| Rank |
Player |
Team |
Bye |
Comments |
| 1 |
DeMeco Ryans |
HOU |
8 |
Ryans is an absolute beast that will continue to rack up tackles and make big plays for years to come. |
| 2 |
Patrick Willis |
SFO |
9 |
Consider Willis a very close "1B" to Ryans as "1A", based mainly on the 3-4 set the Niners run. |
| 3 |
Brian Urlacher |
CHI |
8 |
Looking great so far this pre-season, and the Bears' D will be on the field a bunch. Expect 100+ solos. |
| 4 |
London Fletcher |
WAS |
10 |
Finally, an "old guy". Fletcher's the best of the veterans. He'll continue to put up solid stats for the Skins. |
| 5 |
Jon Beason |
CAR |
9 |
Slight bump down with Thomas Davis moving to WLB. Still will put up huge numbers. |
| 6 |
David Harris |
NYJ |
5 |
Slight move down with the addition of Favre to the offense. May not put up as gaudy of tackle stats. |
| 7 |
Nick Barnett |
GBP |
8 |
Barnett could fly a bit under the radar with Hawk stealing some of the thunder, but Barnett is still a top-10 LB. |
| 8 |
Kirk Morrison |
OAK |
5 |
Morrison is another one of those "beast-like" LBs who can put up monster numbers. Will Howard steal tackles, though? |
| 9 |
Lofa Tatupu |
SEA |
4 |
Has a few bumps and bruises but is definitely Seattle's heart and soul on defense. He'll put up numbers. |
| 10 |
Will Witherspoon |
STL |
5 |
Another "older" LB that can still put up #1-type numbers. Expect a ton of tackles, yet again. |
| 11 |
Ernie Sims |
DET |
4 |
Some might think the addition of Dizon will hurt his production. It may actually allow him to make more big plays. |
| 12 |
Jonathon Vilma |
NOS |
9 |
The move to the Saints with their 4-3 base defense could be just what the doctor ordered. |
| 13 |
Paul Posluszny |
BUF |
6 |
Had a disappointing '07 due to injury but will bounce back to put up very solid stats. Could easily move into top-10. |
| 14 |
Ray Lewis |
BAL |
10 |
Lewis is in the twilight of his career but will go down fighting. Expect a good tackle total and decent big play ability. |
| 15 |
Antonio Pierce |
NYG |
4 |
The Giant D will again be pretty solid despite the loss of Umenyiora; Pierce anchors this unit. Expect 100+ tackles. |
| 16 |
Lance Briggs |
CHI |
8 |
Even with Urlacher at his side, Briggs puts up very solid numbers. Awesome #2 fantasy LB, borderline #1. |
| 17 |
Mike Peterson |
JAC |
7 |
Some injury risk, but Peterson has been a top fantasy LB for years and could have a bounce-back season. |
| 18 |
Barrett Ruud |
TBB |
10 |
Ruud has surpassed Derrick Brooks as the most desirable Buc LB. Expect a very solid season. |
| 19 |
E.J. Henderson |
MIN |
8 |
This guy came out of nowhere to post good tackle and sack numbers. Expect about the same this season. |
| 20 |
Zach Thomas |
DAL |
10 |
Expect him to put forth a big effort in his home state. The 3-4 situation isn't the best, but he should put up good stats. |
| 21 |
Karlos Dansby |
ARI |
7 |
Dansby will continue to be a good #2 fantasy LB with the potential for a big game now and then. |
| 22 |
Gary Brackett |
IND |
4 |
Brackett is getting up there in age and Keiaho is developing, but he'll remain consistent for your fantasy team. |
| 23 |
A.J. Hawk |
GBP |
8 |
He's certainly got the talent to be a top-10 LB but is playing second-fiddle to Barnett. Still a solid fantasy LB. |
| 24 |
Keith Bulluck |
TEN |
6 |
Already dinged up in pre-season. Not the way you want to start out a (hopeful) bounce-back season. |
| 25 |
Freddie Keiaho |
IND |
4 |
Keiaho showed flashes last year that he has the talent to post top-10 fantasy numbers. Not much risk, high reward. |
| 26 |
D.J. Williams |
DEN |
8 |
Another "beast", that some say has even more upside The switch back to WLB may hinder the upside. |
| 27 |
James Farrior |
PIT |
6 |
Farrior's ability to make big plays makes him an intriguing choice as a #2 fantasy LB. Consummate "do everything" LB. |
| 28 |
Michael Boley |
ATL |
7 |
Boley, despite spending time on the strong side, is just too talented to not be considered a solid fantasy LB. |
| 29 |
Angelo Crowell |
BUF |
6 |
There are some injury concerns, but played 16 games last year. Could put up decent, #2-fantasy LB numbers. |
| 30 |
Thomas Howard |
OAK |
5 |
Like his teammate Morrison, is a beast that can put up big numbers. The Raider D could be a fantasy goldmine. |
| 31 |
Donnie Edwards |
KCC |
6 |
The old man will continue to anchor the Chief defense. With Allen gone, there could be more big play opportunities. |
| 32 |
Curtis Lofton |
ATL |
7 |
It wasn't a sure thing that Lofton would start in the middle for the Falcons, but it looks like he will. That's huge. |
| 33 |
Keith Rivers |
CIN |
8 |
Steps into a good situation, which looks better with Thurman gone. Could put up some big numbers. |
| 34 |
Channing Crowder |
MIA |
4 |
Performed well when filling in for Zach Thomas, now he gets the spot all to himself. Can he remain consistent? |
| 35 |
Chad Greenway |
MIN |
8 |
Put up some decent numbers even with Henderson's breakout season. Expect decent numbers again this year. |
| 36 |
Julian Peterson |
SEA |
4 |
Peterson is a solid veteran that puts up great sack numbers for a LB. Don't let him fall in your drafts. |
| 37 |
Nate Webster |
DEN |
8 |
Looks like Webster overtook Niko Koutouvdes for the starting MLB spot in Denver. This could mean 100+ tackles. |
| 38 |
Demarcus Ware |
DAL |
10 |
This guy is just too good to keep down for long. Will the addition of Thomas help? It could. |
| 39 |
Jordon Dizon |
DET |
4 |
Could be the best rookie LB this year. Definitely in a good situation, even with Sims' production on the weak side. |
| 40 |
Jerod Mayo |
NEP |
4 |
The rookie is impressing the most steadfast of veteran supporters, Bill Belichick. He could up very good numbers. |
| 41 |
Shawne Merriman |
SDC |
9 |
The injury is a big concern. Looks like he'll try playing through the pain. This will not end well. |
| 42 |
D'Qwell Jackson |
CLE |
5 |
Don't expect much more than a solid tackle total, but as a #3 fantasy LB, he'll get consistent numbers. |
| 43 |
Keith Brooking |
ATL |
7 |
Keep an eye on the injury and positional news, but Brooking has the skills to put up good numbers. |
| 44 |
Derrick Johnson |
KCC |
6 |
Eventually, Johnson will take the reins as the Chiefs' defensive leader. He could see a bump-up in his sack total. |
| 45 |
Gerald Hayes |
ARI |
7 |
There's enough tackles to go around on the Cardinal defensive side. A very consistent tackler. |
| 46 |
Derrick Brooks |
TBB |
10 |
The veteran has talented backups breathing down his neck but probably has another year or two in him. |
| 47 |
David Thornton |
TEN |
6 |
Put up some solid numbers last year with Bulluck struggling. Expect a consistent tackle total and not much else. |
| 48 |
Vernon Gholston |
NYJ |
5 |
Moved to LB in most league management sites. Bump him down, overall, but could have his share of big games. |
| 49 |
Omar Gaither |
PHI |
7 |
A bit of a disappointment last year but could easily be the leading tackler for the Eagles in 2008. |
| 50 |
Adalius Thomas |
NEP |
4 |
Thomas' numbers weren't that bad in 2007 and will probably improve somewhat in 2008. |
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