2014 Fantasy Football: 5 DEF/ST To Avoid This Season

Baltimore was once synonymous with defense, but the core of the unit is no longer with the team. Even worse, Terrell Suggs (31), Elvis Dumvervil (30), and Haloti Ngata (30) are all getting up there in age. They have all struggled to stay healthy lately and likely won't be able to suit up in all 16 games. Baltimore is no longer an elite fantasy defense and they are simply another mid-level option.

There has been a lot of attention about how Lovie Smith is heading to Tampa, but his smash mouth defense won’t be set up overnight. The defense will take some time to come together and will thus go through some growing pains. Even worse, Tampa Bay lost superstar corner Darrelle Revis during the offseason and the team will have a serious hole on the outside this year. Look for Tampa to finish in the middle of the pack this season.

Carolina is a popular defense right now among fantasy mock drafts. However, Carolina is dealing with a nasty situation regarding superstar Greg Hardy. The defensive end is talking about holding out again, and coupled with his numerous off the field issues, Hardy will be a distraction this season. Carolina still has a slew of veterans, but they are gaining way too much respect in fantasy circles this offseason.

Seattle will be the only defense taken in the middle of the draft, but no matter what they won’t be worth the asking price. There are simply too many other reliable defenses in the hat and the drop off between Seattle and the rest of the field isn’t too alarming. Let someone else reach for the Hawks this summer.