Defense wins championships in reality but it is debatable if that is case in fantasy. However, owning a good defense that gets you positive points every week is a good thing. Here are 15 defenses that could help you win your league.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars defense isn’t referred to as “Saxonsville” for nothing. The Jags led the NFL in sacks last with 55. Jacksonville’s pass rush is lethal because the Jags have a talented front seven but they also have arguably the best secondary in the league. Jacksonville’s defense will be the first one off the board but I wouldn’t reach too early. Especially in ten team leagues.
2. Minnesota Vikings: Pound for pound, the Vikings might have the most talented defense in the NFL. They were number one in total defense in 2017. The Vikings are good in all three levels. They generate pressure and turnovers and are well coached under the tutelage of Head coach Mike Zimmer and defensive coordinator George Edwards. The Vikings will go ahead of the Jags in a lot of leagues but again, don’t over draft them early.
3. Los Angeles Rams: The Rams added Ndamakong Suh, Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib this off-season. All three should fit in nicely in defensive coordinator Wade Phillips 3-4 defense. Add Aaron Donald to the equation and the Rams defense has the potential to rack points both via the sack and turnovers.
4. Philadelphia Eagles: The additions of Haloti Ngata and Michael Bennett to an already talented front seven makes this Eagles defense an attractive option in fantasy. Philly will rack up the sacks thanks in their aggressive 4-3 defense. My fear is, they will also give up some points courtesy of a young secondary that struggled at times last season.
5. Los Angeles Chargers: I am buying in on the Chargers. Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley has done a masterful job of getting the most out of his front seven and the secondary is one the best in the NFL. The Bolts offer across the board defensive production. The secondary is elite and could lead the NFL in interceptions.
6. Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens have a new defensive coordinator in Don “Wink” Martindale. The veteran linebackers coach gets his shot to coordinate with the Ravens and not much will change. Baltimore will operate out of a 3-4 base but they will be aggressive and pile up the sacks. The Ravens have a lot of question marks in their secondary but this unit has been a consistent fantasy producer through the years and this season should be no different.
7. Houston Texans: It’s all about health with the Texans. If J.J Watt and Whitney Mercilus are once again healthy, this defense will be a top five unit. If they are not, this group will be middle of the pack. Houston’s defense is very talented and could be the number one defense in fantasy if they stay healthy.
8. Denver Broncos: I really like the Broncos defense on paper. Bradley Chubb and Von Miller will terrorize quarterbacks off the edge and despite losing Aqib Talib, there is plenty of talent in the secondary. The Broncos will produce plenty of fantasy points. The only issue is, they may be on the field a lot because of a subpar offense.
9. New Orleans Saints: A ball hawking secondary led by Marcus Lattimore and a sneaky pass rush from an underrated defensive line makes the Saints defense a solid fantasy unit. You wouldn’t think it, but the Saints defense was pretty good last season and could be even better this season.
10. Chicago Bears: The Monsters of the Midway are back. Sort of. Chicago has a good young defense that can rush the passer and generate turnovers. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is one of the best defensive minds in the NFL. He gets a lot out of his talent. The Bears are a very good second tier option in drafts.
11.Carolina Panthers: The Panthers still have a good front seven anchored by Luke Kuechly. The secondary on the other hand is still young and suspect. Despite that, the Panthers are not a bad defensive option in a 12 team league.
12. Arizona Cardinals: New Head coach Steve Wilks is going to run a 4-3 base defense designed to get front four pressure on the quarterback. The Cardinals will not blitz on every down like they have in the past. Instead, they will allow Chandler Jones and Robert Nkemdiche to pin their ears back and rush. The Cardinals will also play more zone which should help their secondary generate more turnovers. If you are looking for a value defense, this is it.
13. New England Patriots: Bend but don’t break defenses do just enough to get you points on a weekly basis. An improved pass rush with the addition of Adrian Clayborn to go along with Trey Flowers and Derek Rivers should help. The secondary has some question marks, especially at corner. The Patriots defense has more value in a 12 team league than a 10 team league.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers: We are not talking Steel Curtain here but the Steelers are young, athletic and fast on defense. Losing Ryan Shazier leaves a gaping hole in the middle and the secondary has some personnel problems. The Steelers will rack up the sacks but I wouldn’t expect too many turnovers.
15. Atlanta Falcons: The Falcons will get to the quarterback on a consistent basis. The question is, can they generate enough turnovers to be a legit fantasy defense? Time will tell but the Falcons are a quality sleeper option.
You don’t need a great defense to win a fantasy title. In fact, most weeks you can stream a defense and be fine. Especially in ten team leagues. Despite that logic, defense still matters so having an elite unit on your roster helps.