Using team defenses in dynasty leagues (1 Viewer)

[valhallan]

My league is converting to a dynasty this year and I'm starting to wonder if we should drop the team defenses. What do you think of using team defenses in dynasty?

 

[zadok]

I say either no defense or start including IDPs.

 

[BLOX]

IDPs is the way to go.

Plus make sure it's an auction league.

 

[FTRWRTR]

I use team defenses in my leagues but I would prefer to use IDP and have finally joined my first IDP league. I really didn't have a preference a couple of years ago but then I read some leagues that use team qbs instead of individual qbs and thought that was kind of lame and then it dawned on me that I should be using IDP instead of team d.

 

[ookook]

If the league is not up for IDPs, I have no problem with them.

I have never really "got" the logic to drop them.

 

[zed2283]

Why would you want to use stats that aren't even official (i.e. tackles)? IDP seems over the top to me (let the flaming commence).

 

[ookook]

Why pretend the performance of half of the NFL is irrelevant?

 

[ookook]

What is "official"?

http://www.nfl.com/stats/leaders/NFL/TAC/2006/post

 

[valhallan]

My distaste for using team defenses in dynasty is that you can’t evaluate them like individual players. With QBs, RBs, WRs, TEs, PKs, and IDPs, you look at their pedigree, their injury history, their situation, their skillset, and other unique factors to arrive at a value for them. With team defenses, you have to look at the defensive coordinator of that team, their history, their depth, and other factors that seem harder to pin down than those for individual players. They just seem like wastes of roster spaces in dynasty.

And why pretend the performance of half of the NFL is irrelevant? Because it’s fantasy football, guy. We can structure our leagues however we want.

 

[Spartans Rule]

My distaste for using team defenses in dynasty is that you can’t evaluate them like individual players. With QBs, RBs, WRs, TEs, PKs, and IDPs, you look at their pedigree, their injury history, their situation, their skillset, and other unique factors to arrive at a value for them. With team defenses, you have to look at the defensive coordinator of that team, their history, their depth, and other factors that seem harder to pin down than those for individual players. They just seem like wastes of roster spaces in dynasty.

What I hate is the randomness of owning a team unit in a dynasty league. You can have an idea of what a young stud QB, RB, WR or even IDP will be performing like in 10 years. But in 10 years, the Buffalo Bills defense will most likely have 11 new starters, new coach, new philosophy and we really have no idea if it will be for better or for worse.

 

[ookook]

My distaste for using team defenses in dynasty is that you can’t evaluate them like individual players. With QBs, RBs, WRs, TEs, PKs, and IDPs, you look at their pedigree, their injury history, their situation, their skillset, and other unique factors to arrive at a value for them. With team defenses, you have to look at the defensive coordinator of that team, their history, their depth, and other factors that seem harder to pin down than those for individual players. They just seem like wastes of roster spaces in dynasty. And why pretend the performance of half of the NFL is irrelevant? Because it’s fantasy football, guy. We can structure our leagues however we want.

Harder to pin down than kickers?I might disagree that predicting which D/ST will be good in three years is harder than other positions. How about CHI, BAL, NE, MIA? Or in terms of poor production, I would bet KC, TEN, and MIN are bad for years to come.

 

[ookook]

And why pretend the performance of half of the NFL is irrelevant? Because it’s fantasy football, guy. We can structure our leagues however we want.

But it is called "fantasy football" not "fantasy football offense".

 

[ookook]

My distaste for using team defenses in dynasty is that you can’t evaluate them like individual players. With QBs, RBs, WRs, TEs, PKs, and IDPs, you look at their pedigree, their injury history, their situation, their skillset, and other unique factors to arrive at a value for them. With team defenses, you have to look at the defensive coordinator of that team, their history, their depth, and other factors that seem harder to pin down than those for individual players. They just seem like wastes of roster spaces in dynasty.

What I hate is the randomness of owning a team unit in a dynasty league. You can have an idea of what a young stud QB, RB, WR or even IDP will be performing like in 10 years. But in 10 years, the Buffalo Bills defense will most likely have 11 new starters, new coach, new philosophy and we really have no idea if it will be for better or for worse.

That is why one trades D/ST that are on the downside and tries to acquire those improving.When drafting or evaluating, one really only needs to think about next 3 to 4 years.I know I may be a minority, but projecting ANY player more than 5 years seems to be of little worth.

 

[ookook]

My distaste for using team defenses in dynasty is that you can’t evaluate them like individual players. With QBs, RBs, WRs, TEs, PKs, and IDPs, you look at their pedigree, their injury history, their situation, their skillset, and other unique factors to arrive at a value for them. With team defenses, you have to look at the defensive coordinator of that team, their history, their depth, and other factors that seem harder to pin down than those for individual players. They just seem like wastes of roster spaces in dynasty.

What I hate is the randomness of owning a team unit in a dynasty league. You can have an idea of what a young stud QB, RB, WR or even IDP will be performing like in 10 years. But in 10 years, the Buffalo Bills defense will most likely have 11 new starters, new coach, new philosophy and we really have no idea if it will be for better or for worse.

The teams with CHI or BAL probably feel that is was a roster spot NOT wasted.

 

[Spartans Rule]

Why pretend the performance of half of the NFL is irrelevant?

Why pretend that using a DT position that's about as important to fantasy success as a kicker somehow makes that half relevant?Fantasy football doesn't reflect what it's like to build a real football team at all. There's no reason to pretend it does.

 

[ookook]

Why pretend the performance of half of the NFL is irrelevant?

Why pretend that using a DT position that's about as important to fantasy success as a kicker somehow makes that half relevant?Fantasy football doesn't reflect what it's like to build a real football team at all. There's no reason to pretend it does.

The relavence to fantasy success of D/ST depends much on the scoring system.In one dynasty league I play in they are very important as scoing is based on PA and YA. I believe they SHOULD be important, but we will have to agree to disagree. BTW, why not drop PKs too? Are they not a waste of roster spaces?

 

[Buckna]

Never really understood the draw of kickers or team defenses in "shark" leagues.

They're certainly important in "guppy" leagues, because you've gotta have those owners that donate their money when they draft kickers in the 6th round.

 

[valhallan]

My distaste for using team defenses in dynasty is that you can’t evaluate them like individual players. With QBs, RBs, WRs, TEs, PKs, and IDPs, you look at their pedigree, their injury history, their situation, their skillset, and other unique factors to arrive at a value for them. With team defenses, you have to look at the defensive coordinator of that team, their history, their depth, and other factors that seem harder to pin down than those for individual players. They just seem like wastes of roster spaces in dynasty. And why pretend the performance of half of the NFL is irrelevant? Because it’s fantasy football, guy. We can structure our leagues however we want.

Harder to pin down than kickers?I might disagree that predicting which D/ST will be good in three years is harder than other positions. How about CHI, BAL, NE, MIA? Or in terms of poor production, I would bet KC, TEN, and MIN are bad for years to come.

I'm not sure how kickers have any different factors than the ones I mentioned above for the other skill positions.Of course there are exceptions to the defenses over a period of years, but even Chicago and Baltimore aren't going to stay on top forever, nor will several of the poor defenses stay bad forever. Heck, the Bears were in the bottom half just a few years ago.

And why pretend the performance of half of the NFL is irrelevant? Because it’s fantasy football, guy. We can structure our leagues however we want.

But it is called "fantasy football" not "fantasy football offense".

Actually it is fantasy football offense since our teams can't play defense against our opponents. But seriously, in a hobby that's predicated on unreality you can't say there's a correct way to do any of it. We're all free to have defenses or IDPs or neither, just as we can have PPR or not, two QBs or one, 25 roster spaces or 53, etc, etc.

 

[GregR_2]

My strong preference is for IDP. I don't suppose there is anything wrong with Team Defense. But I struggle to come up with a single thing about them that is better than using IDPs, but can easily come up with several things I don't like about them compared to IDPs.

I do however like a team Kick Return unit, though only because league hosting software generally doesn't allow you two copies of a player, one as a position player and another for just kick returning. If they had that ability, I'd probably rather have individual kick returners as a position as well.

Oh, and while we're at it, I love having punters. I feel much more confidence in my punter projections than I do kicker projections.

 

[Grigs Allmoon]

I say either no defense or start including IDPs.

That's my preference, as well.

 

[Keith Lewis]

IDPs is the way to go.Plus make sure it's an auction league.

If my current league said we are converting to an auction league, I would bet we would have a 100% dropout rate. People who didn't sign up for auction leagues generally don't want to play in them. I have brought up the idea of IDP in my league and every other owner in the league has said no.What i'm saying is you can ask your leaguemates if they want to switch the whole complexion of the league, I wouldn't just tell them that's how it is or expect the league to disappear.

 

[lions327]

I play in one dynasty with team defenses, and a few IDP dynasties with deep rosters. I like IDP dynasties a lot more, part of the reason was given above regarding not being able to project a whole defense over a long period of time. That is a smaller part.

There are a lot of reasons I like IDP dynasties better, but the #1 reason is there are a LOT more trades in IDP leagues. Part of the reason is this....in team defense leagues, you can sometimes have a tough time trying to even trades. In IDP leagues, you have so many more players it makes it MUCH easier to even out a blockbuster trade. There are other reasons, but that is the main one for me.

Like I said, I play in both, but I like IDP dynasties a lot more.

One more thing...I know several who don't want to play in them. That's fine, we all like different leagues. But most of the people I know who never wanted to play in one and then changed their minds like them a lot now. If you are on the fence, try one. There is a learning curve, and more research is needed. I just think they are more fun and the trading is the main reason why.

 

[abricru]

The relavence to fantasy success of D/ST depends much on the scoring system.

In one dynasty league I play in they are very important as scoing is based on PA and YA.

I believe they SHOULD be important, but we will have to agree to disagree.

I play in some dynasty leagues that include team defense that are ok, but others that I feel give too much weight to defensive scoring. I hate getting beat by a team that sucked except its defense got 30 points.

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

The results of this poll aren't that surprising, but I bet they'd be different if conducted in August.

To each their own, but to make me a better "expert" for this site I partake in all kinds of leagues. It is entirely based upon your personal preferences (and your league-mates).

 

[BoneYardDog]

Personally I like IDP in dynasty leagues because if you happen to have an "okay" offensive team, a very good IDP team can get you into the playoffs and give you a chance at a title...

More trades in IDP leagues, by far...

Easier to rebuild a dynasty team when you add IDPs into the waiver wire and Rookie Draft mix...

League can be set up to make IDPs as valuable as offensive players. Don't see many Team Defense leagues where you defense can score 40% of your points on any given week...

Gives you twice as much to learn about fantasy football. Still have to find the studs and consistency in scoring...

 

[FFdork]

My preference is IDP or no defense at all.

To flesh it out a bit. Team Defense in a dynasty that has contracts, salary caps, and so forth would be fine, just not my preference. However, I really don't like it if you get to keep a 'player' indefinitely b/c obviously the career of the Pittsburgh Steelers defense never ends.

In addition, one of my favorite things about a dynasty is getting to play G.M. IDP replicates this much better than drafting an entire defense.

 

[chook]

My preference is IDP or no defense at all.

To flesh it out a bit. Team Defense in a dynasty that has contracts, salary caps, and so forth would be fine, just not my preference. However, I really don't like it if you get to keep a 'player' indefinitely b/c obviously the career of the Pittsburgh Steelers defense never ends.

In addition, one of my favorite things about a dynasty is getting to play G.M. IDP replicates this much better than drafting an entire defense.

I think it's stupid to use team defense in dynasty leagues.

Then again, I think it's stupid to use team defense in any fantasy football leagues. IDP adds a whole different dimension to the game. I'd strongly suggest any out there yet to try it to create a free league with yahoo or something just to give it a go.

There's nothing like watching Monday night with your team in a really close game and only one of your LB's left, hoping the opposition RB will run his way every time so he can make those vital tackles.