The days are flying by and training camp has begun. Who will be IDP candidates for breakout in 2021?
The NFL season is drawing closer by the day. Training camp hype is at an all-time high. Players are piling into locker rooms and suiting up to prove they are worth keeping around before cuts happen. Each season, fantasy managers can develop a bias toward certain players. Two sophomore defensive backs, Kyle Dugger and K’Von Wallace are perfect IDP candidates poised for a breakout in 2021!
I am once again asking for Kyle Dugger to be kept in the Pat Chung role. pic.twitter.com/r6VBLTyAkI
— Brain Phillips (@HatinAssBrian) April 2, 2021
Kyle Dugger, DB, New England Patriots
43 solos, 21 assists, 1 TFL
Kyle Dugger was one of the more athletic prospects from the 2020 NFL draft, and some were a little bummed to see him land with the New England Patriots in the second round last season. Patriots players are usually notoriously bad for IDP purposes. Although, a few players can be slightly viable for fantasy managers.
A surprise for a lot of us in 2020 was how well Adrian Phillips did for those who put their faith in him. Dugger was useable, at times. He may not have been a weekly winner, but he was a body you could put in, depending on certain offensive matchups. Rookies in New England don’t see very much playing time.
Dugger was one of the few who did get to see the field relatively often. He played about 518 defensive snaps during his rookie season. This was somewhat due to the fact that the Patriots had quite a few players choose to opt out due to COVID. Dugger will face some competition for safety snaps this season with Phillips and Devin McCourty.
Dugger can play quite a few positions. He can rush the passer, cover tight ends, stick to wide receivers, and be thrown into the free safety role from time to time. His athleticism allows him to move around the field and contribute where he is needed. This is why I expect him to see a healthy bump in snaps — he may not pass the 1000 snap mark this season, but he will be utilized.
Kyle Dugger was a damn maniac last night. pic.twitter.com/75jcC2j8vD
— Keagan Stiefel (@KeaganStiefel) September 21, 2020
Overview:
Kyle Dugger played Division II college ball at Lenoir-Rhyne. He made the jump to the NFL without much of an offseason due to the pandemic. Dugger’s transition went pretty well in my opinion. Patrick Chung, now retired ex-Patriots safety, praised the man who took over his position this offseason.
Dugger looked to the veteran for advice on how to become a better NFL player. Dugger is on record saying how much more comfortable he is this year, and the game usually slows down a bit for players heading into their sophomore season. The Patriots’ coaching staff believes Kyle Dugger can be a game-changing defender, and I trust their judgment.
Look for Dugger to carry DB2-3 value into the season!
K’Von Wallace, DB, Philadelphia Eagles
15 solos, 6 assists, 1 fumble recovery
K’Von Wallace is another sophomore defensive back who has a chance to see an uptick in snaps on the Eagles defense in 2021. He didn’t really participate until the end of the season in 2020. Wallace played just a tad above 200 defensive snaps. He saw the majority of his time on the field when teammate, Rodney McLeod, tore his ACL in December.
McLeod says he expects to be ready for week 1 of the 2021 season. As we know, that is likely a long shot considering the timing of his injury. When it comes to the start of the season, as long as McLeod is on the sidelines, Wallace could be a steal for the first half of the season.
K'Von Wallace comes down from deep S to make the hit.
His first solo tackle as an Eagle 💪#Eagles pic.twitter.com/SpYo3x2qvP
— Thomas R. Petersen (@thomasrp93) October 5, 2020
Rodney McLeod is currently on the PUP list for the Eagles. He could end up missing a good chunk of the season if he doesn’t make it off the PUP before the season begins. Wallace could see a nice amount of snaps, even after McLeod returns. Philadelphia also brought in Anthony Harris.
Harris will likely play the same role he did for his former team, the free safety, although McLeod and Harris are only signed through the 2021 season. That opens up a possible permanent starting position for Wallace in 2022. Even if he isn’t the main man for the Eagles by the end of this season, Wallace’s chances will grow greatly in 2022.
K'Von Wallace made some solid plays in coverage and against the run in limited reps against the Steelers 💪
He will likely see the field more in the near future.#Eagles pic.twitter.com/Nu0j3QUoAT
— Thomas R. Petersen (@thomasrp93) October 17, 2020
Overview:
With a new coaching staff in town, Wallace has a chance to earn their respect and a starting spot on the team. He showed effort when he was on the field last season — the new coaches should see that on tape. Wallace’s athleticism flashed at times as well. He was never a big playmaker in college, but with the right coaching, that could change.
Wallace has an above-average football IQ, which is on display when you watch him play, though he still has a lot to learn. Wallace needs to prove he’s the versatile player the Eagles wanted when they drafted him. He can flourish when he’s put in the right position and should be able to fill a DB2-3 spot for your IDP fantasy squad this season and the foreseeable future!
CHECK OUT MY PAST ARTICLES. KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED FOR MORE OF MY “IDP CANDIDATES FOR BREAKOUT IN 2021″ SERIES DURING THE OFFSEASON. FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AT @ZMAGSIDP — I ALWAYS ENJOY CHATTING ABOUT ALL TYPES OF FANTASY FOOTBALL WITH THE TWITTERVERSE. PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO IDPGUYS.ORG FOR ALL YOUR FANTASY NEEDS, AND COME CHECK OUT OUR CUSTOMIZABLE IDP SCORING TOOL! ALSO, DON’T FORGET TO ORDER OUR ROOKIE MAGAZINES FOR YOUR LEAGUE DRAFTS! LIVE LONG AND PROSPER!
