I shouldn't be writing about these positions in fantasy football. They barely exist (some leagues have eliminated them) and nobody considers them important. They're the spots you fill at the end of your draft, and then you forget about them until bye weeks.
Kicker and defense? Who cares? You take whatever's there on draft day and keep it moving, right? Sure. But when they cost you a few points, and you lose a couple of games by a few points, and you miss the playoffs by one game, you might feel differently.
I won a game in week 2 by the margin of my defense scoring a touchdown. In week 3, tens of thousands of fantasy teams can probably say the same. How many touchdowns were scored by defenses and special teams on Sunday? Well, I looked it up because I suppose it's my job if I'm going to write about it. Turns out there were nine. Isaiah Rodgers scored twice for the Vikings and forced two fumbles. In one half. Teams blocked kicks, intercepted passes, forced fumbles, returned punts, you name it. And those points can definitely make a difference in a close game. I'm not saying you should be able to predict touchdowns, but I am saying that defenses might deserve more attention than you're giving them.
For me, the days of drafting a top defense and just leaving them in the lineup are over. In one league I don't draft a defense at all. The waiver wire opens up right after the draft, and I'd rather carry an extra player until roster cuts are done before selecting my week 1 defense. I play matchups and won't hesitate to drop one for a better option.
I also pay attention to kickers, but with the opposite approach. I've never been a "take whatever kicker is there in the last round" kind of manager. I draft one earlier than most, then hang onto him unless circumstances change or a better one becomes available. My strategy is different from a lot of managers, but it's worked pretty well for me. If I'm taking a lot of care to construct a winning lineup, I'm going to do it with the entire lineup. I actually look for better kickers on the waiver wire. I probably waste several seconds each week doing it.
I'm aware that, over the course of a season, there isn't a lot of difference between defenses or most of the top-ranked kickers. I'm also aware that, over the course of your life, you're probably going to lose money gambling. But I'm not trying to think long term here. I'm trying to gain short-term advantages and squeeze out an extra couple of wins. You can absolutely leave Las Vegas with some extra money, and I think I have better odds picking an above-average defense than your grandma does picking a "hot" slot machine. That might be because there's no such thing as a "hot" slot machine, but I digress. If my kicker scores a few points above average most weeks and my opponent ignores the position, it might be enough to get me an extra win or two. I've missed too many playoff spots by one game to ignore that opportunity.
I'm encouraging you spend a moment or two every week making sure you have the best options available. Even a bad defense can score fantasy points if the opposing team is inept. And when the bye weeks hit, managers will ditch a great kicker to keep that fifth wide receiver who had a good game in week 1. Make room for them on your team. If you have a great one yourself, keep them through their bye week.
Unfortunately, many managers are too smart to even think about that part of their roster. Everybody knows they don’t really matter, until they matter. You need every advantage you can get, and I think this might be one you’re overlooking. Check the waiver wire for upgrades, and you might be surprised. Good luck this week.
Do you pay attention to kickers and defenses? Did yours bail you out this week, or this season? How often do you switch them out? Share your thoughts below.