Eddie Jackson

If Jackson hadn't missed three games due to a hamstring issue and a stint on the reserve/COVID-19 list last season, he likely would have set a career high in tackles. In the end, though, he recorded 76, which was six short of his 82-stop tally from 2020. Those recent tackle totals give him a fair floor from week to week in IDP leagues. However, after posting five touchdowns and eight interceptions in his first two years as a pro in 2017 and 2018, he's scored once with two picks over the last three years. Unless he has a drastic turnaround, Jackson appears to be tackle-dependent on the IDP front.

After averaging four interceptions and 2.5 touchdowns per season in his first two years in the league, Jackson took a step backwards with just two interceptions and zero TDs in 2019. Of course, touchdowns are unpredictable, but for a player who was making his mark as an elite playmaker, fantasy owners who drafted him last year justifiably were disappointed. However, the Bears must feel confident in his ability to return to his previous levels of production after inking him to a four-year extension this offseason. Overall, the Bears were a bit of a disappointment as a defense in 2019, but they have the tools in place to be a top unit. If that's the case, Jackson will be undervalued on draft day and is a potential steal. Just don't forget that if the unit doesn't bounce back, a repeat of last year's production is squarely in his range of outcomes.

In his two years with the Bears, Jackson has proved to be a great playmaker, picking off eight passes (three for touchdowns), forcing three fumbles and recording a sack. He was an IDP force last year and ended it on fire, with four interceptions over his last five games. Although those numbers will be tough to sustain, given he plays behind one of the better front sevens in the league, he should be considered as a high-upside option at safety.

During his rookie season, Jackson failed to reach five tackles in eight of his first 11 games, but he certainly finished the year on a high note. Over the last five contests, he averaged seven tackles per game while adding a forced fumble and an interception. He should be poised to pick up where he left off as he enters his second season and showed the type of upside that could result in him becoming an IDP star. Although he was selected in the fourth round of last year's draft, a leg injury that cost Jackson the final seven games in his final year at Alabama likely caused him to fall, as many had considered him to be a player worthy of a second-round pick. In fantasy drafts, his rookie numbers may suppress his perceived value, which could make him a great late-round selection.