Week 10 Recap: Two great starts with the Jets and Buffalo, while Tennessee and Tampa Bay were not bad as well with defensive statistics around the number 10 rank. In terms of my sits of the week, I really only made one good call with the Texans, while the Colts came out and probably played the best defense of the day. Here are the defensive sit start for week 11.
Start ‘em: Week Eleven Team Defenses
Kansas City Chiefs vs ARI: The Cardinals just never seem to get their act together on the road, and going into Arrowhead does not bode well for this Ken Whisenhunt coached team. The Chiefs defense has given fantasy teams over 16 points six times this season and I see no reason why that trend should come to an end when facing Derek Anderson and the Cardinals.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs OAK: The Steelers have scored over 20 fantasy points 3 times this season, I expect this team to show up and put the Oakland Raiders back in their place when they travel to Heinz Field on Sunday. I personally see the Steelers stacking the box on Darren McFadden and making Jason Campbell try to beat them, and I see that going very well for Troy Polamalu and the Steelers defense.
Miami Dolphins vs CHI: The Dolphins defense has not scored over 15 fantasy points since week 6 at Green Bay; the cure to that drought? Jay Cutler. Cutler has thrown a ton of interceptions this year [if you are not counting the 15 INT for Brett Favre] and that will be no different on Thursday Night Football in Miami. With news that Chad Pennington and Chad Henne are out for the year with injuries, the Dolphins will lean on their defense in this matchup.
New Orleans Saints vs SEA: Coming off of a bye, I like the Saints defense to step up and dominate the line of scrimmage with many injuries for Seattle on both sides of the ball. The Seahawks stepped up in week 10 and out-“manned” the Cardinals, that will not happen in the Superdome against a Saints team coming off of a bye week. The Saints have put up a total of 47 defensive fantasy points in their past two games and I see that trend continuing.
Sit ‘em: Week Eleven Team Defenses
Indianapolis Colts @ NE: The number one ranked defense in week 10, Indianapolis, will come way back down to earth in week 11 when they travel to Foxsboro and face Tom Brady and the Patriots. I believe the true defense of the Colts, is the one we saw in week 9 in Philadelphia, and we will see that same defense against the “law firm” in week 11.
Denver Broncos @ SD: I simply do not trust this defense week in and week out. Before week 10 versus Kansas City, the Broncos defense had scored less than 10 fantasy points combined in their last two games. Monday Night Football, in San Diego, against statistically the best offense in football… I just do not like it. My problem with the Broncos defense comes down to consistency; they have scored less than 8 fantasy points as a defense in 5 games this year, those are just not the numbers I want in my starting fantasy defense.
Atlanta Falcons @ STL: Sam Bradford at home and Sam Bradford on the road are two totally different players this season, and when Bradford is at home, he seems to be a totally changed quarterback. Atlanta’s defense has looked good, considering what they looked like at the beginning of the year; players like Curtis Lofton and Dunta Robinson have shown more and more skill over weeks to come, but I just do not see that type of success this upcoming week.
Oakland Raiders @ PIT: After the performance Pittsburgh has on Sunday Night Football versus Tom Brady and the Patriots, I fully expect the Steelers to be out for blood versus the Raiders, who have shown up so far this year and are currently tied for first in the AFC West. I am seeing Roethlisberger and Mendenhall dominating this game from whistle to whistle and taking the Raider band wagon back to earth.
