Although the draft is a vital part of any fantasy football season, I believe what you do after it has even greater importance. Fantasy football can not only extremely unpredictable (Julio Jones’ injury has dealt a major blow to my team in two leagues) but can also be very close. Over one-third of the matches in leagues I am in were won by less than 15 points last week, and it can get a lot tighter.
As a result, it is important to get the most out of every position on your fantasy team. Most people make the effort to check their line-up every week, and depending on form and match-up, may tinker with their offensive starters. But a lot of people seem to overlook defenses and kickers, which in many cases can turn out to be the difference between losing and winning.
A look at the data shows the lack of attention given to defenses and kickers. Four out of the top seven defenses for points per game (PPG) this season are owned in less than 40% of leagues, including the Panthers, who have scored the second most PPG. And in two of every three leagues, three of the top five kickers for PPG are not owned.
The simple fact is most people stick with who they drafted, and don’t consider change until that player or team’s bye week. Unless you draft a top option like the Seahawks defense or Matt Prater, this is probably not the best way to go. I believe it is always better to leave your kicker and defense until the end of the draft, and then to continually change them throughout the season depending on who is doing well, and who has the best match-up.
Match-ups should play a crucial part in your decision process. The Giants, Texans, Jaguars, Jets, Steelers and Cardinals have all conceded an average over 10 points per game to defenses this season, and the Ravens, Falcons, Lions, Giants and Dolphins have conceded on average the same number of points to kickers. Anyone facing these teams should be targeted if you are looking to pick up a one-week starter.
But if you still have the Texans defense or Phil Dawson at Kicker, or want a long-term replacement at either position, here are my top picks:
- The best option at Kicker is Mason Crosby. Not only does he have the easiest remaining schedule, but he’s led kickers in points scored in two of the last three weeks. He’s only available in 47% of leagues, but must be owned in all.
- Dan Carpenter is also having a good year. Not only has he done well – he’s currently the fifth highest scoring kicker – but he has done so consistently, failing to score eight points or more only once. He isn’t as good as Crosby, and with only the 11th best schedule, but he’s available in 85% of leagues.
- If you are in a bigger league where there are fewer options, consider Shaun Shuisham. He’s eleventh for PPG, and has put up nine points or more in every game since week 3. He is available in 95% of leagues and can be played for the rest of the year as he’s had his bye week.
- If you’re looking for a defense, my top recommendation is the Colts after their bye week. They are the 6th highest scoring defense, and the 4th best in the last four weeks. But what separates them from the rest is that they have the easiest schedule, with four of their nine remaining games against the teams I mentioned above. They can be picked up in 87% of leagues.
- Another top option is Dallas. They are third for points scored, including an impressive 30 points in the last two games. In fact they are in the top six for both interceptions and defensive touchdowns this season. They also have the 9th ranked schedule, and can be picked up in 79% of leagues.
- A final option for deeper leagues is the Oakland Raiders (yes, you read that correctly). The Raiders have scored the 11th most points in the last four weeks- the second most of any team that has had a bye in that span. They also have the third best schedule, including four games against the worst offenses. They are available in all but 2% of leagues.
Wondering where I get all this information about each team’s schedules? I use a fantastic strength of schedule tool that can be found at FFtoolbox.com. It’s not only useful when considering who to pick up off the waiver wire, but also for evaluating trades.
Thanks for reading. You can send me any feedback or suggestions for topics or players for future articles to @N_1_C_K_F on twitter. Also, make sure you check out @lwosfantasy for fantasy sports advice and news, and be sure to follow the site as well – @LastWordOnSport and please take a moment to like our Facebook Page.
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(Note- all fantasy data is from NFL.com unless specified)
Main Photo Credit: Paul Cutler via Wiki Commons, CC
