RADIO
BALLER MOVE: Target Around ~185 Overall
CURRENT ADP: ~204
Even though getting 10+ points per game from your defense is beneficial, we still don't want to reach and draft a D/ST early in our fantasy drafts. While some defenses like the Ravens, Steelers, and Bears have proven to be season-long holds in years past, you're far more likely to stream defenses each week. With that in mind, I'm going to focus on my D/ST's on teams with strong defensive talent as well as their early-season schedules.
I've created a D/ST Rankings metric that weighs together all of the stats I've come to believe are most important for determining if a defense will be a strong fantasy unit: pressure rate, sacks, quarterback hurries, drives ending in a turnover, drives ending in an offensive score, and yards allowed per play.
ANALYSIS:
The Dolphins finished as the fourth-ranked defense last year by FantasyPros rankings and eighth-ranked by my formula, but I don't see them in the top-10 anywhere. I know that some people view their performance as flukey because they were so turnover-dependent, but I don't think that's fair to Brian Flores and company. Flores was a great defensive coordinator who has clearly brought a turnover-happy scheme to Miami. Considering the talent he still has on that side of the ball, why should we assume they won't be similarly effective in inducing turnovers? They might not finish first overall in drives ending in a turnover as they did in 2020, but they don't need to in order to be an impactful defense.
I am expecting bigger jumps from young, talented players like Christian Watkins and Raekwon Davis, which will help a talented secondary led by Xavien Howard, Eric Rowe, and Byron Jones. The Dolphins also signed Jason McCourty to start and guide first-round draft pick Jevon Holland, which should round out a ball-hawking group that can earn you fantasy points in a hurry. The true test for the Dolphins will be a weak linebacking corps, but I trust this coaching staff and think they have this team moving clearly in the right direction, which is scary to me as a Bills fan.
EARLY SCHEDULE: @Patriots, vs. Bills, @Raiders, vs. Colts
More Fantasy Football Values and Sleepers
Gus Edwards - Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Picks for Fantasy Football Week 1 (2024)
BALLER MOVE: Target Around ~100 Overall CURRENT ADP: ~114 ANALYSIS: The Los Angeles Chargers signed Gus Edwards from the Baltimore Ravens for the 2024 season. While J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards could be in a committee, Dobbins has an alarming injury history, and with such devastating injuries, it's unlikely he ever returns to consistently produce like […]
Gus Edwards (RB, LAC): 2024 Fantasy Football Draft Values
BALLER MOVE: Target Around ~100 Overall CURRENT ADP: ~114 ANALYSIS: The Los Angeles Chargers signed Gus Edwards from the Baltimore Ravens for the 2024 season. While J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards could be in a committee, Dobbins has an alarming injury history, and with such devastating injuries, it's unlikely he ever returns to consistently produce like […]
Logan Thomas - Week 13 Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Picks
BALLER MOVE: Start in 12+ Team Leagues POSITIONAL VALUE: TE2 ANALYSIS: Logan Thomas test. Ever since arriving in the NFL, Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely has been one of the most appealing handcuffs at the tight end position. While not nearly on the same level as Mark Andrews, Likely has shown that he can […]
Christian McCaffrey - Week 14 Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Picks
BALLER MOVE: Start in 12+ Team Leagues POSITIONAL VALUE: TE2 ANALYSIS: San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey ripped off a 72-yard run on the first play from scrimmage in a 28-16 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. At the end of the long run, he was tackled at the three-yard line and caught […]
Zay Flowers - Week 14 Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Picks
BALLER MOVE: Start in 12+ Team Leagues POSITIONAL VALUE: TE2 ANALYSIS: Zay Flowers test. Ever since arriving in the NFL, Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely has been one of the most appealing handcuffs at the tight end position. While not nearly on the same level as Mark Andrews, Likely has shown that he can […]
Download Our Free Draft App
Like what you see? Be sure to also download our free fantasy football mobile app for iPhone and Android which includes more draft sleepers at very position, 24x7 player news, push notifications, injury alerts and daily articles.
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!
Win Big With RotoBaller
Be sure to also check out all of our other daily fantasy football articles and analysis to help you set those winning lineups, including this new RotoBaller YouTube video:Check out RotoBaller's famous fantasy football draft sleepers and waiver wire pickups list, updated regularly!
