Shaquille Leonard

Shaquille Leonard

27-Year-Old LinebackerLB
Indianapolis Colts
Questionable
Injury Back
Est. Return 6/15/2023
2022 Fantasy Outlook
Keep an eye on Leonard’s recovery from a June back procedure. The Colts said they expect him to be ready for Week 1, but back injuries are always concerning and nothing should be taken as a given. When at 100 percent, though, Leonard is often peerless. His tackle rates range from a floor of about 120 per season to a ceiling around 170, but it’s the big plays that can set him apart from other LBs. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
#Subscriber-Only
IDP
$Signed a five-year, $98.5 million contract with the Colts in August of 2021.
Still making progress
LBIndianapolis Colts
Back
April 13, 2023
Leonard continues to progress in his recovery from his second back surgery in November, Nate Atkins of the Indianapolis Star reports.
ANALYSIS
Leonard is "progressing well," according to head coach Shane Steichen, but he's still hesitant to put a timetable on the linebacker's return. The 27-year-old missed all but three games last season and was officially shut down in November when he underwent a second back procedure. At the end of last season, in reference to the games he did suit up for he said, "I shouldn't have been out there, shouldn't have been playing, should have just rested." However, with multiple months until training camp, Leonard is expected to be ready for it and barring any setbacks should be ready for Week 1.
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NFL Stats
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2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2022 NFL Game Log
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2021 NFL Game Log
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2020 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
Indianapolis ColtsColts 2022 LB Snap Distribution See more data like this | See last season's snap counts
#% of Team Snaps

1087100%
92585%
30228%
747%
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2022 Shaquille Leonard Split Stats
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Measurables Review
How do Shaquille Leonard's 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' 2"
 
Weight
230 lbs
 
40-Yard Dash
4.70 sec
 
Bench Press
17 reps
 
Hand Length
10.25 in
 
Arm Length
34.38 in
 
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2021
2020
2019
2018
You probably can't call a second-ranked player a "buy low" opportunity, but it was only a year ago that Leonard appeared unquestioned as the top overall IDP. He's still the same player who posted 163 tackles and seven sacks in 2018, so he clearly is capable of reclaiming the crown. Durability has been the main issue — Leonard was limited to 13 games in 2019 and a groin injury held him to 14 games last year — so better luck is all it would take for him to rank first. Even with his stock lower than a year ago, Leonard is a game-changer in IDP leagues.
Leonard's second season didn't feature the same tackle volume as his memorable 2018, but he was still outrageously productive overall and by now has to be considered the top linebacker IDP, as well as the top IDP regardless of position. Even as a concussion cost him three games, Leonard raced to 121 tackles while making an unmatched impact as a blitzer (five sacks) and in coverage (five interceptions). It might seem greedy to expect more of Leonard, but he's yet to play 16 games, and if he does then his numbers could somehow go off to an even higher level. If you project his per-snap production to this point over a 1,000-snap projection you get roughly 159 tackles, seven sacks and four interceptions. Leonard is the most productive linebacker of distant memory. He seems to inhabit a tier above even the likes of Luke Kuechly at his peak.
Leonard appeared undersized (6-2, 237) and under-athletic (4.7 40) when the Colts "reached" for him at the 36th pick in 2018, but he couldn't have proved his critics more wrong. He was outrageously productive as a rookie in all facets of play. He graded tops or close to it in all stat categories and did so on a fully sustainable 955 snaps, missing one game due to an ankle injury. Leonard will be hard-pressed to avoid statistical regression entirely, but the kind of production he posted last year simply leaves no room for doubt about his talent.
While most considered him a reach on draft day, Leonard comes to the Colts via the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft and this pedigree suggests he'll instantly join the starting lineup in Indianapolis. In fact, the South Carolina State product could become IDP relevant as soon as Week 1 given his nature as an off-ball linebacker -- an alignment that's historically led to higher tackle totals than OLBs on the strong side -- but fantasy owners might be best served taking a wait-and-see approach while the Indianapolis defense settles into its 4-3 scheme after playing in a 3-4 under Chuck Pagano the fast few seasons.
More Fantasy News
Feeling good after second surgery
LBIndianapolis Colts
Back
April 6, 2023
Leonard said that he's feeling like his normal self again following the second back surgery that he received in November, per Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan Indianapolis.
ANALYSIS
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Getting season-ending surgery
LBIndianapolis Colts
Back
November 15, 2022
Leonard (neck) underwent back surgery Tuesday and will miss the rest of the season, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
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Meeting specialist Monday
LBIndianapolis Colts
Neck
November 13, 2022
Leonard (neck/back) is scheduled to meet with a specialist Monday to determine whether he can play again in the 2022 season, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
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IR-bound with back injury
LBIndianapolis Colts
Back
November 12, 2022
Indianapolis placed Leonard (back) on its injured reserve list Saturday.
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Bound for IR
LBIndianapolis Colts
Back
November 11, 2022
The Colts are expected to place Leonard (back) on injured reserve prior to Sunday's game in Las Vegas after he suffered a setback during Wednesday's practice Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
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