There is no doubt about it in the world of fantasy football on the defensive side of the ball nobody brings sexy back like the defensive backs. Built for speed and possessing the strength to stop even the most formidable opponents, there is nothing finer than watching a great defensive back in action—not just me, right?

Defensive backs are the men of splash plays, the interceptions, the quarterback pressures, and passes defended. But the best defensive backs are the men who own the flashy plays AND bring the points home with their tackling prowess. 

Tackling is the floor and flash plays are the ceiling. Go for the sparkle, stay for the stability. 

Here are 17 DBs who brought sexy back last season. There is no reason to believe it won’t happen again. This group is loaded. You will pay a premium for these men.

For those not playing IDP, here are the men you want to proceed with caution when your wide receivers go up against them. (See, I’m here for everybody)!

Defensive Backs To Target In IDP Fantasy Football Drafts 

1. Kyle Hamilton, Safety, Baltimore Ravens

Kyle Hamilton is the human equivalent of a Swiss Army knife, he does it all. See ball, see Kyle. Last season he recorded 80 solo tackles, two sacks, one interception, and 12 total pressures. For all you offensive-minded individuals, he allowed only 1.36 fantasy points per target! 

The Ravens drafted Malaki Starks in the first round. This is looking to be one of the best (and youngest) safety duos in the league. 

2. Josh Metellus, Safety, Minnesota Vikings

Secretly whispering the mantra: "In Brian Flores we trust.” In Flores’ scheme, Metellus acts as an extra linebacker on the field (we love our cheat codes). Racking up 86 solo tackles, 24 assisted tackles, and 18 total pressures, almost makes up for the lack of splash plays. 

3. Brian Branch, Safety, Detroit Lions

Branch is the flavor of the season in most IDP rankings and I’m not mad at it. He gave a little bit of everything last season with 86 solo tackles, four interceptions and one sack. But Aaron Glenn is no longer defensive coordinator, so …

4. Buddha Baker, Safety, Arizona Cardinals

Baker wasn’t flashy, but who cares?! He finished the season with 95 solo tackles, 69 assisted tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and, well, he did add two sacks. 

5. Brandon Jones, Safety, Denver Broncos

Jones collected three interceptions and four pass breakups, while giving us the solid floor of 79 solo tackles and 36 assisted tackles. 

6. Deshon Elliott, Safety, Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers felt confident enough in their secondary to let Minkah Fitzpatrick go, and here is one reason why: Deshon Elliott recorded 83 solo tackles, 26 assisted tackles, two forced fumbles and one interception. 

Oh, getting Jalen Ramsey didn’t hurt. 

7. Antoine Winfield Jr., Safety, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Winfield played only nine games last season, so here is hoping he is healthy and reverts back to his 2023 stats, when he collected 77 solo tackles, 45 assisted tackles, six sacks, six tackles for loss and three interceptions. 

8. Jaylon Carlies, Safety, Indianapolis Colts

Jaylon Carlies, if you remember, was a candidate in the breakout article (you did read it, right). And he is going to be in the top 10  because he is a cheat code. You are getting linebacker value from a defensive back!

Psst…and go read the IDP Breakout Article…please. 

9. Jeremy Chinn, Safety, Las Vegas Raiders

Chinn is in the perfect place to line up at least 40% (or more) in the box. And, according to IDP Guru Jon Macri of PFF, when a safety lined up in the box in 2024, their tackling efficiency was the highest at 11.3%. 

And then there was Chinn’s two sacks, three pass breakups, one interception and seven tackles for loss last year. 

10. Jessie Bates III, Safety, Atlanta Falcons

Last season, Bates recorded 62 solo tackles, 40 assisted tackles, one sack, and four interceptions. And this year he is the highest-rated defensive back (95 overall) in Madden 26, if you are into that kinda thing. 

11. Kyler Gordon, CB, Chicago Bears

Is it wrong to give practically everyone on the Bears a pass from last season? Maybe. Kyler Gordon was on the field for 73.6% snap share, allowed only one touchdown and 1.54 fantasy points per target. 

Now he will play a slot-heavy role—right where we want him—in new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s scheme.

12. Travis Hunter, CB, Jacksonville Jaguars

As you know, I like my cheat codes. Hunter gives wide receiver points in a cornerback's uniform. Give me all the points.

13. Kyle Dugger, Safety, New England Patriots

Give me Mike Vrabel and a defensive improvement is bound to happen. So look for a positive regression in Dugger’s 55 solo tackles and one sack. 

14. Xavier McKinney, Safety, Green Bay Packers

McKinney was the poster man-child for splash plays last season. In his first year in Green Bay he collected eight interceptions, one sack and a 56.4 passer rating when targeted. A negative regression in interceptions may be in store, but his tackling ability (59 solo) will help that floor. 

15. Julian Love, Safety, Seattle Seahawks

Julian Love had 78 solo tackles, 30 assisted tackles and gave a little bit of the flash with three interceptions last season. 

16. Derwin James, Safety, Los Angeles Chargers

Derwin James was the epitome of bend don’t break last season. He had 5.5 sacks, four pass breakups and one interception. James also allowed a 101.6 passer rating when targeted. 

Even though this is about the defense, I would be remiss if I did not wish Rashawn Slater a speedy recovery. 

17. Devon Witherspoon, CB, Seattle Seahawks

Devon Witherspoon is a tackling machine with 80 solo tackles recorded last season. Unfortunately, he also gave up a 100.3 passer rating. But he also had a sack, eight total pressures, and six pass breakups … What to do? What to do?

Defensive Tackles To Target In IDP Fantasy Football Drafts 

Pro Football Focus has a fantasy points per game stability chart, basically telling you what positions consistently have the best and worst fantasy points per game. The defensive tackles were  sandwiched behind the running backs and before the quarterbacks. 

Basically I have saved the best defensive position for last. You’re welcome. 

1. Leonard Williams, Seattle Seahawks

Leonard Williams collected a whopping 11.5 sacks last season. That was 4.2% above expectancy, negative regression in store, probably. But I like to lean toward optimism.

2. Zach Allen, Denver Broncos

Allen was just in the top five (per playerprofiler.com) in most metrics that matter:

3.  Dexter Lawrence, New York Giants: 

Dexter Lawrence had only 23 solo and 22 assisted tackles, but he did make up for it with nine sacks and 20 quarterback pressures.

4. Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee Titans

Titans’ offense was less than good last season, Jeffery Simmons was on the field for 806 defensive snaps. During those snaps he collected 68 total tackles, 45 total pressures, and five sacks.

5. DeForest Buckner, Indianapolis Colts

There is a new defensive coordinator in town, Buckner is possibly in store for a positive regression on quarterback pressures (28) to add to his 6.5 sacks and 60 total tackles.

6. Cam Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers

Best statistical season at age 36…yes please. Cam Heyward collected eight sacks, 38 quarterback hits, and 71 total tackles. Is a negative regression in store? Maybe, but this is Cam ‘Mr. Steeler’ Heyward, so I’m not counting him out.

7. Zach Sieler, Miami Dolphins

Not sure what the Dolphins are doing, but Zach Sieler comes in with 10 sacks, 34 quarterback pressures and 13 tackles for loss.

8. A’Shawn Robinson, Carolina Panthers

Robinson is a DT tackling machine with 43 solo tackles, 37 assisted tackles he added 5.5 sacks and 19 quarterback pressures. The Panthers end-of-season surge was on both sides of the ball … let it continue.

9. Quinnen Williams, New York Jets

While his 39 quarterback pressures put him in top-10 and his six sacks put him in the top 15, here is hoping Aaron Glenn’s scheme moves him up into top-10 IDP.

10. Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs

Chris Jones' sacks have gone from 15.5 (2022) to 10.5 (2023) to 5.5 last season. He has never been an enthusiastic tackler, so top 10 rank is the optimistic me hoping for a positive regression in the sack column.

11. Nnamdi Madubuike, Baltimore Ravens

Let his name roll gently off your tongue, because you are going to have to remember it. Madubuike had 6.5 sacks, 39 quarterback pressures, and 11 tackles for loss, a dip from 2023 where he finished as DT3. It can be done.

It’s fantasy football draft szn, time to choose wisely. Remember knowing your IDP players, the defenses, the schemes only makes you better. 

Choose wisely my friends. Until next time.

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