Defensive Team By Waiver Wire: Week 9

Oct 30, 2012

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 three years and in 2009, my top three weekly picks averaged DT5 numbers. In 2010, they averaged DT6 numbers. Last year, they averaged DT7 numbers. So the system works pretty well.

Generally, defenses have to be available on the waiver wire in at least 40% of ESPN fantasy leagues to be eligible. This ensures that we are talking about defenses that are readily available.

Matchups are key with DTBWW -- for an explanation of DT aFPA, click here.

Let's see how we did last week:

1. Browns (10 fantasy points, DT9)
2. Giants (22 fp, DT1)
3. Chargers (6 fp, DT14)
4. Jets (4 fp, DT18)
5. Patriots (10 fp, DT9)

It was a pretty nice week for DTBWW, as four of the five picks finished in the top 14 and the #2 picked finished first on the week.

Let's take a look at Week 9:

Chargers (vs. KC)
San Diego has been solid defensively and this week they are home against the Chiefs, who are #32 in DT aFPA.