Overlooked Draft Day Secrets: Defense Edition
To find out more overlooked draft day secrets, check out our previous articles:
Like kickers, the defense position has been notoriously undervalued in fantasy football. Most people will wait until they have three or so rounds left before they even bother looking at the defense position. It has a lot of variation, and due to injuries and changes from year to year it’s hard to predict what the best fantasy defenses are going to be. They are also highly reliant on touchdowns and turnovers which are harder to replicate year after year. There are some defenses that are talented and safe enough that they should be taken much earlier in the draft and they might even outscore some of your position players. Here are three defenses we expect to bring significant benefits if taken before the end of the draft:
Jacksonville Jaguars Defense:
This one seems obvious for anyone who played fantasy football last season. With young stars in the secondary like Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye locking down the passing attack, while Calais Campbell, Malik Jackson and the rest of the Jags front seven wreak havoc on opposing offensive lines, the Jags defense has very few holes to exploit. They led fantasy football defense and special teams last year with 203 fantasy points which is better than all but 2 wide receivers in standard leagues! They were also 79 points better than the 10th fantasy defense, which shows that whoever had the Jags was getting big point differential each week in defense. In fact, the Jags defense scored almost 5 points more per game than the 10th best team. They also have retained a large portion of what made them such a successful team last year, and even added more depth through the draft. Expect the Jaguars to be a top 3 defense this season, and they should be taken as early as the 8th round.
Los Angeles Rams Defense:
The Rams took one of the best defenses in the league last season and revamped it with some new faces. Looking over your offensive line and seeing Suh and Donald, two of the best defensive tackles in the NFL, must be a scary view. Put that with the additions of Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib on the back end, and the Rams now have one of the best defenses on paper, and they have the talent necessary to take the next step. There are still questions as to how all of those personalities will mesh and produce, but they are the best bet to be this years’ breakout defense. The Rams should be valued slightly lower than the Jags based on being less proven, but after putting up 170 points last season and finishing third in fantasy points among defenses, they should be expected to put up similar if not better numbers this season. They should be a top 5 defense and taken in the 9th or 10th round.
Philadelphia Eagles Defense:
The Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles had a phenomenal run last year and the defense played a big part in keeping them in games, especially when Wentz was out. This already strong defense should have the depth to replace some of the players it lost in the offseason, and could even improve with the development of younger players in the secondary and the addition of Michael Bennett. They finished tied with the Rams for the 3rd best fantasy defense with 170 points. They have also finished at least top three in three of the last four seasons. They will also improve in the special teams’ category with the return of Darren Sproles. Look for the Eagles to continue their success and have another top 5 finish. They should be drafted around the 9th or 10th round as well.
The difference between a good defense and a bad one in fantasy football is huge. Sometimes good defenses in real life can be underwhelming in fantasy due to lack of turnovers or touchdowns. If you are fortunate enough to get an elite fantasy defense such as the Jaguars last season, they could be one of your highest scoring players outside of the quarterback position, yet you can take them in the middle of your draft. There is not another position scoring +200 plus that you can get after the 4th round, which is why defense should be valued highly and taken before you start working on your bench players. If you are in a league that includes a lot of trades, try to trade for a better defense if someone is interested in one of your bench players. Nobody likes losing by a couple points, and an elite defense is just the thing you need to turn the tables in your favor.