Justin Simmons

Justin Simmons

30-Year-Old SafetyS
 Free Agent  
Free Agent
2023 Fantasy Outlook
The veteran safety missed five games last season due to injury, but that didn't stop him from pulling down a career-high six interceptions while maintaining a tackle pace that would have netted him 90 stops on 1,000 snaps. Simmons has 20 picks the last four seasons as one of the league's top ballhawks at his position, and new defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has spent the last few years getting the most out of Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson. Given that his contract has little remaining guaranteed money on it, Simmons figures to be playing for a new deal in 2023. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
#Subscriber-Only
IDP
$Released by the Broncos in March of 2024.
Set to be released by Denver
SFree Agent
March 7, 2024
The Broncos will release Simmons on Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
The 30-year-old safety had one year remaining on the four-year, $61 million contract that he signed in 2021 after being franchise-tagged for a second straight offseason. Simmons has long been regarded as one of the league's better safeties, with multiple interceptions in each of his eight pro seasons (30 overall) and at least 69 tackles seven seasons in a row. He may be past his prime but shouldn't have a hard time finding another starting job.
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NFL Stats
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2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2023 NFL Game Log
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2022 NFL Game Log
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2021 NFL Game Log
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2020 NFL Game Log
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2019 NFL Game Log
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2017 NFL Game Log
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2023 Justin Simmons Split Stats
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Measurables Review
How do Justin Simmons' measurables compare to other safeties?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
Height
6' 2"
 
Weight
202 lbs
 
40-Yard Dash
4.61 sec
 
Shuttle Time
3.85 sec
 
Cone Drill
6.58 sec
 
Vertical Jump
40.0 in
 
Broad Jump
126 in
 
Bench Press
16 reps
 
Hand Length
9.68 in
 
Arm Length
32.67 in
 
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Justin Simmons See More
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45 days ago
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136 days ago
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154 days ago
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168 days ago
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174 days ago
Friday brought bad news for the Lions, with Jahmyr Gibbs added to the injury report and Amon-Ra St. Brown declared doubtful.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
Simmons is one of the best defensive backs in both fantasy football and real life, particular in terms of coverage. His range and reach give him the ability to jump passes like few safeties, allowing him to accumulate 14 interceptions over the past three years. He’s no tackle machine, but the interception production should remain steady with Russell Wilson helping Denver to more leads than in recent years.
Simmons is curiously absent from the box score when it comes to sacks and fumbles, but he's one of the league's top safeties overall and has been a reliable source of interceptions and 90-plus tackles for three years now. He's a rock-solid DB2 at worst in most formats, and he could easily jump into DB1 territory if he could get a little bit more production from his weaker categories. His high snap counts assure stable tackle production, and the interceptions should stay steady too given his standout skill set and coach Vic Fangio's clever scheming.
Simmons would post monster IDP numbers in a number of other defenses, but the Vic Fangio version tends to stop ballcarriers short of the secondary, and Simmons is otherwise good enough in coverage that he deters targets more than he invites them. Those two factors work against Simmons' tackle upside, but it's offset somewhat by the fact that he almost never leaves the field (2,158 defensive snaps in the last two years) and poses a standout threat in coverage. Denver should have more leads on offense and better pressure on defense, which could put Simmons in more ballhawking situations. He's reliably produced about four interceptions per 1,080 defensive snaps through four years, and it wouldn't be surprising if one or two of his 15 passes defended from last year would have instead been interceptions in this upcoming defense, Denver's second under Fangio.
Simmons could emerge as one of the league's best safeties, now playing on a defense that figures to improve with the arrival of coach Vic Fangio. Simmons was already good on a Vance Joseph defense, but heading into his third year as starter he could leap to the next level. Simmons produced around 95 tackles per 1,000 snaps the last two years, and there's untapped interception potential, especially if Fangio brings out more from the Denver pass rush. Simmons is a tall safety with great quickness and leaping ability, so jumping routes should suit his nature.
Simmons is quietly on the verge of establishing himself as one of the league's standout safeties, and his injury-shortened season last year could make him overlooked as an IDP. There's not much exciting about 69 tackles in 13 games at a glance, but Simmons could approach 1,000 snaps this year, and if you prorate last year's per-snap production over that many plays you get a projection above 90 tackles. Heading into his third season and presumably with fewer special teams responsibilities than in the past, Simmons is a prime candidate to reach the next level.
More Fantasy News
Nabs three interceptions in 2023
SDenver Broncos
January 15, 2024
Simmons recorded 70 tackles (53 solo), including one sack, three interceptions, eight passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery over 15 contests during the 2023 campaign.
ANALYSIS
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Six stops in win
SDenver Broncos
January 2, 2024
Simmons finished Sunday's 16-9 win over the Chargers with six solo tackles.
ANALYSIS
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Good to go for Week 17
SDenver Broncos
December 29, 2023
Simmons (illness) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Chargers.
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Dealing with illness
SDenver Broncos
Illness
December 28, 2023
Simmons (illness) did not participate at practice Thursday, Ryan McFadden of The Denver Post reports.
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Gets first sack of season
SDenver Broncos
December 11, 2023
Simmons had six tackles (three solo), one sack and a forced fumble in Sunday's 24-7 win over the Chargers.
ANALYSIS
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