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Factoid

Experts Poll: Seahawks defense is No. 1

Compiling the votes for the Experts Poll, I notice that the panel tends to give more weight to actual good NFL defenses, rather than teams that had good "fantasy" defenses the previous season.

Seattle finishes No. 1 this year. That's the fifth year in a row that the No. 1 defense in the experts poll finished either 1st or 2nd in scoring defense the previous season. Four of those teams allowed the fewest NFL points the previous year.
But in fantasy leagues, defenses typically don't get any bonuses for allowing few points or yards. It's mostly takeaways, sacks and touchdowns. In that kind of scoring system, Seattle finished in a three-way tie for 6th-8th last year.

In none of the past five years, in fact, has the top finisher in the Experts Poll come into the season having had the best fantasy defense the previous year.


TOP-RATED DEFENSE IN EXPERTS POLL
 NFL  Fan  Year

   3   4   2002   Pittsburgh
   1   1   2003   Tampa Bay
   6   1   2004   Baltimore
   6   2   2005   Baltimore
   1   2   2006   Chicago
   3   2   2007   Chicago
   5   1   2008   San Diego
   1   2   2009   Pittsburgh
   1  12  2010   N.Y. Jets
   1   2   2011   Pittsburgh
   2   3   2012   San Francisco
   1   7   2013   Seattle


^aEUR"Ian Allan


Fantasy Index