Justin Simmons

Simmons is one of the best defensive backs in both fantasy football and real life, particular in terms of coverage. His range and reach give him the ability to jump passes like few safeties, allowing him to accumulate 14 interceptions over the past three years. He’s no tackle machine, but the interception production should remain steady with Russell Wilson helping Denver to more leads than in recent years.

Simmons is curiously absent from the box score when it comes to sacks and fumbles, but he's one of the league's top safeties overall and has been a reliable source of interceptions and 90-plus tackles for three years now. He's a rock-solid DB2 at worst in most formats, and he could easily jump into DB1 territory if he could get a little bit more production from his weaker categories. His high snap counts assure stable tackle production, and the interceptions should stay steady too given his standout skill set and coach Vic Fangio's clever scheming.

Simmons would post monster IDP numbers in a number of other defenses, but the Vic Fangio version tends to stop ballcarriers short of the secondary, and Simmons is otherwise good enough in coverage that he deters targets more than he invites them. Those two factors work against Simmons' tackle upside, but it's offset somewhat by the fact that he almost never leaves the field (2,158 defensive snaps in the last two years) and poses a standout threat in coverage. Denver should have more leads on offense and better pressure on defense, which could put Simmons in more ballhawking situations. He's reliably produced about four interceptions per 1,080 defensive snaps through four years, and it wouldn't be surprising if one or two of his 15 passes defended from last year would have instead been interceptions in this upcoming defense, Denver's second under Fangio.

Simmons could emerge as one of the league's best safeties, now playing on a defense that figures to improve with the arrival of coach Vic Fangio. Simmons was already good on a Vance Joseph defense, but heading into his third year as starter he could leap to the next level. Simmons produced around 95 tackles per 1,000 snaps the last two years, and there's untapped interception potential, especially if Fangio brings out more from the Denver pass rush. Simmons is a tall safety with great quickness and leaping ability, so jumping routes should suit his nature.

Simmons is quietly on the verge of establishing himself as one of the league's standout safeties, and his injury-shortened season last year could make him overlooked as an IDP. There's not much exciting about 69 tackles in 13 games at a glance, but Simmons could approach 1,000 snaps this year, and if you prorate last year's per-snap production over that many plays you get a projection above 90 tackles. Heading into his third season and presumably with fewer special teams responsibilities than in the past, Simmons is a prime candidate to reach the next level.