2025 Team Defense & Defense by Committee Thread (5 Viewers)

[JohnnyU]

I think sometimes we pick up defenses because they have a great matchup without ever considering how bad the defense is for fantasy scoring. Should we?

 

[the spanker]

Team Defense Havoc Rate

% of plays where the defense got a pressure, TFL, INT, FF, or PBU:

1. DET (51%)
2. CLE (51%)
3. HOU (50%)
4. MIN (48%)
5. DEN (48%)
6. SF (46%)
7. PHI (46%)
8. BAL (45%)
9. LA (45%)
10. CHI (44%)
11. NYG (44%)
12. LAC (44%)
13. NYJ (43%)
14. KC (43%)
15. TB (43%)
16. SEA (43%)
17. BUF (42%)
18. WAS (42%)
19. PIT (41%)
20. NO (41%)
21. MIA (40%)
22. ARI (39%)
23. TEN (38%)
24. GB (38%)
25. JAX (37%)
26. DAL (37%)
27. IND (36%)
28. CIN (35%)
29. NE (34%)
30. LV (33%)
31. ATL (30%)
32. CAR (26%)

Is #9 LAC or LAR?

 

[FarFromHome]

I think sometimes we pick up defenses because they have a great matchup without ever considering how bad the defense is for fantasy scoring. Should we?

Been battling that in my head for decades. Can't tell u how many times I've started a horrible defense because I forced it to make sense in my head. Smh. I'll still keep doing it though. Its a part of me now. I feel like I'm way smarter then I actually am.

 

[GPS]

I think sometimes we pick up defenses because they have a great matchup without ever considering how bad the defense is for fantasy scoring. Should we?

Been battling that in my head for decades. Can't tell u how many times I've started a horrible defense because I forced it to make sense in my head. Smh. I'll still keep doing it though. Its a part of me now. I feel like I'm way smarter then I actually am.

Exactly. I got lucky once in 2018 (?) so I gotta keep trying. One of these weeks I'll hit the big points again.

 

[VikingFrog]

I think sometimes we pick up defenses because they have a great matchup without ever considering how bad the defense is for fantasy scoring. Should we?

Been battling that in my head for decades. Can't tell u how many times I've started a horrible defense because I forced it to make sense in my head. Smh. I'll still keep doing it though. Its a part of me now. I feel like I'm way smarter then I actually am.

Exactly. I got lucky once in 2018 (?) so I gotta keep trying. One of these weeks I'll hit the big points again.

I’ve transitioned these days to sometimes trying to pick the safer defense.

And I do this by looking at their yahoo scores in the app.

Example Tampa Bay weekly scores

4, 6, 2, 12, 4, 17, 0, 3, 5, 5. Yes they have two outliers and have played some tough teams but their floor is low.

Example Green Bay weekly scores

7, 11, 22, 7, 13, 10, 4, 5, 3. They have also played a few tough games but seemingly have a safer floor. And even though their schedule ahead looks worse than Tampa Bay I’m more comfortable holding them.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Team Defense Havoc Rate

% of plays where the defense got a pressure, TFL, INT, FF, or PBU:

1. DET (51%)
2. CLE (51%)
3. HOU (50%)
4. MIN (48%)
5. DEN (48%)
6. SF (46%)
7. PHI (46%)
8. BAL (45%)
9. LA (45%)
10. CHI (44%)
11. NYG (44%)
12. LAC (44%)
13. NYJ (43%)
14. KC (43%)
15. TB (43%)
16. SEA (43%)
17. BUF (42%)
18. WAS (42%)
19. PIT (41%)
20. NO (41%)
21. MIA (40%)
22. ARI (39%)
23. TEN (38%)
24. GB (38%)
25. JAX (37%)
26. DAL (37%)
27. IND (36%)
28. CIN (35%)
29. NE (34%)
30. LV (33%)
31. ATL (30%)
32. CAR (26%)

Is #9 LAC or LAR?

12. LAC

 

[BespokeJort]

I snagged Tampa as a 2nd D on a contender—I figure they had a rough schedule so far and I don’t know how they’d do against bad teams. They have the next few weeks to demonstrate and convince me to start them in the playoffs, or get dropped.

Seeing them around the halfway point of that stat above feels like an arrow pointing towards being a reasonable decision to at least feel out

 

[Sarlakticacid]

I am torn as to which defense to start in Week 11???

Miami vs. L V Raiders
or
LA Rams vs. New England

right now I am going with the Rams, but I could be convinced to change it to Miami. Thoughts?

Raiders on the road with an early. Makes Miami seem obvious pick to me

 

[Faust]

Chargers and DC Jesse Minter have been historically good

 

[ohio#1eaglesfan]

Got the lions d going this week with the birds on the bench. So far so good and got 20 pts out of the birds last week

 

[hamsterdam]

Is anyone keeping / starting LAC this week? Im kinda in a roster crunch and don’t want to drop them as I think there’s a chance they have a high floor even against good offenses. My other options are basically NO vs CLE and CLE vs NO lol

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Is anyone keeping / starting LAC this week? Im kinda in a roster crunch and don’t want to drop them as I think there’s a chance they have a high floor even against good offenses. My other options are basically NO vs CLE and CLE vs NO lol

Pretty close this week with your choices but I'm hanging with them ROS because of their playoff schedule.

 

[BobbyLayne]

I am torn as to which defense to start in Week 11???

Miami vs. L V Raiders
or
LA Rams vs. New England

right now I am going with the Rams, but I could be convinced to change it to Miami. Thoughts?

Raiders on the road with an early. Makes Miami seem obvious pick to me

LV coming off bye, Miami on short week after playing a west coast MNF

s/b an easy matchup but since when has anything about the ‘24 Dolphins been easy peasy?

 

[Godsbrother]

I got cute last week by picking up the Bears vs Patriots and benched the Bills vs Colts. Cost me 20 pts and I lost by 3.

This week I have the Bills vs Chiefs but really tempted to picks up the fins vs Raiders. I’m just wondering if I should not worry about the matchup and go with the better defense

 

[ukblue35]

I got cute last week by picking up the Bears vs Patriots and benched the Bills vs Colts. Cost me 20 pts and I lost by 3.

This week I have the Bills vs Chiefs but really tempted to picks up the fins vs Raiders. I’m just wondering if I should not worry about the matchup and go with the better defense

I dropped Philly and picked up Miami. They terrorized Stafford on the road last week and now they are at home in a must win game vs. Raiders. Phins UP!

 

[kyoun1e]

I am torn as to which defense to start in Week 11???

Miami vs. L V Raiders
or
LA Rams vs. New England

right now I am going with the Rams, but I could be convinced to change it to Miami. Thoughts?

Raiders on the road with an early. Makes Miami seem obvious pick to me

LV coming off bye, Miami on short week after playing a west coast MNF

s/b an easy matchup but since when has anything about the ‘24 Dolphins been easy peasy?

Totally agree. Feels like a trap.

Could see Minshew having one of those good Minshew games and Miami having a letdown.

 

[kyoun1e]

Is anyone keeping / starting LAC this week? Im kinda in a roster crunch and don’t want to drop them as I think there’s a chance they have a high floor even against good offenses. My other options are basically NO vs CLE and CLE vs NO lol

I dropped them.

Think Burrow will do his thing this week, then it's L. Jackson the next week, @ ATL (could be ok), but then against KC.

By the end of this stretch, we could be hearing "well, maybe this D isn't so great after all."

 

[stinkbait]

Torn, trying to decide if I just stay with Pitt v Balt or pickup the Jets at home against Richardson. Tough call.

 

[Faust]

Chiefs have mastered art of winning; plus, NFL's top five rivalries and Chargers' striking defensive rebirth

Excerpt:

How Jesse Minter electrified Bolts' D​

In three seasons under former head coach Brandon Staley, the Chargers never cracked the top 20 in points allowed. Now, nine games into the Jim Harbaugh regime -- with Jesse Minter serving as defensive coordinator -- the Bolts rank No. 1 in that category, having stifled opponents to the tune of 13.1 points allowed per game.

If that is not a stark enough sign of the leaps made under Minter, consider that the 2024 Chargers are allowing 10.1 points fewer per game than last year's iteration. Here's a great nugget from ESPN's Kris Rhim: Since 1990, only five defensive coordinators in their first year with a team have seen an improvement of at least 10 points per game from the previous season. And unlike the last coach to pull it off -- Ron Meeks, who was a decade-plus into his NFL career when he hit that mark with the Colts in 2002 -- Minter has mostly cut his teeth in the college ranks, aside from a four-season stint on the Ravens' staff.

L.A.'s success can surely be attributed in part to Minter's experience making complex schemes simple for his players. As the defensive coordinator at Michigan under Harbaugh over the previous two seasons, he followed predecessor Mike Macdonald's blueprint of conceptual learning to help his players expand the playbook by utilizing the same tactics with various personnel groupings. As Minter and safety Derwin James told ESPN, simplicity has been key to his approach with the Chargers, as well.

Studying film of the Chargers' recent games, the unit's communication, discipline and attention to detail jump off the screen. The simple design of the scheme is hidden from the offense by complex presentation; as James told ESPN, "It's complicated for the offense to understand, but it's not complicated for us." As the defense comes to understand how an opponent is attacking the game plan, it reacts faster and closes the available windows with speed and aggression.

L.A.'s defenders also execute the simple things well; their mastery of the basics (tackling and pursuit) has enabled them to keep opposing offenses from producing big plays. The defensive backfield is clearly intent on making opponents drive the length of the field via a series of short and intermediate passes. The Bolts appear willing to play the odds that the opponent cannot execute at a high level for four quarters without committing self-inflicted errors.

This is a veteran-laden squad featuring several players with extensive experience in the league (James, Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack and Denzel Perryman) -- and the apparent exceptional communication within the unit has created a defense that plays like there are 13 players on the field.
It's true that much of the Chargers' defensive success has come against pedestrian offenses. But the schedule is toughening up -- starting with Sunday night's game against Joe Burrow's Bengals -- and I think we'll see Minter's group stand up to the challenge and help power a postseason run.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Ended up adding the Chargers back after they cleared waivers. Won't use them the next 4 weeks. Also holding Steelers, who similarly have a string of bad matchups but two vs CLE caused me to hang onto them.

One week rental Packers in the lineup today. Don't expect to keep them beyond this week.

 

[urbanhack]

Been riding LA Rams…but i”m leaning into the Browns this week with all the issues in NO.

 

[kyoun1e]

Green Bay D.

OOOF.

 

[Pietaster2]

Green Bay D.

OOOF.

Streaming them and Russell Wilson against a league worst Ravens pass defense, which was supposed to be a sure thing is probably going to cost me the week and a first round bye. The trials and tribulations of the streaming life.

 

[BobbyLayne]

I think sometimes we pick up defenses because they have a great matchup without ever considering how bad the defense is for fantasy scoring. Should we?

IDK that GB is a bad defense but with 20/20 hindsight I would have been better off rolling with the Steelers at home vs the best offense in the league.

In our format, the toughest offenses for DT are:

​

30. BUF 5.23​

31. WAS 4.15​

32. BAL 1.78​

​

Stillers scored 11.25, the blocked FG to end the game gave the Packers 7.00.

Not fatal (win probability is 97%) but interesting to note.

 

[FarFromHome]

Tampa has a nice run of bad offenses coming up:

Giants
Panthers
Raiders
Chargers
Cowboys
Panthers

Outside the Chargers they are weekly top 5. Giddy up

 

[Pietaster2]

Tampa has a nice run of bad offenses coming up:

Giants
Panthers
Raiders
Chargers
Cowboys
Panthers

Outside the Chargers they are weekly top 5. Giddy up

Yes, but TB is also a bottom five Scoring and Total defense this season. Beware trusting them against any team. Matchups don’t matter if the DST is wretched.

I’ve seen it mentioned that TB has played against a hard schedule so far, but would Minnesota be bottom five against the same schedule? We’re 11 weeks into the season and they’re not going to magically turn things around.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Still trying to figure out how the Bucs beat Detroit Week 2. But yeah, that’s not the DT you want. 25th ranked defense by PFF grade, 26th run defense, 30th in tackling.

They’re 21st in Defensive DVOA if you’re looking for a sliver of sunshine.

 

[Runkle]

Not sure what other thread to put this in, but, most platforms are not showing the fumble recovery for the Seahawks D at the end of their game yet. Deebo is also going to get one more reception and Brock Purdy a few more passing yards. The play-by-play is incorrect in that it shows a penalty on the last play for OPI, however, the Seahawks explicitly declined the penalty and took the resulting turnover to ice the game.

 

[Runkle]

Still trying to figure out how the Bucs beat Detroit Week 2. But yeah, that’s not the DT you want. 25th ranked defense by PFF grade, 26th run defense, 30th in tackling.

They’re 21st in Defensive DVOA if you’re looking for a sliver of sunshine.

They've played a few good teams, and now get to face Tommy Cutlets after a week off. I don't think I have better options.

 

[BobbyLayne]

get to face Tommy Cutlets

OK one week rental

 

[Desert_Power]

Tampa has a nice run of bad offenses coming up:

Giants
Panthers
Raiders
Chargers
Cowboys
Panthers

Outside the Chargers they are weekly top 5. Giddy up

Slim pickings in my 12 team league where you have to roster 2, picked the Bucs up this morning. It's a good schedule and they are better than their stats IMO.

 

[Ardbeg4ever]

Tampa has a nice run of bad offenses coming up:

Giants
Panthers
Raiders
Chargers
Cowboys
Panthers

Outside the Chargers they are weekly top 5. Giddy up

Slim pickings in my 12 team league where you have to roster 2, picked the Bucs up this morning. It's a good schedule and they are better than their stats IMO.

TB is DST 12 (adjusting for schedule) in my league, (Chargers are DST 7), I'd rather have TB over the next 3 weeks than LAC.

 

[kyoun1e]

Tampa has a nice run of bad offenses coming up:

Giants
Panthers
Raiders
Chargers
Cowboys
Panthers

Outside the Chargers they are weekly top 5. Giddy up

Slim pickings in my 12 team league where you have to roster 2, picked the Bucs up this morning. It's a good schedule and they are better than their stats IMO.

TB is DST 12 (adjusting for schedule) in my league, (Chargers are DST 7), I'd rather have TB over the next 3 weeks than LAC.

T. Devito had a 17% sack rate last year when he started.

Translation: He took a ton of sacks.

 

[FarFromHome]

Tampa has a nice run of bad offenses coming up:

Giants
Panthers
Raiders
Chargers
Cowboys
Panthers

Outside the Chargers they are weekly top 5. Giddy up

Slim pickings in my 12 team league where you have to roster 2, picked the Bucs up this morning. It's a good schedule and they are better than their stats IMO.

TB is DST 12 (adjusting for schedule) in my league, (Chargers are DST 7), I'd rather have TB over the next 3 weeks than LAC.

T. Devito had a 17% sack rate last year when he started.

Translation: He took a ton of sacks.

Tampa also getting best cornerback returning this Sunday. Hopefully. Mike Edwards was also picked up. Won a Superbowl with them and still has a house in the area. Thrilled to return and maybe he can bring a different mental edge to a secondary that has been atrocious. Can't hurt.

 

[Desert_Power]

Tampa has a nice run of bad offenses coming up:

Giants
Panthers
Raiders
Chargers
Cowboys
Panthers

Outside the Chargers they are weekly top 5. Giddy up

Slim pickings in my 12 team league where you have to roster 2, picked the Bucs up this morning. It's a good schedule and they are better than their stats IMO.

TB is DST 12 (adjusting for schedule) in my league, (Chargers are DST 7), I'd rather have TB over the next 3 weeks than LAC.

T. Devito had a 17% sack rate last year when he started.

Translation: He took a ton of sacks.

Tampa also getting best cornerback returning this Sunday. Hopefully. Mike Edwards was also picked up. Won a Superbowl with them and still has a house in the area. Thrilled to return and maybe he can bring a different mental edge to a secondary that has been atrocious. Can't hurt.

That is good news. For all their issues on the back-end, I think they have a really good pass rush. Another big thing with defenses is not having an anemic offense. Tampa is a gritty team, unlikely to get blown out.

Might be wrong, but that is what my eyes see.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

Ended up adding the Chargers back after they cleared waivers. Won't use them the next 4 weeks. Also holding Steelers, who similarly have a string of bad matchups but two vs CLE caused me to hang onto them.

One week rental Packers in the lineup today. Don't expect to keep them beyond this week.

yesterday was supposed to be a bad matchup for the Steelers but they ended up tied for 4th in my league. They are a very solid unit, so I’m not sure I would be that worried about any of their matchups

 

[Pietaster2]

Tampa has a nice run of bad offenses coming up:

Giants
Panthers
Raiders
Chargers
Cowboys
Panthers

Outside the Chargers they are weekly top 5. Giddy up

Slim pickings in my 12 team league where you have to roster 2, picked the Bucs up this morning. It's a good schedule and they are better than their stats IMO.

TB is DST 12 (adjusting for schedule) in my league, (Chargers are DST 7), I'd rather have TB over the next 3 weeks than LAC.

T. Devito had a 17% sack rate last year when he started.

Translation: He took a ton of sacks.

Tampa also getting best cornerback returning this Sunday. Hopefully. Mike Edwards was also picked up. Won a Superbowl with them and still has a house in the area. Thrilled to return and maybe he can bring a different mental edge to a secondary that has been atrocious. Can't hurt.

This convinced me to pick them up while I still could for free. Here’s hoping TB turns things around with a bolstered secondary and much easier schedule!

 

[FarFromHome]

Tampa has a nice run of bad offenses coming up:

Giants
Panthers
Raiders
Chargers
Cowboys
Panthers

Outside the Chargers they are weekly top 5. Giddy up

Slim pickings in my 12 team league where you have to roster 2, picked the Bucs up this morning. It's a good schedule and they are better than their stats IMO.

TB is DST 12 (adjusting for schedule) in my league, (Chargers are DST 7), I'd rather have TB over the next 3 weeks than LAC.

T. Devito had a 17% sack rate last year when he started.

Translation: He took a ton of sacks.

Tampa also getting best cornerback returning this Sunday. Hopefully. Mike Edwards was also picked up. Won a Superbowl with them and still has a house in the area. Thrilled to return and maybe he can bring a different mental edge to a secondary that has been atrocious. Can't hurt.

This convinced me to pick them up while I still could for free. Here’s hoping TB turns things around with a bolstered secondary and much easier schedule!

The pressure is intense. Just know I handle pressure well. More importantly we die on this hill together. Ha ha

 

[iamkoza]

looks like all you have to do right now is follow dallas every week. two for last two

 

[BobbyLayne]

looks like all you have to do right now is follow dallas every week. two for last two

especially in JerryWorld (NYG WK 13, TB WK16)

they've actually had some fight in them when they're on the road

that'll fade fast now it's a lost season

 

[kylechoffman]

Thoughts on preemptive pickups for week 14 with Broncos on a bye (I have KC vs LAC on the bench):

Titans vs Jags
Bucs vs LV
Cincy @Dal

 

[MrJimiT]

Thoughts on preemptive pickups for week 14 with Broncos on a bye (I have KC vs LAC on the bench):

Titans vs Jags
Bucs vs LV
Cincy @Dal

If Bucs are available, I like them a lot. However, they aren't in my league. I have a Tampa fan in my league.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

KC going to Carolina this week. Is this the week their fantasy defense finally lives up to their real life rep?

 

[iamkoza]

KC going to Carolina this week. Is this the week their fantasy defense finally lives up to their real life rep?

need the KC offense not to mess around... get a 2 score lead and let KC defense go to work.

 

[Pietaster2]

KC going to Carolina this week. Is this the week their fantasy defense finally lives up to their real life rep?

Highly doubtful. They're the #23rd ranked DST in my Sleeper standard scoring league, for a reason. Their schedule hasn't even been too tough, but they never teed off against weaker offenses, and only had one week above 10 fantasy points. I owned them for several weeks this season and dropped after I realized they just aren't a disruptive defense that lends itself to fantasy stat lines. They bend and don't break and scarcely get turnovers or sacks.

To put things into perspective, the Chiefs are tied in total fantasy points this season with Tampa Bay, which everyone will say is a "bad" real life defense that has had a murderously difficult schedule.

I would trust just about any of the other projected top 10 or 15 DSTs this week and RoS over KC.

 

[kyoun1e]

KC going to Carolina this week. Is this the week their fantasy defense finally lives up to their real life rep?

Highly doubtful. They're the #23rd ranked DST in my Sleeper standard scoring league, for a reason. Their schedule hasn't even been too tough, but they never teed off against weaker offenses, and only had one week above 10 fantasy points. I owned them for several weeks this season and dropped after I realized they just aren't a disruptive defense that lends itself to fantasy stat lines. They bend and don't break and scarcely get turnovers or sacks.

To put things into perspective, the Chiefs are tied in total fantasy points this season with Tampa Bay, which everyone will say is a "bad" real life defense that has had a murderously difficult schedule.

I would trust just about any of the other projected top 10 or 15 DSTs this week and RoS over KC.

Interesting. Have KC starting as of now, but also have TB @NYG. Would like to see if TB gets healthier in the secondary before pulling the trigger on starting them over KC.

Will be going for WASH tonight to at minimum block my opponent.

 

[BearsFan4Life]

Miami vs LV
TB at NYG
Wash vs Dall

What's the pick for week 12?

 

[Pietaster2]

Miami vs LV
TB at NYG
Wash vs Dall

What's the pick for week 12?

I like Wash vs a broken and hapless Dallas squad that can’t even keep their stadium from falling apart. Stream against Dallas RoS and reap the rewards.

 

[VikingFrog]

Miami vs LV
TB at NYG
Wash vs Dall

What's the pick for week 12?

Miami is facing NE… FYI

 

[BearsFan4Life]

Miami vs LV
TB at NYG
Wash vs Dall

What's the pick for week 12?

Miami is facing NE… FYI

Sorry. You are correct. I currently have Miami so probably just going to roll with them at home. Although TB is intriguing vs DeVito. Washington I am sure will get claimed before me due to other teams who need a D due to byes.