The Colts drafted LB CJ Allen in the second round with designs on having him lead the corps right away. But a pair of lower-body injuries have sapped his practice time and leave the defense looking like it's going to open the season with a committee approach at the position.
What They're Saying: LB Committee En Route
The Athletic's James Boyd: "[Akeem] Davis-Gaither and [Jaylon] Carlies have takent the majority of the first-team reps in recent practices, which would suggest they'll be Indy's starting tandem in Week 1. That doesn't mean Allen ... can't later assume a starting role. Calf and hamstring injuries sidelined him throughout training camp, so he's still playing catchup. [DC Lou] Anarumo has also repeatedly stated that the Colts will play a slew of linebackers regardless of his starters, and those rotations could be dictated by whatever situations they face in games."
2026 Fantasy Football Impact: Skip Colts LBs
That's a gross projection for IDP purposes.
Davis-Gaither carries the benefit of having played for Anarumo in Cincinnati, but he rarely started for those Bengals teams and then quickly washed out of his first NFL starting gig with the Cardinals.
Carlies got some opportunities with the 2024 Colts thanks to teammate injuries but has yet to make much of an impact since arriving as a 2024 fifth-rounder.
Allen's easily the top hope amid this corps, but it's clear he needs experience before the team can trust him to pilot the LBs. He remains the top fantasy candidate of the group, but I knocked his projection down significantly this morning and wouldn't draft the rookie in common-sized IDP leagues.
Fellow rookie Bryce Boettcher will be worth watching, but it doesn't sound like he's a lineup candidate yet.
You'll likely be best off just avoiding all Colts LBs when you draft.
Other Winners & Losers: There's a Rookie Sleeper at Safety
Wanna know who "wins" for this situation? Rookie S A.J. Haulcy.
He's set to join Cam Bynum as the starting safeties, with Bynum wearing the green dot. That status for Bynum only further confirms the fragility of the LB corps, given that most teams put the green dot on a LB.
Haulcy will assume the role vacated by Nick Cross, who delivered top-12 fantasy scoring among DBs each of the past two years. The tackle outlook for Haulcy -- who should see a lot more "in the box" snaps than Bynum -- has only gotten more attractive with the LB issues.
Last year's Colts still had Zaire Franklin, whom Indy traded to the Packers this offseason.
Target Haulcy as a sleeper with big upside in your IDP drafts.
