Green Bay Packers: Week 9 Fantasy Profile

Nov 1, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos tight end

(85) is tackled by a group of Green Bay Packers including strong safeties

(33), and

(42) during the second half at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos won 29-10. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Defense

Last Game: 27 Points Allowed, 1 Interception; 2.00 fantasy point

After some underratedly good weeks, the defense produced a stinker.

A game like that is why I am always leery to fully trust them; they just have built up too much false hope and empty promise with me over the years to go all in on them.

Still, they usually do the things necessary to have good fantasy performances.

The biggest issues they have are related to yardage issues; they give up a ton, and the run defense yardage is still a problem despite harping on it from all sides for years.

They do well in the spots that affect fantasy performance, though.

They get sacks; until the Broncos game, they had grabbed at least one in 42 straight games. They produce turnovers, something that has been one of the biggest staples of the defense since Dom Capers took over the unit. Best of all, they keep the score down; they sat at #1 in scoring defense before the Broncos game and now #6 even after giving up 29 over the weekend.

This Panthers team has been suuuuuuper sloppy with the ball, committing a ton of turnovers that fortunately for them has not caused them to lose as of yet.

Cam Newton may be getting MVP talk, but he has the lowest completion percentage of his career (54.2%) and continues to throw inaccurately even on passes he completes. His running ability adds a special aspect, but his passing leaves much to be desired.

They don’t have receivers of note beyond Greg Olson, and he’s a tight end; a great one, sure, but not the Gronkowski-level destroyer that can dominate a game.

That offensive line has actually played decently well, but they are a conglomeration of patchwork talents around Ryan Kalil at center; they can be beaten if you have the pass rushers readily available to send at them.

If Green Bay is going to win the game, the defense will have to dominate in the areas they usually make an impact in, while also not being handled in the run game.

I’m thinking that second part (which doesn’t matter to fantasy) will happen to a halfway-decent degree, which will help immensely in Green Bay’s efforts to make the first part happen (which DOES matter to fantasy).

Week 9 Prediction: 20 Points Allowed, 3 Sacks, 2 Forced Turnovers (2 INT); 8.00 fantasy points
Verdict: Risky Upside Play