In this second Packers 4-EYED TEAM PREVIEW of the day, we’re going to be covering the individual defensive players (IDPs) on the Packers that you should consider rostering for the 2021 fantasy football season.
While the biggest news in Green Bay, currently, is the situation regarding whether Aaron Rodgers will remain the starting quarterback of the Packers or not, little news has been paid to how effective this Packers defense was in 2020, specifically in the secondary. According to the PFF, while the entire defense ranked as the 8th best defensive unit in all of football their coverage unit ranked 5th best overall. In fact, the past two seasons under head coach Matt Lefleur the Packers’ secondary has ranked in the top 10 in back-to-back season in that category. Now, while the secondary has been improving steadily over the past two seasons, with the departure of Blake Martinez in 2020 went any viable replacement at linebacker that could serve as an IDP-relevant substitute. In fact, for IDP purposes there are only two real positions and three players that I would recommend rostering in 2021 from Green Bay.
Which players am I talking about?
Find out NOW in our 2021 Packers IDP 4-EYED Team Preview!
*This season at Fantasy In Frames we’ll be using IDP123 scoring as our default scoring rubric when talking about the fantasy relevance of IDP player performance.*
Edge Rusher
*Positional designations & ADP data brought to you by Sleeper.
Za’Darius Smith (Current ADP: LB 21/ DL13)
LBs with the most QB hits since 2018…
— NFL Stats (@NFL_Stats) March 3, 2021
T.J. Watt – 98
Za’Darius Smith – 85
Matt Judon – 74 pic.twitter.com/Agd9Qiqybq
Sixth in the NFL in tackles for a loss (16.5), 4th in sacks (12.5), & 10th in QB hits (24) it’s no wonder why Za’Darius Smith is someone who should be sought after in IDP fantasy football drafts this season. Using IDP123 scoring, Smith has averaged, over the past two seasons in Green Bay 15.2 fantasy points per game. According to PFF, Smith ranked 7th amongst EDGE defenders in pass-rushing and rated as their 15th best EDGE defender overall. With dual eligibility as a linebacker and defensive lineman, inserting Smith into either spot would be beneficial, but, in my opinion, the most practical way to manage your roster would be to try and draft him at his low LB2 ADP and insert him in your lineup as a defensive lineman for his potentially low DL1/high DL2 upside. For me, Smith is a “set it and forget it” player on my roster and I guarantee he will be in yours IF you insert him into your DL spot!
Defensive Backs
*Positional designations & ADP data brought to you by Sleeper.
Darnell Savage (Current ADP: DB 29)
⭐️IDP Rising Star⭐️
— The IDP Army (@TheIDPArmy) February 23, 2021
Packers DB Darnell Savage
It was a breakout season for the 23 year old, who recorded 4 INT’s over the final 8 games of 2020. ⬇️⬇️⬇️#IDPArmy #FFIDP @MyFantasyLeague pic.twitter.com/JrpXFKSnqE
As I mentioned in my 4-EYED MARKET WATCH AT DEFENSIVE BACK article back in February, Savage took a tremendous jump from 2019 to 2020 in which we saw the passer rating of QB when targeting him drop from a 91.1 to a 63.0. Not only that but we saw his reception percentage allowed drop from 63% to 54.5%. In IDP123 scoring, he finished the 2020 season averaging 13.9 fantasy points per game and ended up as the DB 24 on the season. Savage is an IDP-DB on the rise that more fantasy managers should be aware of. Draft him for high DB2/low DB1 upside in 2021!
Adrian Amos (Current ADP: DB 44)
Adrian Amos, in 2020, according to PFF ranked as the second-best defender in the Packers secondary and was rated as the number one defensive back in coverage. He led defensive backs in Green Bay in total tackles on the season and averaged 13.4 fantasy points per game in IDP123 scoring. While my “University of Maryland-College Park” loyalty has me firmly on the Darnell Savage bandwagon, even I can’t ignore the fact that Amos has carved out his own IDP relevant niche in this secondary. Just like Savage consider Amos as a high-end DB2 with DB1 upside.