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Defensive Notes

The Titans finished last season as the 11th-ranked fantasy defense; for most of the season, they were even better than that. Before spending a pick on them this summer, though, make sure they've got tackle Albert Haynesworth under contract. The difference in this defense with him in the lineup versus sidelined is like night and day.

In 13 games with their disruptive defensive lineman in the lineup, the Titans gave up an average of just over 15 points per game -- which would have been No. 1 in the league. In the three games Haynesworth missed with a hamstring injury, the Titans gave up an average of 32 points per game -- a league-worst total (by far). They also lost all three games without Haynesworth, compared to 10-3 with him.

Other numbers were accordingly disparate, with the team averaging nearly 3 sacks per game with Haynesworth, just 1 per game without. They averaged 1.6 interceptions with him pressuring the quarterback, while recording only 1 (total) in three games with him sidelined. We've often noted how stopping the run is key to fantasy defense performance; the Titans allowed at least 148 rushing yards in each of their three games without Haynesworth, their three highest totals of the season.

As the team's franchise player, Haynesworth is angling for a long-term deal; he wants to stay in Tennessee. Thus far the Titans have been reluctant to give him one, so he's not taking part in the offseason program. Haynesworth has reportedly said he'd play for the franchise tender if the team agrees not to franchise him next year, which the Titans said they would "consider." (Although coach Jeff Fisher also called it "unlikely"; they don't want to lose their franchise player for nothing.)

In any case, before looking for the Titans to repeat last year's fantasy performance, make sure they've got their Haynesworth on the field.

A recent story on the contract talks in The Tennessean can be found here.

—Andy Richardson

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