FANTASY FOOTBALL DRAFT KIT

If your league includes special teams scores, the Bears are hands-down the top fantasy defense. Chicago’s dozen return touchdowns over the past three seasons is more than any two other teams have compiled during that time. Of course, 11 of those touchdowns have come since Devin Hester joined the Bears in 2006, and don’t sweat Devin’s additional receiver responsibilities; they shouldn’t keep him from excelling at his return duties. But there’s actually more to the Bears than just Hester; maybe you’ve heard of Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs? The front four applies plenty of pressure as well, and if Mike Brown is finally healthy he’s a threat to score from his safety position—especially in overtime.

Add the NFL’s leading sacker to the Williams Wall and what do you get? We’ll find out when Jared Allen and the Vikings take the field in 2008. But that’s not all the Purple have going for them. Ball-hawking safety Madieu Williams joins Darren Sharper in a secondary that will look markedly better thanks to the improved pressure provided by Allen. Free agent acquisition Maurice Hicks should help upgrade the return game, but the D doesn’t need much assistance; they’ve scored 16 defensive touchdowns over the past three seasons, 33 percent more than any other team. The aggressiveness flowing from Allen’s pass rush should uptick the sack, pick, and fumble numbers as well, making Minnesota the top option for any league that excludes special teams scores from defensive scoring.

First pick Antoine Cason replaces a pair of departed free agents in the secondary, but for the most part the San Diego defense remains stable. And that’s a good thing, considering no team has sacked more quarterbacks over the past three seasons than the Chargers. But the Chargers are more than just Shawne Merriman; Shaun Phillips on the other side brings his own heat, and Luis Castillo finds his way onto plenty of IDP teams as well. Antonio Cromartie moves into the starting lineup full-time on the heels of a 10-pick season; he’s a pick- six threat every time the ball is in the air. Darren Sproles brings plenty to the return game as well, making the Chargers a solid pick in any defensive scoring format.

It’s not as if the Cowboys’ defense had major holes to fill, but when Zach Thomas falls into your lap and you have an extra first-round pick to throw at a cornerback making such moves becomes a no-brainer. The biggest question with this unit may be how they can best use—or hide—Roy Williams. Elite corner Terence Newman, first-round pick Mike Jenkins, and safety Ken Hamlin should allow Williams to continue to play linebacker, but in coverage the Horse Collarer is a liability. Williams didn’t even record a sack last season, leaving those duties in the more than capable hands of DeMarcus Ware and Greg Ellis. America’s Team received little from its specials last season, but if Felix Jones takes over kickoff returns that should change. And Pacman Jones’ reinstatement would push this defense/special teams unit from a top-10 group to one of the best in the league—at least as long as Jones avoids the temptation to make it rain at Baby Dolls or LaBare.

08-28-08 Update: The reinstatement of Pacman Jones means more than just a rain storm at Baby Dolls; his return skills, both with a pick or a punt, boost the ‘Boys defense/special teams unit a couple notches. Mix in Felix Jones' potential as a kick returner and the Dallas D/ST should be one of the first units off your draft board.

When you think Seahawks, defense isn’t generally the first thing to come to mind. That’s changing, thanks primarily to the efforts of Lofa Tatupu and Marcus Trufant. That duo combined for 194 tackles and 11 interceptions, pacing a Seattle defense that finished top-five in both sacks and picks last season. Nate Burleson was one of just five specialists to return both a punt and a kick for a score last season, but if his presence is required more on offense the Hawks may need to seek another option. The Hawks are plenty formidable as a fantasy defense without Burleson’s contributions, but if he is replaced you may want to downtick them a notch or two.

Sure, some of their big-name guys are getting a bit long in the tooth. But Bill Belichick has plenty of experience plugging guys into his system, and with first- round pick Jerod Mayo joining the fray it’s not as if the Patriots will be devoid of talent. The true test will come with New England’s plug-and-play secondary, which took another hit this past offseason with the departures of Asante Samuel and Randall Gay. Rookies Terrence Wheatley and Jonathan Wilhite could push for playing time in a group that features players who have toiled for 10 different teams besides the Pats. Wes Welker and Ellis Hobbs are both return threats, though Hobbs may see those duties decline if he’s the team’s topped corner. Sans home video, we’ll learn if Belichick’s coaching is genius or technology.

Used to be you just penciled the Ravens in as the top defense and moved on. How far have the mighty fallen? Last year Baltimore mustered just one defensive touchdown and recovered the fewest fumbles in the league. The names remain the same, but Ray Lewis and Chris McAlister are both in double digits in service time and Ed Reed isn’t even the best fantasy safety on his own team anymore. Franchised end/linebacker Terrell Suggs could follow Adalius Thomas out of town, though it’s tough to see Ozzie Newsome letting that happen. The Ravens’ saving grace last season was what Yamon Figurs brought to the return game, as the rookie used his 4.3 speed to score on both a punt and kick return. Factoring in Figurs the Ravens remain a viable fantasy defense; without special teams, they’re in serious danger of being relegated to the category of “nothing special”.

Only two teams have scored more defensive touchdowns the past two years than the nine Green Bay has posted. Considering the Pack’s sacks dipped dramatically last season and they’ve been near the bottom of the league in fumble recoveries the past two seasons it’s rather impressive that they’ve managed to score that many times given the limited opportunities. Green Bay’s defense has playmakers in Aaron Kampman, A.J. Hawk, and Charles Woodson, plus Kbeer Gbaja-Biamila can still get to the passer and Atari Bigby seems to have a nose for the ball. However, the loss of Corey Williams could hurt. Woodson, Will Blackmon, and Tramon Williams provide a potent return game, but again there’s a loss—in this case Koren Robinson—that will be felt. With no Brett Favre to bail them out, the Pack will have to rely on its underrated defense more frequently this season—which could actually be a fantasy boon.

It may surprise you to learn that since 2005 only the Bears have scored more defensive and special teams touchdowns than the Cardinals. That’s right, the Cardinals are a legitimate fantasy helper—and their offseason suggests they’re serious about getting even better. Arizona signed ex-Titans pass rusher Travis LaBoy, and the draft yielded two more pass rushers and a cornerback with a name familiar to those who track returns. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie could see time at the nickel, but even without him the Arizona secondary has juice in Rod Hood (two return touchdowns last year) and corner-turned-safety Antrel Rolle, who tallied three pick-sixes last season. Assuming Ken Whisenhunt doesn’t steal Steve Breaston for more offensive duties, the Cards’ return game is solid as well. Unless you live in the greater Phoenix area you shouldn’t have any trouble acquiring the Cardinals as your fantasy defense, and odds are you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the results.

The Bills made some noise in the offseason by trading for Jaguars defensive tackle Marcus Stroud, signing linebacker Kawika Mitchell from the Super Bowl champion Giants, then drafting cornerback Leodis McKelvin in April. Factor in last year’s second-round selection, Paul Posluszny, who returns from a broken forearm and talented young safeties Ko Simpson and Donte Whitner, and when McKelvin cracks the starting lineup the Bills will have five starters drafted in 2006 or later. So there’s some potential here. Including Bobby April’s perennially productive special teams unit boosts Buffalo as well; in fact, only four teams have scored more defense/special teams touchdowns over the past two seasons. Roscoe Parish and Terrence McGee each housed a return last year, and you know April will have his charges ready to go again. If there’s a sleeper fantasy team defense this year, it could very well be the Bills.