By Kenny Ortiz
Follow Kenny @kennethortiz
Kenny has been a fantasy football enthusiast since 1996 and has developed a strong track record of finding quality value picks throughout the draft. Last year, he participated in 12 fantasy leagues and made it to the championship game in six of those leagues and claiming three fantasy championships. Kenny has especially established himself as a guru of auction leagues and keeper leagues. As for his “day job” Kenny is a motivational speaker, web designer, real estate landlord, free-lance writer and the host of this website.
Also, be sure to check out WalterFootball.com’s 2014 Fantasy Football articles, including sleepers, busts, tons of 2014 Fantasy Football mock drafts and other material. Follow Walter @walterfootball for updates.
Published August 26, 2014
2014 Fantasy Football - It's All About Value:
Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Wide Receivers | Tight Ends | Defenses | Kickers
DEFENSE Team defense is somewhat similar to Defenses … what I mean by that is simply that having a “middle of the road” starting defense is typically the same as having the No. 16 defense or so. There is very little difference at all.
There is occasionally a defense that is special in some way or another. And that might make them worthy of being drafted slightly earlier.
The two best fantasy defenses this year will be Seattle and San Francisco. Neither will be super special, but both will be very solid fantasy defenses. If either of these defenses happen to be on the board when you select in the “next-to-last” round, then go ahead and take them. But chances are the guys in your league (or at least one or two of them) will select defenses too early, and both the Seahawks and the 49ers will be gone by that time.
Now, you need to closely examine your league rules. If your league has big emphasis on turnovers, then look at a defense that will generate a lot of turnovers. Look at your league rules for sacks and yards and points given up, and make adjustments accordingly.
The basic rule of thumb, the more points the defense scores the more they matter. But ultimately, in the grand scheme, selecting a specific defense will matter very little.
But here’s the real key: Defenses are ALL about matchups!
I rarely look for a good defense; I look for matchups! I especially look for the matchups in the second half of the season, and especially during my fantasy playoffs.
I typically draft one defense and then simply add/drop defenses all season long depending on matchups … but if there is a legitimate reason you don’t want to do a lot of add/drops, then consider drafting two mediocre defenses and play the matchup each week.
I especially like any Defenses with good linebackers playing against a rookie quarterback … that is typically a recipe for BIG fantasy points. But of course, any defense facing a rookie quarterback is going to be better than any defense facing Peyton Manning.
Just play the matchups!
If the roster spot is too valuable and you would only want to draft one defense, then I would look at one of these undervalued defenses below.
– St. Louis in the 14th round or later
– Denver in the 14th round or later
– Baltimore in the 15th round or later
– New England in 15th round or later
– N.Y. Giants in the 16th round or later
Here are a few of the defenses that could be drafted in the last two rounds of your draft (or might even go undrafted in your league) that I would consider drafting:
– Tennessee
– Indianapolis
– Buffalo
– Minnesota
– Washington
If you are wondering why I highlighted these defenses, just take a look at their team schedules, especially in the last few weeks of the season, and see the types of quarterbacks most of them will be facing around that time of the year.
2014 Fantasy Football - It's All About Value:
Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Wide Receivers | Tight Ends | Defenses | Kickers
More 2014 Fantasy Football Articles:
Fantasy Football Rankings
2014 Fantasy Football Rankings:
2014 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks - 8/30 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs - 9/3 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers - 9/3 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends - 8/27 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defenses - 6/4 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers - 6/4 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings - 5/18 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 8/22 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Drafts:
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 2-QB - 8/21 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Standard - 8/14 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR - 8/12 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 3-WR - 8/7 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Standard - 7/31 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 3-WR - 7/24 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR - 7/17 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Standard - 7/10 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets:
2014 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 - 9/3 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 - PPR - 9/3 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 - 2-QB - 9/3 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 - TD - 9/3 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Custom - 9/3 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Spreadsheets - 8/28 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Articles:
2014 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Training Camp - 9/3 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football: It's All About Value - 9/1 (Kenny)
2014 Fantasy Football Sleepers - 8/31 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Busts - 8/31 (Walt)
2014 NFL Preseason Recap, Fantasy Football Notes - 8/30 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Preseason Stock - 8/30 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Quarterback Targets - 8/30 (Walt)
FanDuel $1 Million Contest - 8/30 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator - 8/30 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Round-by-Round Strategy - 8/17 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Running Backs - 3/28 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football: Overdrafted Players - 2/16 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football: First-Round Bust History - 2/14 (Walt)
Running Backs with Most Carries - 2/14 (Walt)
NFL Picks - Nov. 23
2025 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 20
NFL Power Rankings - Nov. 19
Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4
