There are always some defensive rookies that we would all like to draft. Taking a chance on a young player for your fantasy squad is part of what makes IDP fun. Some rookies landed in some interesting spots for IDP. Their value isn't always easy to guess. This series is meant to highlight some guys that have grabbed the attention of the IDP community. Here are a couple of IDP rookies to watch.
Carolina Panthers, S, Jeremy Chinn
Jeremy Chinn couldn't have landed in a sweeter spot! The Carolina Panthers defense is in total overhaul. That's partly why they spent every pick of the 2020 draft on defensive prospects. Chinn was a key part of the 2020 draft class for the Panthers. They selected him in the second round. He started to get some hype around the time of the senior bowl before the draft. He is a very athletic and gifted player! Jeremy ran a 4.45 40-yard dash, which tells us he has the speed to keep up with some of the quicker offensive guys he may come across this season. He also has great size! Chinn is about 6'3ft, and 221lbs. His landing spot and potential upside makes him an IDP rookie to watch for me!
🏈11’6” broad jump
🏈41" vertical
🏈4.46 40-yard dashJeremy Chinn had himself a day!pic.twitter.com/L57dfKRZu9
— PFF (@PFF) March 1, 2020
Chinn was a small school prospect who was known for his versatility. He went to college at Southern Illinois University. His athleticism has been compared to another 2020 IDP prospect, which is actually the young man I intend to discuss next. Chinn will likely be starting at strong safety for the Panthers. With the departure of Luke Kuechly and Eric Reid, Chinn is walking into an IDP point paradise. His main competition for tackles will most likely be Shaq Thompson and Tahir Whitehead. Chinn is above average in pass coverage and is quite possibly one of the better tacklers to come out of the 2020 NFL draft. His current ADP is 245, which is around the 20th round.
Overview:
Training camp reports tell us that Chinn has been getting a majority of his reps with the first string defense. This is a good sign that he will be starting for the Panthers defense come week 1. Chinn should be able to make an impact right away for the Panthers, as well as your IDP fantasy squad. He is about the 25th defensive back being taken according to IDPGuys ADP data. With all the vacated tackles in Carolina, he is finding himself in prime position to contribute. These are just a few reasons why is one of my IDP rookies to watch. You shouldn't be afraid to take a chance on him as your DB2 or 3. He has DB1 upside. Definitely worth a shot if you can get him on your fantasy squad.
Arizona Cardinals, LB, Isaiah Simmons
When it comes down to athleticism, Isaiah Simmons blows the roof off of it all. He is seriously one of the most entertaining 2020 draft prospects to watch. Arizona selected him as the 8th pick overall in the 2020 NFL draft. He's got great size to be a successful linebacker in the NFL. He's about 6'4ft and 238lbs. Simmons was a vital piece of the Clemson Tigers last season as they worked their way to play for the national championship against LSU. After playing at least 5 positions in college, Arizona wants Simmons to focus on being a linebacker to start out. He is going to be great against tight-ends in coverage.
Adding Isaiah Simmons to the Cardinals defense gave them a major boost. The starting linebackers will likely be Chandler Jones, Jordan Hicks, De'Vondre Campbell, and Simmons. That's a pretty strong group right there. Not too mention the fact that Buddha Baker is behind the four of them. Simmons doesn't find himself in the same type of situation Chinn does. There is not such a clear path to IDP value for Simmons. I think he's going to be great as a NFL player. But, there is a chance that he may not be IDP relevant right away. He may be big play dependent at first. Given the fact that there aren't many tackles to go around.
Overview:
We are all guilty of getting a little excited about possibly adding Simmons to our IDP fantasy squads. He is an extremely talented player. His combine results were pretty awesome. This guy won the Butkus Award for being the nations best linebacker in 2019. He finished his career at Clemson with 253 tackles. His size gives him a huge advantage. Add in the athleticism, and you get quite a defensive weapon. The Cardinals seem confident in their pick, giving him a chance to contribute right away for their defense in 2020. He is literally a big play waiting to happen. If Arizona uses him to his full potential, he could end up being one of the best picks from this year's draft.
Word from camp is that Simmons is being given chances to utilize his full potential. That could bode well for his IDP value, I definitely think he is a guy worth drafting. But, I would say to be mindful of where you decide to draft him. If you've already got him on your team, be confident in your pick. His talent will speak for itself eventually. Simmons is being drafted around the 175th pick in drafts. That means he's starting to get picked up around the 14th round. Like Chinn, Simmons is a very versatile player. Simmons would be great to add to a dynasty IDP squad. Isaiah is definitely one of the IDP rookies to watch this season, and for the future.
Check out my past articles! Keep your eyes peeled as I can continue my IDP Rookies to Watch series! Please follow me on twitter, @ZmagsIDP is the tag! Always enjoy chatting about all types of fantasy football with the twitterverse! I hope everyone is ready for an exciting season of IDP fantasy football! Please subscribe to idpguys.org and dynastyfootballdigest.com for all your fantasy needs! Live Long and Prosper!
