Fantasy Football

2011 Fantasy Football, Week 7 Team Defense Rankings: Ravens Ready to Rip Jaguars

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Ray Lewis (credits below)

1.  Baltimore Ravens (@JAX) – The Jaguars have failed to score over 20 points all season.  They were able to score 13 against a Pittsburgh defense, but it was a Steelers defense that is playing hurt and missing key contributors.  The last time the Jaguars faced an elite defense it was in week 2 against the Jets.  They managed only 3 points and turned the ball over 4 times.

2.  Dallas Cowboys (STL) – The Rams offense has been sputtering all season, and now there’s a good chance they’ll be without Sam Bradford who suffered a high ankle sprain against the Packers.  The Cowboys were able to hold the Patriots to under 30 points for the first time all season.  It looks like their personnel are figuring out Rob Ryan’s schemes and are beginning to execute.

3.  Green Bay Packers (@MIN) – The Packers rank fifth in the league in stopping the run.  Part of this is because of their beef up front, but a lot of it is their offense racking up points which causes their opponents to try to move the ball quickly through the air.  Sounds like a perfect matchup, as they may be able to negate Adrian Peterson and force newly tabbed starter Christian Ponder to beat them.

4.  Pittsburgh Steelers (@ARI) – The Steelers defense has picked it up the past couple of weeks despite losing James Harrison.  It looks like Troy Palomalu will be able to play this week, and he’ll look to force Kevin Kolb into some bad decisions.  I feel like they will continue to roll and do well this week in the desert.

5.  New Orleans Saints (IND) – It seems like the best way to get back on track after a loss is to play the Colts.  Getting them at home in the superdome definitely doesn’t hurt things.  I would be surprised if Curtis Painter didn’t turn the ball over a couple times trying to keep up with Drew Brees and the Saints.

6.  New York Jets (SD) – The Jets defensive play has been disappointing for owners who drafted them.  Monday night’s performance is what they’ve been waiting to see.  While the Dolphins were able to move the ball more than Rex Ryan would like, they still only managed to put 6 points on the board.  The interception return by Revis certainly helped things as well.  They will face a tougher test this week with the Chargers, but I have a good feeling in their ability to keep their swagger.

7.  Chicago Bears (@TB – England) – After voicing displeasure over his defense, Lovie Smith got the kind of performance he had been waiting for.  Holding Adrian Peterson to under 40 yards was an amazing job by the Bears defense, and they look to continue dominating against Tampa Bay in London.  It doesn’t hurt that Blount looks to miss this game as well.

8.  San Diego Chargers (@NYJ) – Boasting the league’s 2nd ranked pass defense, the Chargers figure to force the Jets to beat them on the ground.  In years past this would be what Rex would want to do, but he’s not having the same success this year.  They rank 31st in the league in rushing yards per game, averaging just over 80 yards.  Looks like there could be more three and outs for the Jets next week.

9.  Oakland Raiders (KC) – Kansas City is riding a 2 game winning streak, but those wins may have come against arguably the two worst teams in the league.  The Raiders have seemed to play at another level at home in years past, especially against division opponents.  I expect them to come out with some extra intensity, as they know they have less margin of error, with the loss of Jason Campbell.

10.  Detroit Lions (ATL)  – Speaking of extra intensity.  I don’t know if there is a team in the league who is more looking forward to playing Sunday than the Detroit Lions.  I don’t think Michael Turner will have much running room against the big boys inside of the Lions.  If Julio Jones can’t play again this week, the outlook is even brighter for Detroit.

11.  Houston Texans (@TEN) – The Texans defense really stepped up for most of the game against a pretty balanced Ravens offense.  Their defensive line played a lot better than I expected to them considering they have lost Mario Williams for the season.  They should be even better their second week out as a unit, and they will have to be to contain Chris Johnson, who seems to be hitting his stride after missing camp.

12.  Kansas City Chiefs (@OAK) – The Chiefs are my sneaky play of the week, if your’e facing serious bye week issues.  While being on the road is never preferred, playing against a division rival is.  Boller did not look like a quality NFL quarterback when he came in last week after Campbell was forced to leave the game.  Carson Palmer admitted today, to not being in football shape and he obviously hasn’t had time to digest the playbook yet.  I think whoever starts for Oakland, they will be forced to rely on the run, which Kansas City will be expecting.

13.  Denver Broncos (@MIA)

14.  Washington Redskins (@CAR)

15.  Cleveland Browns (SEA)

16.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers (CHI – England)

17.  Atlanta Falcons (@DET)

18.  Tennessee Titans (HOU)

19.  Miami Dolphins (DEN)

20.  Seattle Seahawks (@CLE)

21.  Carolina Panthers (WAS)

22.  Arizona Cardinals (PIT)

23.  Jacksonville Jaguars (BAL)

24.  Minnesota Vikings (GB)

25.  St. Louis Rams (@DAL)

26.  Indianapolis Colts (@NO)

Written by Ilyn Yeh exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com

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(October 1, 2011 – Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images North America)


Tags: the Fantasy Fix, 2011 Fantasy Football,  2011 Fantasy Football Rankings, Team Defense Rankings, Defensive Ranks, Week 7, Ilyn Yeh
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