What the defense vs position does
Defense vs position (DvP) shows how each NBA team defends each position — which defenses give up big games to point guards, which erase opposing centers. It's the classic streaming and start/sit lens: attack the soft matchups, avoid the walls.
One thing we do differently: we're honest about effect size. We tested DvP as a projection input and found the effect real but small — so we present it as context for close calls, not a reason to bench your studs. Tools you can trust tell you what they can't do, too.
How it works
- Pick a stat and read the heatmap: blue = matchups that give up production, amber = matchups that suppress it.
- Use it as the tiebreaker on close streaming and start/sit decisions.
- Colorblind-safe palette, same visual language as the rest of the site.
Frequently asked questions
What is DvP in fantasy basketball?
Defense vs position measures how much fantasy production each NBA team allows to each position, relative to league average — a quick read on which matchups are soft and which are walls.
Should DvP change my lineup decisions?
At the margins, yes; wholesale, no. The measured effect is real but small, so use it to break ties between comparable streamers — never to bench a clearly better player.
The defense vs position is free with an account — powered by the same projection engine as our rankings, and built to give you a view, not just numbers.