Andy Behrens of Yahoo! discusses the dilemma of when to take a fantasy defense, focusing on the Minnesota Viking defense in particular.
I actually think the Viking Defense will be a fantasy disappointment. They will improve as a defense overall, and for fantasy purposes, they should have more sacks, fewer points allowed per game, and a solid number of turnovers. But the Vikes had a ridiculous number of defensive touchdowns last season. I don't think it likely the Vikes will have close to eight (EIGHT!) defensive touchdowns again--that's just fantastic, and requires too many breaks to happen again.
So the Vikings will likely be clumped in with a lot of good defenses in fantasy points. And that's fine--they'll be good. But somebody (especially in drafts filled with Viking fans) is going to take the Viking Defense too early, passing on position players that could help a team, and being disappointed when a handful of fantasy defenses drafted a few rounds later outperform the Vikes. I'm actually the only fantasy owner in the six-year history of the Hazelwierd League to ever have the Viking Defense on my roster. That's going to change this year.
Then again, in a Snake Draft, you can't think that way--you have to target the players you really want, and take them when you can get them. So, Viking fans, feel good if you do draft the Viking defense. You'll still get to root for the entire squad (which you would anyway), and get fantasy points out of it too.
I don't know... they had an uncanny number of defensive touchdowns in 06-07 too. I wouldn't be surprised to see the trend continue, even if they don't match last year's 8.
ReplyDeleteI think they'll be a top-5 fantasy defense, but it's pretty hard to predict fantasy defenses from year to year. That's why I think Viking fans in particular, looking at nine D/ST TDs last season, will take them a few rounds early. But if you're a Viking fan, I'd still probably say do it--you'll have more pleasure with the Viking D than with whatever fourth-stringer you'd draft.
ReplyDeleteI may also be one of those taking them way too early just out of homerism. The Hazelweird League is full of Viking and Packer homers.
The Vikings also scored, what, three or four defensive touchdowns in the preseason last summer?
ReplyDeleteI'm not saying they don't have guys with a knack for this sort of thing. But I'd also say they were somewhat lucky. I wouldn't expect it to happen again.