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LADD BIRO'S DEFENSES
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A ranking of NFL defenses for fantasy football players, as of
Aug 30. Rankings will be updated throughout the preseason.
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Rank
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Team
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Def,
ST TDs
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Yds
Allowed
|
Pts
Allowed
|
Int
|
Fum
Rec
|
Sacks
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1.
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Baltimore
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6/2
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4803
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238
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21
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13
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39
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Move to the 4-3 will require some adjustments, and Hartwell’s
loss hurts, but they’re still the most reliable fantasy
defense in the league.
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2.
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Pittsburgh
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5/0
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4125
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223
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19
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13
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42
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Improved production from their offense should make this elite
unit even more dangerous.
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3.
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Buffalo
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4/5
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4219
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263
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24
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15
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46
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Last year’s top fantasy defense lost just one key player (Pat
Williams). McGee and Clements are dangerous K/P returners,
respectively. Offensive struggles could tax them.
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4.
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Philadelphia
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2/0
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5115
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253
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17
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11
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47
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Special teams are shaky, but the defense should improve with
maturity of young players.
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5.
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New England
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4/1
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4972
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233
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20
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16
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46
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Losses of Bruschi and Crennel will hurt, as will Seymour’s
holdout. Belichick magical powers will be tested.
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6.
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Atlanta
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5/1
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5207
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321
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19
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13
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48
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Hartwell will solidify LB corps, but secondary remains a
concern. KR Rossum is one of the league’s best.
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7.
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Washington
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1/0
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4282
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221
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18
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8
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39
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Surprisingly effective in ’04, will be even better if LB
Arrington can return strong and S Taylor can stay out of
trouble. Offense’s ineptitude may keep them on the field too
much.
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8.
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Carolina
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3/0
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5384
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318
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26
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12
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34
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Addition of CB Lucas upgrades secondary. DL and LBs are
first-rate. If they can stay healthy, they’ll be a reliable
fantasy unit.
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Rank
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Team
|
Def,
ST TDs
|
Yds
Allowed
|
Pts
Allowed
|
Int
|
Fum
Rec
|
Sacks
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9.
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Tampa Bay
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3/1
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4552
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262
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16
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11
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45
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The best pass defense of ’04 is getting older but still has
several big-time playmakers.
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10.
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Minnesota
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2/1
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5894
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386
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11
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11
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39
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No team did more to improve its defensive fortunes in the
off-season. It will take some time for them to become a unit,
but look for a rapid increase in INTs.
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11.
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San Diego
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1/1
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5382
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298
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23
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10
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29
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If first-round picks can bolster pass rush, this will be a
formidable unit. Could move up rankings quickly with good
preseason showing.
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12.
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Cincinnati
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5/0
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5365
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321
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20
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16
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37
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Awful against the run, but the secondary is strong. Head
coach Lewis is defensive-minded, so look for continued
improvement.
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13.
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Kansas City
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2/2
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6047
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413
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13
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8
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41
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Surtain and Knight upgrade a pathetic secondary. Bell and
Johnson (R) offer hope for the LBs. KR Hall raises the
overall grade.
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14.
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Chicago
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6/1
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5390
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301
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17
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12
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33
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Led league in scoring last season. If Urlacher and Ogunleye
can return to form after an injury-riddled ’04, the Bears
could be fantasy sleepers.
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15.
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Dallas
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0/0
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5285
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377
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13
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9
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33
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Dramatically improved on paper, it will take some time for
promising rookies and free-agent additions to gel and to
adjust to the 3-4.
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16.
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Arizona
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2/0
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5141
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321
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15
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15
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38
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Held some mighty offenses in check last season, but imploded
against others. Keep an eye on the Cards as a potential free
agent/bye week pickup.
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Rank
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Team
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Def,
ST TDs
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Yds
Allowed
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Pts
Allowed
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Int
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Fum
Rec
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Sacks
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17.
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Jacksonville
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0/0
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5134
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238
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16
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12
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37
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Talented DL should increase sack production. Secondary is big
concern.
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18.
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Miami
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1/1
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4894
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284
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15
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10
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36
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Most pressing need is for their offense to give them time to
breathe. Secondary was depleted in free agency, but DL is
solid.
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19.
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Indianapolis
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3/1
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5929
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343
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19
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17
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45
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S Sanders, if healthy, will give secondary a spark. Offensive
firepower forces opponents into playing catch-up, which leads
to INTs.
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20.
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Denver
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2/0
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4459
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290
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12
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8
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38
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You know you’ve had a bad off-season when you add four
underachieving Browns to your DL. But LBs could be the
league’s best.
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21.
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Seattle
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3/0
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5620
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364
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23
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12
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36
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J. Sharper is a superb LB addition, but loss of K. Lucas hurts
an already-shaky secondary. Nothing special about their
special teams.
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22.
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NY Jets
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3/1
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4878
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252
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19
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14
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36
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CB Abraham’s retirement and DE Abraham’s holdout hurt, but
addition of Ty Law helps considerably. Still not a viable
fantasy unit.
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23.
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Detroit
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1/4
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5401
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321
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14
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10
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38
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Eddie Drummond’s return skills make their special teams
lethal, but the defense is below average. Draft only for S/T
value.
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24.
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Oakland
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1/0
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5936
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407
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9
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9
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26
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With a vastly improved offense, this unit has chance to force
opponents into costly mistakes. Return to 4-3 should help
Sapp.
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Rank
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Team
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Def,
ST TDs
|
Yds
Allowed
|
Pts
Allowed
|
Int
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Fum
Rec
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Sacks
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25.
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NY Giants
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2/2
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5187
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347
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14
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14
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41
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Strahan must return to elite status for this unit to gain
respectability. Special teams aren’t too shabby.
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26.
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Green Bay
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5/0
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5541
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366
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8
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7
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40
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Did little to improve in the off-season, and lost their
biggest playmaker in D. Sharper to Minnesota.
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27.
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Houston
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5/0
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5456
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316
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22
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8
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24
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Loss of LB Sharper will hurt an already weak defense. Corners
are talented playmakers.
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28.
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Tennessee
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2/0
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5724
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398
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18
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12
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32
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LB Bullock could use a lot more help. First-round pick Jones
may not be around to help, given his legal issues.
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29.
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St. Louis
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3/0
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5353
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351
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6
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9
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36
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Their 15 turnovers were the NFL’s worst. Nothing suggests
this will improve enough to warrant fantasy consideration.
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30.
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Cleveland
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1/1
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5215
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346
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15
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13
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32
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New head coach Crennel will earn his paycheck trying to
overhaul this group. He’ll need time. Lots of it.
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31.
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New Orleans
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1/2
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6141
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375
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13
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19
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37
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Doormats in ’04, their off-season moves give little hope of
major improvement in ’05.
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32.
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San Francisco
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2/1
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5481
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417
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9
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12
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29
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This will be the most valuable defense in the NFL in ’05 ...
for the offenses playing against it. Stay away. Far, far
away ...
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Rank
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Team
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Def,
ST TDs
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Yds
Allowed
|
Pts
Allowed
|
Int
|
Fum
Rec
|
Sacks
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