Fantasy Index

Factoid

James Laurinaitis

Linebacker has been extremely productive

The Rams released James Laurinaitis last week, part of a trio of high-profile veteran cuts. The linebacker's name has been linked to several other teams, and it's likely he'll find a job in the next couple of weeks. Whoever signs him will be getting a very productive player.

Over the last four seasons, Laurinaitis is one of only eight linebackers who have had at least 100 tackles in all of them. The other seven include the league's very best players at the position: Carolina's excellent duo (Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis), Bobby Wagner, Lavonte David, Lawrence Timmons, D'Qwell Jackson and David Harris.

Tackles aren't everything, of course. You can rack up plenty of tackles several yards down field without being an elite player, largely due to opportunity and defensive scheme. The Rams ranked 20th against the run last season, so it's hard to argue that Laurinaitis can't be improved upon.

But he'll find work, and be in the mix to be a top performer (at least in fantasy terms) at his position yet again.

Over the last four seasons, 16 linebackers have had at least three 100-tackle seasons. It's a group of big-name players. They're shown in the table below.

100-TACKLE LINEBACKERS, 3-PLUS SEASONS (2012-2015)
YearPlayer SoloAstTotal
2013Bobby Wagner7248120
2012Bobby Wagner 8753140
2014Bobby Wagner 6737104
2015Bobby Wagner 6747114
2013Curtis Lofton8243125
2012Curtis Lofton 8241123
2014Curtis Lofton 9945144
2013Daryl Smith5766123
2014Daryl Smith 6860128
2015Daryl Smith 7249121
2012David Harris 7944123
2014David Harris 7152123
2015David Harris 6741108
2013David Harris7054124
2012Derrick Johnson 11015125
2015Derrick Johnson 9521116
2013Derrick Johnson9512107
2012D'Qwell Jackson 6355118
2014D'Qwell Jackson 8157138
2015D'Qwell Jackson 8961150
2013D'Qwell Jackson7566141
2012James Laurinaitis 11725142
2014James Laurinaitis 8128109
2015James Laurinaitis 6148109
2013James Laurinaitis8531116
2012Jerrell Freeman 9055145
2015Jerrell Freeman 6646112
2013Jerrell Freeman8343126
2012Karlos Dansby 10133134
2015Karlos Dansby 6246108
2013Karlos Dansby 1148122
2012Lavonte David 11227139
2014Lavonte David 10145146
2015Lavonte David 8562147
2013Lavonte David10738145
2012Lawrence Timmons 7531106
2014Lawrence Timmons 8745132
2015Lawrence Timmons 7742119
2013Lawrence Timmons8640126
2012Luke Kuechly 10361164
2014Luke Kuechly 9954153
2015Luke Kuechly 7642118
2013Luke Kuechly9363156
2012NaVorro Bowman 9652148
2015NaVorro Bowman 11638154
2013NaVorro Bowman12025145
2012Paul Posluszny 10633139
2015Paul Posluszny 10330133
2013Paul Posluszny12240162
2012Stephen Tulloch 7438112
2015Stephen Tulloch 7433107
2013Stephen Tulloch9342135
2012Thomas Davis 7035105
2014Thomas Davis 6634100
2015Thomas Davis 7530105
2013Thomas Davis8538123

--Andy Richardson

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