Note: Rankings updated Monday, August 26
Back again to deliver the third-best IDP rankings according to Fantasy Pros, Matt De Lima is happy to communicate his IDP defensive back rankings for the 2024 NFL and fantasy football season.
If you’re new here, I want to first direct you to my IDP defensive line and linebacker rankings. It’s also important to me to say there is no industry IDP standard for the number of players to use or an official IDP scoring system. I always say this because IDP rankings are never one size fits all. And by providing suggestions on roster size, starting positions, and scoring system, I’m steering commissioners and IDP tastemakers toward my preferred league setup and scoring system, which you can find below.
IDP Defensive Back Rankings 2024
Note: Rankings updated Monday, August 26
| Rank | Name | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kyle Hamilton | BAL |
| 2 | Antoine Winfield Jr. | TB |
| 3 | Brian Branch | DET |
| 4 | Camryn Bynum | MIN |
| 5 | Derwin James Jr. | LAC |
| 6 | Jessie Bates III | ATL |
| 7 | Joshua Metellus | MIN |
| 8 | Budda Baker | ARI |
| 9 | Jaquan Brisker | CHI |
| 10 | Julian Love | SEA |
| 11 | Minkah Fitzpatrick | PIT |
| 12 | Xavier McKinney | GB |
| 13 | Kyle Dugger | NE |
| 14 | Grant Delpit | CLE |
| 15 | Jevon Holland | MIA |
| 16 | Jalen Thompson | ARI |
| 17 | Kamren Curl | LAR |
| 18 | Reed Blankenship | PHI |
| 19 | C.J. Gardner-Johnson | PHI |
| 20 | Nate Hobbs | LV |
| 21 | Rayshawn Jenkins | SEA |
| 22 | Jeremy Chinn | WAS |
| 23 | Devon Witherspoon | SEA |
| 24 | Kevin Byard III | CHI |
| 25 | Julian Blackmon | IND |
| 26 | Brandon Jones | DEN |
| 27 | Jalen Pitre | HOU |
| 28 | Justin Simmons | ATL |
| 29 | Donovan Wilson | DAL |
| 30 | Kenny Moore II | IND |
| 31 | Talanoa Hufanga | SF |
| 32 | Justin Reid | KC |
| 33 | Taylor Rapp | BUF |
| 34 | Taron Johnson | BUF |
| 35 | Tyler Nubin | NYG |
| 36 | Trent McDuffie | KC |
| 37 | L'Jarius Sneed | TEN |
| 38 | Harrison Smith | MIN |
| 39 | Paulson Adebo | NO |
| 40 | Jordan Poyer | MIA |
| 41 | Jordan Whitehead | TB |
| 42 | P.J. Locke | DEN |
| 43 | Amani Hooker | TEN |
| 44 | Jordan Fuller | CAR |
| 45 | Charvarius Ward | SF |
| 46 | Ifeatu Melifonwu | DET |
| 47 | Roger McCreary | TEN |
| 48 | Christian Gonzalez | NE |
| 49 | Cam Taylor-Britt | CIN |
| 50 | Chuck Clark | NYJ |
| 51 | Tyrique Stevenson | CHI |
| 52 | Tony Adams | NYJ |
| 53 | Kerby Joseph | DET |
| 54 | Alohi Gilman | LAC |
| 55 | Jason Pinnock | NYG |
| 56 | Kyler Gordon | CHI |
| 57 | D.J. Reed Jr. | NYJ |
| 58 | Jabrill Peppers | NE |
| 59 | Rasul Douglas | BUF |
| 60 | Vonn Bell | CIN |
| 61 | Javon Bullard | GB |
| 62 | Dax Hill | CIN |
| 63 | Tre'von Moehrig | LV |
| 64 | Deommodore Lenoir | SF |
| 65 | Tyrann Mathieu | NO |
| 66 | Mike Hilton | CIN |
| 67 | Derek Stingley Jr. | HOU |
| 68 | Xavier Woods | CAR |
| 69 | Tyson Campbell | JAC |
| 70 | Antonio Johnson | JAC |
| 71 | Benjamin St-Juste | WAS |
| 72 | Ji'Ayir Brown | SF |
| 73 | Jimmie Ward | HOU |
| 74 | Keisean Nixon | GB |
| 75 | Mike Sainristil | WAS |
| 76 | Jalen Ramsey | MIA |
| 77 | Geno Stone | CIN |
| 78 | Elijah Molden | TEN |
| 79 | Cole Bishop | BUF |
| 80 | John Johnson III | LAR |
| 81 | Quan Martin | WAS |
| 82 | DeShon Elliott | PIT |
| 83 | Alontae Taylor | NO |
| 84 | Terrion Arnold | DET |
| 85 | Marcus Williams | BAL |
| 86 | Desmond King II | HOU |
| 87 | Andre Cisco | JAC |
| 88 | Tykee Smith | TB |
| 89 | Jordan Battle | CIN |
| 90 | Jaycee Horn | CAR |
| 91 | Darnell Savage Jr. | JAC |
| 92 | Kendall Fuller | MIA |
| 93 | Darrick Forrest | WAS |
| 94 | Kader Kohou | MIA |
| 95 | Quentin Lake | LAR |
| 96 | Marlon Humphrey | BAL |
| 97 | Brandon Stephens | BAL |
| 98 | Richie Grant | ATL |
| 99 | Deonte Banks | NYG |
| 100 | Trevon Diggs | DAL |
| 101 | Carlton Davis III | DET |
| 102 | JuJu Brents | IND |
| 103 | DeMarcco Hellams | ATL |
| 104 | Brandon Stephens | FA |
| 105 | Jamal Adams | TEN |
| 106 | Marshon Lattimore | NO |
| 107 | Pat Surtain II | DEN |
| 108 | Jordan Howden | NO |
| 109 | DaRon Bland | DAL |
| 110 | Sauce Gardner | NYJ |
| 111 | Marcus Epps | LV |
| 112 | Asante Samuel Jr. | LAC |
| 113 | Markquese Bell | FA |
| 114 | Riq Woolen | SEA |
| 115 | Darious Williams | LAR |
| 116 | Byron Murphy Jr. | MIN |
| 117 | Jaylon Johnson | CHI |
| 118 | Darius Slay Jr. | PHI |
| 119 | Caden Sterns | PHI |
| 120 | Jaire Alexander | GB |
| 121 | Mike Edwards | FA |
| 122 | Isaiah Simmons | NYG |
| 123 | Eddie Jackson | BAL |
| 124 | Marcus Maye | MIA |
IDP Defensive Back Rankings Explained
Defensive backs are a tricky bunch. I’d argue they’re the most difficult IDP positions to predict and project. A couple of years ago, Jalen Pitre looked like the next big thing. Now, he’s just outside the top 20. Kyle Hamilton, Brian Branch, Camryn Bynum, and Joshua Metellus have vaulted into the top 10 after one season.
Safeties lead the position, but there is a smattering of cornerbacks. My rule of thumb is that if a casual fan knows a defensive back’s name, they’re definitely not as good as you might imagine. Plenty of people probably know Marshon Lattimore, and he’s ranked 100th on my DB list. That’s the nature of the position when done right.
We want to reward tackle-heavy production. Do-it-all players who rely on big plays are more difficult to predict and lack consistency. Ballhawk defensive backs like Trevon Diggs (ranked 91st) rarely carry fantasy relevance.
On draft day, I recommend selecting DBs last. What I mean is, you want to draft every other position before you take a defensive back. The only position I’d prioritize less is defensive tackle, and most IDP leagues don’t require a specific DT starter.
I deprioritize DBs because there are fewer than a half-dozen guys I’d include in Tier 1 (Hamilton, Winfield Jr., Branch, James Jr.), maybe three or four in Tier 2 and a handful in Tier 3. So there are basically a dozen guys who are locked in for me. Beyond that, the playing field levels out really quickly. I don’t want to say they are all “just another guy,” there’s nothing there yet where I’m really into that player or confident about that player.
Tier 4 and Beyond
Once you get to Tier 4 (DB16), you have to go with your gut. There is some stability in the cornerbacks in this range, like Nate Hobbs and L’Jarius Sneed, but after your DB1, you’re following the points at the end of the day. Predicting the path of players gets harder, and by the end of the season, there’s very little separating the DB15 and the DB35.
Last year, Bynum came out of left field and was producing like Harrison Smith had for all those years. Defenders can be plug-and-play. The nuances of the position and the scheme are unique to each team. So, for example, if you lose Winfield Jr. due to injury for an extended period, you should absolutely add his replacement. Maybe the replacement isn’t performing like the DB2 overall, as I have Winfield Jr. ranked, but he probably won’t be too far off.
It’s also important to remember that DB production is bunched up. Meaning, the difference between the DB12 and the DB36 might only be about 1.5 fantasy points per game. Compare that to RB12 to RB36 or WR12 to WR36 in a PPR; the point-per-game differential is more like 4 or 5 points per game.
This means less about being right (predicting the best players) and more about having the best players (hitting the waiver wire).
Roster Churn
In my previous IDP defensive linemen and linebacker rankings articles, I discussed how you should chase points and not players. It’s true once again. Do not overestimate your own abilities to find diamonds in the rough. Instead, rely on the coaches and coordinators. If some third-string defensive back moves up the depth chart and starts getting lots of snaps, it’s safe to assume he’s pretty good. And if that player starts scoring big points, you should probably add him.
Guys will emerge in the first two or three weeks of the season. Jessie Bates finished Week 1 last year as the top-scoring DB in most of my leagues. He finished the season as the top-scoring overall DB1. A lot of people, myself included, were skeptical that Bobby Wagner still had anything left in the tank. He was a top-five LB after Week 1 and finished as the LB2 or LB3, depending on your scoring system. When players perform, believe them. Don’t get caught up in the prediction game where you approve or disapprove of each player’s come-up.
Rankings Are Only a Starting Point
By Week 8, this IDP defensive back rankings list will be meaningless. Some of you might think it already is, and that’s harsh. But the point here is that you have to take in new information every week. You’ve got to monitor snap counts and injuries.
The best part of the game is experiencing it, and while I understand the temptation to have “your guys” and stick with “your guys.” The game doesn’t give you bonus points for being right or making a call. Patting yourself on the back rewards no points. So don’t be afraid to be wrong. I’ve said this many times, but I’ll happily drop a guy after Week 2 who I really liked all offseason. If the points aren’t there, then I’m going to add the guys who are scoring big. If it turns out that guy ends up blowing up in Week 9, oh well. He should’ve started blowing up earlier because, in the best-case scenario, I would have won the bid I put in for him after his Week 9 blow-up.
So once we’re into Week 1, forget everything you thought you knew because we have real data and real tape to watch, rather than falling back on our intuition. Too many people are caught up in advanced stats and numbers with decimal places. Just because it seems smart and makes sense doesn’t mean that life fantasy football will make sense. Fantasy football is as complicated as you want it to be. Break out the protractor and track where Mercury is in the sky if that makes sense to you. But what wins games? Points. Follow the points, not the names.
Recommended IDP League Settings
Defensive Lineup
1 DT, 2 DE, 3 LB, 1 CB, 2 DB, 2 IDP Flex (DL/LB/DB)
IDP Scoring
- 1.5 points per Tackle
- 1 point per Assist
- 4 points per Sack
- 4 points per Forced Fumble
- 2 points per Fumble Recovery
- 4 points per Interception
- 1.5 points per Pass Defended
- 4 points per Safety
- 6 points per Defensive Touchdown
- 1 point per QB Hit
- 1 point per Tackle For Loss
Got a beef with Matt’s 2024 IDP Defensive Back Rankings? Drop some knowledge in the comments below and then make sure to check out our 2024 Fantasy Football Draft Kit for more great rankings and analysis.