Photo: USA Today Sports

Hufanga is a dynamic member of the 49ers' defense who was pivotal to their success. However, he suffered an ACL injury that took him out for most of the regular season and all of the postseason.

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It is too early to give up on a player like this. Not many people can contribute to IDP Fantasy Football like Talanoa Hufanga can!

Who is Talanoa Hufanga?

Hufanga burst onto the scene during his second season in 2022. He made his presence felt as the starting safety of the San Francisco 49ers by debuting that season with 11 tackles (two TFLs) and an interception. If that wasn’t enough to get IDP fans going, he followed this up with a Week 4 pick-six on Monday Night Football, pushing him into the national conversation about playmaking defensive players. The season was about what you would expect from a second-year player who was emerging. Enough games to notice that he is a high-caliber player, but at times less than exciting. He had a few games where he disappeared but overwhelmingly, he was an effective asset to any IDP roster. He finished this ascending season with 97 total tackles, 9 defended passes, two sacks, four interceptions, and two forced fumbles. Not too shabby for a player unknown at the start of the season.  

A Terrible Injury

The 2023 season started in a similar vein as the previous one. There were many ups and downs in the stat line, but Hufanga showed us that he was going to not only have a stable floor but will have elite turnover-creating plays that amplify his point production. Hufanga achieved 5+ tackles in 7 of his 10 games played and recorded three interceptions. While we all love the sexy plays like interceptions and sacks, a safe and stable tackler floor normally carries players like this. He was pacing to hit his average from last season with an uptick in defended passes and interceptions, but this all changed in Week 11 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Early In the third quarter, Hufanga suffered the nightmare of both professional athletes and football fans alike: a torn ACL. His season was over

The Buy Window Is Open

The end of last season may have been heartbreaking for fans of the 49ers and Hufanga, but I can assure you that this means nothing regarding his viability as a player in IDP fantasy football this season. A variety of factors need to be evaluated when considering the breakout ability of a player coming off injury like Hufanga. The timetable for his return is currently Week 1, which is the best-case scenario and should be factored into the value associated with him. So, we know he will be on the field, but what can we expect from him on the stat sheet? Expect a limited snap count earlier in the season, which could open a unique window to acquire him on your roster. If this happens, you should buy this dip!