2024 IDP Rankings Breakdown: Defensive Backs
Mike Woellert dives into his DB projections to see how the tiers shake out for 2024.
My 2024 IDP projections have been released for a while now, so we’re barreling head-first into the fantasy season. Does it ever really go away though? Minicamps/Training Camps have started, which means position battles are underway.
Like MLB’s spring training, a lot of players are feeling things out and taking on different positions and responsibilities, so we’re still a ways out from things being solidified.
While rankings are great, I like breaking them down into tiers. Ranks can be a bit subjective and can vary, but with tiers, you can get an idea of the guys you like and target a particular tier. I’ll also identify some of my favorite targets within each tier.
Defensive back is deep and one of the more volatile positions in IDP. There are a few elite options; however, it’s not necessary to overspend on the position, as surprises always emerge throughout the season. The DB position rarely produces repeats, but I think my top guy in tier 1 is in a good spot to do so.
Tier 1
The first tier in Big 3 Scoring formats has a plethora of tasty morsels.
Antoine Winfield Jr. has consistently been the first DB off the board and has an ADP of around 53. I took him at 59 in a recent best ball draft. I normally don’t go DB that early, and knowing what I know now, I probably would have waited until the 8th or 9th round to take my first DB, because I got one of my favorite targets of this tier there: Kyle Dugger.
Dugger averaged 12.2 fantasy points per game and produced his first 100-tackle season. Although he didn’t record any INTs, he defended 7 passes and added 6 TFLs. I’m very excited at how Jerod Mayo is going to deploy Dugger and I hope he maintains his 67% line of scrimmage rate.
Out of the DBs I have within this tier, I’m surprised by Camryn Bynum’s ADP of 170 (DB17). He’s going behind Cooper DeJean, Jeremy Chinn, and Dax Hill. I’m a Bynum believer and I think he’s in a good spot to produce similar numbers compared to the other DBs I listed. Bynum averaged 15.5 fantasy points and 0.22 fantasy points per snap in tackle-heavy formats. In Big 3 Scoring, he averaged 13. Bynum exploded for 137 tackles, and I think Brian Flores has a star in the defensive backfield. Bynum always seemed to be in position to make tackles.
Sign me up for Grant Delpit once again. His ADP is hovering around 191 and he’s the DB30 off the board. Delpit missed the final 4 games of the season, but last season’s injury isn’t scaring me. He was on pace for 104 tackles and added 1.5 sacks and 7 TFLs. I love his role in Schwartz’s defense and he played 81% of his snaps on the line of scrimmage. He had 7 games of 10 or more fantasy points in Big 3 Scoring, while in tackle-heavy, he had 9 such games. Enjoy the discount while it lasts.
I think my favorite target who will outperform his ADP by leaps and bounds is Tyrique Stevenson. According to my projections, he’s currently my DB10 but his current ADP is around 204, making him the DB35. Corners can be tough to project, but Stevenson is an up-and-comer. He played the majority of his snaps on the perimeter and was targeted 110 times. He finished as the DB17 and had 6 games of 6+ tackles. After missing Week 12, he recorded 38% of his defended passes in 5 games. In tackle-heavy formats, he finished as the DB32, so I don’t have an issue targeting him as your DB3/4.
Antoine Winfield
Kyle Hamilton
Derwin James
Brian Branch
Kyle Dugger
Xavier McKinney
Julian Love
Grant Delpit
Jessie Bates
Tyrique Stevenson
Tier 2
I’ll be dipping my toes in this tier for a few targets.
Full-time nickel corners have become a source of fantasy fruit over the last few years. Taron Johnson is another corner I like this season. Johnson played 74% of his snaps in the slot but also was deployed in the box on 21% of his snaps. Johnson has recorded 90 or more tackles in 3 of the last 4 seasons and I think that continues in 2024.
Keisan Nixon is getting hype in leagues that reward return yardage. He’s also a productive slot corner who’ll slide over into the box, as well. Over the last two seasons, he’s accumulated 1,791 return yards and recorded a 9.9% tackle rate while over 809 defensive snaps.
Jalen Pitre had a heap of expectations heading into his second season and failed to live up to them. I’m buying the dip. His ADP is 189 and DB28 (S22). I think he has top-20 upside and my projections have him as the DB12.
Budda Baker might be at his cheapest price in a few seasons. He averaged 9.1 fantasy points in Big 3 Scoring while missing 5 games. Baker recorded an 11.4% tackle rate but his big plays were nowhere to be found. He’s an asset in tackle-heavy formats, but I’m still targeting him as a DB2 in Big 3 Scoring leagues.
I think out of this group, Paulson Adebo has a good chance to be a top-15 CB/DB. He was on the field for 949 defensive snaps and I’ve got him projected for around 977 this season. He was targeted 88 times and had a 25% play-on-ball rate which resulted in 18 defended passes. He has a good eye for the ball. He averaged 13.3 fantasy points per game in Big 3 Scoring last season.
Jalen Pitre
L'Jarius Sneed
Budda Baker
Devon Witherspoon
Camryn Bynum
Paulson Adebo
Justin Reid
Nate Hobbs
Jaquan Brisker
Keisean Nixon
Rayshawn Jenkins
Kerby Joseph
Kamren Curl
Taron Johnson
C.J. Gardner-Johnson
Tier 3
This is where things start to get a bit shaky. These guys are solid best ball targets because of their weekly volatility. In seasonal leagues, I’m looking to target these DBs as my DB3/4.
I think my favorite target from this tier is Brandon Jones. The Broncos allowed Justin Simmons to walk in free agency and Jones was acquired. The Broncos didn’t give Jones a one-year, vet minimum deal. They signed him to a 3-year deal. Jones played a part-time role last season but averaged 0.21 fantasy points per snap. Injuries limited his 2022 to 7 games. Jones averaged 7 tackles/game and added 2 sacks. Jones is a threat to get to the QB, as he’s produced a 16.8% career pressure rate. My 2024 season might depend on a Jones breakout because I’m going to have him everywhere I can.
Minkah Fitzpatrick is a best ball darling. He can put up a 1 tackle game or go off for 2 INTs and 10 tackles in the next. He recorded 180 or more points in Big 3 Scoring in four consecutive seasons until injuries limited him to 10 games. Fitzpatrick has recorded 4 or more INTs in four of his six seasons. He was producing an 11.6% tackle rate and was on pace for 108 stops before injuries cut his season short.
Talanoa Hufanga was on pace for a monster season. He had 3 INTs and 3 defended passes in 10 games and was on pace for nearly 90 tackles. His ADP is hovering around 183 and is a solid late-round best ball target with his big play upside. In tackle-heavy formats, I’m comfortable with drafting him for depth as a DB4.
Amani Hooker has 100-tackle upside this season. Hooker missed 4 games and was averaging 6.5 tackles per game and producing a 9.8% tackle rate. Hooker will be an asset in tackle-heavy formats and is shaping up to be a high-upside DB3.
Amani Hooker
Christian Gonzalez
Jalen Ramsey
Jason Pinnock
Charvarius Ward
Jeremy Chinn
Minkah Fitzpatrick
Darious Williams
Jordan Poyer
DaRon Bland
Reed Blankenship
Mike Hilton
Talanoa Hufanga
Kenny Moore
Josh Metellus
Emmanuel Forbes
Justin Simmons
Tier 4
The next few tiers are your DB4/5 groups. In deeper leagues, they’re probably your DB6. A lot of these DBs will be “get your guys” especially if you’re higher on the rookie class.
Julian Blackmon returns to familiarity, as he sticks with the Colts. He should maintain his safety role, as he played 47% of his snaps in the box and 68% of his total snaps on the line of scrimmage. He produced an 8.9% tackle rate, but contributed 4 INTs and 8 defended passes. The big plays can be volatile from year to year, but he’s managed to record at least 1 INT in three of his four seasons.
Kader Kohou is an intriguing target here. Kohou is Miami’s nickel corner and he played 647 snaps in the slot. I like him more in best ball formats since he has a lower floor than other slot corners I like more, but it’s hard to ignore the volume.
Jevon Holland is in a good spot to rebound from an injury-shortened season. Holland appeared in 12 games and 708 snaps. If he can play in 15 to 17 games, he has the upside for 90+ tackles and 3+ INTs. Last season, Holland produced a 10.7% tackle rate, so he could have a safe tackle floor.
Tyrann Mathieu
Trevon Diggs
Jevon Holland
Deommodore Lenoir
Pat Surtain
Kader Kohou
Brandon Jones
Jordan Battle
Martin Emerson
Roger McCreary
Ifeatu Melifonwu
Julian Blackmon
Donovan Wilson
Asante Samuel
Harrison Smith
DeShon Elliott
Tier 5
In this tier, you’ll find a lot of corners that have big play upside, so weekly streamers.
Taylor Rapp may not be a target in Big 3 Scoring, but I think he makes a solid DB3/4 in tackle-heavy formats where I think his value is higher. Although Rapp appeared in 16 games, he saw just 4 starts and appeared in 421 snaps. The Bills are looking to him as one of the defensive leaders with Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde gone. I see a return to similar numbers during his time with the Rams, where he averaged 95 tackles throughout three healthy seasons.
Sauce Gardner could lead the league in defended passes. He had 20 as a rookie but recorded 11 last season as he was targeted 22 fewer times. I think he records 14 this season, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him finish with 18-20.
I think Jeremy Chinn is a safety who can outperform this tier and finish as a Tier 3 safety. If you believe in the “change of scenery” will do him good. Chinn appeared in just 12 games and finished with 286 defensive snaps. He’s another tackle-heavy format target. He’s gone two straight seasons without an INT. Over the last two seasons, he’s appeared in 23 games and has produced a 10.3% tackle rate.
Darrick Forrest
Jeremy Chinn
Tyson Campbell
Jordan Whitehead
D.J. Reed
Carlton Davis
Benjamin St-Juste
Taylor Rapp
Chuck Clark
Trent McDuffie
Jaire Alexander
Jordan Fuller
Cam Taylor-Britt
Deonte Banks
Sauce Gardner
Kendall Fuller
Tier 6
These last two tiers represent the bottom of the barrel.
One guy who’s projections I might be adjusting is Kyler Gordon. He’s missed 7 games over the last two seasons, and if he can put in a full season or play in at least 15 games, he can set career highs in tackles and INTs.
Dax Hill is in a position battle for one of the starting outside corner spots. If he wins the job, he’ll jump a few tiers with the potential snap volume. He won’t have the same tackle upside if he were playing safety, but there’s big play upside with INTs and defended passes.
Derek Stingley
Jabrill Peppers
Zyon McCollum
Marlon Humphrey
Byron Murphy
Joey Porter
Tariq Woolen
Jalen Thompson
Antonio Johnson
Denzel Ward
Rasul Douglas
Geno Stone
Tyler Nubin
Tre'Davious White
Ji'Ayir Brown
Tier 7
This is the best of the rest. Your roster fillers if you have a 25+ round draft. Most of these guys will be available on waivers.
Cole Bishop’s IDP value, as a rookie, is if he beats out Mike Edwards for the second safety spot. The Bills utilized two safeties on 76% of their total snaps, so it doesn’t leave a whole lot of snaps for the third safety. It’ll be a position battle to keep an eye on.
Most of the rookies in this tier will be locked into position battles. Cooper DeJean is someone I’ll have an eye on. He’s been the darling of best ball drafts and The IDP Show Slack channel. If DeJean wins a starting or full-time role, he’ll jump a tier especially if wins the slot role.
Kevin Byard
Kyler Gordon
Darius Slay
Dax Hill
Ronald Darby
Alohi Gilman
Ja'Quan McMillian
Christian Benford
Jaylon Johnson
Tre'von Moehrig
DJ Turner
Tony Adams
Eric Stokes
Andre Cisco
Marshon Lattimore
Xavier Woods
Joshua Williams
Donte Jackson
Akayleb Evans
Desmond King
P.J. LockeA.J. Terrell
Jimmie Ward
Marcus Williams
Julius Brents
Jonathan Jones
Sean Murphy-Bunting
Quentin Lake
Marcus Epps
Alontae Taylor
Jordan Howden
Jaycee Horn
Bryan Cook
Mike Hughes
Dane Jackson
Terrion Arnold
Jamel Dean
Javon Bullard
Nick Cross
Juan Thornhill
Darnell Savage
Mike Edwards
Kristian Fulton
Cobie Durant
Max Melton
Jamal Adams
Brandon Stephens
Kamari Lassiter
Jourdan Lewis
Jaylen Watson
Malik Hooker
Cordale Flott
Vonn Bell
Quinyon Mitchell
Elijah Molden
Eddie Jackson
Cooper DeJean
Marte Mapu
Richie Grant
John Johnson
Dane Belton
Dee Alford
Garrett Williams
Cole Bishop
Kool-Aid McKinstry
Nate Wiggins
Starling Thomas
Jaden Hicks
Calen Bullock
Malik Mustapha
Rodney Thomas
Tykee Smith
Kamren Kinchens
James Bradberry
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