I've always loved to play the weekly defense roulette game. It's just another way to prove your smarter than your league-mates. I played the Falcons in 4 leagues last week vs Oakland. That worked out well. Every week "great" defenses give up tons of points (See Baltimore vs Cleveland week 9) and can't be counted on, so why not trade them away for whatever position player you can get and spin the defense roulette wheel. But this year the 2nd half isn't a spin of the wheel at all - just look at the Miami Dolphins upcoming schedule:
Seattle. Oakland. New England. St Louis. Buffalo. San Francisco. Kansas City. New York Jets.
Other than New England - you'd be hard pressed to find 8 more "giving" offensive teams. And let's not forget that Miami did just go into Denver and limit the Broncos to just 17 points. Denver was coming off of a bye week and 3rd in the league in yards per game. So the 'fins can play defense and have one of the best 2nd half schedules we've seen in the last 4 years.
Other teams to pick up:
If you need to make a run to make the playoffs: Carolina is available in many league because of their recent bye week and they play Oakland and Detroit the next two weeks. Use them to make a playoff push.
If you are confident in making the playoffs: Get sneaky. Look at New Orleans, they play Sexy Rexy and the bears in week 15 and then the Lions in week 16. Jackpot right?
If you want to sell a defense? TRADE TAMPA BAY AT YOUR TRADE DEADLINE! They get the Vikings and Lions up next but then comes the Saints, Carolina, Atlanta, and San Diego. 3 of those 4 teams you want nothing to do with during your playoffs. Although if you're a lucky member of a week 17 Fantasy Super Bowl (heavy sigh), you might want to keep them for their bout with the Oakland Raiders. It's moot if you can't get there though! Sell high in 2 weeks if you can! - but who trades for defenses? Never know till you try!
"Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful." ~ Warren Buffett
2 comments Last one added 8 months ago — Leave a Comment
Justin Rattray 8 months ago
Dolphins D is definitly a good pick up, that frankly, should already be owned.....this just in, Joey Porter is putting down a guaran-"sheed" that they rack up big fantasy numbers every week haha. As for New Orleans, I would completely avoid. The Bears will be right in the thick of it at that point, and Orton is only out a month, so he very well could play that game. And Matt Forte is a beast.
And the Lions are gonna be a sleeper offense to enjoy at the end of the year. Culpepper will most likely have the starting job at that point, unless Orlavsky plays his eyes out to keep the job. And if Culpepper is in, we've all seen what he can do with having a tall, fast reciever like a Calvin Johnson. (Randy Moss anyone?)
As for Tampa, I do have them on my team, but I also, have the ravens. They're both top ten fantasy defenses, and Tampa is probably still top 5. If you can pull off a defensive trade, I may nominate you as the biggest Fantasy Football Trade Swinger of all-time. No doubt. Good article tho, fantasy football forever!
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Marc B 8 months ago
The Miami Dolphin Defense is only owned in 25% of CBS Sportsline leagues, and 16% of Yahoo Fantasy leagues. They are largely unowned.
Culpepper? I think you mean fumble-pepper. He's not played well since maybe 2004.
Tampa Bay has only four sacks in their last two games and they've not found any interceptions against some very green QBs recently. I was able to trade Tampa Defense for Torian in a league last week.
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