X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Defense Tiered Rankings and Draft Analysis

Fantasy football rankings analysis for defense (D/ST) and special teams (August 2018). Ben Rolfe breaks down RotoBaller's tiered expert rankings at DEF for fantasy football drafts.

Defense is a position in fantasy leagues that is often wildly over-drafted. Even the best scoring and most consistent defenses do not differentiate themselves enough to the others to make them worth the price that they often go at. Last year the Jacksonville Jaguars defense lit up fantasy leagues, scoring among the top-10 defenses more consistently than anyone else in the league, yet they weren't even selected in most fantasy drafts. The top three defenses according to last year's ADP, Denver, Seattle, and Houston, all disappointing mightily for various reasons.

So which defenses should you target toward the end of your draft? To help you prepare, here is a look at the top defenses in standard fantasy leagues heading into the 2018 season.

When you're done, you can also check out our running back rankings and analysis here.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

2018 Defense Rankings - Standard Leagues

Position Tier Overall Tier Position Rank Overall Rank Player Name
1 10 1 124 Jacksonville Jaguars
2 11 2 145 Los Angeles Chargers
2 12 3 166 Denver Broncos
2 12 4 167 Minnesota Vikings
2 12 5 169 Los Angeles Rams
2 12 6 171 Philadelphia Eagles
3 13 7 189 Houston Texans
3 14 8 198 Baltimore Ravens
3 14 9 201 New Orleans Saints
3 14 10 206 Carolina Panthers
4 14 11 209 Chicago Bears
4 15 12 211 Atlanta Falcons
4 15 13 213 Pittsburgh Steelers
4 15 14 217 New England Patriots
5 15 15 224 Cleveland Browns
5 16 16 234 Cincinnati Bengals
5 17 17 257 Dallas Cowboys
5 17 18 267 Arizona Cardinals
5 17 19 270 Kansas City Chiefs
5 17 20 276 Tennessee Titans
6 17 21 279 Green Bay Packers
6 18 22 282 New York Giants
6 18 23 284 Detroit Lions
6 18 24 296 San Francisco 49ers
6 18 25 299 Buffalo Bills
6 18 26 307 Seattle Seahawks
7 18 27 309 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
7 19 28 313 Washington Redskins
7 19 29 325 New York Jets
7 19 30 326 Indianapolis Colts
7 19 31 333 Oakland Raiders
7 19 32 334 Miami Dolphins

Tier 1

It is hard to find a reason not to like the Jaguars defense. They finished 2017 as the top-scoring defense and were the second-most consistent defense. They have lost a couple of pieces but the main parts of their defense remain the same. They have a ton of depth on their defensive line which will mean they are constantly pressuring the quarterback. If you can get pressure on a QB then you can hide many deficiencies in your defense. Trying to pick out reasons they may struggle is difficult, but generally, top defenses struggle to repeat the following season. If the Jaguars do struggle then it will likely be injuries that are the cause. The Jaguars were extremely lucky when it came to injuries during the regular season, so the chances they do not suffer major injuries again feels remote. If they do have injuries among their linebackers and defensive backs, I am not sure how good their replacements will be. However, as long as they can keep their weapons on the defensive line going, they should be able to do damage.

Tier 2

The Chargers are another team with a strong defensive line, which means they will always have a chance to score points. Sacks and interceptions are the big ways to put up points in fantasy and a good defensive line can create both. In addition, they have a decent secondary despite the loss of Jason Verrett, which will allow them to take advantage of opportunities their defensive line can create.

You will notice a theme developing here regarding the top-ranked defenses and the strength of their ability to get after the quarterback. The Broncos have a superb group of pass rushers, including Von Miller and Bradley Chubb. They ranked third in the consistency rankings in 2017 and they are a defense I expect to consistently put up good numbers now that the QB situation is better on the other side.

If the Vikings ended the season as the top-ranked defense I would not be surprised. Last season, they topped the consistency rankings, but their overall totals were not as impressive as people first thought. They have improved their defense with the addition of Sheldon Richardson. However, the key is that they have just managed to keep their young core intact and move into 2018 with a defense capable of dominating in all aspects.

Defensive lines do not get much better than what the Rams can offer. Right now the starting front three are Michael Brockers, Ndamukong Suh and a little-known fellow with the name Aaron Donald. Behind them, the rush from the linebackers will not be huge, but with that front three, it really does not need to do much more than assist. In addition, they have an extremely good defensive backfield who will make quarterbacks pay for any mistakes.

Making up the final group of elite offensive lineman is the Philadelphia Eagles. They do not necessarily have the stand out names of other teams but what they have is incredible strength in depth. Their let down could be their defensive backfield which is not as strong as some of the other teams here. Of the teams in this tier, this is the one I would least expect to challenge for the number one overall spot among defenses.

Tier 3

This defense revolves around its stars, J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney. If they perform to their talent then this defense has the ability to challenge for number one. However, they do not have the strength across their while starting lineup, as the tier above does. Last year, when hampered by injuries they finished second to last in terms of defensive consistency.

This defense was extremely impressive last year, finishing second in fantasy points among defenses. The issue for them in 2017 was their consistency, as they ranked 15th. They have decent names in their lineup but they lack the explosive pass rush that would help them improve their week-to-week consistency.

The Saints had a solid year overall in 2018, finishing 10th in fantasy points per game. However, much like the Ravens, they struggled for consistency, ranking 24th. A solid defensive line and defensive backfield should mean they are more consistent this season.

Last year was a fairly good one for the Panthers, finishing 12th in fantasy points per game and sixth in weekly consistency. If you just look at the names that make up this defense then you would expect them to do quite well. I fully expect them to be very similar to 2017, finishing around the top-10 with consistent performances.

Tier 4

The Bears relatively young defense should be ready to make the next step in 2018. The addition of Roquan Smith should help solidify this defense but they will need to get their pass rush going to improve on last years top-10 performances in both consistency and fantasy points per game.

The Falcons defense is one that I could absolutely see finishing top-five this season. They have a young core that has talent and can get after the quarterback. Last year they were extremely consistent but they failed to make an imprint in terms of fantasy points per game. With the addition of Deadrin Senat and Takkarist McKinley possibly starting more regularly the Falcons defense could make a big impact in 2018.

The Steelers finished top 10 in both consistency and fantasy points per game. Their defense will always be there or there about, making them an interesting late round pickup who you can feel confident will put up solid scores week-to-week.

The Patriots defense was not good in 2017. Entering the year many felt they could challenge for the best defense but they struggled to stop offenses because they could not muster an effective pass rush. They added Adrian Claybourn from the Atlanta Falcons who they will hope can give them a consistent threat off the outside. With Bill Belichick as the head coach you always expect this defense to challenge to be among the leagues top-10.

Tier 5

Among this tier a particular favorite if you feel like a gamble is Cleveland. They have a ton of defensive talent, due to their high draft picks. If they can keep Myles Garrett on the field then the pass rush could cause havoc in 2018. The Titans are a team I expect to improve this year, with defensive-minded head coach Mike Vrabel in charge.

Tier 6 and beyond

Among tier six a team to watch are the Detroit Lions, who finished sixth in consistency last season and have added a defensive minded head coach in Matt Patricia. The rest of tier six, except the Seattle Seahawks, all finished near the bottom of the consistency rankings. In tier seven I like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to improve in 2018 but they are a team for deep leagues only because they play in an incredibly tough division.

 

More Draft Rankings Analysis


Check out all of RotoBaller's fantasy football rankings. Staff rankings are updated regularly for all positions and include standard formats, PPR scoring, tiered rankings and dynasty leagues.




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Nick Lodolo24 mins ago

Has A Quality Start Against The Brewers On Thursday
Torrez Finney29 mins ago

Set For UFC Debut
Cade Horton30 mins ago

Strikes Out Six In Season Debut
Jeremy Peña38 mins ago

Jeremy Pena Goes Deep On Thursday
Ian Seymour39 mins ago

Strikes Out 10 In Loss
Samuel Basallo46 mins ago

Goes Deep On Thursday
Dustin Wolf3 hours ago

Snaps Skid On Thursday
Wyatt Johnston3 hours ago

Scores In Sixth-Straight Game
Linus Ullmark3 hours ago

Stops 31 Shots In Victory
Nick Suzuki3 hours ago

Has Goal, Assist On Thursday
Leon Draisaitl3 hours ago

Can Not Finish Thursday's Contest
John Gibson3 hours ago

Exits Early On Thursday
Geraldo Perdomo3 hours ago

Hits Grand Slam On Thursday
Tony Gonsolin3 hours ago

Picks Up Strikeout In Rehab Game
Zach Neto4 hours ago

Homers In Rehab Game
Kristian Campbell4 hours ago

Homers On Thursday
Joel Payamps4 hours ago

Picks Up Save On Thursday
Nestor Cortes4 hours ago

Jr. Picks Up Win Over Reds
Trent Grisham4 hours ago

Homers In Win On Thursday
Jazz Chisholm Jr.4 hours ago

Homers On Thursday
Luke Weaver4 hours ago

Picks Up Save On Thursday
Aaron Judge4 hours ago

Homers Again
Dalton Rushing9 hours ago

Wears The Platinum Sombrero On Thursday
Shohei Ohtani10 hours ago

Still Without Timeline To Face Live Hitters
Jordan Lawlar10 hours ago

Collects Three Hits, Three RBI On Thursday
Carlos Carrasco10 hours ago

Strikes Out Five, Picks Up Win
Merrill Kelly10 hours ago

Gets Lit Up By Yankees
Luis F. Castillo10 hours ago

Expected To Start Friday
Nikola Jokić12 hours ago

Nikola Jokic Expected To Play On Friday
Jonathan Kuminga12 hours ago

Back On Thursday Night
Miles Boykin14 hours ago

Heading To Chicago
Jalen Wilson14 hours ago

Sidelined On Thursday
Baker Mayfield14 hours ago

Tampa Bay Restructures Baker Mayfield's Deal
Case Keenum15 hours ago

Chicago Signs Case Keenum To One-Year Deal
Kyshawn George15 hours ago

Unavailable For Thursday
Richaun Holmes15 hours ago

Out Versus Magic
Khris Middleton15 hours ago

Out Again Thursday Versus Magic
D'Angelo Russell15 hours ago

Good To Go On Thursday
Noah Clowney16 hours ago

Done For Rest Of The Season
Jordan Poole16 hours ago

Unavailable For Thursday
Scottie Barnes16 hours ago

Available On Thursday
Jonathan Drouin16 hours ago

Martin Necas, Jonathan Drouin Unavailable Thursday
Tyrese Maxey16 hours ago

Expected To Miss Rest Of Season
Alexandar Georgiev16 hours ago

Nursing An Upper-Body Injury
Henry Thrun16 hours ago

Returns From Nine-Game Absence Thursday
Olli Määttä16 hours ago

Olli Maatta Returns To Utah Lineup Thursday
Dylan Guenther16 hours ago

Ready To Go Thursday
Anthony Duclair16 hours ago

Takes Leave Of Absence
Alex Pietrangelo17 hours ago

On Track To Return Thursday
Brady Tkachuk17 hours ago

Out On Thursday
Trey McBride17 hours ago

Cardinals Making Trey McBride The Highest-Paid Tight End In NFL History
Geno Smith18 hours ago

Raiders, Geno Smith Agree To Two-Year Extension
19 hours ago

Tyler Shough Could Be Day 2 Pick In NFL Draft
Dallas Cowboys19 hours ago

Shemar Stewart Meeting With Cowboys Staff
New York Giants19 hours ago

Travis Hunter The Likely Pick For Giants?
Dallas Cowboys20 hours ago

DeMarvion Overshown Aiming For Comeback Player Of The Year Award
Washington Commanders20 hours ago

Commanders Sign T.J. Maguranyanga
Kansas City Chiefs21 hours ago

Mike Edwards Reunites With Chiefs
New Orleans Saints21 hours ago

Saints Could Take A Quarterback Early In The Draft
Joe Milton III23 hours ago

Traded To Cowboys
Anfernee Simons1 day ago

Could Be Absent Again Thursday
Scoot Henderson1 day ago

Misses Third Consecutive Game Thursday
Scottie Barnes1 day ago

Iffy For Thursday
Immanuel Quickley1 day ago

Takes Thursday Off
Jakob Poeltl1 day ago

Sits Out Thursday's Game
Damian Lillard1 day ago

May Return To Action Sooner Than Expected
Giannis Antetokounmpo1 day ago

Likely To Suit Up Thursday
LeBron James1 day ago

Probable Thursday
Jared McCann1 day ago

Tallies Three Helpers On Wednesday
Jackson Blake1 day ago

Scores Twice In Victory
Artemi Panarin1 day ago

Tallies Three Points In Overtime Victory
Andrei Svechnikov1 day ago

Exits Early On Wednesday
Jake McCabe1 day ago

Suffers Injury On Wednesday
Jonathan Drouin1 day ago

Exits Wednesday's Contest
Los Angeles Chargers1 day ago

Chargers Sign Tight End Jordan Petaia
1 day ago

Matthew Golden Making Pre-Draft Visit To Steelers
Cincinnati Bengals2 days ago

Trey Hendrickson Not Looking For Short-Term Deal
Tutu Atwell2 days ago

Rams Plan To Give Tutu Atwell A Bigger Role In 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers2 days ago

Bucs Restructure Antoine Winfield's Deal To Free Up Cap Space
Jrue Holiday2 days ago

Won't Play Against Miami
New York Jets2 days ago

Xavier Newman-Johnson Re-Signs With New York
Al Horford2 days ago

Sidelined Versus Heat
Evgeni Malkin2 days ago

Joins Penguins For Road Trip
2 days ago

Kyle McCord Rising Up Draft Boards?
2 days ago

Ashton Jeanty To Raiders Continues To Gain Steam
Cameron Young2 days ago

A Player To Avoid At Valero Texas Open
Kurt Kitayama2 days ago

In Search Of Consistency At Valero Texas Open
Si Woo Kim2 days ago

Looking To Bounce Back At Valero Texas Open
Tom Hoge2 days ago

Looking To Build Off Strong Performance At The PLAYERS Championship
Matt Fitzpatrick3 days ago

Looking For Consistency At Valero Texas Open
Corey Conners3 days ago

Continues Strong Form Ahead Of Valero Texas Open
Patrick Cantlay3 days ago

Eyeing Victory At Valero Texas Open
Gary Woodland3 days ago

Showing Great Form Ahead Of Valero Texas Open
Akshay Bhatia3 days ago

Aiming For Repeat At Valero Texas Open
Alejandro Tosti3 days ago

A Volatile Choice At TPC San Antonio
Jordan Spieth3 days ago

Needs To Find Consistency At TPC San Antonio
Jake Knapp3 days ago

Making First Appearance At Valero Texas Open
Michael Kim3 days ago

Looking To Find The Magic Again In San Antonio
Tommy Fleetwood3 days ago

Is Nearly A Must-Play At Valero Texas Open
Tony Finau3 days ago

Hoping For Better Approach Play In San Antonio
Eric Cole3 days ago

Trending In Right Direction Ahead Of Valero
Sam Stevens3 days ago

Enjoys Nice Result In Houston
PGA4 days ago

J.T. Poston Seeks To Contend At Valero Texas Open
Denny McCarthy4 days ago

Keeps Making Cuts But Needs To Make More Putts
Brian Harman4 days ago

Off To A Subpar 2025 So Far
Ryan Preece4 days ago

Has Three Straight Top-10 Finishes For First Time In His Career
NASCAR4 days ago

Bubba Wallace After Third-Place Finish At Martinsville: "What a Great Day"
Todd Gilliland4 days ago

Has Mistake-Free Day At Martinsville, Grabs Another Top-10 Finish
Brandon Moreno4 days ago

Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Steve Erceg4 days ago

Losses Third Consecutive Fight
Drew Dober4 days ago

Gets Knocked Out At UFC Mexico City
Manuel Torres4 days ago

Gets Back In The Win Column
Harry Hall4 days ago

Bounces Back In Houston Last Week
CJ Vergara4 days ago

Gets Submitted
Édgar Cháirez4 days ago

Edgar Chairez Gets Submission Win At UFC Mexico City
Vince Morales4 days ago

Drops Decision At UFC Mexico City
Raul Rosas Jr.4 days ago

Gets Decision Win At UFC Mexico City
Saimon Oliveira4 days ago

Still Winless In The UFC
David Martinez4 days ago

Wins His UFC Debut
Kevin Borjas4 days ago

Earns His First UFC Win
Ronaldo Rodríguez4 days ago

Ronaldo Rodriguez Suffers His First UFC Loss
Christopher Bell4 days ago

Powers His Way To A Second-Place Finish At Martinsville
Chase Elliott4 days ago

Strong Martinsville Performance Ends With A Top-Five Finish
Kyle Larson4 days ago

Collects A Top-Five Finish At Martinsville
William Byron4 days ago

Places 22nd After Struggles At Martinsville
Joey Logano4 days ago

Claims His First 2025 Top-10 Finish After Up-And-Down Performance
Tyler Reddick4 days ago

Fails To Place In The Top 10 At Martinsville
Denny Hamlin4 days ago

Silences Doubters After Crew-Chief Change
Ty Gibbs4 days ago

Earns Best 2025 Finish At Martinsville Despite Failing Cool Suit
Ross Chastain4 days ago

Has A Great Day At Martinsville
Chase Briscoe4 days ago

Has Solid Run At Martinsville
Erik Jones4 days ago

Disqualified At Martinsville For Weight Violation
Josh Berry5 days ago

Has Top-10 Upside At Martinsville
Joey Logano5 days ago

Don't Overlook Joey Logano This Weekend
Ryan Preece5 days ago

Could Get First Three-Race Top-10 Streak Of His Career
Chase Elliott5 days ago

Looking To Continue Great Runs At Martinsville
Christopher Bell5 days ago

Wins Pole At Martinsville, But Can He Stay Up There?
Ryan Blaney5 days ago

Fast In Practice But Skeptical About Car
Denny Hamlin5 days ago

New Crew Chief Has Terrible Martinsville Record
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF

MORE RECENT ARTICLES

 
UFL RANKINGS, FANTASY FOOTBALL,

UFL Best Bets: Week 2 Picks

Well, the opening week is always full of curveballs, and 2025 was no exception. We actually saw the Birmingham Stallions lose a game, looking bad in the process. Overall, I went 3-3-1 on spreads and over/unders last week, so a bit inconvenient that neither parlay worked out. It is a short season, so the pressure […]


Isaiah Bond - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Lineup Picks - NFL Draft

Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Sleepers: 5 Undervalued Draft Targets

We all know at this point who the top names are heading into the 2025 NFL Draft. Ashton Jeanty will be the dynasty rookie RB1. Tetairoa McMillan will be the rookie WR1. But fantasy leagues aren't won just by getting a top-2 or three rookie pick and grabbing the best guys. Rookie drafts are also […]


Ja'Marr Chase fantasy football rankings NFL DFS lineup picks

Two-Round Start-Up Dynasty Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 12-Team, Single Quarterback

The players you select in the early rounds of dynasty fantasy football start-up drafts have a massive impact on the chances of your team winning for many seasons after the first one. So it's crucial to nail these picks, and there are a few ways you can do that. Obviously, no one's being selected in […]


Tetairoa McMillan - College Football DFS Lineup Picks, NCAA CFB, NFL Draft Prospect

2025 Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Mock Draft: 12-Team, Single-QB

Thankfully, fans and fantasy football players only have to wait a few more weeks for the 2025 NFL Draft. That means dynasty fantasy rookie mock drafts are right around the corner. While dynasty fantasy outlooks for the NFL Draft prospects will change between today and the end of April, it’s time for another dynasty rookie […]


Davante Adams - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Fantasy Football Outlooks For Wide Receivers On New Teams: Davante Adams, DK Metcalf, Stefon Diggs, Cooper Kupp, Christian Kirk, and more

The 2025 NFL offseason has been full of breaking news alerts. Last year, all the action was at the running back position, with Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, and Josh Jacobs changing teams. However, all the action has been at the wide receiver position this offseason. Some big-name wide receivers remained with their current teams. Tee […]


Bijan Robinson - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Rookies, Draft Sleepers

Fantasy Football Running Back Preview: Targets & Sleepers For 2025 Drafts

While the NFL is in the middle of its offseason, the fantasy football world never takes a break. Much in the fantasy world will change between now and the start of the regular season. Yet, let’s take an early look at the running back position for 2025 fantasy football drafts. Below are three early-round studs, […]


Russell Wilson - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL DFS Picks

Fantasy Football Outlooks For QBs On New Teams: Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, Sam Darnold, Geno Smith, more

The NFL quarterback carousel gets to spin every offseason, and plenty of QBs have already found new homes ahead of the 2025 NFL season. For fantasy football, a player's surrounding team is extremely important, so it's worth looking into each of their outlooks with their new squads. There are still a few unsigned QBs, but […]


Shedeur Sanders - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Lineup Picks

2025 Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Mock Draft: 12-Team, Superflex/Two-QB

The 2025 NFL Draft is still less than 30 days away. Therefore, dynasty fantasy rookie mock drafts are nearly here. Much will change between now and the NFL Draft. However, it’s time for another dynasty rookie mock draft. This rookie mock draft is a two-round, 12-team, and two-quarterbacks. For a deeper dive into dynasty strategy, […]


Deshaun Watson - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

2025 NFL Offseason Team Needs: Bengals, Browns, Ravens, Steelers

The AFC North, comprised of the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers, sent two teams to the playoffs in 2024 and had one on the cusp of a playoff berth. The Ravens have the best roster of the four teams by a long shot. The Steelers have a solid defensive group, and […]


UFL RANKINGS, FANTASY FOOTBALL,

UFL Fantasy Football Rankings for Week 2: QB, RB, WR, TE Rankings and Analysis (2025)

Week 2 of the UFL season is just around the corner. This week will feature one game on Friday, one game on Saturday, and two on Sunday. Birmingham and Michigan will play at 8:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, followed by Memphis-D.C. on Saturday at 8:00 p.m. EDT. Sunday's game pits the 1-0 Renegades against the […]


Calvin Ridley - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL DFS Picks, Draft Sleepers

Dynasty Fantasy Football Rankings: Overvalued, Undervalued Players (2025)

Dynasty fantasy football rankings constantly shift, especially as we inch closer to the new season and fantasy drafts. Dynasty managers know the importance of finding those underrated players who could be steals in drafts or trades. They also know some players are overhyped due to unsustainable trends or past production. I'll break down two overvalued […]


Justin Fields - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Best Fantasy Football Moves During 2025 NFL Free Agency

It has been a wild offseason so far in the NFL. Plenty of players have switched teams in free agency, and some stars were even traded. Deebo Samuel Sr. was dealt to the Washington Commanders, Geno Smith was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders, and DK Metcalf has a new home with the Pittsburgh Steelers. These […]


Tyreek Hill - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Three Aging Fantasy Football Players To Sell In Dynasty Leagues

It's hard to always know when to sell off your aging fantasy football players. Often, it's also difficult to accept that it's better to move on from a player when he's coming off a productive season and still has a lot left in the tank. But I believe it's better to be a year early […]