Defensive Team By Waiver Wire (DTBWW): Week 9

Oct 29, 2013

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. The strategy is also called streaming defenses.

I have been writing a DTBWW feature for four years -- offering readers several available-on-the-waiver-wire DT picks each week -- and they averaged DT5, DT6, DT7 and DT10 numbers from 2009 to 2012. DT10 may not sound impressive, but I have been offering more picks each week which may account for the decline. Still, generating top 10 DT numbers off the waiver wire allows fantasy owners to basically ignore the position on draft day, instead focusing on more important areas.

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.

Last week, I recommended the Panthers (8.5 fantasy points, DT15), Saints (11.5, DT9), Packers (9, DT13), Eagles (11.5, DT9), Cowboys (9, DT13) and Raiders (10, DT11). It was a very solid week for DTBWW with none of the picks scoring less than 8.5 fantasy points. On the season, DTBWW is averaging 10.5 FP, or DT11 numbers.

Note: If you picked up the Panthers (vs. ATL), Chiefs (@ BUF) or Packers (vs. CHI) previously, they are nice starts this week. Check our DT rankings to see how they compare to some of the teams below. The Packers have an especially nice schedule coming up (PHI, NYG, MIN).

Let's take a look at the top picks for Week 9:

Cowboys (vs. MIN)
The Cowboys continue to post strong numbers (#3 fantasy defense on the season) and the Vikings are a mess -- they've given up an average of 11.7 points in the last three games.