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Often times, the defense may be an underlooked component on owners’ fantasy teams. Due to the fluctuating strength of the competition, many defenses may not resemble weekly starters. Because of this, owners may become lax when it comes to drafting a solid defense.
Nevertheless, several defenses in the NFL do represent quality starting options (in mostly all weeks) for fantasy and some team defenses have even single-handedly led some fantasy teams to victory during certain weeks. An NFL team's defense could be composed of multiple talented players who may bring value to fantasy teams through sacks, interceptions, and defensive touchdowns.
Every year, some sleeper defenses do emerge, but there are still some units owners should be targeting in drafts. The targeted defenses should feature strength all over the unit as well as a proven ability to come up clutch in fantasy. Let’s look at several team defenses you should be targeting for your upcoming draft.
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San Francisco 49ers
This one should be no surprise. The 49ers rode a ball-hawking and dominant defense to the Super Bowl last year and it’s hard to point out any flaws on this unit heading into 2020. I mean, they have talent all over this side of the ball which includes DE Nick Bosa, CB Richard Sherman, DE Arik Armstead, LB Kwon Alexander, DE Dee Ford, S Jimmie Ward, etc.
Last season, San Fran finished third among fantasy defenses. The unit averaged 10.2 fantasy points per game, nearly one fumble recovery per game, and three sacks per game, along with having 12 picks, 15 fumble recoveries, 48 sacks, and five defensive touchdowns.
Among fantasy defenses, they ranked third in fantasy points per game, fourth in fumble recoveries per game, fifth in sacks per game, 17th in picks, fourth in fumble recoveries, fifth in sacks, and fifth in defensive touchdowns.
With no major turnover on this unit from the offseason, lock the San Fran defense in as a solid choice to draft as you can always rely on them to show up week in and week out because of the firepower and talent they have. The 49ers field a top-two fantasy defense heading into 2020.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers may have had a lot of QB issues last season after Big Ben Roethlisberger went down with an injury, but their defense was legitimate. Heading into 2020, Pitt is boasting a unit that features LB T.J. Watt, DE Cameron Heyward, LB Devin Bush, CB Joe Haden, S Terrell Edmunds, and S Minkah Fitzpatrick and there is no shortage of talent and any reason to believe this unit can’t thrive once again.
In 2019, Pittsburgh finished as the second-best fantasy defense. They averaged 11.4 fantasy points per game (2nd), allowed 18.95 points per game (5th), averaged 1.25 picks per game (2nd), 1.13 fumble recoveries per game (1st), and 3.38 sacks per game (1st), along with having 20 picks (2nd), 18 fumble recoveries (1st), 54 sacks (1st), 116 quarterback hits (2nd), and four defensive touchdowns (6th). The Steelers ranked top-five in pretty much all important categories, and that adds fuel to the notion they could easily be the top-ranked fantasy defense heading into the 2020 season. Consider them one of the strongest options to draft.
Baltimore Ravens
Not only do the Baltimore Ravens have an explosive offense that never seems to run out of juice, but they also have a formidable defense. They now have DE Derek Wolfe, DE Calais Campbell, and rookie LB Patrick Queen, along with the returns of CB Marcus Peters, S Earl Thomas III, LB Matthew Judon, and CB Marlon Humphrey.
Like their division-rival Pittsburgh, the Ravens have an elite defense that proved to be a fantasy stud last season. They finished fourth in fantasy. Baltimore recorded 9.63 fantasy points per game (4th), allowed 17.6 points per game (3rd), averaged 0.81 picks (12th) and 0.75 fumble recoveries per game (6th), and had a total of 12 fumble recoveries (6th), 111 QB hits (4th), and six defensive touchdowns (3rd). The Ravens may have lost CB Brandon Carr and S Tony Jefferson this offseason, but they did replenish their unit through free agency signings. Because of this, Baltimore still has a robust defense that should be considered top-five in fantasy.
Buffalo Bills
Under coach Sean McDermott, the Bills have become a defensive stalwart. Finishing 12th among fantasy defenses last season may seem like the team isn’t that fantasy-relevant, but the unit has the talent and coaching to field a top fantasy defense in 2020. After all, Buffalo has DE Trent Murphy, DT Ed Oliver, DE Jerry Hughes, LB Tremaine Edmonds, CB Tre’Davious White, and S Micah Hyde.
Last season, the Bills had 8.4 fantasy points per game (11th), allowed 16.2 points per game (2nd), averaged 0.88 picks (8th) and 2.75 sacks per game (12th), along with having 14 total picks (9th) and 44 sacks (12th). The Bills bring huge potential as a fantasy defense based on the talent they possess and the decent stats from last season. Consider them a top-five option for 2020.
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints may have come up short of the Super Bowl the past few seasons, but their roster is one of the most complete on paper. Though Drew Brees and company get most of the credit for their wins, this defense is not to be undermined. NOLA finished a respectable ninth among fantasy defenses in 2019.
They are also talented on all three levels of the defense, featuring DE Cameron Jordan, DE Marcus Davenport, LB Demario Davis, CB Janoris Jenkins, S Malcolm Jenkins, and CB Marshon Lattimore.
As a unit last season, the Saints had 8.94 fantasy points per game (8th), 0.81 picks per game (13th), 0.63 fumble recoveries per game (10th), 3.2 sacks per game (3rd), 13 picks (12th), 10 fumble recoveries (10th), 51 sacks (3rd), 110 quarterback hits (5th), and four defensive touchdowns (7th).
The New Orleans defense fielded some generally decent stats last season, and the talent on this unit should help them have another stellar campaign. The Saints have been one of the most consistent teams in the past few years, so this defense is trustworthy. Consider them a top-six to top-seven fantasy defense.
New England Patriots
The Patriots had a dominant defense in the first half of 2019 (partly due to them playing very weak opponents), but the unit still finished as the top-ranked fantasy defense at the end of the season. It’s best to temper expectations heading into this season though, as the Pats lost LB Elandon Roberts, S Duron Harmon, DT Danny Shelton, LB Kyle Van Noy, and LB Jamie Collins. In addition, LB Dont’a Hightower and S Patrick Chung have opted out of the season, which is a huge blow to this unit. The Patriots still do return talent in 2020, which includes CB Jason McCourty, S Devin McCourty, and CB Stephon Gilmore. Last year, this unit was simply phenomenal.
They ranked first in fantasy points per game, first in points allowed, first in picks per game, eighth in fumble recoveries per game, eighth in sacks per game, first in total interceptions, first in fumble recoveries, eighth in sacks, ninth in quarterback hits, and first in defensive touchdowns.
These stats are based on the collection of talent that was present on the unit last season. For 2020, New England has lost a lot of key defensive pieces, so the unit is not a top-three fantasy defense. However, with Bill Belichick’s coaching and a strong secondary, there is a silver lining with this unit, so consider them a top-six to top-seven fantasy defense heading into 2020.
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