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Here’s a look at the LestersLegends’ Super Bowl XLVII fantasy football team defense rankings.
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1.  San Francisco 49ers
This one is very close. The 49ers had the better defense during the regular season, and it wasn’t close. They finished the regular season in the top four in total defense, scoring defense, run defense, and pass defense. I give them a slight edge, but the Baltimore Ravens have really narrowed the gap.
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2. Baltimore Ravens
Meanwhile, while the Ravens weren’t as good during the regular season, they have held the Indianapolis Colts, the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots to a combined 57 points (19 points per game). Ray Lewis has returned with a flurry and they are playing a different brand of defense than earlier in the year. That said, Colin Kaepernick’s versatility and the Niners power running game will make this a tough assignment for Baltimore.
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Also check out:

• Super Bowl XLVII Fantasy Football QB Rankings
• Super Bowl XLVII Fantasy Football RB Rankings
• Super Bowl XLVII Fantasy Football WR Rankings
• Super Bowl XLVII Fantasy Football TE Rankings
• Super Bowl XLVII Fantasy Football K Rankings
• Super Bowl XLVII Pick
• Early Fantasy Baseball Rankings

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Here’s a look at the LestersLegends’ Super Bowl XLVII fantasy football kicker rankings.
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1.  Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens
Tucker is a rookie so it feels weird trusting him more than the veteran, but that has been the way this season has gone. Tucker made 90.9 percent of his field goals this year, including four from 50 yards or better. Tucker made both of his playoff field goal attempts, including the 47-yard game winner over the Denver Broncos to send Baltimore to the AFC Championship Game.
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2.  David Akers, San Francisco 49ers
Akers, on the contrary, struggled mightily this season missing 13 or 42 field goal attempts for a 69 percent field goal percentage. Akers missed his lone field goal attempt in the NFC Championship Game. I just don’t have as much faith in Akers in the Super Bowl.
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Also check out:

• Super Bowl XLVII Fantasy Football QB Rankings
• Super Bowl XLVII Fantasy Football RB Rankings
• Super Bowl XLVII Fantasy Football WR Rankings
• Super Bowl XLVII Fantasy Football TE Rankings
• Super Bowl XLVII Fantasy Football DEF Rankings
• Super Bowl XLVII Pick
• Early Fantasy Baseball Rankings

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Here’s a look at the LestersLegends’ Super Bowl XLVII fantasy football tight end rankings.
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1. Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers
Davis was a forgotten man for most of the regular season, but stepped up his game in the NFC Championship against the Atlanta Falcons. Davis hauled in five of his six targets for 106 yards and a touchdown. His size and speed combination is a nightmare to deal with when he’s an active part of the game plan.
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2. Dennis Pitta, Baltimore Ravens
Pitta doesn’t have the upside that Davis does, but he is the more reliable option. He averaged 45.7 yards in the three playoff wins, but he scored in two of the three games. Going back to last year, he has scored in three of his past four playoff games. Pitta has seven touchdowns in his past 11 games. He’s a significant red zone threat.
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3. Delanie Walker, San Francisco 49ers
Walker finished the season as the preferred tight end target for Colin Kaepernick, but has been quiet during the playoffs. Walker caught just one pass in each game for a total of 37 yards. It is certainly possible that he will re-emerge in the passing game, but it’s a bit of a risk.
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4. Ed Dickson, Baltimore Ravens
Dickson combined for 53 yards in the Ravens’ first two playoff wins, but was not targeted against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship. He’s not a good option for the Super Bowl.
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Also check out:

• Super Bowl XLVII Fantasy Football QB Rankings
• Super Bowl XLVII Fantasy Football RB Rankings
• Super Bowl XLVII Fantasy Football WR Rankings
• Super Bowl XLVII Fantasy Football K Rankings
• Super Bowl XLVII Fantasy Football DEF Rankings
• Super Bowl XLVII Pick
• Early Fantasy Baseball Rankings

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1. Anquan Boldin, Baltimore Ravens
Boldin has been targeted 26 times in the Ravens three playoff wins. He hauled in 16 of the passes for for 276 yards and three touchdowns. The San Francisco 49ers have a physical defense, but that is the name of the game for Boldin. He is as strong as any receiver in the league and has great body control. Joe Flacco should continue to look for him in the red zone.
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2. Michael Crabtree, San Francisco 49ers
Crabtree continues to emerge as Colin Kaepernick’s top choice. He has been targeted 18 times in two playoff games, catching 15 passes for 176 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The Ravens have to be concerned with Kaepernick and Frank Gore running the ball, which could open things up for Crabtree.
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3. Torrey Smith, Baltimore Ravens
Smith is more inconsistent than Boldin and Crabtree, but his upside is just as good. Smith has great speed and Flacco has the arm strength to deliver the deep ball.
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4. Randy Moss, San Francisco 49ers
Moss saw more work down the stretch, averaging 4.4 targets per game during the last five games of the regular season and the two playoff games. In his first 11 games, Moss was targeted just 2.5 times per game. He only topped 50 yards one game and finished with just three touchdowns on the year. Moss doesn’t play a ton of snaps, which keeps him fresh. He still has the ability to go up and get a jump ball.
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5. Jacoby Jones, Baltimore Ravens
Jones is your feast or famine play. In the first and third playoff game he combined for 14 yards. In his second playoff game, he had 77 yards, including the dramatic 70-yard bomb to tie the game.
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Also check out:

• Super Bowl XLVII Fantasy Football QB Rankings
• Super Bowl XLVII Fantasy Football RB Rankings
• Super Bowl XLVII Fantasy Football TE Rankings
• Super Bowl XLVII Fantasy Football K Rankings
• Super Bowl XLVII Fantasy Football DEF Rankings
• Super Bowl XLVII Pick
• Early Fantasy Baseball Rankings

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1. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers
The Baltimore Ravens ranked 20th (122.8 yards per game, 15 rushing touchdowns allowed) in run defense during the regular season. Ray Lewis’ return has helped turn things around defensively, but the continue to struggle against the run. The Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos and New England Patriots combined for 128.3 rushing yards per game. They have buckled down when it matters though, as they have not allowed a playoff rushing score. Frank Gore had 1448 total yards and nine touchdowns (eight rushing, one receiving) during the regular season. He had continued to shine during the playoffs, combining for 257 total yards and three touchdowns in wins over the Green Bay Packers and the Atlanta Falcons. His performances are even more impressive considering the record-setting performance Colin Kaepernick had against the Packers and were playing from behind for most of the NFC Championship game. The Niners have a massive, mauling offensive line, which gives them an edge in the Super Bowl.
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2. Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens
It has been a long time since the Super Bowl featured two running backs of this caliber. Rice finished with 1621 total yards and 10 touchdowns. He had 316 total yards and a pair of touchdowns in the Ravens’ three playoff wins. The 49ers finished the year ranked 4th in rushing defense (94.2 yards per game, seven touchdowns). They held the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons to 92.5 yards per game. Even if the Niners slow Rice on the ground, he’s still capable of getting his through the air.
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3. Bernard Pierce, Baltimore Ravens
Pierce has emerged, averaging 59 total yards per game during the playoffs. He 216 yards in the final two games of the season. He runs with a great deal of power and is a nice complement to Rice’s style. The Ravens have confidence in the rookie and he’ll likely play a solid amount of meaningful snaps.
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4. LaMichael James, San Francisco 49ers
James is an electric runner that is a great change-of-pace to Gore. That said, he had just 66 total yards in the two playoff wins. Between Gore and Kaepernick, there just isn’t enough to go around for James.
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5. Anthony Dixon, San Francisco 49ers
Dixon hardly gets any carries, but he is a threat for a short vulture touchdown.
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Also check out:

• Super Bowl XLVII Fantasy Football QB Rankings
• Super Bowl XLVII Fantasy Football WR Rankings
• Super Bowl XLVII Fantasy Football TE Rankings
• Super Bowl XLVII Fantasy Football K Rankings
• Super Bowl XLVII Fantasy Football DEF Rankings
• Super Bowl XLVII Pick
• Early Fantasy Baseball Rankings

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One of the Super Bowl quarterbacks has had a ton of success, but has garnered little respect. The other has become an overnight sensation. Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has one of the strongest arms in the league. They are still considered a running team, mainly because Ray Rice is just that dynamic. Baltimore finished the regular season ranked 11th in rushing offense and 15th in passing offense.
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While Rice is heavily involved in the passing game, Flacco doesn’t get enough credit. His completion percentage (54.8 during the playoffs, 59.7 percent during the regular season) isn’t great, but he takes shots down the field. Because he makes big plays and protects the football (10 interceptions during the season, zero in the playoffs), he maintains a solid passer rating. With an underrated assortment of weapons, Flacco should be able to have another solid playoff game.
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I still expect Colin Kaepernick to have a better game from a fantasy perspective. Since the early interception in the Wild Card Round, he has been nearly flawless. I give him the edge of Flacco because of his running ability. While he had just 21 yards in the win over the Atlanta Falcons, he set the all-time quarterback single-game rushing record with 181 yards against the Green Bay Packers.
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Kaepernick does not seem to be intimidated by the big stage. In his brief run as starting quarterback, he has already defeated the likes of Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Matt Ryan. I’m not overlooking the fact that Flacco took down Peyton Manning and Brady in successive weeks, or the fact that Flacco has won a playoff game in every year he’s been in the league, but I guess I’m drinking the Kool-Aid a little.
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I think Kaepernick has the inferior defense to contend with. Ultimately, though, it is his ability to make plays with his feet that makes me lean towards youth prevailing in Super Bowl XLVII.
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Also check out:

• Super Bowl XLVII Fantasy Football RB Rankings
• Super Bowl XLVII Fantasy Football WR Rankings
• Super Bowl XLVII Fantasy Football TE Rankings
• Super Bowl XLVII Fantasy Football K Rankings
• Super Bowl XLVII Fantasy Football DEF Rankings
• Super Bowl XLVII Pick
• Early Fantasy Baseball Rankings

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Here are the Lester’s Legends team defense rankings for the  the AFC and NFC Conference Championship Games of the 2012-13 NFL Playoffs.
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1. San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers easily have the best defense among the remaining playoff teams. They finished the regular season in the top four in total defense, scoring defense, run defense, and pass defense. They are a very physical team and they will challenge Atlanta. I expect they’ll do a much better job than the Seattle Seahawks did in stopping the run. Without that balance, they’ll make it tough on the Atlanta Falcons. Matt Ryan got over the hump by collecting his first playoff win, but he will be challenged by a defense that kept Aaron Rodgers in check.
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2. New England Patriots
The Patriots give up a lot of yards, particularly through the air. They buckle down when it matters. The Pats play the run well. Still, they struggle defending the pass and Joe Flacco seems to shine when the stakes are the highest. Other than the Niners, I don’t really like the defenses this week. The offense are just that good.
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3. Atlanta Falcons
Other than scoring defense, the Falcons were out of the top 20 in most defensive categories. San Francisco had their most productive playoff game ever last week. Considering their history, that is an impressive feat. They have a menacing offensive line that can have their way with just about any team. They had the fourth best rushing attack this year. Colin Kaepernick gives them an added dimension with his ability to produce with his arm and his feet.
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4. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens did a solid job on Peyton Manning, but Tom Brady doesn’t clam up when the playoffs come around. Plus, Bill Belichick isn’t going to take a knee. The Patriots led the league in total offense and scoring offense. They have more balance this year than in year’s past, finishing in the top seven in both rushing and passing. The Baltimore Ravens have been a good story, but I think we’ll see Ray Lewis’ career come to a close. Unfortunately, it will likely be his unit that will share the most blame.
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Also check out:

• 2012-13 Conference Championship Fantasy Football QB Rankings
• 2012-13 Conference Championship Fantasy Football RB Rankings
• 2012-13 Conference Championship Fantasy Football WR Rankings
• 2012-13 Conference Championship Fantasy Football TE Rankings
• 2012-13 Conference Championship NFL Picks