Let’s take a look at which defenses beyond the usual suspects (Steelers, Giants, Titans), impressed in Week 1.
Fantasy Defenses on the Rise
Jets - Last year, the Jets quietly finished with a top-ten fantasy defense. With new head coach, and former Ravens defensive coordinator, Rex Ryan calling the shots, many expected bigger things this year. I’m not sure anyone quite expected what the Jets unleashed last week on what many expected to be one of the top offenses fantasy and otherwise – in the NFL. Although the Jets only sacked Texans quarterback Matt Schaub twice, they pressured him into a woeful day, picking him off twice. And the Jets were even more stout against the run: they only gave up 38 yards on the ground on 13 carries, for an average of 2.9 yards per carry. If the Jets can harass and harry as talented an offense as the Texans – and without their best pass rusher, Calvin Pace – they should be a force to be reckoned with.
Packers - The Pack transitioned from a 4-3 to a 3-4 front this year, and the switch seems to suit their personnel very well. Against the Bears, the Packers’ defensive linemen and linebackers seemed to live in the backfield, stifling the Bears rushing attack to the tune of a 2.9 yards per carry average on 31 carries, and sacking Jay Cutler twice. And the Packers still have to work in their top pick from this year, NT/DE B.J. Raji. Beyond their deep front seven, the Packers boast one of the top secondaries in the game; Charles Woodson and Al Harris are as close to shutdown corners as nearly anyone else in the game, and FS Nick Collins is a ballhawking, big play defender. Losing SS Atari Bigby for an extended period of time will hurt, but the Packers seem poised to jump into the top five of fantasy defenses for the year.
Falcons – They kept the Dolphin’s passing offense in check and generated plenty of big plays, taking the ball away four times and sacking Chad Pennington twice. One reason to worry is the 4.4 yards per carry the Falcons gave up to the Phins; against better teams that could be an Achilles heel. For now, the Falcons look like a nice matchups play, who you should stash for use against weak offenses.
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