The Top Ten Defenders of Week 1

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Football is back, and so is our Top Ten Defenders column. We saw quite a number of very strong defensive performances this week, and it took an excellent performance indeed to make the list. Two teams are represented twice: Philadelphia, whose safeties were one of the few things Eagles fans had to cheer about on Monday, and Indianapolis, whose linebackers were a key factor in the team’s opening day victory.

1. Anthony Henry – CB, Dal
The Denver Broncos were ridiculed this offseason for bringing a slew of former Cleveland defenders to Colorado, but the Cowboys have no complaints about their own former Brown. Nor will fantasy owners: Henry had a field day in his first game with the star on his helmet. When the dust settled, he had posted a line of ten tackles, two assists, an interception, and five passes defended, and Dallas had come away with a 28-24 road victory.

2. Karlos Dansby – LB, Ari
Of course, you don’t have to post high tackle totals to have a huge fantasy day. Carlos Dansby made just three stops in Arizona’s loss at the hands of the Giants, but added a sack, a pair of pass defenses, and two interceptions, one of which he returned for a score. His efforts weren’t enough for the Cardinals, who wound up allowing a whopping 42 points, but numbers like that would make any fantasy owner happy.

3. Darren Sharper – S, Min
This week’s top safety, Sharper also returned an interception all the way for a score this week (the sixth of his career), scampering 88 yards to open the scoring and set the Vikings on the road to victory over the Buccaneers. The rest of his stats weren’t too shabby, either: seven tackles, two assists, and two pass defenses would have been a solid line for a safety even without the TD.

4. Cato June – LB, Ind
June may have been a big sleeper last year, but this season, he’s ready to become a fantasy star. The talented linebacker picked up right where he left off in 2004, recording seven tackles, two assists, and a pair of pass defenses on Sunday night. Oh yes, he also picked off an errant Anthony Wright pass and returned it 30 yards for the Colts’ final touchdown. The Indianapolis defense looked very good this week, and June was a key factor. He’ll be a factor in fantasy leagues, too.

5. Brian Dawkins – S, Phi
Philadelphia may have lost to the Falcons on Monday night, but don’t blame Brian Dawkins. The star saftey finished the day with two sacks, an interception, a forced fumble, two pass defenses, and six tackles. While that might be small consolation to disappointed Eagles fans, but those numbers sure made a difference to fantasy owners who had him in their lineups.

6. Jason Taylor – DE, Mia
Taylor recorded 22.5 sacks over the last two seasons, and he added another against Denver on Sunday. Additionally, he also stripped the ball from Broncos QB Jake Plummer in the waning moments of the game, recovered the ball, and ran 85 yards to seal the day’s scoring and Miami’s victory. Taylor also lined up at tight end in the red zone at one point, an interesting development that owners in leagues that start defensive linemen should keep an eye on.

7. Michael Lewis – S, Phi
Brian Dawkins wasn’t the only Philadelphia safety to post big numbers on Monday night. Lewis led the Eagles with eight tackles and an assist, sacked Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick once, and was credited with a forced fumble and a recovery. Lewis tends to be underrated in fantasy circles; he might still be available in your league.

8. Julian Peterson – LB, SF
Julian Peterson is back. After missing 11 games last season, the linebacker made a triumphant return on Sunday, recording five solo stops and 2.5 sacks – as many as he had in the entire 2004 season. Peterson averaged 75.5 solo tackles between 2002 and 2003, yet he’s available on the wire in many leagues. If that’s the case in your league, grab him if you could use a bit more LB depth.

9. Gary Brackett – LB, Ind
Gary Brackett probably isn’t on many fantasy rosters yet, but that will change in a hurry if he keeps playing the way he did this weekend. Brackett wreaked plenty of havoc, intercepting two passes and recording eight solo stops as the Colts held Baltimore to just seven points. With Brackett and June, Indianapolis could turn out to be a solid source of fantasy production this year.

10. Sammy Knight – S, KC
On Sunday, Knight recorded his first sack since leaving the Saints following the 2002 season. He also forced a fumble, one of seven forced by the Kansas City’s revamped defense, and added seven solo tackles and two assists as the Chiefs held the Jets to just seven points. Does this mean the Chiefs actually plan on playing defense this year?

Just missed: Derrick Johnson (LB, KC), Marcus Trufant (CB, Sea), Larry Tripplett (DT, Ind), Bryant Young (DE, SF), Darwin Walker (DT, Phi), Leonard Little (DE, StL)

 
Arlo Vander’s team is 1-0 even though his defense was outscored by a margin of nearly two-to-one.