Rolling with the Rookie: Sonny Styles, LB, Commanders

With training camps beginning, there will be a ton of battles to be played out. It’s time to examine which IDP rookies could make an immediate impact and which teams are going to jump-start the clock and roll with rookies. One training camp I am watching closely is the Washington Commanders and how their star rookie linebacker, Sonny Styles, looks in a starting role.

Rewind to the Past

The Washington Commanders drafted Sonny Styles in the 1st round with the 7th overall pick of the 2026 NFL draft. Styles began his career as a 5★ safety for Pickerington Central in Ohio. He would stay in state and play all four years for the Ohio State Buckeyes. In his first two seasons in Columbus, he played 23 games with totals of 62 tackles, 37 solo stops, 5½ TFLs, two sacks, one forced fumble, and one PBU. Having developed into one of Ohio State’s biggest hitters and with them needing help at linebacker, Styles made the position switch. Over the next two years, Styles would become one of the best linebackers in college football.

As a junior and senior, Styles would play in 30 games, while accumulating 182 total tackles (6.06 per game), 94 solo stops, 17 TFLs, seven sacks, one interception, nine PBUs, two forced fumbles, and one recovery. During his senior season, he recorded five or more tackles in 11 of 14 games and was named team co-captain, 1st-team All-Big Ten, and an All-American by Sporting News. Quite the output for someone playing linebacker for the first time. He would leave Ohio State with 53 games played, 244 total tackles, 131 solo stops, 53.6% solo rate, 22½ TFLs, nine sacks, one interception, ten PBUs, three forced fumbles, one recovery, and most importantly, one National Championship (24’).

Forward to the Future

Styles' future with the Commanders is a bright shining star in the IDP night! Washington did not bring back future HOF Bobby Wagner this offseason, and did nothing else to upgrade the position. So when they drafted Styles with the 7th overall pick, that was a huge telling sign imo. Styles looks to be locked in as the Week 1 starter for the Commanders, and no real competition to push him for the role. Wagner had 294 total tackles as the starter for Washington in his two seasons as the starting MLB for Washington, so the opportunity for Styles to be a fantasy stud is there. Here we are now at the beginning of training camp, and no moves by Washington to compete with Styles bode well for him. 

The current options behind Styles at this moment are Jordan Magee and Nick Bellore, neither of which should be of any threat to Styles. The Commanders will make Styles earn the role, but that is nothing more than window dressing at this point. Unless Styles shows something negative in camp or injury arises, I don’t see Washington signing anyone to challenge Styles. The Commanders wanted to get younger, and having Styles as a starter is a big step in that direction. The big question is, can he handle that workload and produce what that position previously has in the past? Styles still has a lot to prove, but it seems early on the Commanders are all in on him.

Fantasy Breakdown

What does this mean for us who play in the IDP world? As a starter, Styles is set to have a major impact for the Washington Commanders and fantasy managers willing to spend that early draft capital. Current IDP rookie ADP tracking has Styles being selected at an average pick of 8.5, which is mid-1st round. That’s a steep price for an IDP rookie, especially in a class that has several solid linebacker fantasy options in it. Even though I love the spot that Styles has landed in, I just can’t pull the trigger on him that early. I’m not saying he’s not going to produce, but just not for me that early with this class. Early 2nd round…..maybe, but that would be my limit.

Styles is set up perfectly to be a star for that Washington defense potentially, and I believe that will happen. No one to truly challenge him, and as long as he avoids an injury, the starting role is his for the taking. Super deep IDP leagues that score tackles highly and start multiple linebackers is where his best value is. A must-roster in dynasty leagues, and I don’t hate his return value in redraft leagues if you can get him for the right price. The ADP suggests that there is better value for rookie linebackers, such as CJ Allen, Josiah Trotter, and Anthony Hill, among others. However, if you believe in Styles, and I have to say I am, then shoot your shot.

All stats provided by Pro Football Reference

Thanks for reading my article. I am a member of the FSWA (Fantasy Sports Writers of America). Follow me on Twitter at @HollywoodTitan, on Facebook on my IDPNation page, on Reddit in the fantasy football IDP sub — I’m user KingTitan1 — and tune in each week and listen to IDP Nation and Devy IDP Grind, the podcasts that I co-host, on several different platforms. Feel free to email or dm me with any questions, as I’m always glad to help fellow IDPers. #IDPNation #IDP #IDPDevy