Defensive Team Ranking (1 Viewer)

[toppshelff]

In a 4-keeper league, I have 3 1st round picks then nothing until the 4th round. First round will be too early for a defense. By the 4th round (equivalent of 8th), I'm guessing that Chi and Balt will be off the board.

Was last year an aberration that two defenses stand out so much?

Will this year return to a tighter band of defense fantasy football points?

How big is the drop off after the first 2 teams to the rest of the pack?

Any other potential "steals" that people are flagging for later rounds?

I see the staff has their re-draft ranking of defenses, but it doesn't address the "drop-off" question.

Insights, anyone?

 

[Chase Stuart]

In a 4-keeper league, I have 3 1st round picks then nothing until the 4th round. First round will be too early for a defense. By the 4th round (equivalent of 8th), I'm guessing that Chi and Balt will be off the board.Was last year an aberration that two defenses stand out so much?Will this year return to a tighter band of defense fantasy football points?How big is the drop off after the first 2 teams to the rest of the pack?Any other potential "steals" that people are flagging for later rounds?I see the staff has their re-draft ranking of defenses, but it doesn't address the "drop-off" question.Insights, anyone?

My off the cuff answers...1) Last year was somewhat of an aberration because the two defenses did SO well. But the difference between DT1 or DT2 and DT 5 is always a lot more than the difference between DT5 and DT10. (This is true for every position, of course, but I suspect it's larger at DT. I assert no proof of this.)2) Probably not, if you mean the top DT. But maybe, if you meant Chicago or Baltimore. That is, one of them (or both) will probably fall down to the pack, but whichever team is DT1 (which is hard to predict) will be far ahead of the pack.3) This is a talent specific question. I haven't researched the Ds enough yet.4) See above.

 

[Steel Mike Tomczak]

Besides purely talent analysis, I would have to say schedule difficulty would have to factor into this as well.

 

[toppshelff]

Good point, especially week 14-16 SOS.

 

[Fear & Loathing]

In a 4-keeper league, I have 3 1st round picks then nothing until the 4th round. First round will be too early for a defense. By the 4th round (equivalent of 8th), I'm guessing that Chi and Balt will be off the board.Was last year an aberration that two defenses stand out so much?Will this year return to a tighter band of defense fantasy football points?How big is the drop off after the first 2 teams to the rest of the pack?Any other potential "steals" that people are flagging for later rounds?I see the staff has their re-draft ranking of defenses, but it doesn't address the "drop-off" question.Insights, anyone?

My off the cuff answers...1) Last year was somewhat of an aberration because the two defenses did SO well. But the difference between DT1 or DT2 and DT 5 is always a lot more than the difference between DT5 and DT10. (This is true for every position, of course, but I suspect it's larger at DT. I assert no proof of this.)2) Probably not, if you mean the top DT. But maybe, if you meant Chicago or Baltimore. That is, one of them (or both) will probably fall down to the pack, but whichever team is DT1 (which is hard to predict) will be far ahead of the pack.3) This is a talent specific question. I haven't researched the Ds enough yet.4) See above.

I expect Chicago to remain near the top with Harris & Brown due back and Hester in the return game.I expect a fall-off for the Ravens. Yes, they added an interesting returner in Figurs. But they lost a very important player in Adalius Thomas, and Ray-Ray & Trevor Pryce will likely lose at least one step. I don't think this defense will be nearly as smothering as they were in '06. The Chargers & Patriots are two defenses I could see making the leap.

 

[LawFitz]

Don't sleep on the Raiders. Their defense was very solid last season despite the offense's complete lack of production. They still have a hole at Toad DT - they resigned Terdell Sands who is good, but he's the only Toad on the roster. They have a ton of under tackles including Sapp, but just Terd at Toad DT.

Their back seven is very good and their 2ndary has 3 studs in Asamougha, Huff and Washington. Schweigert is a serviceable FS.

Sands needs to hold up to stop the run or they need to get a cap casualty veteran Toad - maybe Haynesworth? Maybe even a trade if some team has a guy out there.

Problem is that good Toad DTs are hard to find. That said if this Raiders defense can somehow get a hold of a young version of Ted Washington, they can take the next step to elite status like the Bears did a couple years ago when they got Tommie and Tank.

But without said Toad, they may continue to struggle vs the run and excel against the pass.

 

[John Mamula]

like chase, i like to pair up defenses against matchups that give you a top defense in combination.

two years ago it worked great for me, last year not nearly as well.

i can't justify taking a defense that early when there is enough variation that it is very difficult to predict.