What We Learned in 2020
We learned that tackles are king at safety! The top five finishers in IDP scoring at safety all finished with more than 100 total tackles each through week 16. The top five stars of the safety position included Jordan Poyer, Budda Baker, Jessie Bates, Jeremy Chinn, and Adrian Phillips. Of those finishers, three are under the age of 26, and amazingly, Jeremy Chinn was able to crack the top five as a rookie. Chinn looks primed for another excellent year of production in 2021, so if you roster the Carolina safety, you are looking fine.
Jamal Adams scored the highest IDP PPG for the position last season thanks in large part to the 9.5 sacks he compiled. Adams’ ability to produce splash plays makes him one of the most valuable IDP assets in football.
Cincinnati was the only defense to carry two top 20 producers at safety in 2020. Along with Jessie Bates mentioned above, Vonn Bell was also able to rack up over 100 tackles and finish as an S1. The Bengals didn’t add any depth to their safety core in the offseason, so plugging either/both Bengals into your lineup is advised.
Player Comparison – Top 20 IDP producers
| Rank | Name | Age | Team | Tackles | TFLs | Assists | Fum Rec | Fum For | Int | Sacks |
| 1 | Poyer, Jordan | 30 | BUF | 93 | 4 | 30 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 2 | Baker, Budda | 25 | ARI | 86 | 7 | 27 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Bates, Jessie | 24 | CIN | 74 | 3 | 28 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 4 | Chinn, Jeremy | 23 | CAR | 69 | 2 | 40 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 5 | Phillips, Adrian | 29 | NEP | 74 | 7 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 6 | Jenkins, Malcolm | 33 | NOS | 65 | 7 | 22 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2.5 |
| 7 | Peppers, Jabrill | 25 | NYG | 55 | 8 | 28 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2.5 |
| 8 | Simmons, Justin | 27 | DEN | 76 | 3 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 9 | Byard, Kevin | 27 | TEN | 76 | 1 | 30 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 10 | Sorensen, Daniel | 31 | KCC | 69 | 2 | 23 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 11 | Bell, Vonn | 26 | CIN | 64 | 3 | 45 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Willis, Khari | 25 | IND | 66 | 3 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 13 | Adams, Jamal | 25 | SEA | 54 | 10 | 27 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9.5 |
| 14 | Johnson, John | 26 | LAR | 68 | 2 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 15 | Neal, Keanu | 25 | ATL | 73 | 10 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 16 | Fitzpatrick, Minkah | 24 | PIT | 56 | 1 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| 17 | Curl, Kamren | 22 | WAS | 60 | 4 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 18 | Rowe, Eric | 28 | MIA | 62 | 1 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 19 | Maye, Marcus | 27 | NYJ | 46 | 3 | 33 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 20 | Winfield, Antoine | 22 | TBB | 59 | 1 | 28 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
*Week 17 removed from total stats
Risers
Kamren Curl – WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM
As a rookie seventh-round pick, Curl took over the starting role for Washington after their week 8 bye. In his final nine games, Curl produced a remarkable 71 total tackles, three interceptions, two sacks and four passes defended. At only 22 years old, Curl looks like a diamond in the rough for Washington and for IDP owners who were able to acquire him.
Antoine Winfield – TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
When Winfield was drafted in the second round of the 2020 draft, some questioned whether or not the former Minnesota star would crack the starting lineup as a rookie. After training camp, it was easy to see how good the 21-year old was. Finishing the 2020 season as the starter, Winfield came up with 94 total tackles, created three turnovers, produced three sacks, and defended six passes. The Buccaneer safety’s arrow is pointing straight up.
Fallers
Brandon Jones and Eric Rowe – MIAMI DOLPHINS
The Dolphins used their early 2021 second-round pick on Jevon Holland out of North Carolina, causing some gridlock in the Miami defensive backfield. Depending on how their scheme is designed, it is likely that both of the current Miami safeties will see fewer snaps in 2021. With three safeties playing significant time, high-level IDP production will be tough to come by in South Florida.
Sleeper
Lonnie Johnson – HOUSTON TEXANS
The 2019 second-round pick improved his production from year one to year two by nearly 100%. Johnson, a three-year veteran who will start for a team expected to lose a lot of games, is expected to play a lot of snaps and therefore produce a lot of stats. If Johnson can continue his ascent, he could easily rack up 100 tackles and become a top 20 IDP finisher.
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