The 49ers DST benefits from several things, mainly some talented players (Patrick Willis, Aldon Smith, Justin Smith and Carlos Rogers on defense and Ted Ginn on special teams), and they were the No. 1 DST in standard Fantasy leagues in 2011. The 49ers had three defensive touchdowns, 25 interceptions, 50 sacks and 18 fumble recoveries, and they should remain an elite Fantasy option again this year, especially while playing in a soft division. Plan on drafting the 49ers DST as a No. 1 unit, and they should be selected with a pick as early as Round 10 in standard formats.
The Ravens DST finished 2011 as a Top-5 unit, bettering their numbers from the year prior. The team had Ed Reed contributing for the entire season, got unreal play from cornerback Lardarius Webb and added some good work from quality role players like Pernell McPhee and Paul Kruger (as well as mainstays Ray Lewis, Haloti Ngata and of course Terrell Suggs). Pass rush machine Suggs is a question mark to play this season after tearing his Achilles' in the middle of the offseason, and his absence will hurt the team. Rookie Courtney Upshaw should replace him to a degree, and there's a shot Suggs plays by November. One of Fantasy Football's most accomplished DSTs is again worth a late pick in drafts, though it will be tough for them to top the 48 sacks, 15 interceptions and five total touchdowns (four defensive) they had in 2011, but it'll be fun to watch them try.
The Packers defense was flimsy in 2011, but their DST was fine for Fantasy. That's in big part to the seven total touchdowns they scored (two on returns, five on defense) and the defense's 31 interceptions. But the unit had just 29 sacks, a number that was expected to be much higher. Furthermore, they had trouble slowing down opposing passing games despite their gaudy interception totals. Expect the Packers to re-tool their defense and remain a quality Fantasy choice worth a pick starting in Round 12 in standard drafts.
The Patriots DST has the potential to be great in 2012, but they need to be more consistent. The Patriots DST got off to a slow start in 2011 with no games with double digits in Fantasy points through the first eight games. But they closed the season with four games with double digits in Fantasy points in the final eight outings. Their secondary needs a lot of work, and they will address their pass rush further after adding Jonathan Fanene and Trevor Scott this spring. We still consider the Patriots a starting option in all leagues. Plan on drafting the Patriots as a low-end No. 1 option with a late-round pick. Bill Belichick will continue to improve the defense, and the Patriots DST should excel this season.
The Jets DST enters 2012 with a lot to prove after being a disappointment in 2011. The Jets have some quality defensive players with Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and David Harris, and the addition of LaRon Landry will help if he can stay healthy. But the Jets need to improve their pass rush as they produced just 35 sacks in 2011. If that happens then more turnovers should result, and the unit will improve. Last year, the Jets had 19 interceptions, four defensive touchdowns, three safeties and 12 fumble recoveries, but coach Rex Ryan should be able to get more production from this group. We consider the Jets DST a low-end No. 1 Fantasy option, and they are worth drafting with a late-round pick.
For the second year in a row, the Bears DST was among the best in Fantasy Football, and expectations remain high going into 2012. And once again, the defense did it without posting a slew of sacks (only 33) but picking off plenty of passes (20) and scoring a bunch of touchdowns (three on special teams, six on defense). Questions about the future of the Bears' secondary still exist, but the defense as a whole is very solid and should be competitive even with several tough offenses on their 2012 schedule. But with Devin Hester returning kicks and punts and the defense set to be aggressive as usual, the DST should again be useful. Expect them to get picked in every league with a late-round pick.
By name, the Steelers defense is considered one of the best and as such will be off the board earlier than most DSTs in 2012. But they didn't work out so well for the Fantasy owners who took them perhaps a bit too early last year. Their sack totals (down 13), interception totals (down 10) and defense/special teams touchdowns (down two) were off from 2010's totals. The defense is coming back mostly intact, for better or worse, and that could mean that the unit produces about as well as it did last season. Is the Steelers DST still worth drafting? Sure, but don't be the Black & Gold towel-waver who takes them a few rounds too soon. The last or second-to-last round is the right time to draft the DST.
The Falcons DST took a step back in 2011, racking up three touchdowns (all defensive) and allowing 350 points and 3,786 yards. That's not all bad but the defense lacked as far as racking up sacks (33) and creating turnovers (19 interceptions, 10 fumbles recovered). Moreover, their front seven is in flux and unless they make some healthy improvements, opponents will be able to run on them effectively. For now, don't plan to draft the Falcons DST but instead use them as a one-week replacement during the season when they have a good matchup.
The Eagles DST should present great value on Draft Day this year after they got a bad rap in 2011 under new defensive coordinator Juan Castillo. The Eagles DST got off to a slow start last year, allowing at least 24 points in four of their first five games. But after that point the defense turned around and allowed more than 24 points just three more times. The Eagles DST finished with seven games with double digits in Fantasy points on the strength of four defensive touchdowns, 15 interceptions and 50 sacks. The addition of linebacker DeMeco Ryans should help the run defense immensely, and a focused offseason of work in the secondary should do some wonders. Expect the Eagles DST to play at a high level in 2012, making them worth a late-round pick in all leagues.
The Giants DST should be considered a No. 1 Fantasy option on Draft Day because they have all the elements you look for in a quality unit. The biggest asset to the Giants is their pass rush with talented players like Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora and a quality defensive backfield with Antrel Rolle and Kenny Phillips. In 2011, the Giants had seven games with double digits in Fantasy points. They had 48 sacks, 20 interceptions and one defensive touchdown. That's the type of production you can expect from the Giants DST, and they are worth drafting with a late-round pick.
The Cardinals defense has quality players with Darnell Dockett and Adrian Wilson leading the way, but the Cardinals DST struggled last year with just one game with more than 15 Fantasy points in a standard league. They also had just 19 turnovers and 42 sacks. Now, what saved the Cardinals DST in 2011 were four touchdowns, and they benefit from a great return man in Patrick Peterson, who scored all four touchdowns on punt returns. Peterson is also becoming a solid cover corner, but the Cardinals DST should be considered a low-end No. 2 option on Draft Day. Don't draft the Cardinals DST in the majority of leagues, but they could be a bye-week replacement if they start out the season playing well.
The Saints defense disappointed in 2011, and signs point to them being in a position to struggle again in 2012. The team's bounty program resulted in suspensions for linebacker Jonathan Vilma (the 2012 season) and defensive end Will Smith (four games), both of whom are vital to the success of the defense. To combat that, the team signed several key free agents this offseason: Defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley and linebackers Curtis Lofton, David Hawthorne and Chris Chamberlain are on the roster. Cornerback Jabari Greer will also remain with the team. Anything that helps the Saints defense, which had nine interceptions in each of the last two years after getting 26 in 2009, is a positive, but their pass rush remains suspect. We wouldn't run the risk of drafting the Saints DST. If anything, check for them off waivers when they have juicy matchups this season.
If history is any indication, the Bengals DST will disappoint in 2012. That's because they've done well one year, stumbling the next: They were solid in '09 and '11 but bad in '10. Or perhaps the losses of front-line defenders Jonathan Fanene and Frostee Rucker (responsible for 10 of Bengals' 45 sacks last season) will be a reason for decline. Or maybe Leon Hall's recovery from a torn Achilles will slow down the defense; he had two of the team's 10 interceptions. Questions about their depth up front and consistency of their secondary make the Bengals DST a risk for 2012. We would consider them with a late pick only in the deepest of seasonal drafts. Otherwise, count on them being a worthwhile one-week replacement choice off waivers when they play the Browns and other offensive-inept opponents.
Remember when the Lions DST used to be the laughing stock of the waiver wire? Those days are over. The Lions DST finished as a Top 10 unit thanks to a solid pass rush and a secondary that played better than expected. Cliff Avril had 11 sacks and Kyle Vanden Bosch added eight sacks, both benefitting from Ndamukong Suh's play as an interior lineman. Chris Houston had a banner year with five interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns. They'll all be back and the defense could get a boost via free agency and the draft. We think the Lions DST remains a quality option worth a late-round pick in drafts, even with the matchup twice a year against the Packers.
The Cowboys DST has a long way to go before Fantasy owners can count on them. Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan was expected to make an impact for the Cowboys, but they weren't even a Top 20 DST for Fantasy owners in 2011! The defense has plenty of holes, mostly in the secondary, and DeMarcus Ware is the only real threat in the pass rush. There is potential for the Cowboys to improve if Ryan works his magic, but the Cowboys DST should not be drafted in the majority of leagues. They should enter the year as a bye-week replacement in most formats, but if they start the season playing well then add them off the waiver wire.
