Whitney Mercilus

Whitney Mercilus

34-Year-Old LinebackerLB
 Free Agent  
2024 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Whitney Mercilus in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
RANKS
$Signed a one-year, $1.08 million contract with the Packers in October of 2021.
Retires from NFL
LBFree Agent
April 6, 2022
Mercilus announced his retirement Wednesday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
Mercilus split time between the Texans and Packers during his final campaign, totaling 17 tackles (nine solo) and four sacks across 10 appearances. The veteran made an improbable return from a mid-season biceps injury and appeared in Green Bay's playoff loss to the 49ers, but he'll hang up the cleats after not liking the options available to him in free agency. The 2012 first-round pick ends his 10-year career with 117 quarterback hits, 58 sacks and 13 forced fumbles.
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2024 Whitney Mercilus Split Stats
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Measurables Review
How do Whitney Mercilus' 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' 4"
 
Weight
261 lbs
 
40-Yard Dash
4.68 sec
 
Shuttle Time
4.53 sec
 
Cone Drill
7.17 sec
 
Vertical Jump
32.0 in
 
Broad Jump
118 in
 
Bench Press
27 reps
 
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Whitney Mercilus See More
2022 NFL Offseason Guide: AFC South
February 24, 2022
With Carson Wentz reportedly on his way out, the Colts should have plenty of cap space but may nonetheless find it difficult to secure a sizable upgrade at QB.
Weekly Rankings: Divisional Round Value Meter
January 19, 2022
Joe Mixon has a tough matchup at Tennessee on Saturday. See where he ranks in the RotoWire Divisional Round Value Meter.
Weekly Rankings: Week 7 Value Meter
October 19, 2021
With bye weeks and injuries crippling a lot of rosters, Josh Jacobs looks a lot better this week due to his consistent workload.
NFL Game Previews: Patriots-Jets Matchup
November 5, 2020
Erik Siegrist previews the Monday night matchup as Cam Newton and the Patriots look to bounce back against the struggling Jets.
2020 NFL Team Previews: Houston Texans
May 24, 2020
The trade of DeAndre Hopkins headlines the offseason personnel shuffling engineered by Bill O’Brien, but the Texans’ fate is largely in the hands of QB Deshaun Watson.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
Mercilus had a successful fantasy season in 2019 when he recorded 7.5 sacks, forced four fumbles and recovered one. The advanced metrics crowd, however, were less sanguine on Mercilus, to whom Pro Football Focus handed out at 59.6 pass-rushing grade, his lowest mark since 2014. Houston ranked 29th in passing defense, a ranking that was impacted by the loss of J.J. Watt to a pectoral injury. A healthy Watt won't solve the pass defense alone, but it should help Mercilus to apply quarterback pressure.
Mercilus has been dogged by injuries the last two seasons which contributed to his dropoff in sacks. Although he played 16 games in 2018, he was slow to recover from a preseason hamstring injury. For the first time since 2016, he's healthy at the start of training camp and, if defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel is to be believed, will be moved around with the hope that he can provide increased pressure on quarterbacks. Mercilus totaled 37.5 sacks over his first five seasons prior to 2017 and 2018.
After playing 78 of 80 games over the first five seasons of his career, Mercilus missed 11 games in 2017 with a pectoral muscle injury. His loss, coupled with J.J. Watt's leg injury, turned the Texans into one of the most porous defenses in the league. Without the quarterback pressure those two typically apply, the passing defense suffered -- Houston fell to 24th in pass defense last season after ranking second the previous season. Mercilus was medically cleared in April and participated in organized team activities. With 38.5 sacks over 85 games and playing opposite Watt, the great disruptor, Mercilus should be a sought-after IDP candidate.
Mercilus is finally starting to get his due. He’s been a disruptor since his rookie season in 2012, registering no fewer than five sacks in any of his five NFL seasons. He’ll start at outside linebacker in 2017 and will benefit playing the same side as a healthy J.J. Watt, a player to whom offensive lines dedicate multiple bodies, as well as having Jadeveon Clowney on the other side.
The plan the last couple of seasons has been to have Mercilus come off the bench, but injuries forced him to into a bigger role -- 23 starts the last two seasons -- and the Texans have benefited. The former first-round pick registered a career-high 12 sacks in 2015 and added three more in the playoff loss to the Chiefs. He's recorded 30 sacks while missing just one game in four NFL seasons. If he's not a starter in 2016, he'll certainly be on the field in passing situations. Twelve sacks are a bit lofty, but there will be opportunities as teams need to throw numbers at defensive standout J.J. Watt.
Mercilus filled in for the injured Jadeveon Clowney (knee) and re-established his value after it looked like Clowney was poised to take over the starting outside linebacker job Mercilus had held his first two seasons. With Clowney on the PUP list during training camp, he's not a lock to make the starting lineup when Houston kicks off the regular season. Until that time, Mercilus will continue to start.
Mercilus will start at one of the outside linebacker positions for Houston. With 13 sacks in his first two NFL seasons, Mercilus is one to watch as an IDP.
Mercilus, Houston's first-round pick in the 2011 draft, is slated to replace the departed Connor Barwin (Philadelphia) as a starting outside linebacker (the Will). As a rookie, he recorded 6.0 sacks and forced two fumbles. He's the next big pass-rushing threat on Houston's defense.
The team's first round pick this season, Mercilus will provide the Texans with a speed pass rusher on the edge, playing as a defensive end or outside linebacker.
More Fantasy News
Future looks murky
LBGreen Bay Packers
February 9, 2022
Mercilus recorded 17 tackles (nine solo) and four sacks across 10 combined appearances with the Texans and Packers in 2021.
ANALYSIS
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Back on active roster
LBGreen Bay Packers
January 21, 2022
Mercilus (biceps) was activated off injured reserve Friday, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
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Returns to practice
LBGreen Bay Packers
Biceps
January 13, 2022
Mercilus (biceps) was designated to return from injured reserve Thursday, Wes Hodkiewicz of the Packers' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
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Placed on injured reserve
LBGreen Bay Packers
Biceps
November 16, 2021
Mercilus (biceps) was placed on injured reserve Tuesday.
ANALYSIS
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Done for season
LBGreen Bay Packers
Biceps
November 15, 2021
Mercilus (biceps) will miss the rest of the season, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Generating interest
LBHouston Texans
October 27, 2020
Teams have inquired with the Texans about the availability of Mercilus before the trade deadline, according to Jason LaCanfora of CBS Sports.
ANALYSIS
Mercilus has been one of the few standout performers on the Texans roster and, as a veteran, he could be a decent addition to any contending defense looking for pass-rushing help. With the Texans not expected to turn things around, there is a decent chance that Mercilus is shipped away to another organization before the deadline.
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