Jamal Adams

Adams is the only NFL player who plays his particular position, one that makes him something like a hybrid between a safety and a 3-4 outside linebacker. It requires some accommodation by the Seahawks scheme but Adams’ IDP investors don’t mind. As long as his recovery from a torn shoulder labrum surgery continues well, Adams should be good for about seven tackles per game and at least a few sacks.

The Seahawks tried to turn Adams into something like a safety-edge defender hybrid last year, and for IDP purposes it certainly worked. Adams' 9.5 sacks in 784 snaps is downright bizarre for a safety, though definitely fruitful for IDP leagues. As much as you can't argue with the per-week upside, it's slightly concerning that Adams hurt both shoulders during the year, requiring labrum surgery in the left one, and in addition to that, a groin injury cost him five weeks (four games) early in the year. If he stays healthy, Adams is a reliable DB1.

After earning All-Pro honors in his third NFL season, Adams and the Jets couldn't come to an agreement on an extension. Adams stated his discontent with the Jets, and the Seahawks ended up trading two first-round picks, a third-round pick and safety Bradley McDougald for Adams and a fourth-round pick. Most importantly, Adams has agreed to play with the Seahawks without a new contract. Adams is one of the league's most effective safeties, but in three seasons with the Jets he had 273 tackles over 3,201 snaps, averaging only about 85 tackles per 1,000 snaps. It's unclear if this will be a major upgrade for his IDP potential, as no Seahawks safety has surpassed 100 tackles since Earl Thomas accomplished the feat in 2013, but linebackers Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright consistently hit the mark. Adams will likely change Seattle's defensive dynamic, but he could stop short of capturing stats from Wagner and Wright. Nevertheless, he can contribute on the pass rush -- he has 12 career sacks -- and in pass coverage, but he may struggle to improve in the interception department because of the Seahawks' otherwise lethargic pass rush. His pass breakups -- 19 since 2018 -- are stable, though, so thee versatile safety carries a DB2 floor in fantasy settings, although the Seattle landing spot doesn't guarantee he reaches his potential.

Adams followed a mediocre, 83-tackle rookie season with big numbers in 2018, easily surpassing triple-digit tackles while posting encouraging coverage metrics. His snap count in both seasons seem unsustainable - 2,203 snaps between them - but last year's production rates would still put him on track for roughly 100 tackles even if the snap count drops to 1,000. Adams eases the concern of tackle regression with blitzing and fumble production, totaling five sacks, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in his first two seasons.

The sixth overall pick in last year's draft, Adams is an IDP whose price tag is based almost entirely on pedigree after a rookie season with puzzlingly low production. It's not necessarily reflective of anything that Adams finished last year with just 83 tackles on 1,103 snaps – it's mostly a positive that he was trusted with such a huge play count, and the low tackle rate otherwise might pick up with experience. Adams doesn't turn 23 until October, and it'd be reasonable to expect a 2018 where he doesn't play quite so much but does more with his snaps.

It's understandable to be skeptical of a rookie, be it due to effectiveness concerns or fears about limited playing time, but Adams is a low risk in both regards. A safety doesn't have to actually be good to post useful IDP production, and a safety drafted sixth overall is not going to spend much time on the bench, even as a rookie. Not just that, but the Jets' offense will likely be atrocious this year, ensuring plenty of snaps for Adams in a defense that should spend a great deal of time on the field. After posting 76 tackles (7.5 for a loss) in 12 games last year, Adams has major upside as a rookie.