One more article to come after this week’s piece covering rookie safeties that potentially will have an impact in fantasy this coming season. The six young defensive backs profiled below have varying degrees of prospective influence on fantasy team production when the season takes hold. Of the two classes of defensive backs available for fantasy leagues safeties are a better overall choice, at least in leagues that are not cornerback mandatory in their roster requirements, as the safety position generally provides steady point productions week in, week out, not relying so heavily on big-play explosions to created value. Not that rookie cornerbacks do not have their place, as we will discuss next week.
Antoine Winfield, Jr. TB
Winfield’s pedigree is strong, with his father having played in the NFL for the Buffalo and Minnesota franchises over an illustrious 14-year career, albeit as a cornerback. The son will at least initially suit up as a safety for the Buccaneers, as his new team is deep at corner currently. He will settle in as a free safety, playing the deep part of the field, although he is an able tackler when called upon (83 total tackles (TT) with the Golden Gophers in his 2019 season, along with a trio of sacks). He is a definite ballhawk DB, so he will have value in big-play formats. Despite his size, he should also contribute a fair share of tackles, and as a likely starter for Tampa Bay, has immediate fantasy relevance this season.
Grant Delpit CLE
The Browns grabbed the 2019 Thorpe Award winner (best defensive back) in the second round of this year’s draft, and he, like the player profiled directly above, has a great shot to start the season seeing plenty of defensive snaps. Also, like Winfield, he profiles as a coverage-type safety, although his tackling skills are not as developed as the rookie first discussed this week-in fact, his ability to wrap up ballcarriers is bordering on awful. He will need some patient coaching to improve that aspect of his game. He certainly does not lack for the skills to cover the slot or go deeper on post patterns. The Browns were desperate to shore up their safety depth, and found it in the LSU product, but do have some work to turn him into a complete player.
Xavier McKinney NYG
Unlike the first two safeties profiled here, McKinney is extraordinarily versatile as a defender. He was equally adept at playing in the box for ‘Bama, as he was dropping back into coverage. With Jabrill Peppers locked in at strong safety in the Giant defensive backfield, he will begin his career as a free safety that will be asked to play in a wide variety of roles. He will provide excellent value in both tackle-oriented and big-play IDP formats for his fantasy owners, and will see significant playing time from the git-go. He certainly has the potential to become the best safety selected among those drafted this year.
Jeremy Chinn CAR
Yet another second round pick in the 2020 draft, this small-school prospect improved his NFL-value with a strong Senior Bowl performance. With Eric Reid gone from the Panthers this season, he has an excellent opportunity to step in immediately at the safety position in Carolina. He has good size, and may shift between safety and cover linebacker on defense. His tackling skills are unquestioned, and with his elite speed, he should find a home in the Panther defensive backfield sooner than later.
Kyle Dugger NE
Dugger is another college player selected in the second round of the draft, this time with the 37th pick by the Patriots. The current starting strong safety in New England is Patrick Chung , who at 33-years of age, does not exactly fit into the rebuild that will take place in Foxborough going forward. When Dugger begins his time patrolling the middle of the defensive backfield for the Pats, he profiles as 70-75 TT performer, and will be valued in tackle-oriented IDP formats.
Ashtyn Davis NYJ
The Jets snagged a deep-third cover safety in the Cal product, and Davis also can provide slot coverage in the backfield. The knocks on him are his relative lack of football experience, and a sub-par tackling ability. He did have a groin injury that kept him from showing his skills at the combine, but he does have exceptional speed (he walked onto Cal’s track team before joining the football squad as a redshirt in 2015). This is a big-play safety for fantasy purposes only. For 2020, his role will likely be as the third safety in the dime-coverages employed by the Jets on defense, which renders his value as limited for the immediate future, except in big-play leagues where his value improves as a cover DB.
As noted above, the schedule is to discuss rookie corners next article in this series. Safeties commonly provide better numbers as a group than corners for most fantasy setups, as they collect tackles regularly. For the most part, big-plays are not their forte, although sacks and fumbles, both forced and recovered, are always a possibility. As a rule of thumb, however, the value in drafting a safety in an IDP league comes via that tackle statistics. The players discussed in this series examining rookie IDPs should generally be targeted in your dynasty IDP leagues, though, as they will provide value going forward as they develop into NFL veterans (barring injury). Unless they are stepping into a starting role, of course, and some of those discussed above certainly have that promise.
As ever, godspeed and best of luck in your fantasy endeavors. If you have any questions regarding IDP, or fantasy football in general, you can send an inquiry to ia@fantasyalarm.com for a personalized suggestion (or two, if the spirit moves).
Player News
CBS Sports’ Aditi Kinkhabwala says free agent QB Aaron Rodgers “is not going to play just for the sake of playing.”
Kinkhabwala has had conversations with Rodgers and executives around the league trying to sign him. Based on those conversations, she says, “it’s extremely clear Rodgers is not going to play just for the sake of playing.” He remains unsigned with the 2025 NFL Draft on the horizon and multiple teams needing quarterback help. The Steelers are the most likely fit, but it seems Rodgers won’t force it if he does not find a good fit. This explains why Rodgers has been interested in the Vikings and has not yet signed. The 41-year-old may be headed for retirement if a situation he prefers, like the Vikings, does not want him back. His options remain limited and Rodgers may call it a career if he still does not like his options later in the offseason.
Bears signed LB T.J. Edwards to a two-year, $20 million extension.
Edwards’ extension includes $16.6 million guaranteed. The Bears originally signed him to a three-year, $19.5 million contract two seasons ago and he has outplayed that salary. Edwards has four interceptions, 6.5 sacks, and 20 tackles for loss in two seasons starting for Chicago in the middle of the field. He gets a raise as the Bears lock up another important part of their defense after extending CB Kyler Gordon earlier in the week.
Georgia EDGE Mykel Williams visited the Falcons on Wednesday.
Williams posted on his Instagram that he visited the Falcons facility on what was the last day of pre-draft visits. The 20-year-old is a Georgia native, played at the University of Georgia, and is expected to be selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The Falcons have a need for an edge rusher and hold the No. 15 pick. They may look to keep Williams in-state and add his skillset to their pass-rushing group. Williams tallied five sacks last season and has explosive production for any team looking to add an edge rusher in the first round.
Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart “won’t fall out of the first round.”
Schultz reports his sources are indicating that Dart will not fall out of the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He continues that the Giants are a candidate to trade up from pick No. 34 into the first round to take Dart if they do not take a quarterback at pick No. 3. The Saints are also an option with pick No. 9 or a trade up from pick No. 40. Dart is generally considered the third quarterback to come off the board after Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, so a team in need of a franchise quarterback may take a chance on him after Ward and Sanders are selected. Teams could look to gain a fifth-year option on Dart and trade into the first round if he is not taken earlier.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports Raiders LT Kolton Miller is not participating in the voluntary offseason program and seeks an extension.
Miller was the Raiders’ first-round pick in 2018 and has started 107 games over seven seasons for the team. He is set to enter the final year of his current contract in 2025, making $12.25 million. Though he is not technically holding out yet since the offseason program is voluntary, Fowler notes Miller is seeking an extension. He finished last season with an 80.6 PFF grade, No. 14 among offensive tackles. Miller has been the Raiders’ franchise left tackle for seven years now and both sides will certainly discuss an extension as training camp nears.
Virginia Tech RB Bhayshul Tuten said he had a private workout with the Commanders’ running backs coach.
Tuten didn’t name him directly, but Anthony Lynn is currently the Commanders’ running backs coach and run game coordinator. The Commanders were hampered by injuries to both Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler last year. Robinson Jr. missed three games and played through some of his injuries while Ekeler missed five contests and was limited to just 112 touches. Tuten crushed the combine with a 4.32 Forty at 5'9/206. He handled 200 touches in back-to-back seasons at Virginia Tech while topping 1,100 yards from scrimmage in both campaigns. He would offer the Washington backfield a good mix of durability and home run potential.