Eric Kendricks

32-Year-Old LinebackerLB

Dallas Cowboys

2024 Defense Stats

TCKL

138

SACKS

3.0

INT

Rest-of-Season Projections

TCKL

SACKS

INT

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2024 Fantasy Outlook

The veteran linebacker stayed productive in 2023 as he racked up 117 tackles and 3.5 sacks for the Chargers in 15 games. Kendricks has produced 100-plus tackles in eight straight seasons, an impressive stretch of consistency, and after joining the Cowboys this offseason on a one-year, $2.94 million contract, he figures to deliver big tackle totals once again in the middle of his new defense. Kendricks' experience in the system should make his adjustment easier, as he spent the first seven seasons of his career with Mike Zimmer, Dallas' new defensive coordinator, as his head coach. Read Past Outlooks

RANKS

#274

ADP

IDP

Bye Week 7

Height 6'0"

Weight 232

DOB 2/29/1992

College UCLA

Drafted 2nd Rd 2015 #45 Overall

Strong first season with Dallas

LBDallas Cowboys

January 7, 2025

Kendricks finished the 2024 regular season with 138 tackles (71 solo), including 3.0 sacks, three pass defenses (including two interceptions), three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery across 15 games.

ANALYSIS
After being released by the Chargers on March 5, Kendricks opted to sign a one-year, $3 million contract with the Cowboys on March 13. His 138 combined tackles were his most since 2021 with the Vikings (143), and he led the Cowboys in that category while finishing tied with Ernest Jones for 13th most in the NFL. Kendricks played every single defensive snap in 10 of 15 games and tallied double-digit tackles in six contests. The 2015 second-round pick will enter the 2025 offseason as a free agent and should get interest from teams looking for veteran help in its linebacker corps. Dallas could be interested in a reunion with Kendricks, as second-year linebacker DeMarvion Overshown is expected to miss most of the 2025 season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ACL, MCL and PCL in his right knee that he suffered in Week 14 against the Bengals.

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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart

Snap Counts

Snap %

Cowboys 2024 LB Snap Distribution See more data like this | See last season's snap counts

E.Eric Kendricks

D.DeMarvion Overshown

M.Micah Parsons

M.Marist Liufau

D.Damone Clark

N.Nick Vigil

B.Buddy Johnson

#% of Team Snaps

86982%

67163%

65462%

49347%

15915%

11911%

50%

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#1 MLB

Cowboys

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2024 Eric Kendricks Split Stats

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Measurables Review

How do Eric Kendricks' measurables compare to other linebackers?

This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.

Height

6' 0"

Weight

232 lbs

40-Yard Dash

4.61 sec

Vertical Jump

38.0 in

Broad Jump

124 in

Bench Press

19 reps

Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Eric Kendricks See More

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29 days ago

Isaac Guerendo provided temporarily relief for fantasy managers in need, but now he's handing things over to Patrick Taylor for at least one week. RW's Jerry Donabedian has the full injury scoop from Friday.

Past Fantasy Outlooks

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

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2017

2016

2015

The Chargers in recent years have struggled to find a play-making middle linebacker despite investing considerable resources into the position. The former Vikings stalwart might just be the solution. Kendricks wasn't quite the turnover creator that he had been in past Pro Bowl campaigns with the Vikings, but he did tally 137 tackles and one sack across a career-high 1,051 snaps, and he should be an important defensive leader for a team that has struggled with mental gaffes in the past. Expect Kendricks to be among the league leaders in tackles provided he's able to stay healthy.

With the arrival of DC Ed Donatell, the Vikings are expected to use more 3-4 looks, with Kendricks lining up next to Jordan Hicks as the inside linebackers. The scheme change shouldn’t hurt Kendricks, especially not as an IDP. His IDP utility surged the last two years as the Vikings defense declined – drives were extended for reasons outside Kendricks’ control, and he had to make more tackles as a result.

Until last year, Kendricks was always a better real-life LB than an IDP, sending offenses back to the sideline before they could run up his tackle count with extended drives. In 2020, though, the Vikings defense declined, and Kendricks had to clean up the resulting mess. That allowed him to race to 107 tackles in just 11 games — just three tackles less than what he posted in 15 games in 2019. Kendricks probably won't maintain his 160-tackle pace from last year, but the Minnesota defense is still on a general decline, which should leave Kendricks busy.

Kendricks put forth his fourth straight season of 100-plus tackles and earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2019. The 28-year-old totaled 110 tackles (70 solo), two forced fumbles, 12 passes defended and a half sack while sitting out one game. The overall quality of Minnesota's defense somewhat limits his ceiling from being a high-level IDP option, but Kendricks is as consistent as they come and more of the same figures to be on tap for 2020.

Kendricks missed the final two games of the 2018 season with a hamstring injury, but the 27-year-old still managed to record his third straight season with 100-plus tackles. Pushed against the cap, the Vikings still were forced to restructure Kendricks contract, backloading the five-year $50 million contract signed last season to provide more space for their rookie contracts. It's quite possible Kendricks still has room to grow in terms of becoming an elite inside linebacker, but the current player is still very good in his own right, capable of playing all three downs due to his above average coverage skills and also able to lay the lumber in the gaps.

The fact that Kendricks plays for a ferocious Minnesota defense that gets off the field quickly and features intense competition for tackles when it's on the field limits his IDP utility, but his top-shelf skills give him a high floor, and you can't rule out the chance of a breakout IDP season. Instinctive and fast, Kendricks previously hinted at pass-rushing upside (four sacks in 763 snaps as a rookie), and his coverage skills are better than his two career interceptions imply. Kendricks is an odd case in that what we've seen so far from him might be the worst-case scenario, yet he's been very good.

Kendricks missed one game with a concussion and was knocked out early in another with a hip injury, which deflated an output that was otherwise subtly impressive. After making 109 stops on just 869 snaps, Kendricks can push for the 130-tackle range if he approaches 1,000 plays. Instinctive and athletic, Kendricks has upside in coverage that he hasn't shown yet, but he's already been a better blitzer than expected, totaling 6.5 sacks in 29 games. Playing on a Minnesota defense with a loaded front seven, Kendricks is in a favorable setting for a breakout.

Kendricks looks like one of the league's top young LBs after a promising rookie year in which he had 92 tackles (72 solo) while playing 763 defensive snaps, pushing aside a pair of veterans in Chad Greenway and Gerald Hodges to earn his three-down role. Now fully locked in as Minnesota's lead 'backer, Kendricks should breeze past triple-digit tackles, and his combination of speed and instincts makes him a candidate to break out as an interception threat. Kendricks already appears adept as a pass rusher, as his four sacks are a great number for his limited play count.

The 45th overall selection in the 2015 NFL Draft, Kendricks should replace Jasper Brinkley (who departed in free agency) as the starting middle linebacker Minnesota in 2015. Kendricks is an undersized linebacker at 6-foot, 232 pounds, and he's not likely to establish a disruptive presence in the NFL, but Kendricks has the excellent instincts and range necessary to play a sideline-to-sideline role.

More Fantasy News

Tallies nine tackles vs. Philly

LBDallas Cowboys

December 30, 2024

Kendricks registered nine tackles (five solo) during Sunday's 41-7 loss to the Eagles.

ANALYSIS
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Active for Week 17

LBDallas Cowboys

December 29, 2024

Kendricks (calf) is active for Sunday's game against the Eagles, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.

ANALYSIS
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Could return in Week 17

LBDallas Cowboys

Calf

December 27, 2024

Kendricks (calf) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Eagles, Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

ANALYSIS
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Gets in limited session Thursday

LBDallas Cowboys

Calf

December 26, 2024

Kendricks (calf) was a limited participant in practice Thursday, Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports reports.

ANALYSIS
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Estimated as DNP on Wednesday

LBDallas Cowboys

Calf

December 25, 2024

Kendricks (calf) was listed as non-participant on Dallas' practice estimate Wednesday, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.

ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors

Happy to be reunited with Zimmer

LBDallas Cowboys

May 28, 2024

Kendricks' decision to sign with Dallas was in part due to the presence of defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, Kevin Patra of NFL.com reports.

ANALYSIS
Kendricks played under Zimmer when he was head coach in Minnesota. Upon the coach's departure in 2022, Kendricks made critical comments of Zimmer's style, but he has since clarified that he was simply frustrated by the team's 8-9 record that season. Kendricks spent the 2023 campaign with the Chargers and signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Cowboys this offseason.

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