The marquee match-up amongst pass defenses has the New York Giants' #3 PYA and the Arizona Cardinals #9 PYA facing off against the others' #s 19 and 2 OA pass offenses. Given the Giants don't really throw the ball all that much (19th OA), this match-up's fantasy implications fall squarely on the Arizona side. QB Kurt Warner and WRs Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald have proven to be elite fantasy players. The kind of players fantasy teams who own them count on to win each week.
The worry is the Giants' defense will depress the production of the Big Three to the point fantasy teams will lose. There is little doubt the Big Three will accumulate stats, though. After all, the team really can't run the ball despite the switch from an Edgerrin James/Tim Hightower 1/2 punch to a Tim Hightower/J.J. Arrington one.
An LDLS argument (Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics) can be made when looking at the Oakland Raiders' second ranked PYA. With the passing-dependent Denver Broncos hosting the Raiders, one would think the Broncos' face a very tough assignment. However, this ranking comes as a direct result of the Radiers' defense being unable to stop the run.
Will Denver's passing threats (QB Jay Cutler and WRs Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal) have lower production because of a stingy Raiders' pass defense or is it more likely any reduced production results from Peyton Hillis and P.J. Pope having the games of their careers against a mushy Raiders' rush defense?
Top Ten Pass Defenses:
| Rank | Team | PYA | Vs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tampa Bay | 138 | @DET |
| 2 | Oakland | 139.3 | @DEN |
| 3 | NY Giants | 150 | @AZ |
| 4 | Green Bay | 153.7 | @NO |
| 5 | Dallas | 156 | SF |
| 6 | Detroit | 163.7 | TB |
| 7 | Jacksonville | 178.7 | MIN |
| 7 | Pittsburgh | 178.7 | CIN |
| 9 | Arizona | 180 | NYG |
| 10 | Philadelphia | 185 | @BAL |