New Orleans Saints: Defense Is Not Fantasy Football-Friendly

Troy Taormina- USA TODAY Sports

The New Orleans Saints defense is the last defense you should think about in Fantasy Football. Usually in the NFL, you can’t make the same conclusions with the actual game as you do while playing fantasy. But with the Saints’ defense, you can do all of that.

The Saints are in transition on defense as the team hired defensive coordinator Rob Ryan earlier in the offseason to improve on a defense that set an NFL record in allowing 440.1 yards per game, while also allowing 28.4 points per game.

The Saints are currently experimenting with their new 3-4 defense, and any time you have a defense that comes off a horrible season the year before, it isn’t wise to think that they will significantly improve in the next season.

However, during the preseason, the Saints’ defense is showing good progress as they are ranked 10th in yards allowed at 293 yards a game so far. The defense is also allowing 16.2 points on average in three games this preseason, but don’t expect that trend to continue into the regular season.

At the end of the day, stay away from this defense entering the regular season. There is a lot of work that needs to be done with this unit, and it doesn’t get easier with linebacker Will Smith out for the season with a knee injury. If the defense improves during the season as a stable unit, it could be a nice pickup. But for now, sit tight and select better options.

Wola Odeniran is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on twitter at WolaOdeniran52, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google