Defensive Team By Waiver Wire (DTBWW): Week 5

Oct 02, 2012
Defensive Team By Waiver Wire (DTBWW): Week 5

For those of you new to Defensive Team By Waiver Wire (DTBWW), the strategy goes like this: Each week, you target a mediocre defense on the waiver wire, looking for a good matchup, preferably at home. You will typically get good defensive production without having to burn a semi-valuable pick on draft day. Or if you do draft a DT and they start to disappoint, you can use DTBWW the rest of the way.

I have been writing this feature for three years and in 2009, my top three weekly picks averaged DT5 numbers. In 2010, they averaged DT6 numbers. Last year, they averaged DT7 numbers. So the system works pretty well.
Generally, defenses have to be available on the waiver wire in at least 40% of ESPN fantasy leagues to be eligible. This ensures that we are talking about defenses that are readily available.
Let's see how we did last week:
1. Cardinals (12 fantasy points, DT9)
2. Cowboys (4 fp, DT20)
3. Broncos (10 fp, DT12)
4. Giants (6 fp, DT15)
5. Chargers (24 fp, DT4)
6. Bengals (14 fp, DT8)
Outside of the Cowboys, this was a very solid week for DTBWW, with four of the six picks scoring 10+ points. The Cowboys DT shouldn't be held responsible for Tony Romo's pick-sixes, but unfortunately many leagues are set up that way.
Let's take a look at Week 5:
Cardinals (@ STL)
Arizona DT owners are going to want to HOLD another week. The Rams are 28th in Adjusted Fantasy Points Allowed (aFPA) to opposing defenses and the Cardinals are very solid on that side of the ball. The Cardinals are no longer available on 40% of waiver wires, but I want those that picked them up in the last two weeks to stay the course. The Bills are on deck in Week 6.
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