How to pick a defense

[wildturkey]

Been doing some mocks this past week and I keep seeing people drafting defenses as high as round 8. I always wait till my 2nd to last pick and typically just play it week to week via the waiver wire. My results are pretty good that way but I'm curious as to why those people draft defenses when they're still decent players left? How do they know a certain defense will be good? It seems to me that there's a lot of turnover from year to year, especially defensive scores and TOs. What are some indicators of who will be good and is a top defense really that much better than a middling one points wise?

 

[tlance]

Been doing some mocks this past week and I keep seeing people drafting defenses as high as round 8. I always wait till my 2nd to last pick and typically just play it week to week via the waiver wire. My results are pretty good that way but I'm curious as to why those people draft defenses when they're still decent players left? How do they know a certain defense will be good? It seems to me that there's a lot of turnover from year to year, especially defensive scores and TOs. What are some indicators of who will be good and is a top defense really that much better than a middling one points wise?

The top 2 or 3 are generally pretty safe picks, but not necessarily the highest scoring Ds. Some of the DSTs drafted in rounds 9 and 10 will be on the free agent list by October. Playing week to week has always worked well for me too.

 

[Barilko]

I may at times grab one a little earlier than 2nd last round

but really i do prefer the week to week method also....

 

[TREFF]

Cant stand the week to week method. I always want a solid D. BUT, if people are drafting them too early for my liking..I will just grab one that has a good return game late and hope for the best.

 

[SmokingMonkey]

I like defenses that can get sacks.
more times you hit the QB, more likely to create a turnover, imo.

Hard to say though, all DEFs go through hot/cold streaks. usually only 1 or 2 are great to have week-to-week, and those are the ones that usually get drafted way too early for me to get them

 

[Shanemansj13]

As long as you get the Browns' defense you will be fine.

 

[Shanemansj13]

I agree. I have always done this and seen most other players with the same strategy.

Here are top defenses anyway, even thpugh the rankings really don't matter much.
Fantasy 2013 Rankings: Defense/Special Teams - ESPN

 

[Jims_Doors]

In my league, (when going head to head) the teams D that gives up the lesser amount of yards gets 5pts. So it's makes some draft team D's earlier than most would.

 

[JDM]

I just go the patriots kicker and defense and keep them started during their bye. I'm not all that concerned with it.

 

[obxyankeefan]

The main league I am in is IDP, but I do like to fill out my starting lineup then start on backups. So yes I will draft a defense/Kicker earlier then most, but I try to get one that I can just plug in and forget.

 

[Sam Sportboy]

I just go the patriots kicker and defense and keep them started during their bye. I'm not all that concerned with it.

We had guys doing that in my money league to save from paying the $3 WW but for two straight years we had teams end up missing the playoffs so we changed the rules and an illegal line up is $5 the first time and it goes up $5 each time after. Bigger than shit we had to fine like 5 guys last year.

 

[Barilko]

We had guys doing that in my money league to save from paying the $3 WW but for two straight years we had teams end up missing the playoffs so we changed the rules and an illegal line up is $5 the first time and it goes up $5 each time after. Bigger than shit we had to fine like 5 guys last year.

Nice Great idea

 

[Microwahevo]

Cant stand the week to week method

Curious as to why? I have always done the week-by-week method. More times than not there's always a good matchup. What makes u feel so strongly against it?

 

[JDM]

We had guys doing that in my money league to save from paying the $3 WW but for two straight years we had teams end up missing the playoffs so we changed the rules and an illegal line up is $5 the first time and it goes up $5 each time after. Bigger than shit we had to fine like 5 guys last year.

Missed the playoffs how?

I don't do it religiously but I've probably won more than half my games where I did so. If defense can get negative points as well (like the one I joined with you guys) there is more of an argument against this, but I have never played in a league that would punish you for leaving a spot empty before.

 

[Sam Sportboy]

Missed the playoffs how?
.

Two times we had teams lose a game by 1 point in the last 4 years that had the team that didn't field a complete team would have won and it pushed the other team that did win into the playoffs and left two different teams sol....................also, it affected our draft as this is a keeper league. Night sound like small stuff but when you pay your money and you get screwed out of the playoffs you tend to get pissed. BTW, I was never one of those teams (but I did get screwed in the draft because of it one year).

 

[JDM]

Oh, I could see that. I thought you meant they cost themselves the playoffs. I'd be pissed of someone lost me a playoff berth like that too.

My reasoning when I have done that is I didn't want to give up the roster spot or lose my defense, and I have generally won. A fine like that makes sense, but I would think about taking it (playoff implications might change that scale. Not trying to screw someone by giving someone else a gimme win).

 

[TREFF]

Curious as to why? I have always done the week-by-week method. More times than not there's always a good matchup. What makes u feel so strongly against it?

First and foremost a solid defense is a solid defense against nearly anyone, occasionally the elite offenses can ding you, but not always.
Secondly even a "good" matchup with a suspect defense can blow up in your face. And thirdly, I'd much rather just set them in that slot and never worry about it again (aside from the bye of course). There are enough things to worry about week to week..who's my WR2 this week? Who's my flex? And in even worse cases, my QB?
And then, lastly, my favorite reason, in tgat week that you MUST win to get into the playoffs, or worse, stay alive in the playoffs, there are no good matchups. Never a good idea, IMHO to leave a required starting slot up to the waiver wire, there's never a guarantee that there 8s a realistic option available. But, if you have a SEa, SF, HOUS, BALT, CHIC..you know you have a better than average chance of a decent score on D.