As you prepare for your fantasy football season, one important decision you’ll face is when to select a defense for your team. Experienced fantasy football enthusiasts often opt to wait until the later rounds of the draft to choose a defense.
The primary reason for this strategy is that defenses are generally considered less valuable than star fantasy players.
Another factor in the decision to delay drafting a defense is the availability of options on the waiver wire. In most fantasy football leagues, which typically consist of eight to 12 teams, there are usually numerous defenses that could turn out to be unexpected gems throughout the season.
You can easily acquire these defenses off the waiver wire when you spot a favorable matchup for a particular week.
How does D/ST work in fantasy football?
In fantasy football, the abbreviation D/ST stands for “defense and special teams.” In traditional leagues, you draft an entire team’s defense and special teams as a single unit, which occupies a starting spot on your roster.
The performance of the fantasy defense and special teams is translated into points based on their game-day performance.
A popular strategy for managing defenses and kickers in fantasy football is known as streaming. This involves frequently dropping and adding these positions throughout the season using the waiver wire. Streaming is a strategy that revolves around assessing matchups and adjusting your lineup on a game-by-game basis.
It’s important to be aware of certain issues when considering how points are awarded for defensive scoring in fantasy football. ESPN, for instance, has modified the way interceptions returned for touchdowns (pick 6’s) impact your D/ST score.
Starting in the 2019 season, offensive points gained through pick 6’s or fumble recoveries for TD’s no longer affect your D/ST score. However, points generated by special teams still count against your D/ST score, such as a punt return for a TD against your D/ST.