Fantasy Football Linebackers (LB)
What is an LB in Fantasy Football?
A linebacker is a defensive player who plays coverage and is tasked with stopping the run game. There are either three or four linebackers on the field at once, depending on the scheme the defense is running. Outside linebackers are known for their pass rush and middle linebackers are strong tacklers.
How do you Draft the Best Linebacker in Fantasy Football?
Linebackers are the most valuable defensive fantasy players. Most IDP (individual defensive player) leagues have a scoring system in which tackles are extremely valuable. Based on their positioning on the field and their skill sets, linebackers are the ones that rack up the most tackles. A good linebacker will get over ten tackles a game setting up a strong fantasy floor.
When drafting a linebacker, it is better to go with a middle linebacker than an outside linebacker. Outside linebackers are risk/reward picks as they could have a big game with sacks or a game with nothing. Middle linebackers can get up to 160 tackles in a single season which even in a conservative (1 point per tackle league) is worth on its own the more points than star wide receivers. That is not even counting the sacks, interceptions, and fumbles they could get as well.
Drafting players that stay healthy is also extremely important. Look at players who have consistently played all 16 games in a season.
Linebacker Fantasy Football Scoring
Linebackers receive points the same way all defensive players do in fantasy football. There are assigned point values to specific actions that can be done while on the field. Below is a chart that shows examples of some of those point values. However, it must be noted that all leagues may have different point values and that this is just one example.
| Action | Point value |
|---|---|
| Tackle | 1 |
| Assisted tackle | 0.5 |
| Sack | 4 |
| Fumble forced | 2 |
| Fumble recovered | 2 |
| Interception | 4 |
| Pass defended | 1 |
| Touchdown | 6 |
FAQ
How important are linebackers in fantasy football?
In fantasy football leagues that use individual defensive player (IDP) scoring, linebackers are the most important players on the team. They hold this value because they consistently are the position with the most tackles per game, which are one of the main ways defensive players score points. In IDP leagues, linebackers are usually drafted early on.
What does LB mean in fantasy football?
In fantasy football, LB stands for linebacker. A linebacker is a defensive player who provides coverage and is tasked with stopping the offense’s run game. There are typical three or four linebackers on the field at a time and are divided into subsets based on their starting position. Each subset has its own unique qualities and responsibilities though they share a common overall task.