Shame on me.
I own the No. 1 fantasy defense in San Francisco, and decided not to play the 49ers at Detroit. I was afraid of Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson, Jahvid Best and the fast Ford Field turf they thrive on.
Instead I played the Vikings, who came into Sunday night’s game at Chicago leading the NFL in sacks. They were facing a leaky offensive line. Well, we all know how that turned out.
I bring this up not because I’m a masochist, but because it points out a valuable lesson. We’re at the point in the season where things aren’t a fluke anymore.
The Niners are the real deal. They held Detroit to 310 total yards, getting five sacks and a safety. They didn't go off for a monster game, but the class of their defense was evident throughout. Plus, Ted Ginn nearly broke another return for a touchdown.
PFF’s Khaled Elsayed notes that Justin Smith (+8.5) had a dominant game with two sacks, a hit and seven QB pressures. Against the run, Smith had little problem shedding blocks and made five tackles for short gains. Patrick Willis (+5.0) shined in coverage despite giving up a TD. He broke up three passes and forced Stafford to throw into tight windows.
So the Niners aren’t a matchup play anymore. If you own them, start them. Same goes for the Bengals.
In six games, Cincinnati has allowed more than 300 total yards once. The Bengals D/ST has scored a touchdown in consecutive games.
Cincinnati played Sunday without LB Rey Maualuga (ankle) and still forced three turnovers. Carlos Dunlap (+14.2) is PFF's third-ranked 4-3 DE behind Trent Cole and Jared Allen.
After the bye, the Bengals host Seattle in a great matchup.
The Bengals currently rank fourth in CBSSports leagues. They’ve earned every-week status.
PICKUPS: If your D/ST is on bye or has a bad matchup, here are three recommended pickups.
Oakland: After holding Cleveland to 268 yards, the Raiders should smother K.C. too.
Miami: Tim Tebow will make plays but also a bunch of mistakes.
Carolina: Facing John Beck or Rex Grossman at home is a recipe for success.
© 2025 PFF - all rights reserved.