Patience is the key to success when drafting in fantasy football individual defensive player (IDP) leagues. Travis Hunter might be a difference-maker at the position if you can get his offensive output, but no other defensive back is going to make or break your team. Ninety-eight defensive backs recorded 800+ snaps in 2024, making for a lot of high-floor players. If you are reading this, I want you to be the last person to pick a defensive back unless everyone is playing chicken in your draft.
Patience is the key to success when drafting in fantasy football individual defensive player (IDP) leagues. Travis Hunter might be a difference-maker at the position if you can get his offensive output, but no other defensive back is going to make or break your team. Ninety-eight defensive backs recorded 800+ snaps in 2024, making for a lot of high-floor players. If you are reading this, I want you to be the last person to pick a defensive back unless everyone is playing chicken in your draft.
IDP Fantasy Football Primer: Defensive Backs
Putting numbers on it, I’m fine starting any player from the first four tiers below (top 50 overall) as my starter in a 12-person league with three starting defensive backs in Week 1. The depth at the position, coupled with the depth at linebacker, should leave you waiting to pick a Flex starter as well if your league requires one.
The names matter, but positionally, we want to prioritize safeties that play in the box and are in-line safeties to make tackles. The best safeties in the league move all over the formation, making it not a complete one-for-one. Players like Budda Baker, Nick Cross, Kyle Hamilton and Kerby Joseph were in the top 10 in box snaps among safeties and are some of the best producers at the position.
Free safeties are next. They will still get tackles, being the last line of defense, of course, but will also have higher swing weeks if they can come down with the ball. Some just have a knack for getting to the ball. Kerby Joseph and Xavier McKinney were the leaders in interceptions last season, and neither was targeted even 40 times. A high-tackle floor, paired with the occasional pick or forced fumble, makes a lot of free safeties nice swing plays. Free safeties are similar to deep-ball receivers that need a long touchdown to give you a boost.
Targeted cornerbacks are the last type of defensive back we want to draft. Notice I didn’t say good cornerbacks. In fantasy, they need to be targeted and tackle. The best cornerbacks in Pro Football Focus’ (PFF) cover grades don’t typically produce fantasy points. Marlon Humphrey was the only one with a top-10 cover grade from PFF in 2024. He was higher than 50th in points per game among defensive backs, thanks to his six interceptions.
A good fantasy cornerback is good enough to stay on the field but bad enough to get targeted. Byron Murphy not only fits this description, but he also covers a lot of No. 1 WRs and the Vikings’ offense produces points, forcing the opponent to pass against them. Rookie cornerbacks can also be the weak link, and, at the very least, have to prove themselves early in their careers. They tend to be heavily targeted at the start of their rookie season.
Fantasy Football IDP Defensive Backs Rankings & Tiers
Tier 1
- Travis Hunter (WR, CB – JAX) — If offensive stats are counted.
The Jaguars’ initial plan is to have Hunter play both ways but primarily as a wide receiver and in packages as a cornerback. The majority of IDP scoring is skewed in favor of the offensive side of the ball, so if your provider allows Hunter to score both ways, he’s the No. 1-ranked player in IDP leagues. I consider him the No. 1 option, despite defensive backs being insanely deep, because being on the field more than any other player in the league gives him more chances to make a big play.
Should there be a switch in the situation for Hunter and he plays the majority of snaps on defense instead of offense, he would still be my top defensive back this season, but not my top overall IDP. Hunter would still be on the field more than any other player and the ‘rookie corner rule’ will see him targeted early and give him tackle/big-play opportunities, but the chance to score a touchdown plummets playing more on defense. College quarterbacks were afraid of throwing at Hunter; he was targeted only 41 times while teammates D.J. McKinney (100 more snaps than Hunter) and Preston Hodge (almost 200 fewer snaps than Hunter) both were targeted over 70 times.
The last scenario would be that he is a primary receiver, and you can only get his defensive stats, which makes him unrosterable.
Tier 2
- Brian Branch (S – DET)
- Budda Baker (S – ARI)
- Kyle Hamilton (S – BAL)
- Derwin James Jr. (S – LAC)
- Jessie Bates III (S – ATL)
- Antoine Winfield (S – TB)
- Julian Love (S – SEA)
- Xavier McKinney (S – GB)
- Tyler Nubin (S – NYG)
- Kerby Joseph (S – DET)
- Kyle Dugger (S – NE)
- Nick Cross (S – IND)
Outside of the offensive upside Travis Hunter provides, we want high-tackle, consistently performing safeties. Budda Baker was second in the NFL in combined tackles and assists behind only Zaire Franklin last year. Nick Cross was also a top-10 tackler in the league last year, but the main thing in this group is consistency.
Baker, Brian Branch, Nick Cross, Jessie Bates, Derwin James, Julian Love and Kyle Hamilton all finished as DB1s in points per game last season, with Antoine Winfield and Xavier McKinney finishing as DB1s in 2022. Tyer Nubin was impressive as a rookie but ended the season on injured reserve (IR) with a high-ankle sprain. Nubin had 98 tackles in only 13 games, but zero interceptions or sacks, meaning there is room for growth. Kyle Dugger is my one reach in this group. He’s coming off surgery for a high-ankle sprain, but I like the additions the Pats made on the defensive line.
Tier 3
- Kevin Byard (S – CHI)
- Jaquan Brisker (S – CHI)
- Byron Murphy Jr. (CB – MIN)
- Cam Bynun (S – IND)
- Brandon Jones (S – DEN)
- Grant Delpi (S – CLE)
- Devon Witherspoon (CB – SEA)
- Paulson Adebo (CB – NYG)
- Joshua Metellus (CB, S – MIN)
- DeShon Elliott (S – PIT)
- Mike Sainristil (CB – WSH)
- L’Jarius Sneed (CB – TEN)
- Harrison Smith (S – MIN)
- Jaylon Jones (CB – CHI)
- Jeremy Chinn (S – LV)
- C.J. Gardner-Johnson (S – HOU)
- Riley Moss (CB – DEN)
- Minkah Fitzpatrick (S – PIT)
- Reed Blankenship (S – PHI)
- Jalen Thompson (S – ARI)
- Jalen Pitre (CB, S – HOU)
I wait and pick all my starters out of this group or the next group. Kevin Byard, Brandon Jones and DeShone Elliott all finished as DB1s last season and could easily repeat. Jaquan Brisker (concussion), Paulson Adebo (femur), L’Jarius Sneed (quad) and Jalen Pitre (pectoral) are all coming off injuries, but should have enormous production if healthy.
The cornerbacks here are among the most targeted in the league: Byron Murphy (second – 110), Riley Moss (seventh – 92), Devon Witherspoon (t-11th – 88), Mike Sairistill (t-11th – 88) and JaylonJones (13th – 85). Among Safties, Joshua Metellus was the most targeted, had the most pass-rush attempts and played the most snaps in the box. Grant Delpit was in the top 10 among safeties in box snaps and pass-rush attempts.
Harrison Smith and Minkah Fitzpatrick are fading vets who still put up points. C.J. Gardner-Johnson is coming off a down 2024 in points per game, but it was because Philly had two rookie cornerbacks and Darius Slay saw a lot of the snaps against No. 1 WRs, making him the fifth-most targeted Eagle. Jeremy Chinn and Jalen Thompson were in the top 10 in box snaps among safeties, and Reed Blankenship looks to get back to a DB1 like he was in 2023.
Tier 4
- Alontae Taylor (CB – NO)
- Kam Curl (S – LAR)
- Jaylon Carlies (LB, S – IND)
- Tre’von Moehrig (S – CAR)
- Xavier Woods (S – TEN)
- Jevon Holland (S – NYG)
- Nick Emmanwori (S – SEA)
- Malaki Starks (S – BAL)
- Xavier Watts (S – ATL)
- Talanoa Hufang (S – DEN)
- Deommodore Lenoir (CB – SF)
- Dru Phillips (CB – NYG)
- Kenny Moore (CB – IND)
- Taron Johnson (CB – BUF)
- Keisean Nixon (CB – GB)
- DaRon Bland (CB – DAL)
- Tykee Smith (CB, S – TB)
Alontae Taylor was the most targeted cornerback in the NFL last season, and the Saints will be on the field a lot this season. Taylor is also the only one in Tier 4 that I worry about potentially losing snaps due to performance. We are getting to the point where the cornerbacks and safeties line starts to blur in terms of value. However, options like Kam Curl, Trevor Moehrig, Xavier Woods, Jevon Holland and Talanoa Hufanga will continue to get snaps and just need to stay healthy to have a nice floor.
Rookie safeties Nick Emmanwori, Xavier Watts and Malaki Starks should all see a decent amount of snaps to start their careers, but are riskier than the vets. Deommodore Lenoir, Dru Phillips, Kenny Moore, Keisan Nixon and Tykee Smith all were targeted 70+ times in 2024. DaRon Bland paced high enough to tie Taylor in targets but missed the first 10 games of 2024 with a foot injury.
Tier 5
- Calen Bullock (S – HOU)
- Geno Stone (S – CIN)
- Donovan Wilson (S – DAL)
- Justin Reid (S – KC)
- Jaden Hicks (S KC)
- Javon Bullard (S – GB)
- Dax Hill (CB, S – CIN)
- Kyler Gordon (CB – CHI)
- Trent McDuffie (CB – KC)
- Will Harris (CB, S – WSH)
- Theo Jackson (S – MIN)
- Ji’Ayir Brown (S – SF)
- Taylor Rapp (S – BUF)
- Carlton Davis III (CB – NE)
- D.J. Reed Jr. (CB – NYJ)
- Jabrill Peppers (S – NE)
- Tarheeb Still (CB – LAC)
- Marlon Humphrey (CB – BAL)
- Jahdae Barron (CB – DEN)
I would like to take a swing here on a young player with upside. Jahdae Barron steps into one of the highest targeted positions if he can earn the slot job in camp over Ja’Quan McMillian. Theo Jackson and Jaden Hicks are in line for a huge bump in snaps and are nice dart throws late. Calen Bullock, Geno Stone and Donovan Wilson are high-snap free safeties that are more boom or bust than box safeties Justin Reid, Taylor Rapp and Will Harris, who should have strong tackle floors. The rest of this batch are either slot cornerbacks or cover No. 1 WRs and are all high-floor because they will be targeted.
Tier 6
- Jaycee Horn (CB – CAR)
- Christian Gonzalez (CB – NE)
- Terrion Arnol (CB – DET)
- Zyon McCollum (CB – TB)
- Tyrique Stevenson (CB – CHI)
- Charvarius Ward (CB – IND)
- Maxwell Hairston (CB – BUF)
- Will Johnson (CB – ARI)
- Quentin Lake (CB, S – LAR)
- Cam Taylor-Britt (CB – CIN)
- Ja’Quan McMillian (CB – DEN)
- Quan Martin (CB, S – WHS)
- Evan Williams (S- FB)
- Jordan Battle (S – CIN)
- Jalen Ramsey (CB – MIA)
- Denzel Ward (CB – CLE)
- Kamren Kinchens (S – LAR)
- Derek Stingley (CB – HOU)
- Jourdan Lewis (CB – JAX)
- Tyrann Mathieu (S – NO)
- Darious Williams (CB – LAR)
- Riq Woolen (CB – SEA)
- Demani Richardson (S – CAR)
- Deonte Banks (CB – NYG)
- Cooper DeJean (CB – PHI)
- Martin Emerson Jr. (CB – CLE)
- Roger McCreary (CB – TEN)
- Nate Hobbs (CB – GB)
- Damar Hamlin (S – BUF)
- Tony Adams (S – NYJ)
- Amani Hooker (S – TEN)
- Cole Bishop (S – BUF)
- Jonas Sanker (S -NO)
- Kevin Winston Jr. (S – TEN)
- Dadrion Taylor-Demerso (S – ARI)
- Lathan Ransom (S – CAR)
- Upton Stout (CB – SF)
- Joey Porter Jr. (CB – PIT)
- Kader Kohou (CB – MIA)
- Jordan Fuller (S – ATL)
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