2026 Fantasy Football IDP Sleepers: Defensive Backs
Identifying the top defensive backs who can outperform their ADP and become fantasy football values in 2026.
There is often plenty of value in the later rounds of fantasy drafts, especially in IDP leagues where many lesser-known defensive players can get overlooked. This list highlights some of the more enticing fantasy options to target beyond the top-36 players at their positions, according to our ADP. The cost is relatively low and worth the upside, so be sure to use those late-round picks for the best value on your fantasy football rosters.
We’ve covered linebacker and defensive line sleepers already, and now it’s time to turn our attention to the defensive backs, where the options are plentiful, but only a few are truly worth grabbing now.
Dante Trader Jr., Miami Dolphins
Current ADP: DB78/S50
The Dolphins entered the 2026 offseason as arguably the most safety-needy defense, having vacated over 2,000 defensive snaps from the 2025 season following the departure of Minkah Fitzpatrick, Ashtyn Davis, and Ifeatu Melifonwu. That group led the way for Miami in terms of playing time at the position last season, and with none of them returning for 2026, it would have made sense that the team would try to acquire at least one starter via free agency or the draft. However, that didn’t happen, as they spent just a Day 3 pick on Michael Taaffe, who could become a factor this season as well, but Trader Jr. is the most likely candidate to make an IDP impact given the current state of the roster.
Trader got his feet wet as a rookie, playing just over 400 defensive snaps, which allowed him to flash potential as both an NFL starter and an IDP. Trader immediately showcased his tackling ability, earning a high-end PFF run defense grade while producing an 80th percentile mark in Tackles versus Expected. Delivering a strong mark in Tackles versus Expected on limited playing time is encouraging for his increased role this coming season, even if he’s only slightly above average in that metric; doing so on over 900 defensive snaps should lead to startable IDP production.
Helping matters for Trader is that with an increased role, his potential to fall into more big plays is essentially guaranteed to improve after basically doing nothing in that regard in Year 1. This isn’t a skill issue as much as it is just a lack of playing time and bad luck combined. With Trader set for a starting role and a ton of snaps, his encouraging production metrics should make him one of the easier value picks as he enters Year 2.
Malik Mustapha, San Francisco 49ers
Current ADP: DB47/S37
Mustapha missed the opening month-and-a-half of the 2025 season, which put him behind the 8-ball in terms of his IDP production at the position, but it didn’t take him long to get back on track and make his way into starting fantasy lineups. Mustapha now enters Year 3 with the chance to play his first-ever Week 1 game, as he’s missed time at the start of both of his NFL seasons now, but if he can stay healthy for the entire season, his DB47 ADP is certainly one to target considering a solid history of effective tackling at the very least. He’s currently working through a hamstring injury in training camp, but there’s plenty of time for him to recover in time for Week 1.
2025 in particular was an impressive year for Mustapha, as he delivered an 88th percentile mark in Tackles versus Expected for the position across his 12 games played, and while being deployed in the box for a third of his defensive snaps. Mustapha’s starting spot isn’t in jeopardy as long as he’s healthy, and while he produced as more of a DB3 in points per game last season, there’s room for improvement to the point that he has weekly starter potential for IDP.
Much like with the previously mentioned Trader Jr., Mustapha’s bad luck in the big-play department is also bound to positively regress after posting just 10.1% of his fantasy production from non-tackles last season. The norm for the position comes in well above that at 20.7%, with the position’s top performers typically higher than that. First things first, Mustapha will have to shake this current hamstring injury, but if he can do that, then he’ll be in for a significant workload and a shot to build on his excellent underlying production metrics from the early stages of his NFL career.
Justin Walley, Indianapolis Colts
Current ADP: DB124/CB53
Walley is the lone cornerback on this list and is essentially entering the 2026 season as a rookie after missing the entirety of the 2025 season due to a torn ACL, but is back in camp and impressing his coaches to the point where he’s essentially a lock to be the team’s starting nickel defender. This was a role previously held by Kenny Moore, who had a ton of IDP success for the team, and even last year, he was averaging a CB20 points-per-game pace when he was in the lineup.
The nature of the nickel role in Lou Anarumo’s defense will likely take Walley off the field when there’s no need for a slot defender, but if Walley can make the most of his 75%-ish snap share by taking advantage of the positive alignments, he can close that gap quite a bit. Walley will obviously line up primarily in the slot, which could bleed over to the box as well, which is what we’re really looking for when it comes to IDP production for cornerbacks, and Walley comes with the most bargain-bin price tag of his peers in a similar role.
Walley is a complete IDP unknown without any NFL experience, which also helps keep his ADP well in check, but if he locks down this role for the entire season, he’ll be a worthy CB-required add. All signs point to Walley being the locked-in starting nickel, and he’ll get a bump up my rankings in the next update as well, currently sitting as CB33, which is still 20 positional spots ahead of his ADP, but don’t be surprised if that begins to rise now as well.
Jalen Thompson, Dallas Cowboys
Current ADP: DB45/S36
Thompson’s IDP value has been on the decline after underperforming for IDP these past two seasons, finishing as more of a DB3/4 in 2024 and 2025, which ultimately failed to meet expectations of IDP gamers drafting him no lower than that of a DB2. A big reason for Thompson’s downward trend has been below-average output in big plays, finishing at the 38th percentile at his position in that regard in 2025 and at the 23rd percentile in 2024. As we know, the defensive back position leaders can swing wildly with above-average big-play production, and tackles aren’t always enough to buoy their value (see: 2023 Budda Baker).
Thompson’s Tackles versus Expected output came in just below average last year, though he’s typically been one of the better performers in that regard (outside of 2023), and a new defense and scheme may be just what he needs to get back on track. Christian Parker’s defense isn’t a particularly heavy single-high scheme that would create a significant box role for Thompson, but he should be the favorite to rotate down toward the line of scrimmage now, which he wasn’t in Arizona with Baker in the mix. With Caleb Downs slated for a more slot-heavy role, there’s room for a productive deployment for Thompson, and one that can help him outperform his current DB45 ADP.
Evan Williams, Green Bay Packers
Current ADP: DB58/S43
Williams is quietly one of the more encouraging long-shot bets to greatly outperform his current ADP. Despite finishing as the overall S33 last season, IDP managers are expecting a decline in Williams’ production, or are perhaps just not as interested in him as they are in Xavier McKinney, who is being drafted as the S23. Whether it’s being overshadowed by his teammate or being a lesser-known former Day 3 draft pick, Williams’ current value is one that he should have no problem outperforming.
Through his first two seasons, Williams has earned a high-end mark in Tackles versus Expected, including an 82nd percentile mark this past season. With Jonathan Gannon coming over from Arizona to serve as the Packers’ new defensive coordinator, there’s potential for Williams to be deployed closer to the line of scrimmage, specifically in the box, not unlike Budda Baker last season, while McKinney gets more work deep and occasionally in the slot.
With decent deployment, another full-time role, and just producing at his norm, there’s easily enough room for Williams to outperform his current ADP value. If he gets positive regression in the big-play department on top of his career norm production, that could be the difference between him finishing as a fringe DB2-3 and pushing for that DB1 territory in 2026. It’s a long shot, sure, but riding the wave of variance at the position on a player with strong underlying metrics and a low cost in drafts is the way to attack this position every year for the best lottery odds.
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Great article, Jon! I know day three rookies often don't qualify for sleeper lists, but do you have any expectations for Keionte Scott? Word is he's been all over training camp, learning multiple positions, and playing well.
Along with Trader, any comment on Jason Marshall? He looks to have the edge for the nickel spot, and his reports are complimentary as well. Thanks!