9. Who is this year’s Kiko Alonso rookie linebacker?
Alonso took the IDP world by storm last season, posting 159 total tackles and finishing as fantasy’s top rookie linebacker. There are a number of candidates for that spot this year, but
Ravens LB C.J. Mosley has to top the list. He’s this year’s top option from a skill standpoint, and is set up for a three-down role in Baltimore. Of course,
Ryan Shazier is also a candidate being a rare rookie starter in Pittsburgh.
Digging a little deeper, two names stand out – Telvin Smith and Christian Kirksey. With a thin depth chart in Jacksonville, we figured Smith had a fast track to a starting gig and he’s reportedly
getting reps with the first-team nickel defense. Kirskey has been running behind
Craig Robertson through the first week of camp, but he’s making plays with the twos. It’s only a matter of time before he surpasses Robertson.