Darren Sharper

Sharper provides an interesting option as an IDP due to his ballhawking abilities at the safety position. While he may have lost a step, he will fit well into defensive coordinator Greg Williams attacking style. His tackles and sacks are low for a starting safety, yet, he offers a nice upside with his ability to record interceptions. The Saints hope that he can do just that, as the lack of turnovers were a major weakness for the defense in 2008.

After grabbing nine interceptions for Minnesota in 2005, Sharper has notched just four picks in each of the last two seasons. Still, he was given a spot on the Pro Bowl roster last year and remains one of the league's best ballhawks. It certainly wouldn't surprise anyone if he finished with six-plus interceptions by season's end.

Starting free safety. He's averaged 6.5 interceptions and 59 tackles in two seasons with Vikings.

It’s just not a good idea to bet against Sharper. He’s been a top-20 fantasy defensive back seven years running. No one else has even done that the last four consecutive years. What’s even more amazing is he doesn’t do it with those stable high tackle numbers we love so much. Sharper is a playmaker. During those seven years his lowest interception output was three, and he’s picked off nine twice. He’s also scored 10 touchdowns in his nine-year career. All this, and 2001 was the last time he played 16 games in a season (his career low is 13). We rarely recommend someone relying on five picks to be fantasy relevant. This is the one guy worth taking that chance on.

Starting free safety

So long as Sharper plays, it's hard to do better. He's picked off 27 passes over the past four years (9, 6, 7 and 5) including seasons with 17, 18, 9 and 13 passes defended, respectively. Three games missed to a sprained knee in 2002 held his solo tackle numbers to 52, but he was back in the 70s last year in 15 games.

Sharper had 51 solo tackles and seven interceptions a year ago despite missing three games with a sprained knee. Sharper, who has 22 interceptions over the last three seasons – tops in the NFL – is expected to be 100 percent for the start of training camp.