8 Deep Sleepers at Defensive Back

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A fantasy draft is all about obtaining the most value with each selection. Value is available throughout a draft, and grabbing it is one of the most important keys to a successful fantasy team. This article specifically targets deep sleeper value (players that can be found very late in a fantasy draft). To point out this value, we asked our staff to look through IDP ADP from TheIDPShow.com and identify players that should significantly outperform their late draft position. These players should be your targets late in your draft.

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Here is the player who received the most deep-sleeper votes:

• Jordan Fuller

And here are all of the players mentioned and the reasons why.

Player Receiving 2 Votes

Jordan Fuller, Los Angeles Rams

Joseph Haggan: Fuller is just two seasons removed from a 113-tackle season. As a pleasant surprise safety in 2021, fuller was a sleeper who probably was picked up off of waivers, only to lead IDP squads to victories with countless DB1 efforts. A hamstring injury limited Fuller to just four games in 2022, thus again taking him off of IDP radars. The Rams, though, still have complete confidence in him. They lost Nick Scott and Taylor Rapp to free agency and virtually added nothing. Add the fact that the Rams lost Bobby Wagner and did not replace him with anything, and tackle opportunities should be plentiful for the strong safety. Fuller could easily approach the 100-tackle mark again, making him a surefire DB1 being drafted out of the top 20.

Kyle Bellefeuil: The Rams' two leading snap eaters at safety from last season, Taylor Rapp (977 snaps) and Nick Scott (984 snaps), both found new homes during free agency. Jordan Fuller was destined for one of those prominent roles and hefty snap shares, but a hamstring injury limited him to only four games in 2022. The injury was unfortunate, as Fuller was coming off a solid 2021 campaign where he played 1,029 snaps (93%) and produced 113 tackles (63 solos). Fuller was back on the field during OTAs, and the depleted Rams defense is going to need him. Fuller has plenty of opportunity to hit triple-digits in the tackle department again in 2023, making him an excellent sleeper DB target in drafts.

Player Receiving 1 Vote

Julian Blackmon, Indianapolis Colts

Kyle Bellefeuil: If we’re digging deep for sleepers, Julian Blackmon is a name rarely talked about. Blackmon has primarily aligned deep at free safety during his first three seasons while also spending time at slot corner last year. However, Blackmon is said to be transitioning to the strong safety role in Gus Bradley’s defense for this upcoming season. A role we saw make 32-year-old Rodney McLeod IDP relevant in 2022. Blackmon’s potential new role will keep him up tight and near the action more often than he’s seen to date. Keep an eye on how things are progressing during training camp, but Blackmon is worth a flyer as one of your last picks if you’re implementing a fade DB strategy.