By Mr. Fantasy

1. Understand the rules of your league before drafting a defense. Some leagues combine defenses and special teams. Others give defensive points only for touchdown returns. The Cardinals (eight defensive scores) were an elite-level fantasy defense last season in some leagues despite not looking like it on the field.
   
   
2. Draft a defense of a low-scoring team. NFL coaches aren't stupid. If they know the other team's offense can't score, they're not going to take any chances when they have the ball. So this defense gains a huge advantage just by being linked to a bad offense.
   
   
3. Take the Jets. You might not like Rex Ryan, but if you have to respect the way his defenses get after an opponent. Sacks, interceptions ... it's where most fantasy defenses earn their points.
   
   
4. Don't believe last year's stats. Much changes defensively from year to year. One high draft pick can impact an entire unit. So can a coaching change. Pay attention to these changes.
   
   
5. Don't be married to the unit you draft. As with kickers, matchups often dictate with defense will play well on a given weekend. Most weeks, there are at least a couple of defenses available on waivers who figure to do better than the team you drafted. If that's the case, make the change and worry about next week next week.

Check out the 2011 Defenses Draft Ratings