Gaither takes over inside for now, for Trotter who was recently cut. But Spike could end up inside. |
| 30 |
Demorrio Williams |
ATL |
8 |
Williams hopes to land the WLB spot in Atlanta, but will need to play bigger, to keep it. |
| 31 |
Patrick Willis |
SF |
6 |
Many project Willis higher, but it seems unlikely playing next to Derek Smith he will surpass this spot. |
| 32 |
Thomas Howard |
OAK |
5 |
Howard made the most of his opportunity last year and should be a fixture for Oakland for years to come. |
| 33 |
Matt Wilhelm |
SDC |
7 |
Wilhelm is currently slated to start in Donnie Edwards old spot. But he doesn’t have Edwards talent. |
| 34 |
Dan Morgan |
CAR |
7 |
Morgan is a concussion waiting to happen, but as of right now he is healthy and slated to start at MLB. |
| 35 |
Shawn Merriman |
SDC |
7 |
Merriman was a beast in only 12 games, imagine if you project last years sack numbers out to 16. |
| 36 |
Morlon Greenwood |
HOU |
10 |
Greenwood will probably finish higher than this, but this is where his stats place him. |
| 37 |
Gerald Hayes |
ARZ |
8 |
Hayes was finally healthy last year and he was productive, but 2006 is probably his ceiling. |
| 38 |
Ahmad Brooks |
CIN |
5 |
Brooks can't seem to understand the opportunity he is given in Cincy. Hopefully he figures it out soon. |
| 39 |
Bradie James |
DAL |
8 |
James will again lead the Cowboys in stats, but he isn't a big playmaker for Dallas or you. |
| 40 |
Napoleon Harris |
KCC |
8 |
Harris is a lot like James, neither makes many big plays, but both are solid vs. the run. |
| 41 |
Karlos Dansby |
ARZ |
8 |
Dansby is a very productive outside LB, and has a tendency to have huge games, but also small ones. |
| 42 |
Chad Greenway |
MIN |
5 |
Greenway missed his whole rookie season, but do not forget about this guy come draft day. |
| 43 |
Adalius Thomas |
NEP |
10 |
Thomas was recruited to New England to upgrade their aging LB corps. Expect a drop from Baltimore #'s. |
| 44 |
Jon Beason |
CAR |
7 |
Will Beason move inside if Morgan has another concussion, or will he play the productive weak side. |
| 45 |
Barrett Ruud |
TBB |
10 |
Ruud finally gets to take over the MLB spot in Tampa. Many owners have waited years for this to happen. |
| 46 |
Takeo Spikes |
PHI |
5 |
Spikes moves to Philly, but is he going to be the same player he was before the achillies injury? |
| 47 |
Stephen Cooper |
SDC |
7 |
Cooper has looked impressive thus far at camp, and is penciled in to start at ILB week 1. |
| 48 |
EJ Henderson |
MIN |
5 |
Henderson should be starting inside this season, and will produce, if he can keep the job. |
| 49 |
Dqwell Jackson |
NYG |
9 |
Jackson had a very impressive rookie season, but nagging injuries cost him even better stats. |
| 50 |
Demarcus Ware |
DAL |
8 |
Ware should be even better with the addition of rookie Anthony Spencer rushing opposite of him. |
