Who wants to talk about quarterbacks and running backs when you can talk about defenses and special teams (D/ST) units! If you’re like me, you probably are changing your team defense on a weekly basis, looking for the optimal matchup to exploit. Well, that’s exactly what I am hoping to accomplish today. Today, let us take a look at Week 10 D/ST rankings!
I’ll go through my process of evaluating defenses, before getting into the specifics for the week! Who is going to be the 30-point defense this week? Let us find out!
More fantasy football fun for Week 10: Waiver Wire | FAAB Guide | Start & Sit | Loves & Hates | Stock Watch | Sleepers & Streamers | D/ST Streamers
Implied Points (Weeks 1-9)
| Defense | Difference | Implied Points | Fantasy PPG |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAR | -1.3599 | 8.0599 | 6.7 |
| MIN | 0.2137 | 7.7863 | 8 |
| CLE | -1.6151 | 7.6151 | 6 |
| ARI | 1.2393 | 8.3607 | 9.6 |
| CHI | -0.4359 | 6.6359 | 6.2 |
| CAR | -0.6815 | 7.3815 | 6.7 |
| CIN | -1.7231 | 7.0231 | 5.3 |
| TEN | 1.2249 | 6.5751 | 7.8 |
| DEN | -0.4983 | 7.6983 | 7.2 |
| PIT | -0.9019 | 7.5019 | 6.6 |
| LV | -0.8511 | 6.9511 | 6.1 |
| GB | -0.6175 | 6.9175 | 6.3 |
| NE | 2.0417 | 7.0583 | 9.1 |
| IND | 2.2393 | 5.9607 | 8.2 |
| NYG | 0.8065 | 5.8935 | 6.7 |
| WAS | -0.8951 | 5.2951 | 4.4 |
| HOU | -0.5183 | 4.8183 | 4.3 |
| BUF | 3.3561 | 7.8439 | 11.2 |
| NO | 1.9885 | 6.9115 | 8.9 |
| SF | -1.5271 | 5.7271 | 4.2 |
| NYJ | -1.9923 | 4.4923 | 2.5 |
| TB | 1.9409 | 6.1591 | 8.1 |
| PHI | 0.3585 | 5.5415 | 5.9 |
| MIA | 0.2305 | 4.8695 | 5.1 |
| DAL | 2.4657 | 5.7343 | 8.2 |
| BAL | -1.2607 | 5.4607 | 4.2 |
| LAC | -1.2095 | 5.3095 | 4.1 |
| JAX | -0.3591 | 5.2591 | 4.9 |
| SEA | -0.3667 | 5.7667 | 5.4 |
| DET | -2.1791 | 4.1791 | 2 |
| KC | -0.1151 | 4.4151 | 4.3 |
| ATL | -1.2899 | 4.1899 | 2.9 |
First, we need to analyze how effective each D/ST unit has been for fantasy purposes this year. However, this doesn’t come from looking at previous fantasy points. See, turnovers (interceptions and fumbles) can be rather unstable on a week-to-week basis, making them difficult to rely on. Thus, to identify who the top defenses have been, we need to take that out of the equation.
This leads me to my new implied points statistic for D/ST units. Based on the number of points they have allowed and the sacks they’ve totaled up, we can see how many points a D/ST unit SHOULD be averaging per week:
The Cardinals have been phenomenal on offense this year, but that’s not all- their defense has been fantastic as well. Also, color me surprised to see the Vikings rank so high on this list, though they are tied for second in sacks this year.
Next, it is time to dissect some other key factors. These defenses are projected by the betting markets to allow the fewest amount of points this week:
FEWEST PROJECTED POINTS ALLOWED
- Steelers
- Bills
- Cardinals
- Colts
- Ravens
- Bucs
- Titans
- Broncos
Meanwhile, these defenses will face opposing quarterbacks with the highest pressure rate:
HIGHEST OPPOSING QB PRESSURE RATE
- Packers
- Cardinals
- Eagles
- Broncos
- Jets
- Jaguars
- Dolphins
- Colts
Lastly, these defenses will face opposing quarterbacks with the highest turnover-worthy play rate:
HIGHEST OPPOSING QB TURNOVER-WORTHY PLAY RATE
- Bills
- Rams
- Cardinals
- Bucs
- Ravens
- Colts
- Lions
- Jets
Week 10 D/ST Rankings
More Week 10 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | Kicker | D/ST | PPR | Flex
| Rnk | Defense | Opponent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ARI | CAR |
| 2 | BUF | NYJ |
| 3 | PIT | DET |
| 4 | IND | JAX |
| 5 | TB | WSH |
| 6 | DEN | PHI |
| 7 | BAL | MIA |
| 8 | TEN | NO |
| 9 | LAR | SF |
| 10 | PHI | DEN |
| 11 | CLE | NE |
| 12 | NE | CLE |
| 13 | NO | TEN |
| 14 | DAL | ATL |
| 15 | GB | SEA |
| 16 | LAC | MIN |
| 17 | JAX | IND |
| 18 | CAR | ARI |
| 19 | MIA | BAL |
| 20 | KC | LV |
| 21 | LV | KC |
| 22 | DET | PIT |
| 23 | SEA | GB |
| 24 | MIN | LAC |
| 25 | SF | LAR |
| 26 | NYJ | BUF |
| 27 | WSH | TB |
| 28 | ATL | DAL |
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