Detroit Lions: 2013 Fantasy Football Defense Preview

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If there’s one thing to remember when it comes to drafting a defense for your Fantasy Football team, it’s that it all comes down to big plays.

You’re not actually looking for the best defense. It sounds counterintuitive, but it’s true. Big plays are what get you points. It’s all right for a defense to give up some yards, that’s not a big deal. As long as they keep the other team from scoring too many points, it’s the turnovers and the sacks that you want.

And, that’s where the Detroit Lions come in this year. They may not be the best defense in the league — certainly won’t be by yardage — but they will get you plenty of big plays.

It all starts with the defensive line. Anchored by a pair of former first-round picks — Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley — they stuff the run. Then when the offense is in passing situations, they get after the quarterback.

That defensive line provides opportunities for the linebackers and defensive backs to make plays behind them. They will be opportunistic this year, racking up interceptions and sacks.

Last year, Detroit gave up too many points on defense. They didn’t play well in the red zone, and they gave up too many touchdowns. They need to fix that this year, and it all begins with that defensive line.

The Lions get all the Fantasy love on the offensive side of the ball. But, if the defensive line can be as dominant they should be, they will be a good defensive team as well. Don’t sleep on their defense this year.

Ben Sullivan is an NFL writer on www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @bensullivan52, “Like” him on Facebook and add him to your network on Google.