Fantasy Football
Team Defenses by Steve Siniski
1. Baltimore
Ravens
If you thought the Ravens’ Super Bowl winning defense was great a few years ago, this one could be even better. Adding linebacker Tommy Polley and cornerback Samari Rolle to a unit that already featured the NFL’s interception leader (Ed Reed), Chris McAlister, and that guy named Ray Lewis should be unfair. Throw in the developing Terrell Suggs and Adalius Thomas and the Ravens will be stopping touchdowns and scoring them on the defensive side of the field. The only downside is the change from a 3-4 base to 4-3, but these guys are tried-and-true veterans so the learning curve shouldn’t be too bad.
TDs Sacks INTs Fumble
Recoveries
8 39 21 13
2. Carolina
Panthers
End Julius Peppers and cornerback Chris Gamble form one of the more formidable one-two punches around the league. Peppers has a nose for the ball like an aardvark, racking up 11 sacks, nine passes defended, four forced fumbles, two interceptions and a partridge in a pear tree. Gamble, meanwhile, picked off six balls and helped anchor a unit that paced the NFL with 38 total takeaways. Though the Panthers are several notches below Baltimore in fantasy terms, they still have to be considered one of the best around.
TDs Sacks INTs Fumble
Recoveries
3 34 26 12
3. Tampa Bay
Buccaneers
Jon Gruden’s defense has been forced to compensate for Tampa’s offensive shortcomings far too often during his tenure. It’s led to the stop unit getting worn down late in games or trying too hard to make a game-altering play. Now that Gruden has all of his scoring ducks in a row, the defense will get much-needed rest time between possessions. The frontline of Simeon Rice, Anthony McFarland, Chris Hovan and Greg Spires is fearsome, while Derrick Brooks can still dominate games at linebacker. Throw in Ronde Barber (13 passes defended, three picks, two touchdowns) and its safe to say the Bucs will continue coming away with their share of fantasy booty.
TDs Sacks INTs Fumble
Recoveries
4 45 16 11
4. Buffalo
Bills
The Bills had the league’s No. 2 overall defense last year, and plenty of high-powered fantasy performers leading the way. No team scored more special teams touchdowns than Buffalo (five), while only two had more takeaways. Thanks to London Fletcher (144 tackles), Takeo Spikes (five interceptions, two touchdowns), Aaron Schobel (eight sacks, five forced fumbles, three recoveries) and Nate Clements (six interceptions, one touchdown), Buffalo remains one of the most productive fantasy defenses around.
TDs Sacks INTs Fumble
Recoveries
9 45 24 15
5. New
England Patriots
In leagues that use team defense, the Patriots are easily one of the best. They finished third in points per game (16.3), recovered 16 fumbles and racked up 36 total takeaways. The potential holdout of Richard Seymour would hurt, because he is the No. 1 individual defender, but as we’ve all come to expect, head coach Bill Belichick doesn’t build his empire around a single player.
TDs Sacks INTs Fumble
Recoveries
5 45 20 16
6. Chicago
Bears
The offense generally gets all the ink, and Chicago’s offseason retooling on that side of the field certainly garnered its share of attention. Despite adding just one key player, linebacker LeVar Woods from Arizona, the Bears will benefit from a year of seasoning. The theme is going to be quickness, a longtime staple of head coach Lovie Smith. Linebacker Brian Urlacher is the biggest name on the unit, but Adewale Ogunleye, Mike Brown and Jerry Azumah are no slackers, either. In fact the trio could actually be considered the backbone because Urlacher is one of the more injury-prone players in the NFL.
TDs Sacks INTs Fumble
Recoveries
7 35 17 12
7.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Linebackers Joey Porter and James Farrior are the headliners, along with safety Troy Polamalu. Surely there were others who contributed to a defense that racked up 32 total turnovers and 41 sacks. Therein lies the Steelers biggest asset—depth. Even the loss of Kendrell Bell won’t have as much of an impact as some think, because the unit is as aggressive as they come. Continued growth from Polamalu could single-handedly catapult the Steel Curtain, which allowed just 81.2 yards rushing and 15.7 points per game, into elite fantasy status.
TDs Sacks INTs Fumble
Recoveries
5 41 19 13
8.
Philadelphia Eagles
Solid, if unspectacular, Philadelphia should return to the upper echelon of fantasy defenses. Unlike the offense, there are no studs. Jevon Kearse did little to shed his label as injury prone, missing two games, and disappointing fans even when healthy (31 tackles). Luckily, the Eagles have quiet, unassuming producers in Jeremiah Trotter, Corey Simon, Lito Sheppard and Brian Dawkins. In the same fashion as New England, the Eagles take the team approach.
TDs Sacks INTs Fumble
Recoveries
2 47 17 11
9.
Washington Redskins
If Sean Taylor misses any of 2005 because of his legal issues, it would affect what could be a strong Washington defense. The ‘Skins are well-rounded at linebacker and the secondary, but keep in mind cornerback Fred Smoot jumped shipped during the offseason. Walt Harris and Shawn Springs are excellent corners, but the depth is already an issue for the backliners. Washington is a defense moving down the charts as Draft Day approaches.
TDs Sacks INTs Fumble
Recoveries
1 40 18 8
10. Atlanta
Falcons
What was the message from head coach Jim Mora, Jr.? Simple, yet something straight out of a high school cheerleading team’s practice…Be Aggressive. B-E Aggressive. B-E A-G-G-R-E-S-S-I-V-E. Atlanta led the league with 49 sacks, scored five touchdowns and averaged two takeaways per game. Keith Brooking is the stud at outside linebacker, but Edgerton Hartwell takes over in the middle where he could actually lead the Falcons in stops. Signal-callers must beware of end Patrick Kerney, who comes off a 13-sack campaign.
TDs Sacks INTs Fumble
Recoveries
6 48 19 13
11.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Jack Del Rio’s defense is following the footsteps of his offense. The youth movement is in full swing, and the core of the stop unit is just as talented. Sacks were an issue last year, but has the potential for a huge boost in 2005 because tackles John Henderson and Marcus Stroud are massive space eaters in the middle. The linebacker trio is currently among the unsung units in the league, though Akin Ayodele and Mike Peterson can certainly be considered playmakers. Peterson’s the anchor and comes off his third straight 100-tackle campaign. The sleeper in the group is Daryl Smith, and Nate Wayne, formerly of Green Bay packs some impressive punch.
TDs Sacks INTs Fumble
Recoveries
0 37 16 12
12. N.Y.
Giants
If Michael Strahan can return to even 90 percent of himself after a torn pectoral muscle ended his year at eight games, the Giants will become a solid fantasy defense. The pressure he exerts on an offense allows everyone else to make plays, and Big Blue brings aboard a beauty in that category—linebacker Antonio Pierce. The secondary is respectable thanks to the presence of Will Allen and Shaun Williams.
TDs Sacks INTs Fumble
Recoveries
4 40 14 14
13. Dallas
Cowboys
The Cowboys defense had a freefall in 2004, finishing 27th in points allowed (25.3 per game), but the ‘05 NFL Draft helped Bill Parcells stockpile in all the right places. There’s some semblance of a pass rush in rookies DeMarcus Ware and Marcus Spears and Roy Williams still anchors the secondary. If Terrance Newman decides to live up to his potential, things would get tough in a hurry for opposing offenses.
TDs Sacks INTs Fumble
Recoveries
0 33 13 9
14.
Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati will do more than just score touchdowns behind Carson Palmer. Much like the offense, the Bengals defense is young and capable of frustrating opponents. After returning four interceptions for touchdowns last year, Cincinnati beefed up the linebacking unit with rookies David Pollack and Odell Thurman. The dynamic duo lends support to a solid secondary, while also supporting the big heavies on the line. Fifth in takeaways (30), look for the Bengals to generate a much better pass rush, and in turn, even more big plays.
TDs Sacks INTs Fumble
Recoveries
5 37 20 16
15.
Minnesota Vikings
It’s taken quite a long time, but the Vikings have finally figured out that football is a two-way game. No matter how much firepower the offense has, the defense is still accountable for keeping things in order. The shipment of Randy Moss to Oakland netted linebacker Napoleon Harris, but the movement didn’t stop there. Stud corner Fred Smoot came over from Washington, tackle Pat Williams jumped off the Bills ship and Sam Cowart jetted in from Gang Green. The mix of young and old could catapult what has been a historically awful defense.
TDs Sacks INTs Fumble
Recoveries
3 39 11 11
16. N.Y.
Jets
TDs Sacks INTs Fumble
Recoveries
4 37 19 14
17. Denver
Broncos
TDs Sacks INTs Fumble
Recoveries
2 38 12 8
18. Arizona
Cardinals
TDs Sacks INTs Fumble
Recoveries
2 38 15 15
19. San
Diego Chargers
TDs Sacks INTs Fumble
Recoveries
2 29 23 10
20. Detroit
Lions
TDs Sacks INTs Fumble
Recoveries
5 38 14 10
21. New
Orleans Saints
TDs Sacks INTs Fumble
Recoveries
3 37 13 20
22. Seattle
Seahawks
TDs Sacks INTs Fumble
Recoveries
3 36 23 12
23. Kansas
City Chiefs
TDs Sacks INTs Fumble
Recoveries
4 41 13 8
24. Miami
Dolphins
TDs Sacks INTs Fumble
Recoveries
2 26 15 10
25. St.
Louis Rams
TDs Sacks INTs Fumble
Recoveries
3 34 6 9
26. Green
Bay Packers
TDs Sacks INTs Fumble
Recoveries
5 40 8 7
27.
Indianapolis Colts
TDs Sacks INTs Fumble
Recoveries
4 45 19 17
28. Houston
Texans
TDs Sacks INTs Fumble
Recoveries
5 24 22 8
29. Oakland
Raiders
TDs Sacks INTs Fumble
Recoveries
1 25 9 9
30.
Tennessee Titans
TDs Sacks INTs Fumble
Recoveries
2 32 18 12
31.
Cleveland Browns
TDs Sacks INTs Fumble
Recoveries
2 32 15 13
32. San
Francisco 49ers
TDs Sacks INTs Fumble
Recoveries
3 29 9 12