2011 FANTASY DEFENSE RANKINGS
I am ranking the top 15 defenses in the league for the 2011 season based on past injuries, off-season moves, depth chart changes and new faces in new places. Regardless, do your research, follow this guideline and you will be successful in your upcoming fantasy season.
(1) Pittsburgh Steelers
Dick Lebeau’s defense has finished in the top 2 in sacks the last 3 seasons. 2011 should be no different for fantasy football’s top rated defense.
(2) Green Bay Packers
After making the transition from the 4-3 defense to their newly reformed 3-4, the Packers are a force in and out of the fantasy world. With such standouts as Clay Matthews, Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams headlining the champs vaunted defense.
(3) New York Jets
It is pretty much the same defense from last year which was impressive nevertheless. Reevis Island leads a swarming group of men that fly around the ball. With the expanding Jets offense, this unit should be on the field a lot less this season, while causing a few more turnovers as teams will be trying desperately to comeback late in ballgames against the Jets. The defense will be able to sack the quarterback or wait for those QB’s to make passing mistakes.
(4) Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles linbacking core is not as strong as it has been in the past. Rookie Casey Matthews who is the brother of 2010 Defensive Player of the Year, Clay Matthews, should be starting at linebacker for Philly. The two unbelievable defensive back additions in the off-season of Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominque Ridgers-Cromartie complete a stout secondary that may not have a pass completed on them all season (that was a joke). Enjoy this unit, but know they come with some holes in the front seven and are vulnerable to the top end running backs of the league.
(5) Baltimore Ravens
It seems like these guys are always in the top 5 for fantasy defense each season. As long as top defensive tackle in the league Haloti Ngata, top tier linebacker Terrell Suggs and the legendary safety Ed Reed are healthy and in the fold, alongside team captain and inspirational lead Ray Lewis, this defense will be stellar once again in ’11.
(6)Chicago Bears
Just outside my top 5 are my beloved Bears. They feature a fast, but aging defense. Julius Peppers, Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs headline Chicago’s front seven. If the Bears played on field turf, as opposed to the disaster they line up on every Sunday, this would annually be one of the most lethal defensive units on the planet, moreover than usual. However, while still playing on the natural stuff, they’ll finish just outside the top 5.
(7) San Diego Chargers
With the addition of Bob Sanders teaming up with top-notch safety talent Eric Weddle, a tackling machine, the Bolts are prepared to shut the AFC West down. This may be the best San Diego defense in years, even with the departure of defensive coordinator Ron Rivera to Carolina where he is taking over as head coach.
(8) Atlanta Falcons
John Abraham just doesn’t lose a step. This season should be no different as Ray Edwards has been added to the mix to help eliminate some of the attention paid to the Atlanta defensive end. This is a consistent unit who won’t blow your doors off with upside. But, they will be very serviceable for the better part of the season and that’s all you can ask for with a defense in fantasy football.
(9) New Orleans Saints
For some reason, for as many points as this defense allows, they always seem to be the best free agent defense available when the fantasy season begins. Then some owners grab them as a spot start for one Sunday and decides to ride them out for the remainder of the year. This is what will happen with the ultra aggressive and turnover happy Saints squad once again, in 2011.
(10) Detroit Lions
Yep, I said it. The Lions will finish in the top 10 this season with the addition of Nick Fairley through the Draft. Add him to a nasty bunch that already features Ndamukong Suh, Kyle Vanden Bosch, Corey Williams and Cliff Avril and you have yourself one of the elite front seven’s in all of football by the end of the 2011 season. I can’t wait to see what kind of havoc Suh and Fairley can create together. You will love this fantasy force for years to come.
(11) Miami Dolphins
With the anemic Dolphins offense, this unit will be on the field all season long. That could be a good or bad thing depending on how you look at it. They most likely will allow a few more points, but most assuredly they will create turnovers and sacks on a regular basis. Cameron Wake is an emerging star in the league, coupled by Carlos Dansby and Vontae Davis at their respective positions, and you have three elite defenders in the 2011 class. They will get stronger as the season goes along, so don’t give up on them early on if they struggle a bit out of the gates. That is normal Miami Dolphin football for you that we have been accustomed to by now.
(12) New York Giants
I like this defense somewhat this season. I believe with the front four highlighted by Justin Tuck, this team is always in for a solid season. The sacks may never quite equate to their past few seasons when they boasted Strahan, but Usi Umenyiora is still one of the elite’s at his positon. They will allow some excess amounts of offense once in awhile during the season when a top-flight offense like Dallas comes to town. Simply, bench them for those games and get them back in there the next week because on most weeks they wont let you down.
(13) San Francisco 49ers
I’m not as down on these guys as most experts this season. Two seasons removed from their 2009 top scoring defensive fantasy season, Pat Willis and company are amped up for the 2011 campaign. The signing of Carlos Rogers will without a doubt help solidfy their secondary. Dashon Goldson is also a force at the safety position in San Fran.
(14) Oakland Raiders
The Raiders surprised a lot of people last season, and will do much of the same this year. Even with the loss of the best cornerback in the league to the Eagles, Oakland is ready for another solid season from a young bunch of guys that swarm around the field. The Raiders were the only team to go undefeated in division play last year, going 6-0 against the AFC West. This year, they should be a bit more disciplined to play more consistently on a week to week basis.
(15) New England Patriots
Somehow, someway I don’t feel good about this selection. I feel they are too far back in my rankings for a Bill Belichick led team. By the end of the season, he will have them playing like a top defense in the league. Headliner’s Jerrod Mayo, Pat Chung and Albert Haynesworth lead this unit from each level of the defense. The offensive teams in the AFC East are so terrible on offense, the Pats may actually be a top 10 defense by the end of 2011.
Just Missed The List….Dallas Cowboys, Carolina Panthers, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings
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(1) Pittsburgh Steelers
Dick Lebeau’s defense has finished in the top 2 in sacks the last 3 seasons. 2011 should be no different for fantasy football’s top rated defense
(2) Green Bay Packers
After making the transition from the 4-3 defense to the newly reformed 3-4, the Packers are a force in and out of the fantasy world. With such standouts as Clay Matthews, Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams headline the champs vaunted defense.
(3) New York Jets
It is pretty much the same defense from last year which was impressive nevertheless. Reevis Island leads a swarming group of men that fly around the ball. With the expanding Jets offense, this unit should be on the field a lot less this season
(4) Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles linbacking core is not as strong as has been in the past. Rookie Casey Matthews who is the brother of 2010 Defensive Player of the Year, Clay Matthews, should be starting at linebacker for Philly. Alongside the two unbelievable defensive back additions in the off-season of Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominque Ridgers-Cromartie complete a stout secondary that may not have a pass completed on them all season. Enjoy this unit, but know they come with some holes in the front seven.
(5)Baltimore Ravens
It seems like these guys are always in the top 45 for fantasy defense each season. As long as top defensive tackle in the league Haloti Ngata, top tier linebacker Terrell Suggs and the legendary safety Ed Reed are healthy and in the fold alongside team captain and inspirational lead Ray Lewis, this defense will be stellar once again in ’11.
(6)Chicago Bears
Just outside my top 5 are my beloved Bears. They feature a fast, but aging defense. Julius Peppers, Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs headline Chicago’s front seven. If the Bears played on field turf, as opposed to the disaster they line up on every Sunday, this would annually be one of the most lethal defensive units on the planet. However, while still playing on the natural stuff, they’ll finish just outside the top 5.
(7) San Diego Chargers
With the addition of Bob Sanders teaming up with top-notch safety talent in the form of Eric Weddle, the tackling machine, the Bolts are prepared to shut the AFC West down. This may be the best San Diego defense in years, even with the departure of defensive coordinator to Carolina to take over as head coach.
(8) Atlanta Falcons
John Abraham just doesn’t lose a step and shouldn’t this season as Ray Edwards has been added to fold to help eliminate some of the attention paid to the defensive end. This is a consistent unit who wont blow your doors off with upside. But they will be very serviceable for the better part of the season and that’s all you ask for with a defense in fantasy football.
(9) New Orleans Saints
For some reason, for as many points as this defense allows, they always seem to be the best free agent defense available when fantasy begins. Then some owners grabs them as a spot start for one Sunday and decides to ride them out for the remainder of the year. This is what will happen with the ultra aggressive and turnover happy Saints squad in 2011.
(10) Detroit Lions
Yep, I said it. The Lions will finish in the top 10 this season with the addition of Nick Fairley through the Draft. Add him to a nasty bunch that already features Ndamukong Suh, Kyle Vanden Bosch, Corey Williams and Cliff Avril and you have yourself one of the elite front seven’s im all of football by the end of the 2011 season. I cant wait to see what kind of havoc Suh and Fairley can create together this season. You will love this fantasy force for years to come.
(11) Miami Dolphins
With the anemic Dolphins offense, this unit will be on the field all season long. That could be a good or bad thing depending on how you look at it. They most likely will allow a few more points, but most assuredly they will create turnovers and sacks on a regular basis. Cameron Wake is an emerging star in the league, coupled by Carlos Dansby and Vontae Davis at their respective positions and you have three elite defenders in 2011 class. They will get stronger as the season goes along so don’t give up on them early on if they struggle a bit out of the gates. That is normal Miami football for you.
(12) New York Giants
I like this defense a great deal this season. I believe with the front four highlighted by Justin Tuck, this team is always in for a surprise season. The sacks may never equate to their past few seasons when they boasted Strahan, but Usi Umenyiora is still one of the elites at his positon. They will allow some excess amounts of offense once in awhile during the season when a real top-flight offense like Dallas comes to town. Simply, bench them for those games and get them back in there the next week because on most weeks they wont let you down.
(13) San Francisco 49ers
Im not as down on these guys as most experts this season. Two seasons removed from their 2009 top scoring defensive fantasy season, Pat Willis and company are amped up for the 2011 campaign. The signing of Carlos Rogers will without a doubt help solidfy their secondary. Gholston is also a force from the safety position in San Fran.
(14) Oakland Raiders
The Raiders surprised a lot of people last season, and will do much of the same this year. Even with the loss of the best cornerback in the league to the Eagles, Oakland is ready for another solid season from a young bunch of guys that fly around the field. The Raiders were the only team to go undefeated in division play last year, going 6-0 against the AFC West. This year, they should be a bit more disciplined.
(15) New England Patriots
Somehow, someway I don’t feel good about this selection. I feel they are too far back in my rankings for a Bill Belicheck led team. By the end of the season, he will have them playing like a top defense in the league. Headliners Jerrod Mayo, Pat Chung and Albert Haynesworth lead this unit from each level of the defense. The offensive teams in the AFC East are so terrible, the Pats may actually be a top 10 defense by the end of 2011.
Just Missed The List….Dallas Cowboys, Carolina Panthers, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings
