Choosing A Week One Fantasy Defense
Before we start, I know–no one ever wants to talk about defenses or kickers. Their historic volatility makes them nearly impossible to predict for fantasy purposes. In fact, there hasn’t been a single team in the past five years that has repeated as the top fantasy defense. As such, a vast majority of drafters wait until their last two picks to select defense and kicker. However, while most just draft the next team up in the queue, some simple strategy can give you a distinct edge in deciding the unit you want as your Week One fantasy defense. These four units are perfect streamers to kickoff the season with.
Dallas Cowboys vs New York Giants
Currently the 13th team drafted, the Cowboys start their season off with a Sunday Night Prime time game in Dallas against the Giants. The Cowboys were a mid-tiered fantasy option during last season, finishing 17th over the course of the season. However, the Giants were a mid-to-lower tiered offense, finishing 16th in points per game, and tied for 18th in giveaways, averaging over one giveaway per game.
It’s difficult to have a worse off-season than the Giants offense had. First and most notably, the Giants traded Odell Beckham Jr. to the Browns, removing one of the best receivers in football from an already average offense. Second, the Giants replaced Beckham with Golden Tate, who was given a four-game suspension for a performance-enhancing drugs violation. Third, Sterling Shepard broke his thumb early in training camp, and while he may be ready for week one, it is unlikely Shepard will be 100%. Between the destroyed receiving corps and the deterioration of Eli Manning‘s skill set, the Cowboys look ready to feast Week One.
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Seattle Seahawks vs Cincinnati Bengals
The 12th man will be in full swing as the Seahawks host the Bengals in Week One. While the ‘Legion of Boom’ may not be what it once was, Seattle finished as the eighth best fantasy defense in 2018. Drafted as the 17th defense, they have a mouth-watering Week One matchup against Cincinnati.
The Bengals had their struggles in 2018, finishing 17th in points per game and giving up 37 sacks. This off-season has been marred by injury. A.J. Green, who underwent ankle surgery on July 30, will miss the first few games of the season. On the line, first-round pick Jonah Williams tore his labrum and will likely miss the duration of the season. Then, left guard Clint Boling retired due to the discovery of a blood clot in his right leg. Lastly, replacement-left tackle Cordy Glenn suffered a concussion and is questionable for Week One. Andy Dalton is in line for a rough time.
Baltimore Ravens At Miami Dolphins
Though the Ravens are the fourth team off the board, drafters are rewarded with a tantalizing matchup against the Dolphins. The Ravens finished as the fifth best fantasy defense in 2018, and look to go against the grain by repeating as a top-level defense.
The Dolphins were putrid on offense last year, giving up a whopping 52 sacks and 23 giveaways. In order to “fix” their QB situation, Miami traded away Ryan Tannehill and traded a second-round pick for Josh Rosen, who had a horrific start to his career. Additionally, the Dolphins brought in the notorious turnover machine of Ryan Fitzpatrick. Regardless of who starts at quarterback, the Ravens will likely get off to a hot start.
Denver Broncos At Oakland Raiders
If there has been one consistent defensive fantasy force over the past five years, it is the Denver Broncos. With Von Miller leading the way, the Broncos are always a threat for a multiple takeaway game. The unit is getting back to full health, and has a quality matchup against the Raiders in the second game of the Monday night double-header. They are currently being drafted as the 11th fantasy defense.
The Raiders have been the talk of the town in the football community, and not for the right reasons. Antonio Brown is an enormous distraction, with both his frost-bitten feet and his tirade over not being able to wear the helmet he desires, even threatening to retire over it. The Raiders struggled to keep Derek Carr upright last season and are introducing a rookie running back and two new wide receivers to their offense. If this doesn’t go perfectly for the Raiders, this game will quickly turn into a nightmare.
