Fantasy Owners Need To Wait On Defense

May 18, 2008 at 6:24 am | Article by Paul Hickey |

Over the last few seasons, I’ve noticed a disturbing trend among seasonal fantasy owners. Many of them think it’s incredibly smart to fill out their entire starting line-up - team defense included - prior to drafting reserves. This results in defenses like the Bears, Ravens, Patriots and Chargers flying off the board before guys like Donald Driver, Javon Walker, Laveranues Coles and Tony Scheffler - which is absolutely absurd.

One of this year’s most popular defenses has been the Dallas Cowboys. They’ve gone as early as the ninth round of a 16 round draft. When I’m participating in a draft, and this starts to occur, I shake my head and smile at the same time. Why? Because I know that a run on defense will start WAY too early, and I’ll be able to see key offensive reserves fall to me with my next several picks.

But when a fantasy owners tells me that they did this, or are thinking of doing something like this, I let them have it. Ask for my advice on this subject at here it is - wait until your last two rounds to draft your defense and kicker, in that order.

Not that defense isn’t important in winning weekly fantasy match-ups, but it’s much easier to find a waiver wire sleeper on defense, than it is at running back, wide receiver, tight end, or even QB for that matter. You know that there are always approximately 20 available defenses on any given week. Using the wire to pick a solid match-up every week can result in just as many points throughout the season as drafting a high profile defense like the Patriots or Ravens.

The Titans and Vikings will likely be popular ones that people reach for in 2008 fantasy drafts, but avoid the run on team D and wait it out. Trust me, you’ll be just as happy with sleepers like the Texans, Dolphins and Saints, who are likely to be available on your waiver wire if you need them.

Who won’t be available on your waiver wire? Guys that you passed up, like Nate Burleson, Bobby Engram and Bryant Johnson.

Show me the Eagles or Jaguars in the second to last round and I’m just as happy as the guy who jumped on the Chargers way too early.