Roquan Smith – 2021 Dynasty IDP #1 Linebacker
#58 Roquan Smith, CHI
bio:
Dynasty IDP Roquan Smith is IDPE’s #1 dynasty Linebacker in 2021. Chicago Inside Linebacker (ILB) drafted in the 1st round (#8 overall) out of Georgia in the 2018 draft. Won the Butkus Award and named 2nd team All-Pro for the first time in 2020.
attributes:
An instinctive, sideline-to-sideline, every down 4th year linebacker. He has good athleticism and average size for his position. He has a strong College Prospect Score (CPS) and grades out as at least average in every category of the model. Smith is an elite prospect.
| Age* | Height | Weight | 40 | SPARQ | CPS |
| 24.4 | 6’1″ | 236 | 4.51 | 126 | 10.1 |
player grade:
Smith is solid in pass coverage and an underrated pass rusher at the ILB position per PFF.com. He took a step backward in his 2nd year, but improved overall in his 3rd year except in run defense. His run defense needs to improve; he is frequently over-powered when meeting a RB in the hole at the line of scrimmage, though he is generally a good tackler in space.
| Year | Overall | Run Defense | Pass Rush | Coverage |
| 2018 | 64.2 | 53.1 | 72.8 | 67.8 |
| 2019 | 52.4 | 53.0 | 51.5 | 55.4 |
| 2020 | 67.2 | 39.8 | 74.8 | 84.0 |
injury:
He missed 4 games in 2019 due to a torn pectoral.
tackles:
He has eclipsed 100 combined tackles in every season of his young career. Therefore, he has a safe floor in IDP.
| Year | SOLO | AST | COMBINED | A4I* |
| 2018 | 89 | 32 | 121 | 121 |
| 2019 | 66 | 35 | 101 | 135 |
| 2020 | 98 | 41 | 139 | 139 |
big plays:
Smith makes impact plays all over the field, particularly behind the line of scrimmage. Therefore, he has solid upside in fantasy.
| Year | SACK | STF | INT | PD | FF | FR |
| 2018 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 4 | 18 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 1 |
contract:
Smith is still on his rookie contract, which expires after this season. Chicago has employed the 5th year option, therefore Smith is locked up through the 2022 season while Chicago tries to work out a long-term contract.
summary:
Dynasty IDP Roquan Smith is one of the highest upside Inside Linebackers in the league, despite some limitations in the run game. Expect him to compete for the #1 LB in 2021 and dynasty going forward.
