Heisman Trophy winner and No. 2 total decide for the Jacksonville Jaguars Travis Hunter is really a unicorn as a high cornerback AND vast receiver prospect within the NFL. We nonetheless don’t know precisely how a lot Hunter will play on offense and protection, but it surely certain appears like he’ll play each to begin his profession. And that’s thrilling for many who play in Particular person Defensive Participant (IDP) leagues.
Will Hunter obtain fantasy factors for offense in IDP leagues?
The reply, for essentially the most half, is sure. The default settings for IDP leagues permits fantasy groups to build up factors from each side of the ball. You’ll need to pay shut consideration to your settings, however except the commissioner adjustments issues up, Hunter goes to be in line to place up good numbers from a often low upside cornerback slot.
Yahoo breaks it down right here and most platforms have an identical arrange:
How a lot will Hunter play on offense/protection?
That is the largest query we have to work out for Hunter. We acquired a style of his enjoying time final weekend when the Jaguars confronted the Steelers in Week 1 of the preseason. In that recreation, Hunter performed on all however one of many first 12 snaps with the starters. That places him presently at WR3, behind Brian Thomas and Dyami Brown. He additionally lined up within the coveted slot place on half his snaps and caught two targets and one other that was referred to as again on a penalty.
At this level Hunter would come off the sector when the crew goes to 2 receiver units, however as you may see, they did that simply as soon as when the starters had been within the recreation. And, head coach Liam Coen has persistently led offenses that rank within the high 10 or higher at utilizing three receiver units. There’s additionally an opportunity Hunter is simply too good offensively to maintain off the sector that always.
So far as protection, Hunter didn’t play on the primary drive, however performed each snap on the second and third drives, per PFF. How a lot he performs protection within the common season is up for debate, however there’s little doubt he’ll play protection sufficient to maintain his IDP eligibility and push his whole fantasy factors up within the course of. There’s some danger the crew backs him off defensively and fantasy websites take away his IDP eligibility, however he would want to actually get zero snaps on protection for a number of video games for that to occur.
Does Hunter want to complete because the No. 1 IDP participant to be the No. 1 IDP decide?
No. In traditional IDP scoring linebackers dominate the overall IDP fantasy factors and Hunter, even with a very good offensive season, may simply find yourself behind these excessive scorers. However, when taking a look at place shortage, the CB place is often one of many weakest by way of fantasy factors. Final season the highest CB completed forty eighth in IDP scoring and the tenth finest CB completed 91st, whereas there have been 9 linebackers within the High 10 total. You’ll be able to seize a kind of possible high 10 linebackers after you solidify your CB spot with a probable high 30 fantasy vast receiver with upside for extra.
As traditional with IDP, scoring can range broadly. Listed here are the default scoring settings used for IDP fantasy factors famous above:
- Solo Tackles — 1.5 factors
- Assisted Tackles — .75 factors
- Tackles for Loss — 2 factors
- Sacks — 4 factors
- Interceptions — 5 factors
- Fumbles Pressured — 4 factors
- Fumble Recoveries — 4 factors
- Defensive Touchdowns — 6 factors
- Safeties — 2 factors
- Passes Defended — 1.5 factors
If corners are given a giant bump in your settings otherwise you don’t have cornerback slots in any respect, it will make Hunter much less fascinating, however, he nonetheless has extra upside as a two-way participant irrespective of how the cookie crumbles or the soccer fumbles.
Total, I may see going secure with a tackling machine like Zaire Franklin as the primary IDP participant off the board, however you’re lacking out on super upside with Hunter, Sure, there is a little more draw back as effectively, however I like the danger and the reward right here.