The strategy behind DTBWW is that each week, you pick up a defense, preferably one playing at home against a bad offense. And each week, you get pretty good numbers out of your DT position. To see how this approach performed last season, click here.

Last week, I recommended three DTBWW picks. Let’s see how they fared…

#1 Bengals: 20 PA (0) + 1 INT + 2 FR = 3 fantasy points
#2 Cowboys: 6 PA (8) + 1 SK + 1 INT = 10 fp
#3 Lions: 37 PA (0) + 1 SK = 1 fp

Ouch. Needless to say, it wasn’t a strong week for DTBWW. The Bengals laid an egg against Oakland and the Lions’ defense turned out to be more inept than the Browns’ offense, and that’s saying something. I *almost* picked the Cardinals versus the Rams (8 fp), but once again I let my esteemed colleague, Anthony Stalter, talk me out of a better pick. At least the Cowboys showed up — they put forth a nice defensive effort against the Redskins.

For the season, my #1 pick is averaging 9.5 fantasy points, my #2 pick is averaging 10.6 and my #3 pick is averaging 6.3. On the whole, DTBWW is averaging 8.8 fppg, which are DT2-type numbers. My #2 pick has been particularly hot of late, averaging 11.4 fp over the last eight weeks. Go figure.

Let’s take a look at this week’s picks. Keep in mind that to be eligible for DTBWW, a defense must be available in at least 40% of ESPN fantasy leagues.

I’d love to recommend the Bengals (vs. CLE) or the Packers (@ DET) this week, but they aren’t eligible because they are owned in 72% and 80% of ESPN leagues, respectively. If they are available, pick them up before moving on to this list. (I’d also take the Jets — owned in 66% of leagues — over the Dolphins.)

Pick #1: Dallas Cowboys (vs. OAK)
A stingy Cowboy defense hosts a fairly inept Raiders offense on a short week. Bruce Gradkowski seems better than JaMarcus Russell, but now Dallas has some recent tape to game plan against him.

Pick #2: Seattle Seahawks (@ STL)
The Seahawks were embarrassed last week against the Vikings and are a better team than they showed in Minnesota. The defense isn’t great, but it’s opportunistic and with Marc Bulger out, St. Louis has a problem at QB.

Pick #3: Miami Dolphins (@ BUF)
The Dolphins really need this game and the Bills have been a quality matchup for fantasy defenses all year long. Terrell Owens’ big Week 11 will ensure that the Dolphins don’t forget about him in Week 12.


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