Fantasy Index

Factoid

Top Run Defenses

Mayo retirement could be significant

Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo announced his retirement last week. Steelers linebacker James Harrison admits he's considering it. Both players have been key to a pair of the league's best run defenses over the past decade.

Over the last 10 years, the Patriots and Steelers are two of just eight teams that have ranked in the top 10 defending the run at least five times. Pittsburgh has been especially impressive, ranking that high an incredible nine times -- two more than any other team.

Harrison is 37, while Mayo has battled injuries in recent seasons. But their losses, if it plays out that way in Pittsburgh, too, will hurt those defenses.

There's a pretty good correlation between run defenses and playoff appearances. Of the team with the fewest top-10 run defenses over the past decade, only Green Bay is a regular playoff participant. Most of the others have been shutout from postseason play entirely.

RUN DEFENSES, TOP-10 RANKINGS (2006-2015)
Team'15'14'13'12'11'10'09'08'07'06Top 10s
Pittsburgh562128132339
Baltimore12411202553227
NY Jets353261338729246
San Francisco2974416613T22186
New England9930917111415955
Chicago2617328522352565
Dallas2182722712412695
Minnesota1725161111921115
Cincinnati720512101972221144
Denver22832231262730114
Houston10102374131123T19194
Miami282424133718103284
Philadelphia321510231616947264
Seattle137101521151812224
Arizona6131282130171610153
Atlanta13213121610102526203
Carolina4162142523222018103
NY Giants233014251981398133
San Diego272612620420111673
Washington251217518261684273
Detroit1816162324253223212
Jacksonville152729309221913T1142
Tennessee1931202424201265302
Green Bay22232517141812614121
Kansas City82822272614303028171
LA Rams20149153117272920311
Tampa Bay11191513228321917161
Buffalo161128312832312124280
Cleveland303218193027282827290
Indianapolis2418262929252423T15320
New Orleans312919321215211713230
Oakland142213182729293131250

--Andy Richardson

Fantasy Index