Brandon Spikes

Spikes signed with Buffalo in the offseason and will start for the team at middle linebacker, perhaps even in a three-down role. His play count was limited in New England due knee troubles and a deep linebacker rotation, but his knee is reportedly healthy, and the Bills are fairly thin at linebacker aside from star second-year player Kiko Alonso. Since Buffalo will play with a lot of wide-nine looks on the defensive line, meaning the ends will be split out wide and away from the tackles, Spikes should get a lot of cleanup work in the middle as ballcarriers try to split the widened gaps.