2025 IDP Rankings Breakdown: Defensive Backs
Mike Woellert dives into his DB projections to see how the tiers shake out for 2025.
Gone are the days when you could simply target the traditional “box safety” and call it a day. Today's elite defensive backs are versatile—they line up everywhere from the deep third to the line of scrimmage, often within the same drive. Also critical to building a top-tier IDP roster is understanding how defensive coordinators deploy their personnel and how that deployment translates to fantasy production.
I’ve taken all of this information into account when creating my 2025 IDP projections. In this article, we’ll look at how I’d tier the DBs featured in my projections. If you’re in a draft, you don’t have to reach on a DB at the top of a tier when you can wait and grab the player at the bottom of that same tier a round or two later.
It’s not enough to know which players to target. You also need a plan for how to attack the position in your drafts. That’s what this article will help you do.
Brian Branch has ascended to the top of the defensive back mountain. He set career highs in tackles (109) and produced a 2.6:1 solo-to-assist ratio. He was also a menace around the LOS with 8 TFLs. He recorded an 11.9% tackle rate and averaged 16.2 fantasy points per game by Big 3 Scoring. Branch could be dual-eligible (CB/S), as he played 316 snaps in the slot. He should continue to play around the line of scrimmage, as he played 66% of his snaps on the line.
Even with Malaki Starks in the fold, Kyle Hamilton should continue to play near the line of scrimmage. Although Hamilton finished as the DB14 in 2024, around 17 points separated Hamilton from the DB4. Hamilton finished as Baltimore’s highest graded defender according to PFF (90.0). The third-year safety finished with a career-high 107 tackles. His INTs dipped as he played in the box, which resulted in higher tackle numbers. If Hamilton plays more in the slot this year, there’s big play upside.
Derwin James will always have a spot in my top tier of DBs. Although James saw a dramatic reduction in tackles (thanks Daiyan Henley), he still finished as the DB12. James saw less clean-up duty, and there were 3 games where he saw fewer than 90% of the snaps. He was also deployed as an extra blitzer, as he saw the most pass-rush snaps since 2018 (79). I can see James returning to form in 2025.
Budda Baker exploded in 2024, recording 164 tackles after just 87 tackles in 2023, thanks to missing 5 games. Baker has been a consistent tackler, producing a 12% tackle rate since 2018. Although he didn’t record an INT, he finished as the DB3 in Big 3 Scoring thanks to 96 solo tackles and 10 TFLs. Although he isn’t likely to finish as the DB1, he’s a good bet to finish among the top-4/5 defensive backs.
This is probably where I’ll start targeting my DB room. There’s a smorgasbord of tasty options to satisfy the palate of even the most discerning of DB tastes.
I think Jalen Pitre will return to IDP relevance. He experienced a resurgence as the Houston nickel corner before a pectoral injury knocked him out. After playing the deep role in 2023, Pitre played 66% of his snaps in the slot and had just 8 total free safety snaps. Although he missed 5 games, Pitre recorded a 9.8% tackle rate and a 2:1 solo-to-assist ratio.
I’ll always target Grant Delpit as my top DBs. Although Delpit finished as the DB37 in 2023, he was the DB11 through Week 14 before he missed the final 3 games of the season. Delpit has two seasons of 100+ tackles.
Alontae Taylor is a sneaky target in most formats, especially Big 3 Scoring. Taylor saw a boost in scoring thanks to a career-high in defended passes (16) and sacks (4). Taylor was the DB8 in Big 3 Scoring (13.3) and DB11 in tackle-heavy (12.4). He faded down the stretch and didn’t record more than 9 points in the last 4 weeks. Since he’s a CB, he might go under the radar, so I think he makes a solid DB2/3 target capable of producing as a DB1.
I might be a bit higher than most on Jaden Hicks, but I think he’s in for a breakout season as he enters his second season and no Justin Reid. Hicks saw just 330 snaps as a rookie and is looking at a full-time/three-down role in 2025
The DB options are starting to blend together, and there’s no real discernible difference in the tiers. However, there are a few targets I like in Tier 3.
Tyler Nubin was set to explode as a rookie for the Giants, averaging 7.5 tackles per game and producing a 12.4% tackle rate. Nubin was on pace for 128 tackles and cut into Bobby Okereke’s tackle share. He’s a big hitter and a nice target in tackle-heavy formats. Even missing 3 games, Nubin was the DB32 in overall scoring.
If it’s not Jordan Battle SZN in 2025, then it’s probably never going to happen. However, I am a believer in Battle and think Al Golden gets the most out of his safety this season. Vonn Bell is no longer around, so it looks like Battle and Geno Stone will be the starting safeties, with Dax Hill playing the nickel role. I like Battle as a DB3.
I’ve moved Kyle Dugger to Tier 3. He’s practicing with the second team, which is odd considering he got the starter snaps in their Week 1 preseason game. He could be listed as the 3rd safety, so I’m taking precaution. I still think he’s better than Craig Woodson.
The next few tiers are where you’ll find your 3rd and 4th DBs, and in deeper leagues, your 5th DBs. Three of my favorite targets—a trio of productive slot corners—are in this tier.
I think Kyler Gordon is in line for a breakout season in Dennis Allen’s defense. I wrote up what Chicago’s defense could look like under Allen: a full-time snap rate and a career-high in tackles.
Cooper DeJean is heading into his second year with confidence. There’s speculation he’s moving to the outside, but I think Quinyon Mitchell and Kelee Ringo have those spots locked down, leaving DeJean in the slot. Keep an eye on OTAs and training camp, as the door is open for him to play outside. A move outside could impact his tackle production; however, it gives him some big play upside with defended passes and INTs. DeJean gets an added boost in return yard leagues, as he should be a good source of punt return yards.
Taron Johnson is another boring yet productive slot corner. He’s recorded 90+ tackles in three of the last five seasons, and would have hit the 90 mark last season had he not missed 5 games. He also has 7+ defended passes in four of the last five and is good for a sack or two. He’s mostly a good source for tackles and is a solid CB2/3 target in true position and DB3/4 in general formats.
I think Kamren Curl is in for a bounce-back entering his second season with the Rams. Curl failed to hit 80 tackles for the first time in his career, but I don’t think it was performance-driven. He started off averaging 6.5 tackles over his first 6 games, but production dipped over the rest of the season. In the first 6 games, Curl averaged nearly 29 LOS snaps. Over the last 10 (4 tackles per game), he averaged nearly 10 fewer snaps near the LOS (19). I’m projecting Curl to return to his box/LOS role in 2025.
Tier 5 and beyond are your streamers and CB-required targets; however, there are still some late-round lottery tickets in your deeper redrafts and best ball drafts.
I think Will Harris has a chance to be one of those “out of nowhere” defensive backs who end up being a top-20 performer. Harris had a 30% box rate with the Saints last season and played 113 additional snaps in the slot. Chinn recorded 117 tackles in that role last season, so if Harris gets the LOS role in 2025, there’s upside for 100+ tackles.
Keisean Nixon will continue to be a target in IDP leagues that reward return yards. Nixon only had 18 punt returns in 2024, but still managed 29.3 yards per return. Beyond the special teams, he’s been a solid source of production. Over the last two seasons, he’s produced a 9.2% tackle rate (168 total tackles) and 2.6:1 solo-to-assist ratio. He contributed to his ceiling with a 2.5% big play rate, which included 3 sacks.
I do like Tykee Smith as a late-round DB4/5 if Tampa Bay continues to play more nickel. As long as the safeties stay healthy, Smith should maintain his nickel role and see a usage rate north of 80%. If he sees 860-900 snaps, there’s 90 tackle upside. Smith was targeted 75 times and produced a 12% play-on-ball rate, resulting in 2 INTs and 7 defended passes.
Tarheeb Still came out of nowhere for IDP leaguers as a rookie. He was tied for 4th in INTs (4) and produced an 18.7% play-on-ball rate, as he added 10 defended passes. I think he can be a top corner once again in 2025.
I think the last two tiers of defensive backs are your late-round roster fillers and bench spots in deeper leagues and best ball drafts.
Malaki Starks has some upside, as he looks to have a three-down role in Baltimore’s defense, as Ar’Darius Washington will miss the 2025 season with an Achilles’ injury. I think his tackle upside is capped with Kyle Hamilton playing that “overhang” role near the LOS and in the box, but there’s big play upside here. I think he’s a solid late-round best ball target, as he could have a few “spike” weeks.
The DB who could outperform his tier, depending on health, is Malik Mustapha. A lot of us were thrown off at the news of his ACL injury at the end of the season, mostly because of the timing; nearly 3 months after the season ended. I’m hoping he doesn’t miss too much time during the season, but reports are suggesting a mid-season return. In redraft leagues with deeper benches, I like him as a DB6/7 stash.
I’ll be watching Cole Bishop and Taylor Rapp over the offseason if they are in a training camp battle for the strong safety spot. The re-signing of Damar Hamlin put a bit of a damper on Bishop’s trajectory to a starting spot. Although Hamlin’s contract isn’t necessarily starter’s money, he has more experience than Bishop. Rapp and Bishop are similar safety archetypes, as they are both effective near the LOS, as opposed to coverage.
Jourdan Lewis might have some upside as a streamer as Jacksonville’s slot corner. He’ll be matchup dependent.
I think Xavier Watts and Lathan Ransom have the upside to be productive rookie safeties at some point during the season. They should compete for starting spots. Watts has the talent and traits to beat out Jordan Fuller, while Ransom needs to beat out Nick Scott and Demani Richardson. Not exactly a murderer’s row of competition here. I don’t have an issue reaching for them a tier or two early.
Dru Phillips and Jahdae Barron are two more targets in this later tier who could be solid bench depth pieces that can produce some IDP fruit. Phillips missed 3 games, but produced an 11.5% tackle rate and was on pace for 85 tackles as a rookie.
Keep an eye on the Coby Bryant and Nick Emmanwori positional battle. I don’t think Bryant is going to give up his starting role so easily.
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So what’s up with James Williams from Tennessee
Hiya! Reading late so maybe missed something but some of the written names in tier 2 don’t show up in the rankings graphic. Taylor, Pitre, etc. are they in that tier 2?