Team defense strategy

[monster2333]

I've got a couple of good defenses on my roster (Carolina and Arizona) that have helped me get into the playoffs. They both have good matchups this week, but looking ahead to Week 16, neither one has a great matchup. Because of that, I'm looking at other options for Week 16 (either the championship or 3rd place game, depending if I win or lose this week).

 

There seems to be quite a few viable options involving bad offenses in Week 16, but I'd sure hate myself if I rolled the dice on something like Tampa or Detroit's D, only to have Carolina have a big "payback" game against NO while they're sitting on the bench.

 

Not asking for specific advice here, just wondering what other Huddlers do in this situation - do you ride your good defense that got you there, or do you grab some other marginal/serviceable defense that's playing against a bad offense?

[MustOfBeenDrunk]

Pick one of two & ride them , drop the other and grab depth somewhere else

[monster2333]

Pick one of two & ride them , drop the other and grab depth somewhere else

 

 

During the course of the season, I agree with this. But I'm thinking about 1 week here - the final week of the season, possibly for the championship. I'm not worried about depth at this point. My 2 keepers for next year are on my roster, there's no "next week" to worry about and the reason I didn't drop one of the defenses this week is that my opponent's defense is weak and I don't want to hand him a good defense with a good matchup this week (Car vs NYJ or Ari @ Ten).

 

Do you "dance with the girl that brung you" or go for the home run against a crappy offense?

[MustOfBeenDrunk]

During the course of the season, I agree with this. But I'm thinking about 1 week here - the final week of the season, possibly for the championship. I'm not worried about depth at this point. My 2 keepers for next year are on my roster, there's no "next week" to worry about and the reason I didn't drop one of the defenses this week is that my opponent's defense is weak and I don't want to hand him a good defense with a good matchup this week (Car vs NYJ or Ari @ Ten).

 

Do you "dance with the girl that brung you" or go for the home run against a crappy offense?

 

 

Like I said , pick one and ride them , look playing the Def Merry-Go-Round is something I never do

You have SEA & CAR getting only 2 & 3 pts last week & ARI & KC getting over 20 pts last week

Its just to much of a crap shoot for a position that can not be OUT of a game because of Injury

That is why if you have a solid Def, plug holes where you may lose a player that falls off a skateboard or sprains an ankle playing a game of horse tonight

 

My waiver and trades were all locked 4-weeks ago and I have been riding BUF

I'm not looking for 20 pts just a Def that won't get shutout

[delusions of grandeur]

Not asking for specific advice here, just wondering what other Huddlers do in this situation - do you ride your good defense that got you there, or do you grab some other marginal/serviceable defense that's playing against a bad offense?

 

 

Without asking specific advice, there is no good way to answer that.

 

In general, if you have one of the top defenses, you start them every week, just temper your expectations a little, but if you have a defense that is middle of the pack or consistently bad against good offenses, then you consider a solid plug-and-play if you're that worried.

 

There are many factors to consider. There isn't some correct formula. It's all situational and specific.

[buddahj]

I streamed defenses this year. Some worked & some didn't. I wish I had a KC or a Carolina type Def. It's a pain every week having to make an additional lineup decision.

[delusions of grandeur]

My waiver and trades were all locked 4-weeks ago and I have been riding BUF

I'm not looking for 20 pts just a Def that won't get shutout

 

 

Same, I gambled and won with the Dallas D first, who although woefully bad were actually a pretty decent fantasy defense up until past weeks because turnovers and such. By the time I knew I'd been ridden them long enough, I had Buffalo ready and waiting for this easy schedule stretch, and it's been nice for the most part.

[MustOfBeenDrunk]

Same, I gambled and won with the Dallas D first, who although woefully bad were actually a pretty decent fantasy defense up until past weeks because turnovers and such. By the time I knew I'd been ridden them long enough, I had Buffalo ready and waiting for this easy schedule stretch, and it's been nice for the most part.

 

I feel you , I never relied on a Def to win me a championship or even a game for that matter but at the same time I don't want them to lose a game for me either , I feel when a Def gets me 8 pts I should win my game if I chose the rest of my starters correct. We get 1pt for fumble recovery , Int or Sack , then total net yards allowed range from 2 to 10 pts , plus special team scoring counts for our def 6pt for TD

[monster2333]

In my league, we get points if they defense gives up less than 17 points and start losing points they give up more than 21. Maybe this isn't that common and that's why I tend to consider the matchup more? So it's not simply sacks, interceptions, fumbles and return TDs - which I agree can be a complete crapshoot.

 

Take Carolina - they've been a solid defense for most of the year (#2 in my league) and I've pretty much rolled with them. Last week they gave up 31 to NO and were worth -2, so they actually would have lost points for my team. That's why I'm debating benching a top 10 (fantasy) defense for a defense that is going up against a bottom 10 (NFL) offense. Not only the chance of an extra pick, fumble, etc., but the just the inability of the offense to put up points goes in my favor as well.

[monster2333]

Without asking specific advice, there is no good way to answer that.

 

In general, if you have one of the top defenses, you start them every week, just temper your expectations a little, but if you have a defense that is middle of the pack or consistently bad against good offenses, then you consider a solid plug-and-play if you're that worried.

 

There are many factors to consider. There isn't some correct formula. It's all situational and specific.

 

 

I agree that there isn't a formula for this. With the scoring in my league, even if I had the KC defense (tops by a large margin), I would still put them on the bench against Denver.

[stevegrab]

Without asking specific advice, there is no good way to answer that.

 

In general, if you have one of the top defenses, you start them every week, just temper your expectations a little, but if you have a defense that is middle of the pack or consistently bad against good offenses, then you consider a solid plug-and-play if you're that worried.

 

There are many factors to consider. There isn't some correct formula. It's all situational and specific.

 

And it depends a lot on how your defensive scoring goes. In our league it is generally very low, only a huge game (lots of sacks and turnovers) or a def TD is going to make a big game. (No ST scoring just DEF).

 

If you're looking at getting maybe 2-4 points instead of a usual 6-8, you have to ask is it worth the move, can you accurately predict what will happen? If instead its a huge difference, maybe a good game is 30 points, and a bad one is 10, then it might be worth plugging some other defense in. No gaurantees and all that jazz.

 

See the part about negative points now and understand more. We can never have negative, no matter the points scored.

Edited December 13, 2013 by stevegrab

[kwolf68]

Streaming defenses or riding em...neither is right (or wrong). Just depends on your situation. I drafted the Ravens and Texans this year and thought I was in great shape. The Texans were garbage and the Ravens mostly were good when at home, but I rode them for the most part, but have become useless of late and with games against the Lions and Pats on tap I've decided to stream for the playoffs. If the Lions/Ravens game was in Baltimore I'd go with it, but they've had ONE good game on the road all year and Detroit has lots of weapons. So you have to just roll with what you got....if I had the Niners, Seahawks, etc....I wouldn't get 'creative', but I don't have that luxury.

[satelliteoflovegm]

I recently heard some good advice that I agreed with, don't start a bad D with a good match-up over a good D with a lesser match-up.

Edited December 15, 2013 by satelliteoflovegm