Drafting With The Playoffs In Mind

After drafting a great team and then finishing at the top of your league in the regular season, is there anything worse for a fantasy owner than getting eliminated after one bad playoff performance?  Maybe a life sentence to watching the Oakland Raiders offense, but not much worse I can think of.  In any head-to-head league, there is a possibility of this happening to even the best team on any given week.  But by drafting good depth and not starting your players with difficult defensive opponents during fantasy playoffs, you can avoid the one-and-done post-season syndrome.  Here are the teams with the most difficult defensive opponents in weeks 14, 15 and 16.  

The #1 most difficult schedule:
Carolina Panthers: Jake Delhomme, Steve Smith, Muhsin Muhammad, DeAngelo Williams , Jonathan Stewart
Week 14: @New England. In 2008, ranked 10th in total yards allowed.  
Week 15: Minnesota.  Ranked 6th in total yards allowed, including #1 against the rush. 
Week 16: @ New York Giants.  Ranked 5th in total yards allowed.

#2. Chicago Bears: Jay Cutler, Devin Hester, Greg Olsen, Matt Forte
Week 14: Green Bay. Ranked 20th in total yards allowed, 12th in passing yards allowed
Week 15: @ Baltimore.  Ranked 2nd in total yards allowed (ranked 3rd rushing, 2nd passing)
Week 16: @ Minnesota. (see above)

#3. Green Bay Packers: Aaron Rodgers, Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Ryan Grant
Week 14: @ Chicago.  Ranked 5th in rushing yards allowed.
Week 15: @ Pittsburgh. Ranked 1st in total yards allowed (2nd in rushing, 1st in passing)
Week 16: Seattle. Ranked 30th in total yards (18th rushing, 32nd in passing)

#4. Baltimore Ravens: Joe Flacco, Derrick Mason, Mark Clayton, Ray Rice, Willis McGahee, LeRon McClain
Week 14: Detroit. Ranked 32nd in total yards allowed.
Week 15: Chicago. (see above)
Week 16: @ Pittsburgh (see above)

#5. Washington Redskins: Jason Campbell, Santana Moss, Antwann Randle-El, Chris Cooley, Clinton Portis
Week 14: @ Oakland. Ranked 27th in total yards allowed, 10th in passing yards.
Week 15: Giants (See above)
Week 16: Dallas.  Ranked 8th in total yards allowed (12th rushing, 5th passing) 

Consider that 2008 defensive statistics cannot always be extrapolated into the next season, but it should be a safe presumption that the Steelers, Ravens, Giants, Vikings and Cowboys  will be among the top units in 2009.  Also recognize the cold weather games that these offenses will be exposed to in mid to late December, which could limit offensive output.  The Panthers will have difficult time scoring points in all three playoff weeks.  Both the Bears and Packers have two very challenging road games against two excellent defenses.  The Ravens and Redskins should have one easy one, but two relatively tough games.

If you have yet to draft, you can remember this as a possible tie-breaker when considering similar or even players to choose from.  When considering a trade, know the playoff schedule of the players you’re acquiring.  If you own any of the players listed above, have a strong backup in place.

This post was written by TFSF