Fantasy Football Team Defense Rankings: Week 11

Here are the team defenses that you should go for or stay away from if your team is underperforming:

Start regardless of matchups (including teams on bye): Tennessee Titans, Chicago Bears, Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers.

Three Matchups To Target

Miami Dolphins (vs. Oakland Raiders). This one is not my choice solely because I pick whoever is playing the Raiders. The Dolphins' defense has been quite good this year. They have registered 21 sacks in their nine games, they have forced 15 turnovers, and give up just over 20 points a game.

Granted, none of those numbers are among the league leaders or anything, but they are playing an Oakland team who has scored a whopping 16 points in their last three games, are the worst passing team in the NFL, have as many interceptions thrown as touchdown passes, and have allowed 27 sacks in their nine games. Looks like a recipe for success to me.

Arizona Cardinals (vs. Seattle Seahawks). I know, I know. Matt Hasselbeck is back this week. However, do you really think that he will be at his best? Hasselbeck hasn’t played in weeks, and I don’t see him returning to his usual form right away. The Cardinals are among the league’s best with 18 takeaways, and I can see them forcing Hasselbeck to put the ball on the ground and likely pick him off once.

He also won’t be mobile coming off his leg injury which leads me to think a handful of sacks are in order. Since Week Three, the Seahawks have only put up over 20 points once and that was against San Francisco. Don’t expect much from Seattle’s offense and that should lead to another good play in Arizona.

Minnesota Vikings (vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers). The Tampa Bay Bucs haven’t exactly been a great offensive team this year, and the Vikings defense has been pretty solid. They are among the best against the run, and they have improved against the pass.

The Vikes have sacked the quarterback 25 times led by Jared Allen and ever emerging linebacker Chad Greenway. This is more of a gut call than one of the choices backed by statistics. I think the Bucs will be shut down by the Vikings and Minnesota will do enough other things to get you decent fantasy points.

Three Matchups To Avoid

Seattle Seahawks (vs. Arizona Cardinals). Have you seen the Seahawks defense this season? If you have then there is no reason to read any further. The only redeeming factor that they have is that they are good at rushing the quarterback. They are in the top 10 in quarterback sacks, but that is the only positive that I can find.

They give up nearly 26 points a game, they have only forced nine turnovers in nine games, and the Cardinals are among the best offenses in the game. Kurt Warner is a legitimate MVP candidate and they are putting up points with the best offenses in the NFL. Don’t expect that trend to stop this week and the Cards should blow the Seahawks out of the water.

They may be the worst defense to own this week.

Washington Redskins (vs. Dallas Cowboys). By now, we all know that Tony Romo will be returning this weekend. Now, I don’t expect him to go right back to being the Tony Romo that we are used to seeing right away. However, he is a hell of a lot better than what they have been running out there.

He is MUCH more mobile than Brad Johnson, and he makes MUCH better decisions than Brooks Bollinger. I see the Cowboys putting up at least 28 points and Romo is also great at protecting the ball. I predict the Redskins will give up too many points, and not force enough turnovers or pressure Romo enough to make it worth starting them this week.

Kansas City Chiefs (vs. New Orleans Saints). Ok, so the Saints have absolutely no defense. But boy do they know how to score. Drew Brees and his band of speedy receivers will put up 30+ points on the Chiefs this week. Drew Brees doesn’t get touched very often, although he does throw his share of interceptions.

However, I don’t see the Chiefs doing enough of the things fantasy defenses do to score for your team to make up for the number of points that they will allow to the Saints.

As always your comments and questions (adds/drops, trade advice, lineup questions, etc.) are welcome at [e-mail]. I guarantee a response within 18 hours.