Leighton Vander Esch Fantasy

The Dallas Cowboys will not exercise linebacker Leighton Vander Esch's fifth-year option for the 2022 season due to ongoing salary cap uncertainty. They will instead hope to sign Vander Esch to a contract extension before his current deal expires following the 2021 season. While the Cowboys could still retain LVE beyond next season, it doesn't come as a surprise after the team selected Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons in the first round last Thursday. Vander Esch had 60 tackles last season, but he struggled in coverage and has a rather long injury history. The 25-year-old will need to stay healthy and bounce back in a contract year if he wants to remain in big D. The Cowboys invested heavily in the defensive side of the ball in this year's draft, so Vander Esch must perform if he wants to be part of the rebuild.

May. 3rd • 4:46 PM

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (ankle) and nose tackle Antwaun Woods (ankle) will not practice this week, according to head coach Mike McCarthy. Vander Esch is dealing with a high-ankle sprain and is likely to miss the final two games of the regular season. That's a big blow to the interior of Dallas' defense against the Eagles and impressive rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts in Week 16. If that's it for LVE in 2020, the linebacker will finish with 60 combined tackles, a forced fumble and a sack in 10 games for Dallas. He's played in just 19 games over the last two seasons due to injuries, but he's in play in IDP leagues when healthy. The Cowboys Defense shouldn't be trusted in fantasy lineups, especially without Vander Esch, in Week 16 against Philadelphia.

Dec. 23rd • 2:49 PM

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (ankle) is highly unlikely to participate in Sunday's game versus Philadelphia due to a sprained ankle that he sustained in Week 15 against San Francisco. Head coach Mike McCarthy believes that it will be a multi-week injury for Vander Esch, which now puts the remainder of his season in jeopardy. Vander Esch has combined for 60 tackles across 10 games (all starts) in 2020, adding a sack and a forced fumble. While there had been optimism earlier in the day about Vander Esch's status, it's likely that Joe Thomas handles middle linebacker duties next week against the Eagles, dealing yet another blow to a much-maligned Cowboys Defense. The group was already likely out of range of fantasy intrigue against the Jalen Hurts-led attack, but Vander Esch being out of the mix solidifies that the unit should remain on the wire.

Dec. 21st • 7:01 PM