Sean Lee

Sean Lee

37-Year-Old LinebackerLB
 Free Agent  
2023 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Sean Lee in 2023. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
RANKS
$Signed a one-year, $4.5 million contract with the Cowboys in March of 2020.
Ends playing career
LBFree Agent
April 26, 2021
Lee announced his retirement Monday following 11 seasons with the Cowboys, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Lee entered the league in 2010 as a second-round pick out of Penn State. During his stint with Dallas, the 34-year-old emerged as a leader of the team's defense and earned a pair of Pro-Bowl nods (in 2015 and 2016). Though Lee endured his share of injuries over the years, he was an IDP asset when healthy, racking up 804 tackles and 14 picks over the course of 118 games.
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NFL Stats
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2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2020 NFL Game Log
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2019 NFL Game Log
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2018 NFL Game Log
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2017 NFL Game Log
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2016 NFL Game Log
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2023 Sean Lee Split Stats
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Measurables Review
How do Sean Lee'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
245 lbs
 
40-Yard Dash
4.71 sec
 
Vertical Jump
37.5 in
 
Broad Jump
120 in
 
Bench Press
24 reps
 
Hand Length
8.75 in
 
Arm Length
32.00 in
 
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Sean Lee See More
NFL Injury Analysis: When Will Burrow Be Ready?
November 24, 2020
Jeff Stotts examines past QB knee injury data to get a better idea of when Cincinnati quarter back Joe Burrow might be ready to take the field again.
Gameday Injuries: Week 8
Gameday Injuries: Week 8
November 1, 2020
November 1, 2020
With some big names being hit by the injury bug this week, Juan Carlos Blanco brings you up to speed on all the relevant health news for your fantasy lineups.
NFL Game Previews: Week 1 Matchups
September 12, 2020
Erik Siegrist previews Week 1 in the NFL as Dak Prescott and the Cowboys look to start the year with a win at the Rams on Sunday night.
NFL Game Previews: Monday Night Matchups
September 10, 2020
Erik Siegrist previews the Monday night matchups as Ryan Tannehill leads the Titans into Denver in the nightcap of a MNF doubleheader.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
In one of 2019's most unlikely occurrences, Lee played a full 16 games for the first time in his nine-year career, somehow avoiding any of the injuries that had always plagued him despite a fairly hefty workload. Leighton Vander Esch's neck woes even allowed the veteran linebacker to regain some of his IDP swagger, as Lee recorded double-digit tackles in three games, including a massive 17-tackle performance against the Eagles in Week 16. Vander Esch is expected to be healthy to begin this season, returning Lee to a secondary role, but the 33-year-old still appears to have enough juice to rack up useful numbers if he gets called upon to start again.
The 32-year-old linebacker has been the heart and soul of the Dallas defense for years now, but the end is nigh. Lee only played in seven games in 2018 due to hamstring issues that plagued him all season, and the emergence of Leighton Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith moved the veteran into a less prominent role and much lower snap count than he was used to. The usually reliable tackling machine recorded double-digits stops once in those seven games, and his workload isn't likely to increase this season except in an emergency.
Like his teammate Jaylon Smith, Lee's IDP value is obscured by his injury history and the first-round selection of Leighton Vander Esch. Also like Smith, Lee's per-snap production is of a top-shelf pace, and he would project for monstrous numbers if only his snap count could be guaranteed. Despite the two young linebackers on his heels, Lee should still be regarded as easily the best linebacker in Dallas, and so whatever snap count cannibalizing occurs should mostly be a problem for Smith and Vander Esch. Lee's 25 career missed games in seven seasons illustrate his more likely risk.
The deal with Lee has long been clearly understood: he's as good as almost anyone when he's on the field, but he's as liable to get hurt as anyone, too. Knock on wood, but the last two years have been somewhat fortunate on the latter front. His one missed game last year was a healthy scratch with Dallas facing a playoff bye week, and he only missed two games in 2015. Lee produced nearly 10 tackles per game last year for a fourth consecutive season, reminding us of his clear high-end utility when healthy. And his remarkable instincts make him a good bet to grab a few interceptions.
Lee might be the greatest injury risk on this list, but his upside in any given week can also rank at the top. Lee is an elite player when healthy, capable of posting big tackle numbers while standing out as perhaps the most dangerous coverage LB in the league. Lee has 12 interceptions in five years despite missing 20 games, and he only needed 814 snaps to accumulate 128 tackles (76 solo) in 2015. Already a risk to miss time with almost any type of injury, Lee had arthroscopic knee surgery in May, though it shouldn't be an issue when the season arrives.
Lee is a prolific tackler and effective in pass coverage when healthy, but he missed the entire 2014 season after tearing his ACL on the first day of offseason workouts, just the latest in a litany of injuries. The Cowboys will shift him to weak-side linebacker this season in an effort to keep him in one piece, a move that could allow him to maintain his impressive per-game IDP pace, but he's a difficult player to rely on given that he's missed 34 games over his five-year career
Lee is probably one of the three best linebackers in the league when he's on the field. But as Lee's former IDP owners know far too well, the issue is that his durability is horrendous and seemingly getting worse. He tore an ACL back in 2008, and in his four pro seasons he's dealt with neck, toe, wrist, quadriceps, hamstring, shoulder and back issues at various points. He's never played a full season in the NFL, missing 28-of-64 games. The latest injury woe for the linebacker occurred in May, when Lee tore his ACL.
Lee might be the league's best inside linebacker when healthy. His brittleness, though, has a remarkably long history. His days at Penn State were full of durability troubles, and he added new chapters to the saga by playing through a dislocated wrist for most of 2011 and missing the final 10 games of 2012 with a toe injury. When Lee is on the field, though, he's a monster. He had 58 tackles and an interception on just 319 snaps last year, meaning he looks like an on-paper lock for 160 tackles should he ever make it to 1,000 snaps in a season. There's no reason to expect such luck, though.
If durability weren’t an issue for Lee, he would rank significantly higher. Although he’s tough as nails and possesses a rare work ethic, Lee seems to be remarkably brittle, as he has missed time with or played through quadriceps, hamstring, shoulder, concussion, back and wrist issues in his first two NFL seasons. That’s not even mentioning the ACL tear he suffered in spring 2008. If Lee should miraculously stay healthy a full season, his IDP production would more than likely be top-tier. He totaled 104 stops (71 solo) in 15 games last year despite playing with a dislocated wrist for eight games. He also has a rather brilliant total of six career interceptions in 29 games despite playing a part-time role as a rookie.
Young buck ILB has great instincts and athleticism and is a future captain of the Cowboys' defense, provided he can stay healthy enough to reach his potential. If he can take the starting job from Keith Brooking and play 16 games he could be a surprise IDP star, but there are much safer bets at the position.
Second round pick has top-shelf linebacking instincts and leadership abilities, and will get a season apprenticing behind Keith Brooking before he'll be asked to start. If injuries push him into a bigger role ahead of schedule he could be worth looking at as a bye-week IDP player.
More Fantasy News
Career nearing end
LBDallas Cowboys
January 18, 2021
Lee recorded 20 tackles (11 solo) over nine games in 2020.
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Plays only four snaps
LBDallas Cowboys
November 2, 2020
Lee had one tackle and played only four snaps during Sunday's loss to the Eagles, but coach Mike McCarthy said his limited playing time was simply the result of gameflow, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
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Will play Sunday
LBDallas Cowboys
October 31, 2020
The Cowboys activated Lee (sports hernia) from injured reserve Saturday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
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Designated for return
LBDallas Cowboys
Sports Hernia
October 22, 2020
Lee (sports hernia) has been designated to return from injured reserve, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
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Making progress
LBDallas Cowboys
Sports Hernia
October 17, 2020
Lee (sports hernia) is reportedly making good progress while on injured reserve, Rob Phillips of the Cowboys' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
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