Fantasy Football: Titans D/ST snubbed from PFF’s top 200 rankings
By Ravi Konjeti
The Tennessee Titans D/ST was snubbed by Pro Football Focus in a top 200 fantasy football rankings list.
Pro Football Focus’ Jeff Ratcliffe released his top 200 fantasy football rankings for PPR leagues in 2019 and there was one notable snub: the Tennessee Titans D/ST.
Other Titans that did make the list Included running back Derrick Henry (38, RB19), wide receiver Corey Davis (70, WR32), tight end Delanie Walker (104, TE11), running back Dion Lewis (145, RB47), and wide receiver Adam Humphries (151, WR64).
According to Fantasy Pros, the Titans D/ST finished as the No. 11 fantasy defense in 2018. The Titans accomplished this despite only forcing 17 turnovers and notching 39 sacks. Tennessee was also top three in points allowed per game, behind only the Bears and Ravens.
The Titans’ restocked pass-rush with the additions of Cameron Wake and Brent Urban, along with the retirements of Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan paving the way for second-year pro Harold Landry to start, should help the defense in the sack department.
Combined, Landry and Wake totaled 8.5 more sacks in 2018 than Orakpo and Morgan, and that was with Landry being used mostly as a rotational player.
The Titans will be looking at finishing as a top five fantasy defense on the back of an improved pass-rush, and the team’s interception total can only go up from where it was a year ago with the increased pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
What is more baffling about the snub is one of the other D/ST’s included in this list ahead of the Titans.
The Denver Broncos D/ST (189, D/ST9) lost multiple starters and significant role players on defense from last year, including Brandon Marshall and Bradley Roby. With new head coach Vic Fangio and defensive coordinator Ed Donatell, the Broncos defense will need to adapt to a new system.
After ranking 13th in points allowed per game last season, it’s hard to imagine why a Broncos team that took a step back this offseason would jump the Titans, a team that finished the season ranked third in the same category.
The Titans defense has proven results, increased depth, and an improved pass-rush that should have been enough to vault them into the top 200 list. If these rankings hold up in drafts, you can get an elite defense in the last round.