Defensive Team By Waiver Wire: Week 16

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. Titans (2 fantasy points, DT28)

2. Cardinals (8 fp, DT16)

3. Giants (5 fp, DT22)

4. Seahawks (30 fp, DT1)

5. Dolphins (9 fp, DT14)

Well, I picked the #1 defense of the week, but unfortunately I had them behind the Titans (who laid an egg in a great matchup with the Colts), the Cardinals (who were serviceable) and the Giants (who struggled mightily against Rex Grossman). I also mentioned the Bengals (7 fp, DT19) and the Falcons (23 fp, DT2), but they weren't technically eligible for DTBWW since they were owned in slightly more than 60% of ESPN leagues.

It was a rough week for DTs in general. Other than the 49ers (18 fp), the top fantasy DTs did not produce. The Ravens (0), the Bears (5), the Packers (4), the Lions (5), the Texans (2), the Jets (7) and the Steelers (4) were all well below average.

On the season, DTBWW is averaging 10.4 fantasy points per game, which are DT6 numbers.

Let's take a look at the top DT picks for Week 16:

The matchup isn't great -- the 49ers just aren't very generous to opposing DTs -- but the Seahawks DT is on fire right now. They've scored 15+ in three straight games and have scored 11+ in five of their last six.