2009 Fantasy Football Playoff Position Ranks: Tight Ends, Team Defenses, and Kickers

In fantasy football, tight ends, defenses and especially kickers are seen as the lesser important positions. However, this doesn't mean that they aren't important at all. We've all had weeks where we lose because our kicker only got us 2 points, or win because our defense gets 30. These 3 positions can be that much more important once you get to the fantasy football playoff weeks because you'll be going up against higher quality opponents. Therefore, it's probably a given that they have good quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs. Sometimes to win it all it can come down to the other positions. So lets take a look at which tight ends, defenses, and kickers you want starting during the fantasy playoffs and which ones you should avoid.

Tight Ends

1. Vernon Davis - First @ Philadelphia, then home vs. Detroit: The Eagles heavy blitzing benefits tight ends and the Lions are the terrible.

2. Dallas Clark - First @ Jacksonville, then home vs. the New York Jets

3. Greg Olsen - @ home against Minnesota and then on the road @ Baltimore

4. Brent Celek - 2 home games, first vs. San Francisco, then Denver

5. Antonio Gates - home vs. Cincinnati, then @ Tennessee

6. Heath Miller - 2 home games first vs. Green Bay, then Baltimore

7. Kellen Winslow - 2 road games, first @ Seattle, then @ New Orleans

8. Jeremy Shockey - 2 homes games first vs. Dallas, then Tampa Bay

9. Tony Gonzalez - First @ the New York Jets, then home vs. Buffalo

10. Ben Watson - First in Buffalo and then home against Jacksonville

1-10 analysis:

Tight end Vernon Davis has emerged this year as an elite fantasy tight end. With the 49ers changing quarterbacks to Alex Smith, Davis seems to be getting even more looks than before. He should produce respectable numbers against the Eagles and then do his part and then some to help owners bring home the championship when he faces the Detroit Lions. Greg Olson is another NFL combine all star that has come on strong lately. With the Chicago Bear offensive line in shambles, the Bears have abandoned the run. Jay Cutler is throwing the ball a lot and his shouldn't change when the Bears face the Vikings and Ravens who are tough to run against. As a result, Olson should get a lot of chances. Patriots tight end Ben Watson sneaks into the top 10. The Patriots pass happy offense is clicking on all cylinders. Jacksonville championship week makes for a nice matchup.

11. John Carlson - home vs. Tampa Bay, then on the road @ Green Bay

12. Chris Cooley - 2 homes games, first vs. the New York Giants, then Dallas

13.Jason Witten - 2 road games, first @ New Orleans, then @ Washington

14. Vinsanthe Shiancoe - 2 road games, first @ Carolina, then @ Chicago

15.Joel Dreessen - 2 road games @ St. Louis and Miami: Good matchups and has Schaub throwing to him.

16. Marcedes Lewis

17. Anthony Fasano - First @ Tennessee, then home vs. Houston

18. Dustin Keller First home vs. Atlanta, then @ Indianapolis

19. Todd Heap - First home vs. Chicago, then @ Pittsburgh

20. Jermichael Finley - @ Pittsburgh and then home in vs. Seattle

11-20 analysis:

There are a couple intriguing tight ends here. First, there is Seattle's John Carlson. After a bit of dry spell he should finish strong. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck being out of the lineup hurt Carlson's production without a doubt. Now that he is back Carlson should have a very good fantasy playoffs. Neither Green Bay or Tampa Bay are a cause for concern. Another interesting tight end is Washington's Chris Cooley. A pro bowl caliber tight end, Cooley broke his ankle and therefore is actually available in many leagues. Reports say that he should make it back this season and if that holds true he should make for a good option during the fantasy playoffs.

21. Bo Scaife - 2 home games first vs. Miami, then San Diego

22. Dante Rosario - - First home vs. Minnesota, then @ the New York Giants

23. Zach Miller - 2 road games, first @ Denver, then @ Cleveland

24. Randy McMichael - First home vs. Houston, then @ Arizona

25. David Boss - First @ Washington, then home

26. Sean Ryan - First @ home vs. Baltimore, then @ Cincinnati

27. Ben Patrick - First @ Detroit, then home vs. St. Louis

28. Daniel Fells -First home vs. Houston, then @ Arizona

21-28 analysis:

Hopefully you don't need any of these guys, and if you do it is because you're playing in a very deep league.

Defenses

1. Minnesota - 2 road games, first @ Carolina, then @ Chicago: They are a top defense to begin with and are playing 2 quarterbacks with very high tendencies for throwing interceptions.

2. Denver - First home vs. Oakland, then @ Philadelphia: A legitimate defense who gets to play the Raiders. It should be a sack fest.

3. Pittsburgh - 2 home games first vs. Green Bay, then Baltimore:

4. Philadelphia - 2 home games, first vs. San Francisco, then Denver

5. Cincinnati - First @ San Diego, then home vs. Kansas City: Its time to take this defense seriously.

6. Arizona - First @ Detroit, then home vs. St. Louis: A mediocre defense with fantastic matchups.

7. Baltimore - First home vs. Chicago, then @ Pittsburgh

8. Dallas - 2 road games, first @ New Orleans, then @ Washington: Look for another option against the Saints but watch out Jason Campbell.

9. Indianapolis - First @ Jacksonville, then home vs. the New York Jets: Freeney and Mathis will provide the sacks, Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez will provide the interceptions.

10. New York Giants - First @ Washington, then home vs. Carolina: Giants have excellent pass rushers and are going up against Jake Delhomme and Jason Campbell. You could do worse.

11. San Francisco - First @ Philadelphia, then home vs. Detroit

12. New Orleans - 2 homes games first vs. Dallas, then Tampa Bay

13. Houston - 2 road games, first @ St. Louis, then @ Miami

14. Carolina - First home vs. Minnesota, then @ the New York Giants

15. Green Bay - @ Pittsburgh and then home in vs. Seattle

16. Seattle - home vs. Tampa Bay, then on the road @ Green Bay

17. Chicago - First home against Minnesota and then @ Baltimore

18. Atlanta - First @ the New York Jets, then home vs. Buffalo

19. Miami - First @ Tennessee, then home vs. Houston

20. Oakland - 2 road games, first @ Denver, then @ Cleveland: Neither offense is anything to be scared of, especially Cleveland.

21. New York Jets - First home vs. Atlanta, then @ Indianapolis

22. Cleveland - First @ KC, then home vs. Oak

23. Tennessee - 2 home games first vs. Miami, then San Diego

24. New England - First @ Buffalo and then home against Jacksonville

25.Washington - 2 homes games, first vs. the New York Giants, then Dallas

26. San Diego - First home vs. Cincinnati, then @ Tennessee

27. Jacksonville - First home vs. Indianapolis, then @ New England

28. Tampa Bay - 2 road games, first @ Seattle, then @ New Orleans

29. Buffalo - First home vs. New England, then @ Atlanta

30. Detroit - First home vs. Arizona, then @ San Francisco

31. Kansas City - First @ home vs. Baltimore, then @ Cincinnati

32. St. Louis - First home vs. Houston, then @ Arizona: Just say no

Kickers:

1.David Akers - 2 home games, first vs. San Francisco, then Denver: A capable offense that is going up against 2 defenses that stop the run. This could lead to the Eagles stalling in the red zone.

2. Neil Rackers - First @ Detroit, then home vs. St. Louis: Kicking indoors both weeks is security I'd like to have deep into December.

3. Joe Nedney - First @ Philadelphia, then home vs. Detroit: Starting players against the Lions is rarely not a good idea.

4. Nate Kaeding - First home vs. Cincinnati, then @ Tennessee: San Diego offense is on fire

5. Shayne Graham - First @ San Diego, then home vs. Kansas City

6. Stephen Gostkowski - First @ Buffalo then home against Jacksonville:

7. Mason Crosby - @ Pittsburgh and then home in vs. Seattle: The Packers can put up big points so Crosby is a strong play.

8. Jeff Reed - 2 home games first vs. Green Bay, then Baltimore

9. Ryan Longwell - 2 road games, first @ Carolina, then @ Chicago: Always a good play.

10. Steven Hauschka - First home vs. Chicago, then @ Pittsburgh: Baltimore can move the ball and will stall

against Pittsburgh

11. John Carney - 2 homes games first vs. Dallas, then Tampa Bay: Both games indoors, but will there be anything but extra points to be kicked?

12. John Kasey - First home vs. Minnesota, then @ the New York Giants

13. Kris Brown - 2 road games, first @ St. Louis, then @ Miami

14. Robbie Gould - @ home against Minnesota and then on the road @ Baltimore

15. Rob Bironas - 2 home games first vs. Miami, then San Diego

16. Olindo Mare - home vs. Tampa Bay, then @ Green Bay

17. Josh Scobee - First home vs. Indianapolis, then @ New England

18. Josh Brown - First home vs. Houston, then @ Arizona

19. Dan Carpenter - First @ Tennessee, then home vs. Houston

20. Jay Feely - First home vs. Atlanta, then @ Indianapolis

21. Adam Vinateri - First @ Jacksonville, then home vs. the New York Jets: If only extra points were worth more.

22. Lawerence Tynes - First @ Washington, then home vs. Carolina

23. Jason Hanson - First home vs. Arizona, then @ San Francisco

24. Jason Elam - First @ the New York Jets, then home vs. Buffalo: He has been missing some field goal attempts lately.

25. Nick Folk - 2 road games, first @ New Orleans, then @ Washington: Tony Romo tends to dissapear in December which could leave Folk on the sidelines

26. Matt Prater - First home vs. Oakland, then @ Philadelphia

27. Connor Barth - 2 road games, first @ Seattle, then @ New Orleans

28. Sean Suisham - 2 homes games, first vs. the New York Giants, then Dallas

29. Ryan Succoup - First @ home vs. Baltimore, then @ Cincinnati: Kansas City won't move the ball against either defense.

30. Ryan Lindell - First home vs. New England, then @ Atlanta: You can trust the Bills to get Lindell opportunities

This concludes fantasy football playoff rankings for each position. If you missed the other position rankings they can be found here:

2009 Fantasy Football Playoff Rankings: Quarterbacks

2009 Fantasy Football Playoff Rankings: Wide Receivers

2009 Fantasy Football Playoff Rankings: Running Backs