​We’re diving into fantasy football content this offseason to bring in fans from all corners of the sport to Bucs Wire. While offensive players often dominate fantasy football conversations, IDP leagues continue to grow in popularity, offering another avenue for fans to enjoy the game. Our plan is to kick things off with rookie profiles and examine how these players fit into the landscapes of the teams that drafted them. First up is Las Vegas Raiders defensive back Treydan Stukes.
Stukes enters the NFL after a long, productive run at Arizona, where he developed from a walk-on into one of the more effective nickel defenders in the country. His best season came in 2025, when he posted 34 tackles, four interceptions, six pass breakups, and earned a 90.1 overall defensive grade from PFF. His combination of size, ball production, and zone-coverage instincts gives him a clear path to a defined role in Las Vegas.
In the current landscape of defensive back play, Stukes projects as a player who could earn trust in a sub-packaged role. He carries enough size for the slot, shows solid processing of zone concepts, and demonstrated strong ball production during his final season at Arizona. That matters in today’s NFL, where nickel defenders are no longer merely part-time players in the traditional sense. Projections from Fantasy In Frames, provided by Mase Riney, place Stukes on a path where he could contribute in time, especially as a nickel option and potential rotational back.
The notable challenge for Stukes is that Las Vegas already lists Taron Johnson ahead of him at nickel. That dynamic makes Stukes more of a reserve defensive back and special-teams contributor to begin his rookie season, rather than a player projected for full-time defensive snaps. Yet his skill set offers a specific pathway to field time. Stukes shines when he can keep his eyes on the quarterback, decipher route combinations, and use his length to disrupt throwing lanes. If the Raiders need additional size in the slot or want a defensive back who can rotate into safety responsibilities, Stukes has enough versatility to earn rotational snaps in year one.
Draft analysts generally agree that Stukes should not be drafted in most redraft IDP leagues. His role is likely too limited behind Johnson, and nickel-depth players rarely deliver dependable weekly fantasy production unless injuries create more playing time. The longer-term outlook, however, is more intriguing. Stukes possesses ball skills, toughness, and zone instincts that could eventually translate into a meaningful defensive role if Las Vegas continues to develop him properly. His special-teams background should help him stay active on game days as he works toward a larger role.
For 2026, fantasy managers should treat Stukes as a deep watch-list candidate only. He has traits worth monitoring, but his rookie value remains constrained unless his snap share grows beyond a reserve nickel role. This profile appeared originally on Bucs Wire in the IDP Rookie Spotlight, highlighting Treydan Stukes for redraft leagues and the broader IDP landscape.