Every season we look for new ways to find an edge to winning our leagues. This season I'm going to give you one that all the major fantasy sites pay zero attention to, and that is the return game-- on defense. Individual Defensive Players or IDP as it's called, is all the rage. It makes the game much more exciting and it further tests your knowledge and abilities against the competition. Yet, even the IDP specialty sites overlook the return yardage. But not here at Top Fantasy Football. We've got your back.
Let's look at 2008's Top 20 Fantasy Defensive Backs (Cornerbacks and Safeties), and their points based on these fairly standard settings:
Tackle Solo - 1.5, Tackle Assist - .5, Sack - 4, Interception - 3, Forced Fumble - 2, Fumble Recovery - 2, Defensive TD - 6, Safety or Blocked Kick - 2, Pass Defended - 1
- Gibril Wilson - 190 points
- Eric Weddle - 188.54
- Yeremiah Bell - 182
- Antoine Winfield - 177.50
- Chris Gamble - 169.50
- Charles Tillman - 167.50
- Atogwie Oshiomohgo - 163.42
- Quentin Jammer - 154.00
- Cedric Griffin - 152.50
- Nick Collins - 152.00
- Charles Woodson - 148.42
- Erik Coleman - 146.50
- Ronde Barber - 144.50
- Quentin Mikell - 144.50
- Bernard Pollard - 143.00
- Michael Lewis - 142.00
- DeAngelo Hall - 142.00
- Brandon McDonald - 141.50
- Kevin Payne - 141.50
- Leon Hall - 140.18
We are all fairly aware of great offensive kick returners like Josh Cribbs, Devin Hester, Darren Sproles and Leon Washington, but no one pays attention to the guys on defense who return the kick-offs and punts. If your league counts return yards, and many do, at 1 point per 25 yards, your 2008 list takes on a new look, and a different Wilson heads the list:
- JOSH WILSON - 243.12 points
- Gibril Wilson - 190
- Eric Weddle - 188.54
- Yeremiah Bell - 182
- Antoine Winfield - 177.50
- Chris Gamble - 169.50
- Charles Tillman - 167.50
- Atogwie Oshiomohgo - 163.42
- ELLIS HOBBS - 158.74
- Quentin Jammer - 154.00
- Cedric Griffin - 152.50
- Nick Collins - 152.00
- LEODIS MCKELVIN - 150.76
- WILL BLACKMON - 150.70
- Charles Woodson - 148.42
- Erik Coleman - 146.50
- Ronde Barber - 144.50
- Quentin Mikell - 144.50
- Bernard Pollard - 143.00
- Michael Lewis - 142.00
In leagues that allot 1 point per every 10 yards the values go even higher and more names enter the list.
So for you IDP players who get to count return yards, here is my list of this season's top DB picks who return the ball.
1. Josh Wilson, CB, SEA - He should be the first DB off the board in any league that counts return yardage. Even without returning the ball he had 76 tackles, and 4 interceptions last season. But he also had 1753 return yards making him not merely the most valuable defensive back, but the highest scoring defensive player, period. Not even the tackle machine, Patrick Willis (206 points), or the sack-man, DeMarcus Ware (207 Points), came close.
2. Leodis McKelvin, CB, BUF - McKelvin was a rookie last year and he was on fire. I expect even more this season. Look for Leodis to run wild. I'd expect 1600+ return yards, about 50 tackles, and at least one touchdown thrown in for good measure.
3. Will Blackmon, CB, GBP - Blackmon is the return guy in Green Bay. That won't change (barring injury) for 2009. He should once again be a point machine at DB.
4. Daniael Manning, S, CHI - Devin Hester formally announced he was shelving his kick return duties in 2009. This will give Manning even more opportunities to maintain his league best 29.7 yards per return.
5. Chris Carr, CB, BAL - Carr is a model of consistency as a return specialist. He moves from Oakland to Baltimore this season, but expect no less than 1500 yards on return.
6. Quintin Demps, S, PHI - Demps has to share his return roll with the newly acquired Ellis Hobbs, but he should still be good for 1200-1300 yards.
7. Ellis Hobbs, CB, PHI - The aforementioned Hobbs came over from New England and will likely see a bit less action than Demps, but he will still be at least a 1200 yard return specialist.
8. Bryan Witherspoon, CB, JAX - Bryan's not a tackle machine but he will put up about 1500 return yards especially now that Maurice Jones-Drew will likely lessen his role in the return game to focus on his new role as the team's featured running back.
9. Jim Leonhard, S, NYJ - Leonhard spent time on standard defense (55 tackles, 6 pass defenses, and a sack) and also tossed in about 400 return yards last year. With former return man Justin Miller now in Oakland, Leonhard should get a heavier workload in the return game.
10. Justin Miller, CB, OAK - Miller flew in from the Jets (sorry couldn't help myself) to replace Chris Carr. He and wide receiver Johnnie Lee Higgins will handle the Raiders return needs, and with THE woeful mess in Oaktown, those opportunities look to be plentiful.
You'll notice big DB names like Adrian Wilson, Darelle Revis and Troy Polamalu are noticeably absent. They didn't make the top 20 last year with or without return yards. When it comes to IDP many people just aim for most tackles or most sacks or the biggest names, but a well planned IDP draft strategy can win you games each week other teams might lose. YouR top 60 overall IDP players should all be scoring more than your kicker.
Keep your eyes out for our 2009 DB Rankings. In the meantime check out some more IDP resources here: IDP
