Defensive Team By Waiver Wire: Week 10
John Paulsen, Contributing Editor
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 a couple of years (at another site) and in 2009, my top three weekly picks averaged DT5 numbers. In 2010, they averaged DT6 numbers. So the system works pretty well.
To be eligible, defenses have to be available on the waiver wire in at least 40% of ESPN fantasy leagues. This ensures that we are talking about defenses that are readily available.
Let's see how we did last week:
1. Chiefs (0 fantasy points, DT26)
2. Bills (5 fp, DT17)
3. Raiders (-2 fp, DT28)
4. Cardinals (16 fp, DT1)
Good grief. I did pick the top DT of the week (ARI, tied with GB), but they were my fourth suggestion and the other three did diddly-squat. I also suggested HOU (12 fp, DT5) and ATL (10 fp, DT10), but they weren't technically eligible so they don't count.
The Chiefs' implosion against a very suspect Miami offense is inexplicable, as was the Raiders' pathetic performance against Tim Tebow and Co.
On the season, DTBWW is averaging 10.4 fantasy points, which equate to DT7 numbers.
Let's take a look at Week 10:
The Bengals aren't eligible, but I trust Cincy's defense more than any other DT on this list, so I'd be happy to start them against the Steelers, given how many sacks Big Ben takes.
Browns (vs. STL)
The Rams are the second-best matchup for opposing DTs this year and the Browns have scored well against bad competition (12.3 points against IND, MIA and SEA).
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