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Over the past week here at Footballguys, this writer has highlighted the ideal fantasy landing spots for the top prospects on both sides of the ball. The offense and the defense. From wide receivers to linebackers and all points in between.
I'm thorough like that. Flexible. Thoroughly flexible, even.
At this point, just one position group remains—the defensive backs. And if you have read any of my IDP work down through the years, you know how much The Godfather loves him some defensive backs.
Kidding aside, the NFL doesn't appear to feel much better about defensive backs than I do, at least where safeties are concerned. Over the last 10 NFL Drafts. All of one safety has been drafted among the top-10 picks—Jamal Adams by the New York Jets at 1.06 overall. The last one before that happened all the way back in 2012.
That creates something of a dilemma this year, though, because in the opinion of the Bleacher Report NFL Scouting Department, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs is the No. 1 prospect overall in this class. There are multiple teams picking in the top-10 with multiple defensive deficiencies. Do those teams pass on an elite talent to address a more highly valued position, or go best player available?
It's a quandary. A conundrum. A dance of sorts.
A safety dance.
There may well be a cornerback drafted inside the top-10, but in all but the deepest of CB-required IDP leagues, fantasy managers shouldn't care. However, while defensive back might be the least valuable IDP position, there are some rookies at the position who could be fantasy-relevant—perhaps as early as this year.
Especially if, you know, they land in (wait for it) an ideal fantasy landing spot.
What? You try doing the same segue six different ways. One will suck. It's math.
Ideal Defensive Back Fantasy Landing Spots
S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
"Downs grades out as a day-one starting safety and high-impact defender in the NFL. His instincts are damn near flawless (that's where the Ed Reed comparisons begin and end, as Downs is not a ball-hawking center fielder like Reed was for the Ravens). Downs's game compares most favorably to Eric Berry's (fifth pick in 2010 and a five-time Pro Bowler) and Earl Thomas's (14th pick in 2010 and a six-time Pro Bowler)." – Todd McShay, The Ringer
Ideal Landing Spot: New York Giants
Stow the "Downs isn't an elite athlete and doesn't play a premium position" nonsense—the 6'0", 206-pounder is the most NFL-ready player at any position in the class and might be the best football player overall. Downs has the potential to be an elite fantasy safety from Day 1 and is essentially landing spot-proof. The Giants have a pair of top-10 picks this year after the Dexter Lawrence II trade, and after coaching Kyle Hamilton in Baltimore, John Harbaugh would likely relish having another Swiss Army knife at the back end of the defense.
S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
Scout's Take
"Thieneman has an ideal frame at 6-foot and 201 pounds, but he also possesses elite speed, as evidenced by his 4.35 40-yard dash time that no doubt turned heads during the pre-draft process and confirmed his athleticism. Thieneman showed elite coverage skills in college by posting a Pro Football Focus coverage grade of 90.5 in 2025, ranking eighth in the nation among safeties. Thieneman can make plays, also, which is displayed by his eight career picks, including six in 2023." – Mike Moraitis, SI
Ideal Landing Spot: Dallas Cowboys
Were it not for Downs being in this class, a lot more would be being said about Thieneman, who is an excellent young safety in his own right, capable of moving around the defense—a highly appealing trait for NFL teams nowadays. Like the Bengals, the Cowboys are a terrible defensive football team that needs help all over the place, and Thieneman would be a starter from the jump in a spot like Dallas.
