This article is part of our IDP Analysis series.
Over the last couple weeks, we've looked at defensive linemen and outside linebackers to watch throughout the preseason, as each of one is a candidate for either a rebound or breakout season. In today's edition, we'll look at a few safeties and inside linebackers who appear primed to return excellent value on their typical draft-day cost.
Linebackers
Myles Jack – Jaguars
An injury suffered during his last year of college basically forced Jack into a red-shirt 2016 campaign, but he really took off last year. The good news is that he "only" posted 90 tackles and two sacks, so he didn't break out to the point that he's considered a superstar yet, but before his 2015 injury, he projected to be one of the most dynamic playmakers on the defensive side of the football. Playing on a loaded defense, he should find himself freed up on a regular basis, and hopefully now playing at 100 percent, he'll become a top-flight IDP draftable at a slight discount.
Demario Davis – Saints
Playing in his sixth NFL season last year, Davis set career-highs with 133 tackles and 4.5 sacks. Fortunately, he's yet to become a household name in fantasy circles, since he was an established veteran whose productive campaign seem to come out of nowhere. He'll have an excellent chance to reproduce last year's success, as he's now on the Saints, a team that should play with leads in the majority of their games, which should allow him to see plenty of
Over the last couple weeks, we've looked at defensive linemen and outside linebackers to watch throughout the preseason, as each of one is a candidate for either a rebound or breakout season. In today's edition, we'll look at a few safeties and inside linebackers who appear primed to return excellent value on their typical draft-day cost.
Linebackers
Myles Jack – Jaguars
An injury suffered during his last year of college basically forced Jack into a red-shirt 2016 campaign, but he really took off last year. The good news is that he "only" posted 90 tackles and two sacks, so he didn't break out to the point that he's considered a superstar yet, but before his 2015 injury, he projected to be one of the most dynamic playmakers on the defensive side of the football. Playing on a loaded defense, he should find himself freed up on a regular basis, and hopefully now playing at 100 percent, he'll become a top-flight IDP draftable at a slight discount.
Demario Davis – Saints
Playing in his sixth NFL season last year, Davis set career-highs with 133 tackles and 4.5 sacks. Fortunately, he's yet to become a household name in fantasy circles, since he was an established veteran whose productive campaign seem to come out of nowhere. He'll have an excellent chance to reproduce last year's success, as he's now on the Saints, a team that should play with leads in the majority of their games, which should allow him to see plenty of snaps while opposing offenses become very predictable.
Denzel Perryman – Chargers
The veteran linebacker has played just 33 games in three years, so he's not exactly the picture of durability, but after missing the beginning of last season with an injury, he put together a significant string of good health. His injuries appeared to be mostly due to bad luck, and he hasn't had a chronic history of injuries to any one specific body part, so he's a good bet to finally put together a full season. When on the field, he's averaged more than five tackles per game in his career while also chipping in a pair of sacks in both 2015 and 2016. Playing on a star-studded defense, he should find plenty of room to roam and pile up significant stats while opponents find themselves frustrated from dealing with the excellent pass rushers and cornerbacks that the Chargers boast.
Safeties
Budda Baker – Cardinals
After starting out the season mostly as a special-teamer, Baker found his way into the lineup after Tyvon Branch suffered a knee injury. He now finds himself atop the Cardinals depth chart at strong safety, and he'll look to build upon the outstanding 74 tackles that he posted in his partial 2017 season. During the predraft process, Baker posted elite measurables in both speed and agility, and he could find himself in the discussion as one of the most valuable IDPs in the secondary as early as this year. This may be the last year to draft him at a discount.
Eddie Jackson – Bears
The 2017 fourth-round draft pick was very uneven in his performances over the first few months of the season, but he really came into his own down the stretch. Over the last four games of the campaign, he posted 28 tackles and a pair of fumble recoveries, while also scoring a pair of touchdowns. As part of an underrated Chicago defensive unit that's strong at all three levels, Jackson should continue to have opportunities as a playmaker without being the focal point of opposing offenses. Many fantasy owners will look at his overall season numbers and not be very interested in him on draft day, but he's looking like a player who could be a star for years to come. He'll also have added value in leagues that include return yardage, as he should find himself in a rotation of players who will return kicks this year.
Daniel Sorensen – Chiefs
Although listed as the top free safety on the Kansas City depth chart, Sorensen is more of a hybrid player who'll also find himself playing snaps as a linebacker, which makes him very valuable in IDP leagues. After playing part-time duty during 2015 and 2016, he played 993 snaps last year in 15 games, and he posted 89 tackles, 1.5 sacks and an interception. Although his numbers weren't elite, he plays for a defense that will find itself on the field often, as they've been in decline for a couple seasons, and many of their top playmakers are nearing the end of their careers or have already been jettisoned off. Play volume could easily lead to Sorensen being a strong pick in this year's drafts.
Sean Davis – Steelers
Davis had a solid rookie season in 2016 but took a clear step forward last year, when he recorded 92 tackles, three interceptions, a forced fumble and a sack. After the Steelers added fellow safety Morgan Burnett in free agency, Davis is expected to be the primary free safety, but he's also preparing to play snaps at strong safety, giving him the potential for a bit of increased production based on game flow. Before entering the league, he posted elite metrics in every one of the speed and agility drills, and after showing excellent skills on the field last year, he's another player who appears on the verge of a true breakout season. He'll also benefit by playing on a team that will have its share of leads, which means he'll face opposing offenses that will find themselves in many one-dimensional game scripts, increasing his chances for sacks and interceptions.
