Defense and special teams don't rank very high among the most important fantasy football positions. Along with kicker, it's often the final addition to the starting lineup for millions of players. But defense and special teams (D/ST) can provide plenty of value.
In 2023, the top-scoring defense in fantasy football - the Dallas Cowboys - would've been a top-25 wide receiver in half-PPR formats, per Fantasypros. D/ST likely won't be the reason you win or lose your fantasy football league but it can give you a leg up on the competition.
NFC East deal:Commanders trade former first-round WR Jahan Dotson to rival Eagles
2024 NFL record projections:Chiefs rule regular season, but is three-peat ahead?
Defensive success can be hard to predict year-over-year. No D/ST in Fantasypros data dating back to 2002 has repeated as the top-scoring team. But many remain a top-10 defense following a good year; half of 2023's top-10 units were in that group a year prior. Here are the top 10 D/STs rank as of Aug. 21:
NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.
The 49ers are back on top after finishing 10th in standard fantasy scoring last season. San Francisco lost longtime defensive lineman Arik Armstead and linebacker Dre Greenlaw will be out to start the season recovering from an Achilles injury.
Still, edge rusher Nick Bosa is just two seasons removed from winning Defensive Player of the Year. Leonard Floyd signed a two-year deal in the offseason to upgrade the other edge spot. New coordinator Nick Sorensen signals the 49ers' desire to return to the type of defense under Robert Saleh and DeMeco Ryans. The 49ers tied for the league lead in interceptions in 2023 and return multiple starters and welcome back former All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga from injury.
Baltimore returns stars Justin Madubuike, Roquan Smith, and Kyle Hamilton to the defense but lost coordinator Mike Macdonald. In-house hire Zach Orr played linebacker for the Ravens from 2014 to 2016 and may make some changes from Macdonald's philosophy. Losing edge Jadeveon Clowney is a hit to the pass rush, though, and Baltimore hasn't made significant moves to fill that need.
Fantasy football draft strategy:Where to attack each position in 2024
Dallas had a league-high six defensive touchdowns, including five pick-sixes by DaRon Bland, in 2023. That may come back down to earth in 2024 and Dallas is missing two of its top three pass rushers from 2023. Dorance Armstrong Jr. is in Washington and Sam Williams is on injured reserve. But Micah Parsons is one of the most dangerous pass rushers in the league and should have another strong season with new coordinator Mike Zimmer. They also face New York and Washington twice each this season.
New York played well down the stretch last season with 10.5 points per week in the final seven weeks of the season. They boast stars like Quinnen Williams on the defensive line and Sauce Gardner at cornerback. They did lose top pass rusher Bryce Huff to the Eagles in free agency and Haason Reddick - the edge New York traded for later - has openly asked for a trade. Whether he stays or not, this pass rush could be relying on Will McDonald IV taking a step forward in his second season.
Cleveland had one of the best defenses in the league in 2023 and return many of the same starters. Defending Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett and Za'Darius Smith power a strong pass rush duo. The defensive backfield is arguably the best in the league and kept coordinator Jim Schwartz in the building. Cleveland is a safe bet to stay a top-10 defense in 2024 despite playing Dallas, Philadelphia, Kansas City, and Miami outside of their division games.
Pittsburgh boasts one of the top pass rushers in the league in T.J. Watt who finished behind Garrett in Defensive Player of the Year voting. Keeanu Benton is an emerging player on the interior defensive line and Alex Highsmith is a proven pass rusher as well. If Watt stays healthy, this team could lead the league in sacks. Free agent signing Patrick Queen should boost the linebacking corps and Minkah Fitzpatrick and Joey Porter Jr. lead the way in the secondary.
Philadelphia is projected to take a big step forward with the hiring of Vic Fangio as the new defensive coordinator for 2024. It may take time to maximize this roster in the new system but this is a talented group with Huff, Jalen Carter, and Josh Sweat rushing the passer. The Eagles used early picks to invest in the secondary and free agency to bolster the linebacking corps. Like Dallas, they play New York and Washington twice with games against Carolina and Pittsburgh in the closing weeks of the fantasy season.
The Chiefs finished 2023 as one of the best defenses in the league. Despite losing cornerback L'Jarius Sneed, this team is built to play well at all three levels. Chris Jones powers the defensive line, Drue Tranquill and Leo Chanal play well at linebacker, and first-team All Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie leads a strong secondary group. Kansas City does have games against San Francisco and Baltimore early on but face an easier slate of opponents as the season wears on, save for a late-season matchup with Houston.
NFL roster cut candidates:Could Chiefs drop wide receiver Kadarius Toney?
Buffalo looked to be a top-five fantasy defense once again before linebacker Matt Milano's injury will keep him out indefinitely. Milano's one of the most important players on this unit as the team sees changes in the secondary and the defensive line. Ed Oliver is a star on the interior and Rasul Douglas enjoyed a standout year last season. Both will need to continue to play well as others step up with the likes of Baltimore, Houston, Kansas City, San Francisco, the Los Angeles Rams, and Detroit in non-division games.
Houston was aggressive in the offseason with signing top free agent pass rusher Danielle Hunter to pair with Will Anderson Jr. That makes up for the loss of Jonathan Greenard, who led the team in sacks in 2023 and signed with Minnesota in free agency. Signing Azeez Al-Shaair shores up the linebacking group and another year of development for Derek Stingley Jr. and Jalen Pitre could see improvements in the secondary as well. They do face a tough slate of offenses in 2024, though, with games against Buffalo, Green Bay, Detroit, Kansas City, Baltimore, and Miami.
Fantasy football rankings:Sleeper picks for every position in 2024
| Team | Fantasy Pros | CBS Sports | Yahoo! | NFL.com |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 4 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| New York Jets | 2 | 5 | 3 | 4 |
| Cleveland Browns | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 6 | 7 | 7 | 9 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 10 | 6 | 9 | 6 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 7 | 12 | 6 | 8 |
| Buffalo Bills | 8 | 9 | 11 | 7 |
| Houston Texans | 9 | 11 | 12 | 12 |
| Miami Dolphins | 11 | 13 | 8 | 16 |
| Chicago Bears | 12 | 17 | 10 | 13 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 14 | 22 | 17 | 10 |
| Las Vegas Raiders | 20 | 14 | 21 | 11 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 17 | 20 | 16 | 14 |
| Detroit Lions | 15 | 18 | 18 | 17 |
| New Orleans Saints | 12 | 23 | 13 | 23 |
| Green Bay Packers | 18 | 21 | 19 | 20 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | 27 | 8 | 29 | 15 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 19 | 16 | 14 | 31 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 24 | 10 | 24 | 24 |
| New England Patriots | 21 | 28 | 20 | 18 |
| Denver Broncos | 22 | 24 | 15 | 26 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 23 | 19 | 27 | 21 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 26 | 15 | 28 | 22 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 16 | 25 | 22 | 28 |
| New York Giants | 25 | 27 | 25 | 25 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 28 | 26 | 23 | 29 |
| Washington Commanders | 31 | 29 | 31 | 19 |
| Carolina Panthers | 29 | 31 | 26 | 32 |
| Tennessee Titans | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 32 | 32 | 32 | 27 |