Defensive Notes
Last week we had the Chargers’ fantasy defense ranked in our weekly top 5. They were playing extremely well, and were headed to Minnesota to face a one-dimensional Vikings offense. It made a lot of sense, except for the fact that that single dimension was named Adrian Peterson.
You don’t want to overrate one game, but you don’t have to: This was the second time this season that Peterson had rushed for 200-plus yards and 3 TDs – it would probably be more if Brad Childress hadn’t inexplicably limited the rookie to just 12 carries on two occasions this season. Peterson is now officially in the realm of players you don’t want to start a defense against, up there with LaDainian Tomlinson, Peyton Manning and the New England Patriots. This week Peterson faces a Packers defense he went for over 100 yards against on just 12 carries back in week 4. You can’t drop a defense playing as well as the Packers are too far, but Peterson’s presence alone knocks Green Bay down several spots in our rankings. They’ll have to stop him before they can rack up many sacks or interceptions this week.
Fortunately, there are other options, some of which might even be available in your league:
Seattle: The Seahawks aren’t very good, but they do get after the quarterback (No. 6 in sacks), and they achieved that ranking in part by sacking San Francisco quarterbacks 6 times back in week 4. Guess who the Seahawks face this week, in Seattle? An excellent matchup for this defense. As a bonus, they’ve got 2 return touchdowns, too.
Arizona and Detroit: They face each other, which makes it reasonable to think only one of these defenses will have a good day. But there’s a lot to recommend in the matchup for both clubs. No one has allowed more sacks or committed more fumbles than the Lions (who also lead the league in forcing turnovers). Only three teams have thrown more interceptions and only two have committed more fumbles than the Cardinals. Jon Kitna and Kurt Warner in the same game! You probably can’t go wrong with either of these defenses this week.
New Orleans: The Saints? Only nine teams have fewer sacks and only four have fewer interceptions than the Saints. Their lofty ranking must have something to do with the matchup, and so it does: at home against the winless Rams. Unless you think the Rams managed to cure everything that ailed them during their bye last week, consider starting the Saints in this matchup.
Atlanta: The Falcons face the Panthers. David Carr can’t play, Vinny Testaverde can’t move, and third-stringer Matt Moore is an undrafted rookie who the Cowboys cut in the preseason. On sack potential alone (the Titans racked up 7 against Carolina on Sunday), you have to look favorably upon the Falcons’ chances this week.
As it turns out, it’s a particularly good week to start one of these lesser defenses, what with all the matchup problems for several quality fantasy groups this week. The Colts and Chargers are playing each other; not a great matchup for either defense. The Patriots are on a bye, the Steelers are facing a Browns offense that has come a long way since struggling against them in week 1 (with Charlie Frye at quarterback), and the banged-up Ravens are facing a Bengals team that has had some success against them in recent years, including back in week 1. With them playing at home, you may be hard-pressed to bench a fantasy staple like the Steelers or Ravens, but given the other attractive options, it’s an above-average week to think about it.
- Andy Richardson
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