1- The difference between the top defenses and the middle of the pack defenses is usually not very much. Sure, every few years you have a defense or two that comes out and blows the others away, but for the most part, this is true. While some teams are usually solid picks, the top defenses usually fluctuate from year to year, making it difficult to predict the best defenses.
Last year s can t miss defense is nowhere near a lock to repeat.
Drafting defenses, however, is not a shot in the dark. In fact, by paying particular attention to a few things, you will be able to wait while the prior year s top D s get taken early, and end up with a better pick when it is all said and done. This is probably the most obvious sign for defenses. With the league s FA system set up the way it is, teams are able to stock up on new players at a much greater pace, thus changing the fantasy outlook of a defense overnight. What you need to remember is that while one team is gaining a player, another team is losing one.