Derrick Barnes

Derrick Barnes

26-Year-Old LinebackerLB
Detroit Lions
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Barnes re-signed with the Lions in the offseason, notching a three-year deal to stick around the Motor City. The linebacker was limited to just three regular-season games in 2024, suffering season-ending MCL and PCL injuries in Week 3. Barnes recorded 10 total tackles and a pass defense before he went down for the year. He'll continue to operate as one of the team's primary outside linebackers opposite Alex Anzalone in 2025, and Barnes will look to pick up where he left off in 2023, a campaign in which he posted a career-high 81 tackles. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
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IDP
Signed a three-year, $25.5 million contract with the Lions in March of 2025.
Sack results in safety in Week 5
LBDetroit Lions
October 6, 2025
Barnes notched seven tackles (five solo), including 1.0 sacks, in a 37-24 victory against the Bengals on Sunday.
ANALYSIS
Barnes finished second on Detroit in stops in the win. His final tackle was a sack of Jake Browning in the end zone late in the fourth quarter that resulted in a safety to essentially ice the outcome. Barnes has 2.0 sacks this season, which already ties the career-high mark he established as a rookie in 2021.
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NFL Stats
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2025 NFL Game Log
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
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2024 NFL Game Log
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2023 NFL Game Log
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2022 NFL Game Log
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2021 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
Detroit LionsLions 2025 LB Snap Distribution
#% of Team Snaps

29297%
24497%
29297%
24497%
26087%
21786%
3010%
3012%
114%
114%
103%
104%
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2025 Derrick Barnes Split Stats
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Measurables Review View College Player Page
How do Derrick Barnes' 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.
* All metrics are from his Pro Day (not the combine).
Height
6' 0"
 
Weight
240 lbs
 
40-Yard Dash
4.57 sec
 
Vertical Jump
37.0 in
 
Broad Jump
119 in
 
Bench Press
29 reps
 
Hand Length
9.75 in
 
Arm Length
33.38 in
 
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Derrick Barnes See More
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Derrick Barnes See More
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2024
2023
2022
2021
Barnes put together his most productive season as a pro in 2023, recording a career-high 81 tackles, including a sack, while also forcing a fumble over 16 contests with the Lions. Operating without James Houston, who missed nearly the entire regular season with an ankle injury, Jack Campbell and Barnes were the undisputed top options at linebacker alongside MLB Alex Anzalone. With Houston back in the fold in 2024, it's possible that Barnes will see a slight reduction in his snap count, but he nonetheless figures to be a productive asset for coach Dan Campbell's defense.
Seeing over 100 less defensive snaps in 2022 than his rookie year in 2021, Barnes has been in and out of Detroit's starting lineup since entering the league. Unfortunately, he'll find snaps even harder to come by in 2023 after the extension of Alex Anzalone and the first-round selection of Jack Campbell. In the end, it may be a stretch to think he can approach the 400ish defensive snaps he has seen in each of his first two campaigns.
Barnes is in the mix for a starting spot at linebacker in 2022.
A fourth-round draft pick out of Purdue, Barnes begins his career buried on the depth chart at inside linebacker.
More Fantasy News
Seven stops in win
LBDetroit Lions
September 30, 2025
Barnes compiled seven total tackles (two solo) in Sunday's 34-10 win over Cleveland.
ANALYSIS
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Past knee injury
LBDetroit Lions
September 26, 2025
Barnes (knee) has no injury designation ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Browns, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Limited in Thursday's practice
LBDetroit Lions
Knee
September 25, 2025
Barnes (knee) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
ANALYSIS
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Considered limited Wednesday
LBDetroit Lions
Knee
September 24, 2025
Barnes (knee) was listed as a limited participant on Wednesday's estimated injury report.
ANALYSIS
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Notches first sack Monday
LBDetroit Lions
September 23, 2025
Barnes posted seven tackles (four solo), including 1.0 sacks, in a 38-30 Week 3 win against the Ravens on Monday.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Potential fit for Jets
LBDetroit Lions
February 20, 2025
Barnes is a logical fit for the Jets in free agency, per Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic.
ANALYSIS
Barnes played for the Lions from 2021 through 2024, coinciding with Aaron Glenn's tenure as Detroit's defensive coordinator. Glenn is now the head coach of the Jets, and bringing Barnes along would give Glenn a familiar face to work with while improving the Jets' thin linebacker depth. Barnes was limited to three appearances in 2024 by an MCL injury, but he had 81 tackles during the 2023 regular season.
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