2-High Safety Shells and Their Impact on Fantasy Football

Welcome back to Fantasy In Frames, where today, we’re breaking down 2-High Safety Shells and Their Impact on Fantasy Football!

You know it’s funny, here I am about to break down how defensive alignments and schemes can lead to offense and IDP fantasy football production, yet when merely mentioning “2-High Safety Shells,” my mind immediately goes to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

In the first TMNT movie from the ’90s, Master Splinter imparts a mantra to his turtle students, aimed at making them swift, effective fighting machines that “Strike Hard and Fade Away Without a Trace“.

That description perfectly describes what happens when defensive coordinators employ a 2-High Safety Shell pre-snap alignment; it is meant to confuse opposing offenses about the roles those safeties might have. Often, this look leads to post-snap shifts into various zone coverages such as Cover 2, Cover 4, and Cover 6, all of which are predicated on taking away deep, vertical passing plays. There are also instances when defensive coordinators’ play-calling tendencies lull you into a false sense of zone coverage security, and then they alter their plans and send one of the safeties close down to the line of scrimmage to either help in run support or apply pressure to the quarterback.

For fantasy managers, understanding who benefits from playing against and for teams that run 2-High Safety Shells is key to finding success week in and week out, as this “Art of Defensive Deception” is becoming increasingly popular for countering modern-day explosive offenses.

Therefore, in this two-part article series, my goal is to show you exactly how 2-High Safety Shells create fantasy production on both sides of the ball. In order to do so, I’ll be focusing on the following:

• NFL Defensive Coordinators who employ 2-High Safety alignments.
• QBs, RBs, WRs, and TEs who are best able to take advantage of this defensive disguise.
• LBs, DLs, and DBs that can benefit IDP fantasy managers who play in this type of scheme.

Now just sit back, order and eat some pizza, and while you’re making that “Pizza Vanish Quickly Without A Trace“, learn some stuff that can help bridge the gap between offense and defense in the world of fantasy football.

Let’s begin with our look at 2-High Safety Shells and Their Impact on Fantasy Football on Offense!

Vic Fangio and His Scheme’s Impact on Fantasy Football

From 2015 to the present day, Vic Fangio has garnered the respect of some of the most innovative play-callers in the NFL, from the likes of Kyle Shanahan & Matt LaFleur to Sean McVay. The reason? Fangio’s defensive philosophy revolves around creating confusion for quarterbacks and offensive coordinators by disguising his man and zone coverage calls, consistently lining up both safeties 12-15 yards deep as the last line of defense pre-snap.

Per Ted Nguyen of The Athletic,

“Fangio’s system has the ability to create confusion that can lead to drive-killing negative plays.”

That being said, while 2-High Safety Shells can limit vertical passing opportunities for quarterbacks and receivers, they can also create advantages for those positions, as well as for other skill players on offense. IDP positions in fantasy football also benefit, as this alignment can maximize productivity by identifying which opposing offenses will be limited in performance, thereby narrowing the areas of the field where they can make plays and defensive stops.

Positional Profiles of Players Versus 2-High Safety Alignments

Quarterbacks

Understanding which quarterbacks succeed in 2-High Safety Shells can help fantasy managers identify signal callers in their drafts or on the waiver wire who can overcome defenses designed to confuse quarterbacks with disguised pre-snap alignments. It is not until the ball is snapped that a quarterback can fully diagnose the coverage structure presented to them on the field.

Some of the first metrics I like to look at when examining how a quarterback performs as a fantasy option stem from what their tendencies are from a real NFL perspective. Remember, in these particular situations in pre-shell reads and post-snap coverages, a quarterback needs to make the quickest reads they can that can also maximize how many positive plays in yardage and ultimately fantasy point scoring efficiency and fantasy point production.

When comparing names at the top of the list, Drake Maye and Trevor Lawrence jump out as top performers when facing 2-High Safety/Zone Coverage looks on the field. Their average depth of target is a strong metric for gauging their tendency to maximize yardage against this particular defensive look while maintaining a relatively low Turnover Worthy Play %. (TWP%).

Drake Maye and his 1.2% TWP % and Accuracy % are particularly elite, telling fantasy managers, “Hey, I can diagnose a defense meant to confuse me before, and after the ball is snapped, I’m the most efficient in creating fantasy points every time I drop back to pass, and I push the ball down the field the most under these circumstances. In other words, I have the most consistent fantasy point scoring floor against these defensive situations.

Baker Mayfield stands out here as a passer who also pushes the ball downfield frequently, yet his high TWP% screams to me that he takes a LOT of chances trying to get the big play against this pre-snap alignment and post-snap coverage. The same goes for Dak Prescott and Caleb Williams. While the latter ultimately scored more fantasy points per game, their low Accuracy % suggests they have to compensate by increasing passing attempts and/or taking more risky impact throws, which have serious volume-dependency potential against this defensive look. Not great for performance stability in these difficult defensive situations.

Jacoby Brissett is an interesting case as he was remarkably efficient last season. He didn’t rate too highly in any one metric. He was just very efficient with his passes, with an average depth of target of just 7.5 yards down the field. When looking up his number of passing attempts against this defensive profile, he was 9th. In other words, he threw a lot of safe passes down the field, and when they all added up, he led all quarterbacks in fantasy points per game. A prime example of being an efficient, high-volume passer, even if not the most accurate with his passes.

Why is all of this important?

NFL defenses are constantly evolving to disrupt a quarterback’s decision-making and their ability to sit back and pick apart defensive coverages, which ultimately translates into decreased fantasy point scoring output. Now, it’s important to remember that these metrics specifically relate to how they perform as pure passers, not to passers with an elevated rushing floor or to how they play against other coverages.

Running Backs

This 2-High Safety Shell alignment is supposed to help prevent explosive passing plays and deep vertical receiving yardage; it often leaves the middle of the field near the line of scrimmage with fewer defenders available in run support. Often, with 6 or fewer defenders in the box, these situations are where elusive, efficient, and explosive running backs can thrive the most, especially for fantasy managers.

Let’s take a look at the table below and examine the relationship between rushing efficiency and fantasy productivity, as running back is arguably the offensive position most directly impacted by the spacing advantages to the position due to the decrease in defenders versus the run created by 2-High Safety Shells.

Running backs with a high explosive run percentage against light boxes were monsters in terms of generating fantasy points on a weekly basis, largely due to their ability to generate substantial yards before contact per rushing attempt (YBC/Att). Rushing elusiveness against defenders operating in coverage also showed a direct correlation with fantasy production among running backs facing light boxes — a situation commonly created by defenses showing split-safety looks pre-snap.

Now, of course, there are outliers to every trend. Let’s take a look at Christian McCaffrey.

McCaffrey finished as the RB1 in PPR scoring formats in 2025 despite displaying some of the lower rushing efficiency marks among the Top 12 running backs in fantasy points per game versus light boxes. He also failed to post a particularly high explosive run percentage against these advantageous defensive looks.

So how was he still able to dominate fantasy football versus defenses aligning with six or fewer defenders near the line of scrimmage?

The answer: Receptions.

McCaffrey recorded 102 receptions during the 2025 season. By comparison, the next closest running back in total receptions was Bijan Robinson with 79. When evaluating overall fantasy points and weekly PPR production, volume remains king in fantasy football. Plain and simple.

That all being said, among the Top 12 running backs in fantasy points per game in 2025, regardless of defensive scheme faced, McCaffrey ranked near the bottom in rushing efficiency at just 3.9 yards per carry.

Translation?

Still an elite redraft option.
A MUST-sell dynasty asset.

Why is all of this important?

Fantasy managers should prioritize running backs capable of maximizing their opportunities versus advantageous defensive schemes when preparing for their drafts this August. Defenses operating from 2-High Safety Shell alignments frequently create lighter boxes and more space near the line of scrimmage, allowing explosive, elusive, and efficient runners to generate chunk plays and consistent fantasy production at a much higher rate.

Wide Receivers

Average Depth of Targets, Yards After Catch Percentage per Reception (YAC/Reception), Zone Target %, and Fantasy Points per Route are metrics that highlight receiver profiles that can indicate success and volatility versus 2-High Safeties with Zone Coverage Post-Snap. Remember, the goal of these defensive looks is to take away the vertical passing game, making receivers who operate in the short-to-intermediate range optimal for success against this defensive scheme. In other words, Slot Wide receivers dominate here.

It all starts with a team’s quarterback targeting their best zone-beating wide receiver in the short-to-intermediate passing game, and what those receivers do with the ball. Rashee Rice is an example of how his elite Zone Target % plus his YAC/Reception metrics make him a high-value asset for fantasy managers, as he profiles as a wide receiver who is able to rip off chunk yards where the defense is susceptible, which translates well in terms of fantasy scoring efficiency every time he is thrown the ball.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a wide receiver profile who is successful in a different yet effective way versus 2 High Safety/Post-Snap Zone. He also profiles as a high percentage target earner, but he has found most of his success coming from taking it to this defensive look downfield, all while maintaining a high fantasy point scoring efficiency metric on every receiving route versus this defense.

A wide receiver, Emeka Egbuka, in his rookie year, looked amazing in terms of his profile in terms of where he was targeted down the field, combined with his high YAC/Reception efficiency metric. The only knock, if you had to call it that, is the lower Zone Target % compared to the more efficient receiving profile. IF he’s able to maintain a higher slot wide receiver percentage role, and that’s a big if because of Chris Godwin remaining on the Bucs in 2026, on the team, he could find himself as one of the premier wide receivers in the league who plays against 2-High Safety/Zone Coverage defenses.

Then you have the Christian Watsons of the world who, while they are shown to have higher fantasy-point scoring per route efficiency, their low Zone Target % combined with their high aDOTs tells me that they are extremely volatile receiving options who were Boom/Bust receivers versus this defense.

Why is all of this important?

Wide Receivers whose quarterbacks lock on to them in high-pressure situations at a high percentage are always going to be fed the ball against any defensive scenario. For fantasy managers, that ultimately leads to more receptions overall, helping establish a safe, high fantasy floor. Wide Receivers who profile successfully in these metrics are those you can trust in 2026.

Tight Ends

Tight End is a position that, when analyzing the value of players at the position versus 2-High Safety Pre-Snap alignment & Zone Coverage (Post-Snap), is easier to determine which ones are not good fantasy options versus this defense as opposed to Tight Ends who are.

*Let’s get the obvious out of the way: Zach Ertz has yet to sign with a team following his ACL tear with the Commanders last season — avoid entirely until further notice*

As you can see, there are many Tight Ends that show similar groups in Fantasy Points per Routes Run, and yet only two stand out.

Trey McBride and Harold Fannin.

Both are at the top of this list for Target Share % and YAC/Reception. When target volume, efficiency with the ball after receiving it in terms of gaining yards, and ultimately fantasy scoring efficiency are on the same page, it’s a no-brainer to target tight ends like these.

Pat Friermuth, while displaying the highest Fantasy Point/Routes Run efficiency metric, is a cautionary tale due to his lack of Target Share % last season. It’s curious to see how the new coaching regime in Pittsburgh will utilize him in this new offense, which is why, if he can maintain his efficiency in both fantasy point scoring and YAC/Rec, he could be a steal in fantasy drafts at the tight end position.

Sam LaPorta is an interesting case as he displayed a high Target Share %, and Fantasy Point/Routes Run metrics, but his low 1st Down/Routes Run and YAC/Reception metrics scream third wheel in their respective offense when it comes to moving the chains down the field, aka picking up those easy receptions over the middle where 2-High Safety/Zone Coverages are vulnerable.

Dalton Schultz is another tight end who jumps off the page with all the right metrics, but when given the ball, doesn’t do much with it. If his efficiency in that department were to improve, he would be another highly sought-after tight end in fantasy.

Why is all of this important?

Tight End, in non-Tight End Premium leagues, is an utter wasteland, making the elite options at the position difficult to come by unless you invest serious draft capital. That being said, if you can find one that checks all the right boxes except for one advanced metric, you might find yourself breaking away from the pack sooner rather than later.

That does it for our 2-High Safety Shells and Their Impact on Fantasy Football on Offense breakdown. Tune in at the end of the week for Part 2, where we look at the Individual Defensive Players who benefit from 2-High Safety alignments, which you can find in our Premium Content section by clicking here.