Sleeper D's...frauds or for real? (1 Viewer)

[FreeBaGeL]

Neither SF, Denver, or Cinci really made any major changes to their defense, and all of them (especially Denver and Cinci) had poor defenses last year.

However, in the NFL things often change for no real visible reason. Are these teams examples of that, or just examples of good matchups that will fade back into obscurity the rest of the way?

I think the 9ers are the best true defense of the bunch, but they're cursed with the worst schedule of the three. Denver and Cinci both have legit pass rushers (Dumervile/Odom) and solid secondaries, which seems to be the key to a great defense, but they (especially Denver) haven't proven themselves against a top offense yet. So who's a pretender, and who's for real?

I'm inclined to think SF is for real, but won't be as great for fantasy with their matchups. Cinci is solid, but will blow up fantasy wise due to their schedule. Denver is the biggest enigma of the three IMO, but I see them staying solid this year.

 

[BroncoFreak_2K3]

Mike Nolan

 

[rrhartjr]

I'm not buying DEN yet. They've basically been the beneficiary of CLE (6 points) and OAK (3 points) bed crappings and a CIN team that seemed like they were still in warmup.

Once they get done with DAL, we'll see if they're for real or not.

CIN has basically been Leon Hall and an improved pass rush, Rivers and Rey make pretty good LBs. So I can see where the improvement is coming from there. I'm buying on CIN.

 

[BuckeyeArt]

Neither SF, Denver, or Cinci really made any major changes to their defense, and all of them (especially Denver and Cinci) had poor defenses last year.

Cincy was 12th and SF was 13th in total defensive yards per game last year.

 

[Aardvarks]

I have a feeling we'll see the 49ers D is for real. Every year some defense busts out of obscurity and churns on a nearly-every-week basis.

 

[two_dollars]

I have a feeling we'll see the 49ers D is for real. Every year some defense busts out of obscurity and churns on a nearly-every-week basis.

I hope so..

 

[Aardvarks]

To expand,

-- NYG fantasy D/ST went from 24th in 2006 to 6th in 2007

-- CIN D/ST went from 24th in 2003 to 8th in 2004

-- PHI D/ST went from Last in 2007 to 1st in 2008

I went to pick up the 49ers based on my hunch but someone had just grabbed them. They will shut out the Rams this wk.

 

[Sonny Lubick Blowup Doll]

I believe Denver had more turnover/changes than you realize.

SF would be my pick, but again, schedule.

 

[shredhead]

I believe Denver had more turnover/changes than you realize.SF would be my pick, but again, schedule.

I think the only 3 players on Denver's D that didn't change is Champ, DJ Williams and Dumerville. Mike Nolan is the new coordinator, they switched to the 3-4. More changed with the Denver D than stayed the same.I also agree that San Fran is the best pickup. I've dumped San Diego and Atlanta so far this year, and am rolling with SF. I plan on picking up Buffalo for a couple of weeks to play matchups with Buff/SF, then after a few weeks I am going to drop Buff and play pickup Arizona and play Cardinal/49er matchups the rest of the way.

 

[Sonny Lubick Blowup Doll]

I believe Denver had more turnover/changes than you realize.

SF would be my pick, but again, schedule.

I think the only 3 players on Denver's D that didn't change is Champ, DJ Williams and Dumerville. Mike Nolan is the new coordinator, they switched to the 3-4. More changed with the Denver D than stayed the same.

I also agree that San Fran is the best pickup. I've dumped San Diego and Atlanta so far this year, and am rolling with SF. I plan on picking up Buffalo for a couple of weeks to play matchups with Buff/SF, then after a few weeks I am going to drop Buff and play pickup Arizona and play Cardinal/49er matchups the rest of the way.

This is what I decided this week. I will pick them up next week, even though I'm not playing them right away. Afraid of losing out.Look out for Buffalo, I believe they have injury issues.

 

[shredhead]

I believe Denver had more turnover/changes than you realize.

SF would be my pick, but again, schedule.

I think the only 3 players on Denver's D that didn't change is Champ, DJ Williams and Dumerville. Mike Nolan is the new coordinator, they switched to the 3-4. More changed with the Denver D than stayed the same.

I also agree that San Fran is the best pickup. I've dumped San Diego and Atlanta so far this year, and am rolling with SF. I plan on picking up Buffalo for a couple of weeks to play matchups with Buff/SF, then after a few weeks I am going to drop Buff and play pickup Arizona and play Cardinal/49er matchups the rest of the way.

This is what I decided this week. I will pick them up next week, even though I'm not playing them right away. Afraid of losing out.Look out for Buffalo, I believe they have injury issues.

Yeah, I've been worried about missing out on Arizona too. I may just pick them up now and forego the Buffalo idea. I have to look a little closer. I already have SF and I am keeping them unless something drastically changes.

 

[Chaka]

Cinci finished 12th overall last year. They added Tank Johnson & Roy Williams who are not world beaters but are clear upgrades over what they had in 2008.

They drafted Rey Maualuga and get Keith Rivers back after missing him for 9 games last year.

From a talent perspective I consider them the most improved of the options.

 

[Johnny Detroit]

I took a shot on the SF defense this week since the Titans have been useless so far.

 

[r0llin_game]

I actually drafted Cincy in a partial keeper/mostly redraft league (1st round keep a player, 2nd round steal a player, only one player may be selected from the same team, 3rd keep another player, redraft 4th-16th). I took talent over any of the available defenses and took Cincy in the last round. The corners are solid in Leon Hall and Jonathan Joseph, LB's are young, but solid. DL was my biggest concern, but for the most part has looked really solid.

 

[Sarnoff]

If Jonathan Joseph is playing (he sat out practice earlier this week) and Hall is playing, Cincy is legit.

 

[Mike R]

There as good as there offence Palmer was hurt last year. Dener has a new quarterback and has play one good as far. I like Cinn along as Palmer at QB.

 

[FantasyTrader]

I believe Denver is the flukiest and the 9er's are for real. Denver HAS made improvements, but they are nowhere near as good as they look on paper. They'll be a bottom half D by season's end (maybe just barely - which would still be a marked improvement over last year).

 

[plymkr]

There as good as there offence Palmer was hurt last year. Dener has a new quarterback and has play one good as far. I like Cinn along as Palmer at QB.

WTF?

 

[SuperGreen]

There as good as there offence Palmer was hurt last year. Dener has a new quarterback and has play one good as far. I like Cinn along as Palmer at QB.

what he said!

 

[identikit]

There as good as there offence Palmer was hurt last year. Dener has a new quarterback and has play one good as far. I like Cinn along as Palmer at QB.

Hard to argue with this...

 

[sparkky]

I'm not buying DEN yet. They've basically been the beneficiary of CLE (6 points) and OAK (3 points) bed crappings and a CIN team that seemed like they were still in warmup.Once they get done with DAL, we'll see if they're for real or not.

I completely agree. show me something against Dallas and we can talk then.

 

[Sonny Lubick Blowup Doll]

There as good as there offence Palmer was hurt last year. Dener has a new quarterback and has play one good as far. I like Cinn along as Palmer at QB.

Hard to argue with this...

 

[Wrigley]

There as good as there offence Palmer was hurt last year. Dener has a new quarterback and has play one good as far. I like Cinn along as Palmer at QB.

Hard to argue with this...

I'm a little hung over and had to read it 3 times before I realized it was hopeless.

 

[travdogg]

I don't entirely buy Cincy or Denver's defenses. They are both improved, but I'd be shocked if either were in the top-10 by season's end, despite the fact that Denver has 4 games against teams without functional offenses.

San Fran is completely for real, I've been on them since the off season, they have(IMO) the best defensive player in the NFL in Willis, an elite CB in Clements(who really started playing up to his contract once Singletary took over) an outstanding DE in Justin Smith(who clearly should have been playing in a 3-4 scheme his whole career) and several other very good pieces like Takeo Spikes, Parys Haralson, Manny Lawson(if he can stay healthy) Michael Lewis and even Bronco castoff Dre Bly has been playing well. This is one of the 5 best defenses in the NFL right now and they very well could be for years to come.

If I had to pick between Cincy and Denver, I'd take Cincy. I like the Hall/Joseph combo and Rivers/Maualuga could be a real force in the running game. Also, Domata Peko may be the most underrated interior lineman in the NFL. I'm not sure on Odom, he crushed the Packers in week 2, but he looked very mediocre last year. Still, at the very least he's a valuable cog. I could see them as a top-15 defense, but they exactly a team I expect to just shutdown a team. A real team that is(sorry Cleveland)

In Denver, we've learned what should have been obvious, that Dumervil is a rush LB not a DE. It'll be interesting to see how much Dawkins and Bailey have left, because after those 3 I'm not sure about anyone else on that defense. Ayers and Smith have potential and DJ Williams is talented, but they all have something to prove. So far Mike Nolan looks like a great hire. I'm still not convinced this is anything better than an average defense though, which for Denver is still a gigantic upgrade.