Can we take a moment to talk about a great sin in fantasy football? (This isn’t a discussion about the snowflakes in the Titans’ secondary.)
Although it’s too late to change your league settings, any football fan playing in one that still uses team defense should be forced to play fantasy cricket this summer for punishment.
We worship and reward every stat-producing position on offense (including, ahem, kickers) but then give no love to the defensive standouts. Embrace the IDP (individual defensive players), because who would play in a league with “team offense”?
You may not know who Barrett Ruud (Buccaneers) is, nor would you want Tampa Bay’s defense as a whole, but he had six solo tackles, three assists, one interception and two passes defensed this week — great in an IDP league.
Week 6 saw fantasy heavyweights such as Tom Brady (Patriots), Drew Brees (Saints), Maurice Jones-Drew (Jaguars), Steve Slaton (Texans), Randy Moss (Patriots) and DeAngelo Williams (Panthers) earn their money. Owners of Steve Smith (Panthers), Greg Jennings (Packers), Pierre Thomas (Saints), Julius Jones (Seahawks) and Brian Westbrook (Eagles) should be nervous.
Fixes in Week 7: Laurence Maroney (Patriots) vs. the Bucs; Shaun Hill (49ers) vs. the Texans; Austin Collie (Colts) vs. the Rams.
FIVE WHO ARE HOT
Tom Brady, Patriots, QB 29 completions, 380 yards, 6 TDs
Marques Colston, Saints, WR Eight catches, 166 yards, TD
Donald Driver, Packers, WR Seven catches, 107 yards
Thomas Jones, Jets, RB 210 yards, 22 carries, TD
Sidney Rice, Vikings, WR Six catches, 176 yards
FIVE WHO ARE NOT
Anquan Boldin, Cardinals, WR Six catches, 54 yards
Ryan Grant, Packers, RB 24 carries, 90 yards; three catches, 17 yards
Mark Sanchez, Jets, QB 119 yards, 10-for-29, five INTs
Kevin Smith, Lions, RB, 15 carries, 61 yards
Steve Smith, Panthers, WR One catch, 4 yards
