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Factoid

NFL defenses: points allowed

Some year-to-year consistency in this area

Recently we looked at how fantasy defenses perform from one year to the next; specifically, if the top fantasy defense one year could be counted on to be very good a year later. In scoring systems dependent only on sacks, turnovers, and defensive touchdowns, there's considerable year-to-year variance.

But if you're in a league where the scoring system is heavily dependent on points allowed, there is more reliability. Seattle, for example, was No. 1 in points allowed in 2014, and that's its third straight year of being No. 1 in that area. Last season, 9 of the top 15 defenses in terms of points allowed also ranked in the top 15 in that area the previous season.

The table below shows points-allowed rankings in each the last five seasons, sorted by their ranking for the average of that five-year span. Seattle, of course, is 1st. San Francisco, top-3 in three of those seasons, Pittsburgh and Baltimore (each top-6 three times) and New England (top-10 four times) round out the top 5.

Note that only two of the top-13 defenses (on average) over the last five years ranked outside the top 13 in 2014. A pretty good sign that if you target a defense that did well in terms of points allowed a year ago, you'll land one that performs well in 2015.

TOP DEFENSES, POINTS ALLOWED, RANK (2010-2014)
Team'14'13'12'11'10Avg.
Seattle1117251
San Francisco10322162
Pittsburgh18146113
Baltimore61213T334
New England81010T1585
Miami2087T6146
Kansas City25T2612117
Cincinnati125T99248
Green Bay13T24T121929
San Diego13T1117221010
Cleveland9232151311
Arizona5718173012
Houston724T10T42913
Tennessee29T167T81514
Atlanta2727518515
St. Louis16T1315T261216
Carolina21219272617
Chicago3130T314418
New Orleans2843213719
NY Jets24192220620
Detroit31528231921
NY Giants22T1813T251722
Denver16T224243223
Indianapolis19923282324
Philadelphia22T1730T102125
Dallas152625163126
Minnesota113215T311827
Buffalo42027302828
Tampa Bay25212432929
Washington29T30T20212230
Jacksonville262830T112731
Oakland322929292032

--Andy Richardson

Fantasy Index