fantasy football cheat sheet 2009.

2009 Fantasy Football Defensive Rankings.

The saying goes that “defense wins championships", and while the Pittsburgh Steelers demonstrated this to be true in the NFL, the same doesn’t always hold true for fantasy football.

However, while a defense may not lead you to the promised land in fantasy football, having a solid squad that you can plug in week after week makes the journey a little bit easier.

With that in mind, continue reading to find out who the solid defenses are for 2009 in our downloadable Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets.

TIER 1

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (Bye: 8)

The Steelers had an unbelievable year in 2008, as they finished first in yards allowed (237.2), passing yards allowed (156.9), and points allowed (13.9) per game as well as finishing second in rushing yards allowed (80.3) per game, and total sacks (51). They added 20 interceptions, 12 forced fumbles, and 1,125 tackles. In 2009, the toughest offenses they will face are the Chargers, Vikings, Packers, and Dolphins. Their weaker opponents include the Lions, Raiders, Chiefs, and Browns (twice).

Look for more of the same in 2009 from the top defensive unit of a year ago. While the team did lose cornerback Bryant McFadden to the Arizona Cardinals and linebacker Larry Foote to the Detroit Lions, the Steelers return nine of 11 starters on defense.

Look for William Gay to replace McFadden, and former first round pick Lawrence Timmons to replace Foote—helping the Steelers not to miss a beat. Evander Hood, the 2009 first round draft pick, will be a nice welcome addition to an aging defensive line.

With the great Dick Lebeau as the defensive coordinator, expect more of the same in regards to pressure packages and taking opposing offenses out of their element.

2. Baltimore Ravens (Bye: 7)

While the Steelers dominated the NFL stat books on the defensive side of the ball last season, the Ravens (who finished first among fantasy defenses), weren’t far behind.

They were second in yards allowed (261.1) and passing yards allowed (179.7) per game, and also finished third in rushing yards allowed (81.4) and points allowed (15.3) per game.

Baltimore had the most interceptions in the NFL with 26, and added 13 forced fumbles, 34 sacks, and 960 tackles.

While the team had some big losses in the off-season (linebacker Bart Scott, safety Jim Leohnard, cornerback Chris McAllister, and coordinator Rex Ryan), they did make some good additions in the secondary where they needed help (cornerbacks Dominique Foxworth and Chris Carr).

Even with Ryan gone, the team will continue to attack opposing offenses the same way they did in the past. They still have their top players, and will continue to dominate in fantasy leagues.

This year their toughest opponents will be the Chargers, Patriots, Colts, and Packers. Their weaker opponents will be the Raiders, Lions, Chiefs, and Browns (twice).