Travis Hunter’s Unique Role in the NFL
Travis Hunter, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ standout and a Heisman Trophy winner, is certainly a rare talent. As the second overall pick, his dual potential as a cornerback and wide receiver has sparked interest, especially in individual defensive player (IDP) leagues. However, it remains unclear how much he’ll contribute on both sides of the ball, although it seems he may be active in both roles at the start of his career.
Do Hunters Earn Fantasy Points in IDP Leagues?
Generally, yes. Most IDP leagues allow fantasy teams to score points from both offensive and defensive plays. Just be sure to check your league’s specific settings, but unless there are modifications made by the commissioner, players like Hunter tend to score reasonably well, particularly given their position.
Yahoo and several other platforms describe this scoring setup as well.
How Much Will Hunter Play Offense vs. Defense?
This is probably the biggest question surrounding Hunter. During the Jaguars’ preseason game against the Steelers, he participated in nearly all of his first 12 snaps alongside the starters. Currently, he is positioned as WR3, falling behind Brian Thomas and Diami Brown. Interestingly, he also took on slot duties for about half of his snaps, securing two receptions, though one was negated by a penalty.
If the team opts for two-receiver sets, Hunter might find himself on the sidelines, but he only saw this happen once in the game. Head coach Liam Cohen has previously had offenses ranked highly, frequently employing three-receiver sets. Given Hunter’s skill set, he could find himself on the field more often than you’d think.
Defensively, he sat out the first drive but participated fully in the following drives, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). It’s still uncertain how much defensive play time he’ll see in the regular season, but it seems likely he’ll be involved enough to maintain IDP eligibility and boost his overall fantasy points. Of course, there’s a small chance the team might limit his defensive playtime, affecting his IDP status, but that would necessitate him sitting out multiple games on defense.
Is Hunter Set to be the No.1 IDP Pick?
Not exactly. Typically, linebackers dominate in IDP scoring, and it’s possible for Hunter to rank below these high-scoring positions even in strong offensive seasons. Last year, the highest-scoring cornerback landed at 48th overall in IDP points, with the 10th best cornerback ranking 91st. In contrast, there were nine linebackers in the top 10 overall scoring list. After solidifying the cornerback position, aiming for one of the top linebackers might be a smart move—potentially alongside some of the top 30 fantasy wide receivers.
IDP scoring does, of course, vary widely. Here’s a breakdown of typical default scoring settings:
- Solo Tackle – 1.5 points
- Assist Tackle – 0.75 points
- Tackle for Loss – 2 points
- Sack – 4 points
- Interception – 5 points
- Forced Fumble – 4 points
- Fumble Recovery – 4 points
- Defensive Touchdown – 6 points
- Safety – 2 points
- Defensive Passes – 1.5 points
If the scoring favors cornerbacks significantly or if there are no cornerback slots, Hunter might not be as appealing of a choice. Still, being a dual-threat player certainly adds more intrigue to his potential.
Ultimately, while I might lean towards a reliable option like Zaire Franklin as the top IDP player, I can’t help but be drawn to the excitement Hunter brings to the table.
