Drafting a defense (1 Viewer)

[Section303]

League scores points for points allowed, (shutout = 8, various ranges down to 2 for 21-27 points allowed) and points for yards allowed (12 for under fifty, down to 2 for 250-299 yds) in additon to normal scoring for TD's, safeties, sacks and turnovers. Last year Baltimore and Chicago scored 300+ points, net best was Minnessota at 222. Balt and Chi were top ten scorers in the league! Rest of players have performace scoring, points and yards, but no points per catch. Anybody think this justifies high pick (3rd or 4th round) for defense?

 

[az_prof]

League scores points for points allowed, (shutout = 8, various ranges down to 2 for 21-27 points allowed) and points for yards allowed (12 for under fifty, down to 2 for 250-299 yds) in additon to normal scoring for TD's, safeties, sacks and turnovers. Last year Baltimore and Chicago scored 300+ points, net best was Minnessota at 222. Balt and Chi were top ten scorers in the league! Rest of players have performace scoring, points and yards, but no points per catch. Anybody think this justifies high pick (3rd or 4th round) for defense?

No. Do not draft any defense that high. The problem is that it is very difficult to predict fantasy production for defenses from year to year because of change in personnel and coaching and injuries. At the earliest, make sure that you get a full starting lineup of your QB, RBs, and WRs before you consider a DT.

 

[cpstorm]

League scores points for points allowed, (shutout = 8, various ranges down to 2 for 21-27 points allowed) and points for yards allowed (12 for under fifty, down to 2 for 250-299 yds) in additon to normal scoring for TD's, safeties, sacks and turnovers. Last year Baltimore and Chicago scored 300+ points, net best was Minnessota at 222. Balt and Chi were top ten scorers in the league! Rest of players have performace scoring, points and yards, but no points per catch. Anybody think this justifies high pick (3rd or 4th round) for defense?

No. Do not draft any defense that high. The problem is that it is very difficult to predict fantasy production for defenses from year to year because of change in personnel and coaching and injuries. At the earliest, make sure that you get a full starting lineup of your QB, RBs, and WRs before you consider a DT.

3rd or 4th round, no way. Now having said that, if you believe that the top two (Balt, Chi) will be as dominant last year, a 6-8th round pick is not out of the question IMO. I took Chicago at the 6/7 elbow in my redraft league. Logic was twofold: 1. it was the elbow, and you have to reach a bit to get a good team and 2. There is no injury risk with picking a defense. I could have gone for a top TE but the deciding factor was the injury factor: I cannot lose this player for the whole year like I could lose Shockey or Gates or...that and it was an experiment that bucks the grain. Its a league that I am not overly serious about, so its a bit of a chance.

 

[The Duff Man]

I agree 3-4 is a little early, 6-8 is probably better and should still net you one of the top 2 in a lot of leagues. Unlike others I have no problem going for a defense this early but I will usually only do it if the situation is right.

If my starters to that point are relatively known commodities then I'll trust my ability to pick late round gems and grab a top defense. If the starter I have taken to that point are higher risk, higher reward guys (let's say McNabb or Portis for example) I will probably pass on the defense to keep adding to my depth or round out my starters in other positions.