Defensive Team By Waiver Wire: Week 14
John Paulsen, Contributing Editor
For those of you new to Defensive Team By Waiver Wire (DTBWW), the strategy goes like this: Each week, you target a mediocre defense on the waiver wire, looking for a good matchup, preferably at home. You will typically get good defensive production without having to burn a semi-valuable pick on draft day. Or if you do draft a DT and they start to disappoint, you can use DTBWW the rest of the way.
I have been writing this feature for a couple of years (at another site) and in 2009, my top three weekly picks averaged DT5 numbers. In 2010, they averaged DT6 numbers. So the system works pretty well.
To be eligible, defenses have to be available on the waiver wire in at least 40% of ESPN fantasy leagues. This ensures that we are talking about defenses that are readily available.
Let's see how we did last week:
1. Patriots (6 fantasy points, DT19)
2. Jaguars (-4 fp, DT32)
3. Dolphins (14 fp, DT8)
4. Broncos (15 fp, DT5)
5. Seahawks (20 fp, DT1)
I'd feel a lot better if the Jaguars were my #5 pick instead of #2. Injuries finally caught up with Jacksonville. The Dolphins, Broncos and Seahawks all finished in the top 8 for the week, while the Patriots were a big disappointment in a great matchup at home against the Colts.
On the season, DTBWW is averaging 10.5 fppg, which equate to DT5 numbers. Over the past four weeks, DTBWW is averaging 10.7 fppg.
Let's take a look at my top picks for Week 14:
Seahawks (vs. STL)
The Seattle DT has performed well at home in good matchups and they have the best matchup in the league this week as the Rams come to town. Over the last four games, the Seahawks are averaging 12.8 fp while the Rams have given up 14.5 over the same span.
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