5 Breakout Defensive Backs to Target in IDP Leagues

Aug 30, 2020

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We have embarked on an offseason for the ages. The COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged our sports, and even though the NFL is on track to play, who the hell knows what's going to happen during training camps. Reporting will be limited, and in addition to that, there won't be any preseason games. So it'll be even more difficult to pinpoint those late-round targets.

Other Breakout IDP Pieces: LB | DL

We'll know more about which players will be available for 2020 as opt-out announcements continue this week.

As we head into draft season, these are the defensive backs who I think will be in position to produce for your IDP squads and will be able to get later on in your drafts. These guys find themselves in a new location or have potentially taken on more responsibility.

Karl Joseph, S, Cleveland Browns

The Joseph train derailed in Oakland as he never played a full 16-game season. He finds himself in Cleveland on a one-year prove-it deal.

Jonathan Abram’s season was over after one game and Karl Joseph replaced him for nine games before a foot injury ended his season. Joseph played both up near the line of scrimmage as either a box safety or slot, and deep as a free safety. In nine games he finished with 48 tackles over 575 defensive snaps. With the exception of Week 2, Joseph was on the field for at least 85% of the snaps and appeared in 100% of the snaps in five games.

Joseph was typically first to get to the ball carrier when tackles were made in his space, recording a 3:1 solo-to-assist ratio. His versatility to play each position is going to keep him on the field and Joe Woods is going to run three safeties in his base. Andrew Sendejo, I believe, is going to be the main free, so Joseph should play up in the box.

Joseph is playing for another contact, so as long as he stays healthy, I think Woods keeps him on the field for the majority of the snaps. He’s going undrafted and he has the potential to rack up tackles behind Cleveland’s defensive line.