Fantasy Football Week 9 Rankings: Team Defense and IDP

Here are my Week 9 team defense rankings.

1. New England @ Cleveland

2. Green Bay @ Dallas

3. New York Giants @ Seattle

4. Chicago @ Buffalo

5. New Orleans @ Carolina

6. Minnesota vs. Arizona

7. New York Jets @ Detroit

8. Buffalo vs. Chicago

9. Atlanta vs. Tampa Bay

10. Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati

11. Baltimore vs. Miami

12. Oakland vs. Kansas City

13. Arizona @ Minnesota

14. Seattle vs. New York Giants

15. Detroit @ New York Jets

Inside the numbers:

• Dallas has no heart. After manhandling the Jets, the Packers will bring it to the Cowboys.
• Charlie Whitehurst is starting for the Seahawks. The Giants are licking their chops.
• Derek Anderson is starting for the Cardinals this week. For the second straight week I think a defense will step up with its back against the wall. I was WRONG with Dallas this week, but I think the Vikings have more heart.
• Last week seemed like an ideal time for Carolina to show something against the Rams. They didn’t, and that only leads me to believe the Saints will have their way with them this week.
• Detroit isn’t the pushover they once were. They won’t put up huge numbers against the Jets, but they won’t get shut down either. I also think their defense will do decently this week.
• Who would have thought the Bills defense would actually be a borderline starter? The way Jay Cutler gets sacked and throws picks, though, it has become a reality.

Here are my Week 9 IDP rankings.

1. Jerod Mayo (NE) @ CLE: 59 tackles in the past four games.

2. Chad Greenway (MIN) vs. ARI: 45 tackles in the past four games.

3. Lawrence Timmons (PIT) @ CIN: Bounced back with 12 tackles last week.

4. A.J. Hawk (GB) vs. DAL: Should bounce back from a five-tackle game against Dallas.

5. James Anderson (CAR) vs. NO: At least eight tackles in every game this year.

6. Donte Whitner (BUF): 53 tackles in past five games.

7. Paul Posluszny (BUF) vs. CHI: 17 tackles last week, 47 in last four games.

8. Ray Lewis (BAL) vs. MIA: 24 tackles in the past two weeks.

9. Bernard Pollard (HOU) vs. SD: Averaging 9.3 tackles per game this year.

10. Paris Lenon (ARI) vs. MIN: Slowed of late, but heavy dose of AP should bring him back.

11. T.J. Ward (CLE) vs. NE: Pats’ quick slants should lead to plenty of tackles.

12. Curtis Lofton (ATL) vs. TB: Averaging 8.3 tackles per game on the year.

13. Derrick Johnson (KC) @ OAK: Oakland’s ground game should keep him busy.

14. Dawan Landry (BAL) vs. MIA: 22 tackles in past two weeks.

15. James Harrison (PIT) @ CIN: 49 tackles and six sacks on the year.

Also check out:

• Week 9 Get ‘em or Don’t Sweat ‘em Waiver Wire Advice
• Week 9 Fantasy QB Rankings
• Week 9 Fantasy RB Rankings
• Week 9 Fantasy WR Rankings
• Week 9 Fantasy TE Rankings
• Week 9 Fantasy K Rankings
• Week 9 Sit-Start Advice
• Week 9 Fantasy Sleepers
• Midseason Buy Low Candidates
• Midseason Sell High Candidates