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Defensive Notes

Week 3 was a reminder of several fantasy truisms that we sometimes forget. For example:

- Matchups don't trump all. A matchup with the 49ers' sack- and turnover-prone offense looked golden, and it usually is. But not every defense is capable of taking advantage of those weaknesses. The Lions, clearly, are one of those defenses that should be avoided regardless of matchup. On the flipside, we were reluctant to recommend the Cowboys and Packers defenses -- two very fine groups -- due to their matchup against each other's high-powered offenses. No need to worry. Dallas recorded 5 sacks and a turnover, Green Bay three sacks and two turnovers. The bottom line is that good defenses make more plays than bad ones, no matter how favorable the matchup.

- Don't be too quick to write a defense off. Minnesota rebounded in a big way at home against the Panthers, after two mostly lackluster games against high-quality offenses. They're going to be fine, and they've probably already played three of the toughest games on their schedule (another comes this week, at Tennessee). Then things get better, with the Lions and Bears showing up four times. Another defense we've been down on is San Francisco, but maybe we were too quick to do so. In retrospect, they've shown a healthy pass rush and some nice opportunism, and they haven't even faced the Rams yet. They might rate a spot start here and there.

- Waiver Wire Defense of the Week: With all the best defenses on rosters in most leagues, we like to look at one or two each week that are probably available and may be worth a spot start. If your regular defense has a horrible matchup (or is on a bye, as six teams are this week), you might want to consider one of these teams.

New Orleans: The Saints are 1-2 and suffered a bitter defeat in Denver when they missed a last-minute field goal. This week they host the 49ers. We're not going too high against San Francisco after that burned us with the Lions, but the Saints have some good players in the front seven and should be a decent one-week play.

Denver: We've dismissed the Broncos defense in the past and have yet to regret it. This week, however, they'll face a Kansas City offense that is about as close to hopeless as the NFL has seen since Alex Smith's rookie season in San Francisco. Whichever quarterback Kansas City starts -- confused Tyler Thigpen, marginal Damon Huard, injury-prone Brodie Croyle -- isn't going to get this offense going, this week or the rest of the year.

There are several defenses to avoid; obviously the six teams on bye top the list, including weekly starters like the Giants and Patriots. As for defenses playing, we're wary of Washington, which travels to Dallas (where it got lit up for four Tony Romo to Terrell Owens TDs last season).

Other news and notes:

- News that Green Bay cornerback Al Harris might be out for the year is a significant blow for the Packers defense. The team likes to leave its corners in single coverage on opposing wideouts -- something you can do when those corners are named Al Harris and Charles Woodson. Green Bay's third corner, Tramon Williams, is not in that league.

- Fantasy Index IDP rankings jinx? We had Browns safety Sean Jones as our top option among defensive backs; he's out for a month. Then we moved Colts safety Bob Sanders into that spot; out for up to six weeks. The new place-holder is Lions safety Daniel Bullocks; sorry, Daniel.

- Safeties tend to have more value than cornerbacks in IDP formats; more tackles. Tennessee's Cortland Finnegan, however, is breaking the mold. Finnegan has 4 interceptions and a touchdown through just three games, and the Titans host Gus Frerotte this week.

—Andy Richardson

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