2023 Dynasty IDP Rankings – Defensive Backs

2023 Dynasty IDP Rankings – Defensive Backs
2023 Dynasty IDP Rankings – Defensive Backs

The 2023 dynasty IDP rankings are being presented early this off-season. So expect updates here and there as NFL events like free agency and the NFL draft all play out.

This 2023 defensive back dynasty IDP rankings focus on the variety of balanced scoring formats used to date, along with the standard-sized format of starting from 3 to 6 IDPs in total each week.

The players are ranked by tiers, and we suggest taking that more to heart for now over the ranked numbers. That’s for if you are a novice or rookie IDP owner and fairly new to the defensive side of the ball.

And we veterans know things will change in a heartbeat as the NFL’s offseason starts with the free agency period and then onto the NFL draft over the next few months.

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2023 Dynasty IDP Rankings – Defensive Backs

All rankings are projected at a 3 to 5-year dynasty IDP rankings window and gauged on age, role, career, and 2023 NFL offseason outlook. While mainly focusing on the two starting safety positions. Which is our preferred defensive back position for consistency, which is very important in IDP.

However, that trend did take a slight swing toward the CBs in the last couple of seasons. This is a trend that is moving the needle but not enough to lock them down permanently just yet.

So other than suggesting the Chief’s all-purpose L’Jarius Sneed. He is one of the few CB who plays a very productive outlier DB role for his team. We always suggest managers keep this very important thing in mind. The cornerback is the most plentiful of all the IDPs available during the season.

Hence, by positional (trade) value alone. Their waiver wire availability is key to never overvaluing them in a start-up draft. Because in-season, the position may be the most streamable in fantasy football.

Tier One Defensive Backs (Safeties)

1 – Minkah Fitzpatrick – FS – Steelers

How does Minkah Fitzpatrick top the 2023 Dynasty IDP Rankings for defensive backs? Especially over the Charger’s Derwin James? Both are well-known elite-type graded players in the NFL.

Both are very well known for big IDP box scores and don’t depend on splash plays to anchor their box scores. So this mainly came down to age and the state of their teams. Because if there is an edge for Fitzpatrick in Pittsburgh.

It’s that the Steelers are heading into what looks like more of a rebuild at this point. Or, we consider the team’s player contracts that are about to hit the 5-year dynasty window bar sooner rather than later.

Year Age Team GM Int CMPL % TD Rushed QB Hit Sack Tackles Miss. TKL %
2022 26 PIT 15 6 61.1% 5 11 1 0 96 5%

2 – Derwin James – SAF – Chargers

Year Age Team GM Int CMPL % TD Rushed QB Hit Sack Tackles Miss. TKL %
2022 26 PIT 14 2 65.5% 2 23 1 4 115 4.2%

3 – Budda Baker – SAF – Cardinals

Year Age Team GM Int CMPL % TD Rushed QB Hit Sack Tackles Miss. TKL %
2022 26 PIT 15 2 75% 3 55 1 0 111 11.2%

4 – Kamren Curl – SS – Commanders

There might be a few managers out there that might question my top 5 for the Commanders’ Kamren Curl. When last year entered the pre-season, this guy had him easily in the top 12.

Only then to have a down year in his overall IDP box score. This might have him dropping elsewhere, but there is one deciding factor to remember here.

Curl was banged up early and then again late, with a lingering injury at times. Not to mention linebacker Jamin Davis stood up, and Darrick Forrest broke out. So those notable 80-plus tackles he had, it was in just 12 games.

He is increasing his points average slightly per contest and doing as a tackle monster. Which isn’t flashy, but for those of you that might not know it. Which is the core of all IDP scoring in all most every balanced or old-school tackle-based format.

Bounce Back Season?

So add on his elite-like grade from PFF and some film review, which it doesn’t take much of. Add in knowing he was also injured, and Curl took a bad season and performed well over par altogether.

Demonstrating consistency under some duress that just might be going well unnoticed.Leaving managers wide open to grab him for less than we’re ranking him here.

Yet will have the opportunity to grab Curl’s nearly 3 to 1 tackle to assist rato, and just by playing a full season. Kameron Curl will hit triple digits easily, but more importantly. He’s just scratching the service as one of Ron Rivera’s hand-selected and go-to secondary guys.

Year Age Team GM Int CMPL % TD Rushed QB Hit Sack Tackles Miss. TKL %
2022 23 PIT 12 0 76.09% 2 8 0 1 83 4.6%

Special note for the novice. When it comes to profiling with tackle ratios. The majority of NFL fantasy IDP leagues score solos twice as much as assisted tackles. So in most cases, not only are the base tackling the core, to split the IDP hairs here, so to speak.

Any advantage to padding the box score with core stats is nothing short of knowing it and a little math. While missed tackle rates below 8% are hot, and in this guy’s opinion, 10 to 12% is the breaking point for below-par.

5 – Julian Love – FS – Giants (2023 Free Agent)

At this time, 2023 IDP rankings based on resigning with the Giants*

Year Age Team GM Int CMPL % TD Rushed QB Hit Sack Tackles Miss. TKL %
2022 24 PIT 16 2 68% 3 16 0 1 124 3.9%

6 – Jaquan Brisker – SS – Bears

Year Age Team GM Int CMPL % TD Rushed QB Hit Sack Tackles Miss. TKL %
2022 23 PIT 15 1 56.3% 4 15 0 4 104 6.3%

7 – Kevin Byard – FS -Titans

Year Age Team GM Int CMPL % TD Rushed QB Hit Sack Tackles Miss. TKL %
2022 29 PIT 17 4 64.8% 2 11 1 0 108 3.6%

8 – Jeremy Chinn – SAF – Panthers

Year Age Team GM Int CMPL % TD Rushed QB Hit Sack Tackles Miss. TKL %
2022 24 PIT 11 0 68.0% 0 13 0 1 70 6.7%

We’ll start out the Panther’s Jeremy Chinn’s take with a simple statement…

2023 is his last chance to prove he’s worthy of such a ranking without more proof of liability. When we don’t know if we’ll ever see the 2021 Jermey Chinn again. Especially after such a disappointing outing in 2022, although we do realize he was struggling with injury.

Yet, when he did play, all of it offered very little comfort when he cost so much entering the season as a dual-designated linebacker/safety player on some sites. It just kinda gives off a Jamal Adams feel, and now that there is better talent around him, it’s all troubling to think everyone might have had it wrong.

It doesn’t get better from here, either, IDP fans. Chiin’s PFF grade fell like a stone on steroids from 2021 to 2022. Hitting what hopefully was rock bottom at a well below par 54.9.

Sweet Chinn Music?

Followed up with a little lackluster film review included, which is all it took to say. Head this friendly warning to IDP fans who’ve been here. There’s more to consistency; it also has to be year to year and not just weekly during 1 season.

Especially only for one year at what looks to have been a position adjustment at the time (2021), and not long-term. So that’s why this is his last chance for me to crack an early ranking this high.

When we should make him prove it, he is earning his dynasty IDP rankings long-term rather than assumptions at this point.

Also, knowing that the defensive back pool is deep than ever when outliers emerge every season. While IDP darlings like Chinn dip year in and year out. For whatever reasons were, and sometimes no matter their talent level, just based on role and amount of opportunity to pad the box score.

9 – Richie Grant – SS – Falcons

Year Age Team GM Int CMPL % TD Rushed QB Hit Sack Tackles Miss. TKL %
2022 25 PIT 17 2 62.9% 3 11 1 0 123 6.1%

10 – Grant Delpit – SS – Browns

Year Age Team GM Int CMPL % TD Rushed QB Hit Sack Tackles Miss. TKL %
2022 24 PIT 17 4 51.2% 5 13 0 0 105 7.9%

11 – Kerby Joseph – SAF – Lions

The first example of looking beyond 2023 is in this dynasty’s IDP rankings. The Lion’s Kerby Joseph was completely overlooked, with Tracy Walker and Deshawb Elliot on the roster last off-season as a real treat.

That was until, unfortunately for Tracy Walker fans, Joseph got his chance via injury to showcase some of the best displays of rookie talent.

He ended his season as a solid and viable play, and at one point, he had performed to an elite level for PFF mid-season. While finishing out the season overall, well on par in the end. Backing what was potentially just a lucky streak for a rookie into something we can work with long-term.

Repeat Success?

So the only question other than, can he repeat? Will Joseph be named a full-time starter to start the season as one of the main two starting safeties? Or will the Lions utilize more as the third safety if they resign Deshawn Elliot? Or when Tracy Walker returns from his serious chilies injury, which he’s posted on Twitter recently, he’d be ready for week one this coming season.

So from this point of view, it’s possible, and really thinking longer long term here. Joseph displayed he’s capable of living up to this early 2023 dynasty IDP rankings, no problem.

Especially considering the known role either main two safeties play in this Lions system. Not to mention, he’s in a defensive scheme that almost seems to funnel production to the position on purpose.

So from this point, it’s just a matter of timing and becomes a lock as soon s this year and how soon either Elliot or Walker moves on. Joseph will become a lock and the number one secondary defensive back to manage going forward in Detriot.

Year Age Team GM Int CMPL % TD Rushed QB Hit Sack Tackles Miss. TKL %
2022 22 PIT 17 4 62.5% 6 11 1 0 96 5%

12 – Talanoa Hufanga – SS – 49ers

Year Age Team GM Int CMPL % TD Rushed QB Hit Sack Tackles Miss. TKL %
2022 23 PIT 17 4 63.6% 6 28 1 2 97 7.6%

Tier Two – Safety – 2023 Dynasty IDP Rankings

13 –  Jalen Pitre – Titans / SS

Just a note on Jaquan Brisker (#6) versus Jalen Pitre and both second-year hot targets. Brisker Is this guy’s defensive fan favorite 2022 rookie dynasty IDP rankings second-year DB to shoot for the longest term.

And either he or Pitre will need to step up a little to end up top T! before it’s all said and done with. It’s also just a matter of which gains an edge first going forward for an immediate impact based on whether the Bears or Titans are more successful than the others in first fixing what is broken on these defensive units.

14 – Antoine Winfield – SS – Buccaneers

Year Age Team GM Int CMPL % TD Rushed QB Hit Sack Tackles Miss. TKL %
2022 24 PIT 13 1 66% 4 18 2 4 80 2.4%

15 – Chauncey Gardner-Johnson – SAF – Eagles (2023 Free Agent)

At this time, 2023 IDP rankings are based on any signing, anywhere*

Year Age Team GM Int CMPL % TD Rushed QB Hit Sack Tackles Miss. TKL %
2022 25 PIT 12 6 73.1% 3 10 1 1 67 14.1%

16 – Kyle Dugger – SAF – Patriots

Year Age Team GM Int CMPL % TD Rushed QB Hit Sack Tackles Miss. TKL %
2022 26 PIT 15 3 69.1% 5 26 1 1 78 8.2%

17 – Kyle Hamilton – SAF – Ravens

We can’t say it won’t happen, but at least as long as linebacker Patrick Queen is a Raven. There might not be a significant top of the tier-one option in Baltimore at safety at the moment.

We also have Marcus Williams on this list based on his huge contract. Leaving to question even more if there can only be one. Who will it be?

So longevity was certainly a huge part of his dynasty IDP rankings, age, and still a greenhorn. Kyle Hamilton will also have Roquan Smith to be contented with for a while.

He just signed a big contract. His sideline-to-sideline coverage will constantly cap the secondary’s run-stopping opportunities with or without Pattrick Queen.

This leads us to believe this ranking is looking at five years, but with an upside as soon as 2024 rolls around. And Queen becomes a free agent or not. Which we’ll note here. Don’t be surprised if Patrick Queen is now on the Baltimore trade block this summer.

Year Age Team GM Int CMPL % TD Rushed QB Hit Sack Tackles Miss. TKL %
2022 21 PIT 16 0 73.5% 1 24 3 2 62 7.5%

18 – Andre Cisco – SS – Jaguars

Year Age Team GM Int CMPL % TD Rushed QB Hit Sack Tackles Miss. TKL %
2022 22 PIT 15 3 75.9% 4 4 0 1 73 3.9%

19- Xavier McKinney – SAF – Giants

At this time, 2023 IDP rankings are based on if the Giants resign Jordan Love*

Year Age Team GM Int CMPL % TD Rushed QB Hit Sack Tackles Miss. TKL %
2022 23 PIT 9 60 52.2% 1 28 0 1 45 4.3%

20 – Marcus Williams – FS – Ravens

Year Age Team GM Int CMPL % TD Rushed QB Hit Sack Tackles Miss. TKL %
2022 26 PIT 10 4 76.7% 0 5 0 0 61 6.2%

21 – Jevon Holland – FS – Dolphins

Year Age Team GM Int CMPL % TD Rushed QB Hit Sack Tackles Miss. TKL %
2022 22 PIT 17 2 77.6% 3 21 0 1.5 96 5%

22 – Jordan Whitehead – SAF – Jets

It’s Just a short take as to why, after his first so-so season with the Jets in 2022, this veteran is top-tier material. So it’s our long-term view here. Jordan Whitehead will take the same path as a couple of other recent free-agent FS signings to run new secondaries for other teams.

Like John Johnson (CLE) and Reshawn Jenkins (JAX), which signed with their current teams back in 2021, both had a first-year lackluster season. Only to bounce back consistently solid in-the-box scores the following season.

So we don’t think it’s that far-fetched for Whitehead, who profiled pretty much the same way as those others. Won’t go on and make the same impact when solid veterans can have down seasons year one with a new team.

Learning to run their new schemes correctly is the aught most important first. Then it seems they “feel” it by heart in year two and can focus on making more plays themselves. Over making sure the younger and inexperienced secondary group is set right or set up to get the job done right.

Year Age Team GM Int CMPL % TD Rushed QB Hit Sack Tackles Miss. TKL %
2022 25 PIT 17 2 54.8% 3 5 0 0 85 8.2%

23-24 /Jessie Bates – Vonn Bell / SAF – Bengals (2023 Free Agents)

Jessie Bates

Anywhere new, unless resigned and Vonn Bell has moved on elsewhere. Also, a real position change to Vonn Bell’s in-the-box strong safety is the only ideal situation.

Our best option, Bates, gets a new contract elsewhere somewhere that’ll pay the career-long high-caliber player a long-term deal. Presumably, to feature him as one of these “Budda Bakers” or “Chauncey Gardner-Johnson” prototypes.

Many teams have switched to the last few years following the trend as more defensive back sets have to have solid veterans running them, which Bates has under wraps and flying colors on film for doing.

Hence John Johnson and Rashawn Renkins in 2012, and quite a few others either on this list. Or even those players left unlisted that came up just short because not everyone can fit in the top tier, which will always fluctuate from year to year anymore.

And that, my IDP novice managers, is my last hint of how to value a defensive back in fantasy football at arm’s length, and certainly not over any starting caliber offensive player that still may be left on any draft board.

Vonn Bell

Signed anywhere, with the same type of discretion as Jessie Bates, with the difference being Bell sticks in the box no matter if he’s a Bengal or plays any starting safety position for someone else.

Of course, all free agents’ contracts will speak volumes on how tight to lock all this down after free agency has ended. And who knows, maybe even after the NFL draft, weirder things have happened.

As teams choose talent of needs, players slip here and there to where they may demand our attention again.

Then after the free agency period has ended, anything can happen early in the offseason. When even after the NFL draft, we circle back on a couple for sure when recently with a few teams, and no matter whos on deck.

Teams are choosing talent over immediate needs more and more. So players slip here and there to where this all may need our attention again as early as OTAs or as minicamps happen in June this year.

 

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