Well, it’s still winter. In my opinion, the only way to beat the cold is to get colder yourself. I know almost no better way of doing that than by finding dynasty league trade targets and taking advantage of your unsuspecting league mates. Let’s heat up and snipe that young rising talent! The season never stops, folks.
In the past few weeks, I’ve been working on a series called The Top 5 Under 25, in which I explore the best players under the age of 25 at their position. If you’re interested in the previous articles, please see the following:
Today, I will be extending our collective IDP (individual defensive player) knowledge by breaking down my top 5 Defensive Backs under 25. The rules are simple: each player must be under 25 and must be identified as a DB (Defensive Back) in standard IDP leagues.
Let’s begin!
Check out our full early 2022 fantasy football draft consensus rankings 
5. Kamren Curl (S – WAS): Age 22
If you haven’t heard of Kamren Curl, you wouldn’t be the only one. He’s not exactly a guy that’s been touted since college. Heck, he was just a 7th round pick in the 2020 NFL draft. Many staunch fans (of any team) know that most guys beyond the 2nd and 3rd rounds are rarely guaranteed to start. Curl was not set to be an exception until Landon Collins went down with an injury in 2020. Curl walked directly into an opportunity to be “the man” in the Washington defensive backfield. Despite his low draft capital, he delivered.
Built similarly to Jamal Adams, Curl has already demonstrated better coverage skills than the Seahawks’ star DB. In other words, he can both cover and help in run support. He also showed, while at Arkansas, that he’s capable of long-term improvement. His stats consistently improved while in college. In addition, he plays behind the Washington Commanders’ powerful front 7, which should allow him to have ample opportunity to make plays and put up solid numbers for a few years.
However, I do have my concerns. Firstly, he had a surprisingly good rookie season, followed by a sophomore year with very similar stats. He performed well against the rest of the DB field, but his lack of improvement is concerning because his snap count increased significantly. With increased opportunity, he should have seen increased numbers. Yet, he didn’t. With the return of Landon Collins in 2021, Curl’s weekly averages took a hit. His bottom line remained the same, but his effectiveness was lessened by more experienced tackle competition.
If Curl can overtake Collins as the true alpha in this defensive backfield, and if Washington’s offense can find a way to keep games close (thus forcing opposing offenses to throw more), he’ll be one of the few DBs you’ll refuse to trade away.
4. Jevon Holland (S – MIA): Age 21
Holland was just a rookie in 2021 and the only rookie on this list, but his talent and landing spot in Miami makes him an enticing long-term prospect. He was drafted 36th overall out of Oregon, where he tallied 19 total INTs over his collegiate career. Simply put, he has a nose for the ball. That’s what makes him unique, but it’s also what possibly caps his upside. He won’t be the guy to rack up tackles and deliver consistent performances week in and week out. Instead, he makes for a solid DB2 on your fantasy squad, allowing him to have more volatility and even help win you some weeks.
If you’re looking to deal for him in dynasty IDP leagues, it’s to your advantage right now that the Dolphins have moved on from Head Coach Brian Flores. You can convince your trade partner that a new defensive coordinator may affect Holland’s value. However, his ball-hawk role will likely stay unchanged, regardless of who calls the shots. For reference to his baseline, he put up 47 Tackles, 21 Assists, 2.5 Sacks, 10 Pass Deflections, and 2 INTs. Those numbers should improve as Holland gets more experience and playing time.
I also like that Holland plays in a division with Mac Jones, Zach Wilson, and Josh Allen. They’re all QBs that aren’t afraid to throw an INT now and then. With the Miami offense potentially improving under a new Head Coach and getting into more shootouts, Holland could see plenty of errant passes to pick off. A big “if,” but at least most of the right pieces are in place.
3. Xavier McKinney (S – NYG): Age 23
McKinney is entering year 3 of his NFL career and easily lands on this list. Taken 36th overall out of Alabama, he showed in 2021 that he can deliver the goods. His total stats were 59 Tackles, 34 Assists, 10 Pass Deflections, and 5 INTs. He’s versatile, too, meaning he’s comfortable sliding into the box to stop the run. With 5 INTs, he’s also going to deliver more than the occasional big performance.
What I like most about McKinney is that he’s in a phenomenal situation for opportunity. As many fantasy veterans know, opportunity often trumps talent. In this case, McKinney has the benefit of both. The New York Giants need playmakers on both sides of the ball, and McKinney is already one of their best. They’re going to keep him on the field as much as possible. With Jabrill Peppers perennially injured and Blake Martinez returning from injury himself, it’s more than likely that McKinney will have another career year in 2022.
2. Antoine Winfield Jr. (S – TB): Age 23
I imagine it’s challenging to be a Super Bowl champion your rookie season and then fall short the following season. I wouldn’t know, but Winfield Jr. would. Drafted 45th overall out of Minnesota in the 2020 NFL draft, Winfield Jr. is already nearly the cream of the DB crop. He can shift into the box or stay in coverage. Like Kamren Curl, he was remarkably consistent with his totals from 2020 to 2021. Unlike Curl, Winfield Jr. missed four games in 2021 and still performed, showing that he will put up enviable stats any time he’s in the lineup.
His injuries plagued him a bit this past season, but he still played 97% of snaps in the games he did play in. He’s the kind of player that could potentially lead the team in tackles. He won’t, at least not while he’s playing with fellow young stud Devin White. If there’s an area he can improve in, it’s ball-hawking. He has just 3 INTs over the past two seasons. Let’s call him a Budda Baker in the making.
1. Jeremy Chinn (S – CAR): Age 24
Chinn sits atop the food chain. Consistent, versatile, and on a team that needs him to be a playmaker, he’s set to produce for the next 5-10 years. See my recent article “7 Dynasty IDP Trade Targets” to get more specifics, but the short of it is that Chinn is consistently good and still has untapped potential.
In 2020, he had 68 tackles, 48 assists, 1 INT, five pass deflections (PD), two fumble recovery (FR), and 2 TDs. in 2021, he had 74 tackles, 32 assists, 1 INT, 5 PD, and 1 FR. He finished as the 22nd and 36th overall IDP performer in 2020 and 2021, respectively. For a DB, that’s nuts, especially one as young as Chinn.
In many ways, he’s the next up to become the very best of the best at the DB position. He’s got the draft capital (21st overall pick in 2020), proven body of work, and opportunity. In IDP dynasty leagues, he’s worth at least a first and second round draft pick pair. Probably more. For today’s purposes, he’s undoubtedly the top DB under 25.
Check out our full early 2022 fantasy football draft consensus rankings
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