DEFENSE ... DEFENSE ... DEFENSE ! The crowd loves screaming it, some teams love playing it, and you hate drafting it! One of the hardest things for some owners to decide is when to draft a Team Defense in their Fantasy Football League. I have never had a problem in this area, and really love watching people get hung up on picking one of the elite Defense / Special Teams every year. In this ongoing series of Fantasy Football Draft Day Do's and Dont's, I tackle Team Defenses next.
Do...
...check your 2009 NFL schedules! Find out which teams have the easiest Defensive schedule. It helps to know that the Saint Louis Rams have the league's easiest schedule, and Denver has one of the toughest. Green Bay has the most favorable schedule for a Defense this year, and has 11 Interception Returns for TDs since 2006.
Do...
...understand your league's scoring format! I played in a live league last year that was HEAVILY slanted toward Defenses. The owners who did not do their math were blindsided by defenses posting negative scores some weeks.
DON'T...
...forget to take into account the Defensive Coordinator moves! Everyone is talking about the changes in Green Bay with Dom Capers going from a 4-3 to a 3-4 scheme. But don't overlook Jacksonville and Arizona, who are revamping their teams Defenses into more of a hybrid D. The Seahawks, Chiefs and Colts all have new head coaches. Watch the Pre-Season games and make sure you know if these are positive or negative moves.
DON'T...
...pick too early! Ask any owner who nabbed the San Diego Chargers with a middle round pick last year, and then saw Shawn Merriman go down, if they are drafting a D early this year. Wait until everyone else starts the D train rolling, and if you are comfortable with your starters and backups at your skill positions, look around round 10 or 11 for a Defense, and if all the elite teams are taken, wait another couple of rounds.
Picking a Team D / Special Team can only hurt you if you go too early. The top 3 or 4 teams are better than the rest, but not by much. It entirely depends on how your league scores Defenses. To get your up to the minute stats and opinions, check out the NFL website and The Sporting News Fantasy Football Guide. I have used them for years, and that is where the above stats come from. Remember, waiting is the key for Team D.
Patrick O'Neill, an 18 year Fantasy Football Veteran, endorses only one Fantasy Football League
"Would you be interested in a league in which half the owners win? Weekly updated info for starts and sits? How about a whopping 90% payout and unlimited FREE trades? One low up-front fee and no hidden charges? SIGN UP TODAY and get paid in 2009.
No comments:
Post a Comment