A strong fantasy football team usually has a stout fantasy defense holding down the fort. Here’s a look at the best of the best fantasy football defenses for the 2009 fantasy NFL season.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers won a Super Bowl last year thanks to their great defensive unit. In 2009 fantasy football, their defense should be dominant once again.

2. New York Giants
With a defense that can get to the quarterback and plays with impressive physicality, the Giants make things happen on the defensive end on a weekly basis.

Kerry Collins has re-signed with the Tennessee Titans after a very successful 2008 NFL campaign. Collins took over for Vince Young early in the season and had Tennessee playing at a high level for most of the season.
The contract Collins signed is for two years and has approximately $8.5 million in guaranteed money. Although he doesn’t have a high ceiling as a fantasy football quarterback, this move definitely has some fantasy impact.
First of all, Young’s stock drops even further. If Collins would have signed elsewhere, Young would have had a chance to possibly start for the Titans. Now with Collins …read more

If you are going to be playing playoff fantasy football, you obviously should be well aware of the NFL playoff picture. Here’s the NFL playoff schedule for the first week of the playoffs so you can start to figure out which fantasy players you want to get on your team in playoff fantasy football.
Saturday, January 3rd – 4:30 PM Eastern
Atlanta Falcons at the Arizona Cardinals
Saturday, January 3rd – 8:00 PM Eastern
Indianapolis Colts at San Diego Chargers
Sunday, January 4th – 1:00 PM Eastern
Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins
Sunday, January 4th – 4:30 PM Eastern
Philadelphia Eagles at Minnesota Vikings

Bye Week: Tennessee Titans, Pittsburgh …read more

QB Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles
Even though Donovan McNabb had a very good Week 13 showing, don’t bet on him to repeat that performance in Week 14. Going up against the New York Giants, McNabb’s limited mobility will be on full display. If the Giants get a good rush on him, it could be a very long and disappointing game for McNabb.
RB Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins
Clinton Portis has a lot of things going against him this weekend. First of all, he has to deal with a myriad of injuries that have slowed him in recent weeks. Equally as scary is the …read more

QB Shaun Hill, San Francisco 49ers
Being a quarterback in a Mike Martz offense is generally a good thing. Shaun Hill of the 49ers seems to be taking advantage of that opportunity. Hill, who replaced an ineffective JT O’Sullivan, played very well last week and should be a good backup fantasy football quarterback from here on.
RB Tatum Bell, Denver Broncos
If you are looking to strike gold on the Week 12 waiver wire, you definitely have to consider Tatum Bell a sleeper. Bell has been signed by the Broncos after a bevy of injuries depleted their running back corps. Bell has had …read more

QB Kurt Warner, Arizona Cardinals
As we expected, Kurt Warner was the best fantasy quarterback in the NFL in Week 9. Playing against his former team the St. Louis Rams, Warner had 342 passing yards to go along with two touchdown passes. The only thing keeping Warner from being mentioned as the best fantasy football quarterback is the injury concerns that surround him.
RB Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans
Chris Johnson is quickly becoming one of the most feared running backs in all of the NFL. In Week 9, Johnson helped lead the Titans to victory with 89 rushing yards, 72 receiving yards and …read more

QB Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons are going against an Oakland Raiders defense that simply isn’t that good. Last week, fellow rookie quarterback Joe Flacco had a good fantasy day against this same defense. Expect Ryan to have an even better game in Week 9. Right now, he’s a definite fantasy football sleeper for the week.
RB Michael Pittman, Denver Broncos
Michael Pittman is banged up and is currently listed as questionable for the Week 9 game. But he was able to practice late in the week and should start the game and have a heavy workload. Against the Miami Dolphins, Pittman …read more

Don’t sleep on Kolby Smith in Week 8.
QB Matt Cassel, New England Patriots
Last week, Matt Cassel finally looked like he was getting comfortable as a NFL quarterback. This week, Cassel will go up against the Rams and try to prove that last week wasn’t a fluke. While the Rams are actually playing well right now, Cassel remains a sleeper who could bust out in a big way in Week 8 fantasy football.
RB Kolby Smith, Kansas City Chiefs
With Larry Johnson being held out once against for the Kansas City Chiefs, Kolby Smith will get the start. Last week, in a similar …read more

10) Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens are undefeated and they have a formidable combination of a great defense and great depth at running back.
9) Carolina Panthers
With Steve Smith back in action, the Panthers should make a legitimate push for the playoffs and could be a sleeper Super Bowl pick.
8) Buffalo Bills
At 3-0 it is hard to ignore the Bills. However, they still have a lot more to prove before people believe they are ready for the playoffs.
7) Green Bay Packers
Without Brett Favre, the Packers are still very good. They lost against the Cowboys this week but they should bounce back.
6) Pittsburgh Steelers
A …read more

QUARTERBACKS
Vince Young, Tennessee Titans
Kerry Collins will start in place of Vince Young, who is expected to miss up to a month with a knee injury.
RUNNING BACK
LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers
Although he’s being listed as questionable, many expect LaDainian Tomlinson to play in Week 2. He has a toe injury but should be able to tough it out.
Ryan Grant, Green Bay Packers
Ryan Grant has been listed as questionable for most of the week. He was able to practice on Friday so expect him to play.
Marion Barber III, Dallas Cowboys
After injuring his ribs in Week 1, many fantasy owners worried …read more