IDP Breakouts: Fantasy Football's Next Defensive Superstars

Photo: USA Today Sports

IDP draft season is nearing the home stretch—only two more big draft weekends remain between now and the season opener between the Chiefs and Ravens on September 5. The days between now and then will be littered with drafts. With managers searching for values and trying to sidestep busts as they assemble their roster for the upcoming season.

One of the biggest things fantasy managers will be sifting through the player pool attempting to find on draft day is breakout players—reasonably-priced IDPs who are set to take the next step as players and become true game-changers. Buffalo linebacker Terrel Bernard wasn’t especially expensive last year. But when he finished as the second-highest-scoring fantasy linebacker in 2023, it won more than a few folks' leagues.

None of the players in this article finished among the top 20 at their respective positions in fantasy points last year. But each showed flashes of considerable potential in 2023—and each is about to break out in a big way in 2024.

IDP Breakout: EDGE Kwity Paye, Indianapolis

Since being drafted 21st overall by the Colts in 2021, Paye has improved statistically in each of his three NFL seasons—his tackle and sack numbers have gone up in all three years, culminating in a 52-tackle, 8.5-sack 2023 campaign and DL35 finish. But as Draft Network’s Justin Melo wrote, the 25-year-old plans to take his game to the next level in 2024.

"I had (4.0) sacks as a rookie, (6.0) as a sophomore, and now 8.5 in my third season," Paye said. "I definitely want to get at least 10.5 sacks this year. I'm really shooting for 12-15 sacks, but double digits is the goal at the end of the day. I have to get there this year. I'm going to get out there and get the sacks, get the production.”

The loss of veteran edge-rusher Samson Ebukam was a blow to the Colts’ line, and it ups the pressure on Paye to be the team’s top player at the position. But the Colts still have veteran Dayo Odenigbo and rookie Laiatu Latu opposite Paye, and a 55-60-stop season with 10-12 sacks would be a natural next step for Paye’s steady increase in production from one year to the next.

IDP Breakout: EDGE Travon Walker, Jacksonville

On some level, it can be argued that Walker already broke out—the first overall pick in the 2022 draft hit the 10-sack mark in his second season with the Jaguars. However, while speaking with John Oehser of the team’s website, Walker said that, going into his third professional season, he had only scratched the surface of what he could do on the field.

"I want to do what helps my team win games, and obviously, being consistent is No. 1 thing," Walker said. "The end of last season, it just kind of helped me play a lot more freely. Now going into my Year 3, it's about me putting all the pieces together from my Year 1 and Year 2. Now I feel like I'm able to just go out there and play ball without as much thinking."

Walker’s fantasy production last season wasn’t great, largely because of his 52 total tackles, just 27 were solos. But Walker wasn’t drafted first overall for no reason, and new Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen has talked up moving Walker up and down the line more after he spent most of his first two seasons primarily rushing from the outside.

IDP Breakout: LB Jack Campbell, Detroit

Campbell was widely regarded as the top off-ball linebacker prospect in 2023, but while the former Iowa standout tallied 95 total tackles, he played under 60 percent of Detroit’s defensive snaps. Per Will Burchfield of 97.1 The Ticket, Campbell feels ready to take on a much larger role for the Lions defensively in 2024.

"Last year, I was just kind of flying around trying to memorize everything instead of learning how to do things, especially as the on-ball type player," said Campbell. "But this year, I’ve tried to figure out what everyone’s doing, and I feel that’s where you can understand where you fit in the puzzle. I feel like that was big during OTA’s, to be able to just sit on and look at how all the defenses fit together, and which players do what, and why."

The coaching staff in Detroit has consistently talked up Campbell’s development in the offseason, and he appears headed toward a three-down role opposite Alex Anzalone in Motown this year. Campbell wouldn’t be the first talented young linebacker to take a year to acclimate to the pros. Believe in the talent blossoming with a larger snap share.