James Sanders

Trusted by the team's coaching staff, Sanders remains in the Patriots' secondary mix, but Patrick Chung and Brandon Meriweather are the New England safeties to own as IDPs.

Sanders' production dipped in 2009, as he recorded 48 tackles in 14 games, only five of which he started. The Patriots' coaching staff likes the sixth-year safety, but until injuries hit, he may be more of a rotational guy than a reliable weekly IDP option.

Sanders, who re-upped with New England to the tune of three-years at $9 million, is the projected starter at safety for the Pats next season opposite Brandon Meriweather. Now in his fifth year in the NFL, the Bill Belichick favorite is comfortable in the Patriots' scheme and his name is now more often preceded by "experienced safety" than "up-and-comer" these days. He recorded 64 tackles last season in 14 games, a little off the radar in most fantasy leagues, but he does have the ability to notch more, assuming he can stay ahead of rookie Patrick Chung on the depth chart.

Assuming he holds off Brandon Meriweather, Sanders will retain his starting safety job and should improve on the career-high 71 tackles he recorded in 15 games last season. He's a favorite of coach Bill Belichick with his smarts and work ethic and this could be the year he becomes a viable IDP.

Due to injuries, Sanders has often been thrust into the starting lineup, but the return of Rodney Harrison (who he is being groomed to replace down the road) and Eugene Wilson should revert him to a reserve role. Sanders is considered a smart, tough and hard-working player who proved his resilience last season by bouncing back well from a forgettable Week 3 performance against the Broncos.

Sanders dealt with an ankle injury for most of his rookie season but he has the sort of physical style of play that has the Patriots seeing him eventually replacing tackling machine Rodney Harrison as the enforcer in their secondary.

Sanders is a tough and hard-working safety who figures to be groomed as Rodney Harrison's eventual successor.

Fourth round pick in 2005 is a depth guy at safety.