2011 Every Down Linebackers

In today’s pass-heavy NFL, it’s more important than ever to realize which fantasy linebackers play in the nickel package. What is a nickel package and why is relevant to our discussion of fantasy football?

The nickel defense is a defensive alignment that uses five defensive backs. The fifth defensive back is referred to as the “nickelback.” The defense has five defensive backs, and usually has four down linemen and only two linebackers meaning that one starting linebacker has to sit on the sidelines when this package is being used.

(A lineup of three down linemen and three linebackers is sometimes used, but this is often called a 3-3-5 defense instead of a Nickel defense. The four-linemen/two linebacker version of the Nickel is generally more popular because it affords the defense greater ability to stop an opponent’s running game.)

The key part to that above paragraph is that “one starting linebacker has to sit on the sidelines when this package is being used.” Nickel packages are used on a majority of third downs due to the proclivity of NFL teams to throw on third down. So just how often do teams throw on third down? Let’s take a quick look at some statistics provided by Advanced NFL Stats.

*May rotate out in a small number of nickel and dime packages

Last Updated: December 8, 2011