DBs are DEEP! The NFL is pass-heavy, which means the secondary is getting a ton of tackles, and this position is as deep as it’s ever been. When we’re drafting for DBs, I want high tackle box safeties because they are WAY more consistent than the majority of CBs. There is a little disconnect in the most talented CBs getting points because they don’t get thrown at. According to PFF, Sauce Gardner was the top-rated coverage CB, but because he was so good and QBs avoided him, he was 50th in total points and 88th in PPG among DBs. Patience is a virtue that most people lack, but it’s one that you need for DBs; you can wait and wait and still end up with decent starters. Jalen Ramsey is another strong CB who did perform well in 2022 (top 10 total, top 20 ppg) because he has set personal highs in tackles in two straight seasons. CBs are just tougher to predict, not only from year to year but week to week, so I will usually bury them in my rankings. I’m going to wait at DB because even if I don’t get some of my top options, there are guys that are close enough, and there will be guys on the wire even in most deep leagues. There have been a few scenarios where I take a DB before most other drafters in my league, but it’s always after I have at least two LBs and one DL. Let someone else reach early, and you can get other positions that are harder to find.
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Fantasy Football IDP Defensive Backs Rankings & Tiers
Here are my rankings and tiers for 2023 fantasy football defensive backs.
Tip of The Spear
Derwin James (LAC)
Budda Baker (ARI)
Jaquan Brisker (CHI)
Jalen Pitre (HOU)
I will not be drafting these guys at their current cost, but these are the guys that I want to see slip so I can get them later. Derwin James is going to be the first DB off almost every board, and he should be. James was a top-five scorer at DB last season, even with three games missed. Baker is the second guy off most boards, and he’s averaged double-digit scoring in three of the last four seasons.
Brisker and Pitre are my next two; they both averaged over 10 ppg as rookies last season. Pitre actually led all DBs in scoring and was the only one over 200 points, but he also graded very poorly and had the highest missed tackle percentage among 74 safeties with 500 snaps or more. The Texans have a new coaching staff, so Pitre could be in danger of missing time if he takes a step back. My one little worry about Brisker is that the Bears signed Edmunds and Edwards at LB, who could eat up some tackles in front of him.
So Good Tier
Antoine Winfield (TB)
Minkah Fitzpatrick (PIT)
Talanoa Hufanga (SF)
Kyle Hamilton (BAL)
Donovan Wilson (DAL)
Winfield and Wilson combine high tackle totals with a great ability to rush the passer. According to PFF, Winfield ranked first among all safeties in pass rush grade, and Wilson was fourth. Kyle Hamilton is built in the same mold as these guys and actually graded third in pass rush, I expect him to have a big season, but he’ll be a full-time starter for the first time and is unproven.
Fitzpatrick and Hufanga both offer high tackle totals (96 and 97) and splash plays. Fitzpatrick had six INTs, while Hufanga had four INTs, two sacks, and two forced fumbles. Turnovers are pretty random, but these guys give us a high tackle floor and are always a threat to get a turnover and have a huge week.
Still Pretty Good
Harrison Smith (MIN)
Kyle Dugger (NE)
Richie Grant (ATL)
L’Jarius Sneed (KC)
Jordan Poyer (BUF)
Jevon Holland (MIA)
Jessie Bates (ATL)
Jeremy Chinn (CAR)
Jamal Adams (SEA)
This tier is why we don’t reach to get a DB early because we still have studs beyond DB1s. Smith and Poyer are getting a little long in the tooth for the NFL but are still putting up solid numbers. Poyer seemed to slip a little last season but was also dealing with foot, elbow, and knee injuries last season, so I’ll give him a bit of a pass. Harrison hasn’t slowed down, but father time is undefeated, otherwise, he’d be in the previous tier.
I expected a little more from Kyle Dugger last season and did not expect such great production from Grant, so I think they’ll probably be closer to this range. Dugger actually had fewer points last season, but with Devin McCourty gone, he should get somewhere around 1000 snaps and should have his best season yet. Grant managed to stay healthy for all 17 games and was a top 10 total scorer, and was a low-end DB2 in PPG. Grant should be in the full-time box safety role, with Jessie Bates being signed by the Falcons to be the starting FS, and that should lead to even more chances at tackles. These guys both have a shot at improving on already solid numbers.
L’Jarius Sneed is the only CB I have ranked above 40 among DBs because he’s the perfect example of a great CB for IDP Leagues. He plays for a team that should be leading most games late, meaning opposing offenses will have to pass late, which plays right into the CB’s hands. He’s one of two CBs that was targeted over 100 times, allowed the most catches of any DB, and he’s a strong tackler. Sneed is also a great pass rusher; he had over 50 pass rush attempts which was third among DBs. There are many CBs that allow receptions and can tackle, but none are guaranteed targets like Sneed, are in a position to make plays on the ball late in games consistently, and can pass rush. He’s a combo of everything we want for an IDP CB.
Holland and Bates are the second and third true FS on the list behind Fitzpatrick. Holland is going into his third season and has the potential to jump into a higher tier, especially if they let him blitz a little more. Bates took a huge step back last season because there were just fewer chances at tackles for him, but in Atlanta, he should be able to reproduce some of his magic.
Chinn and Adams, to me, are almost complete wild cards. I don’t know what Chinn’s role is going to be in Carolina. Chinn still has a high floor if he’s strictly a slot CB, but if he gets snaps at LB, his ceiling could be much higher than expected. Jamal Adams has been injury-plagued in his career and only managed one game last season. In the previous four seasons, Adams averaged over 10 PPG, so there is huge upside, but he missed 16 games last year and 11 in the previous three seasons.
Somehow Still Good Tier
Jalen Thompson (ARI)
Grant Delpit (CLE)
Kevin Byard (TEN)
Kamren Curl (WAS)
Tyrann Mathieu (NO)
Darrick Forrest (WAS)
Vonn Bell (CAR)
Eddie Jackson (CHI)
Thompson, Delpit, and Byard all had over 100 tackles last season. Delpit had a career-high four INTs, Thompson has flirted with a 10 PPG average but hasn’t gotten there just yet, but he should see a lot of snaps with the Cardinals in rebuild mode. Byard has an incredibly high floor for points but only cracked 10 PPG in his second season when he had eight INTs. Byard’s highest total after that has been five, and he’s turning 30 before Week 1, so his ceiling is a big capped.
Curl and Forrest make up the safety duo in Washington and benefit from the questionable LBs for Washington. Curl only played in 12 games last season and stacked up 83 tackles; if he’s healthier this season, he should easily clear 100. Forrest only had five more tackles than Curl but made seven ‘splash’ plays, four INTs, two FF, and one FR. Forrest is a little more big-play-dependent than I like, but he’s still only 24 and has plenty of upside.
Tyrann Mathieu and Vonn Bell are both just solid options to get tackles as starting box safeties. Mathieu had a career-high in tackles with the Saints last season but is being used all over the place, which can make his fantasy production inconsistent. Mathieu had six games over 10 points but also five games under 5five points. Vonn Bell is going to be the primary box safety in Carolina, but he has some solid LBs in front of him, and Chinn might get some snaps at his spot.
Eddie Jackson is different from Mathieu and Bell but should be a little more inconsistent this season as well. Jackson only played 12 games last season but was fourth in ppg with the highest tackle rate by far in his career. Jackson should be the first to lose tackle opportunities with two big LB signings by the Bears, but still is a great splash playmaker when he has a chance to roam a little more. The Bears should allow him to go after the ball a little more, with the middle of the defense much improved. Fewer tackle opportunities will make for some inconsistency in scoring but could provide some swing weeks because Jackson is a threat to score every time the ball is in his hands.
Starting SS
Rayshawn Jenkins (JAC) – had some big games but is a weak link in the Jaguars defense
Kareem Jackson (DEN) – solid option behind him in Sterns
Terrell Edmunds (PHI) – Will have to hold off rookie Sydney Brown
Brandon Jones (MIA) – coming off a torn ACL
Daxton Hill (CIN) – First year as a starter
Xavier McKinney (NYG) – will get snaps but has missed 18 games in three seasons
Tracy Walker (DET) – Great player when he’s on the field but has been injury prone, and the Lions drafted his eventual replacement in Brian Branch
Jordan Whitehead (NYJ)
Keanu Neal (PIT)
Starting FS
Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (DET) – as long as Tracy Walker is playing, CJGJ will play in the slot, but he’s still a starter
Marcus Williams (BAL) – Spent a lot of time on the IR last season but still averaged over 10 PPG
Marcus Maye (NYJ) – Solid floor but not a lot of room
Kerby Joseph (DET) – The Lions drafted Brian Branch, who can play anywhere, so he’ll have to fight to stay on the field
Xavier Woods (CAR) – Journeyman FS has played for three teams in three seasons but has had at least 86 tackles two seasons in a row
Julian Love (NYG) – Should be on the field a lot for Seattle, but Adams will start if he’s healthy and they still have Diggs
Jayron Kearse (DAL) – had over 900 snaps last season but played all over the place
Andre Cisco (JAC)
Amani Hooker (TEN)
Nick Scott (CIN)
Solid CBs
Trevon Diggs (DAL) – Completely INT dependent but is still my 2nd CB
Taron Johnson (BUF) – third most targeted CB last season
Jalen Ramsey (MIA) – Started stacking tackles last season and has shot up in IDP value
Tariq Woolen (SEA)
Adoree Jackson (NYG)
Jonathan Jones (NE)
D.J. Reed (NYJ)
Marlon Humphrey (BAL)
Sauce Gardner (NYJ)
Kenny Moore (IND)
Carlton Davis (TB)
Patrick Peterson (PIT)
Trent McDuffie (KC)
Rasul Douglas (GB)
Rookie CBs
These players should see a lot of playing time – pick up a lot of targets early because they’re inexperienced
Devon Witherspoon (SEA)
Christian Gonzalez (NE)
Deonte Banks (NYG)
Emmanuel Forbes (WAS)
Joey Porter Jr. (PIT)
Julius Brents (IND)
Tyrique Stevenson (CHI)
Bogman’s 2023 Fantasy Football IDP Draft Rankings
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