Fantasy: Week 9 D/ST Watch
Share by Email
Before the season I touted Kansas City as my sleeper D/ST. It hasn’t turned out that way, in part due to the season-ending injury to safety Eric Berry.
But it’s hard to ignore the 10 takeaways the Chiefs have produced the past two weeks. There are still some outstanding playmakers on this unit, starting with OLB Tamba Hali and shutdown corner Brandon Flowers.
In Monday night’s game vs. San Diego, Hali caused several penalties while harassing Philip Rivers. He clawed for sacks in the fourth quarter and overtime. Flowers blanketed Vincent Jackson and Malcolm Floyd, though Flowers dropped an easy interception. Derrick Johnson burst through the line to sack Rivers.
The Chiefs also got their first fumble recovery of the season. They had failed to recover any of the first seven fumbles they caused, a pretty unlucky stat.
Hali was the league’s most productive pass rusher per play last year. He had 25 pressures, hits or sacks entering the Monday night game, and currently ranks as PFF’s sixth-best OLB (+13.8). Johnson is PFF’s sixth-best ILB (+10.8). Flowers is the 11th-best corner (+4.6).
Overall, K.C. has the 15th-best defense (11.9) in PFF ratings. The Chiefs have dangerous returners in Dexter McCluster and Javier Arenas.
But here’s the biggest reason to like the Chiefs: They host Miami and Denver the next two weeks.
Grab the Chiefs immediately if you don’t have a top D/ST.
Other recommended pickups:
Arizona: What are the chances the Rams put together two straight solid offensive performances?
Atlanta: It’s the Falcons’ turn to get healthy against the Colts.
