Fantasy football is an unpredictable game, and defense/special teams might be the most unpredictable position of them all. The unit you draft will probably not be the unit you keep at the end of the season. Heck, you might even be on your third or fourth defense by the time the fantasy season wraps up.
Due to the seemingly random nature of fantasy D/ST performances, you’re likely better off simply streaming through the season, picking and choosing defenses based on matchups. Even then it’s an inexact science at best. Unless you absolutely, positively need Seattle or Arizona’s defense, don’t waste an early draft pick on one. Shore up the depth at your other positions before you fill out your roster with defense and kickers.
That said, we can take a look at each team’s defensive roster and make an educated guess as to how it’ll perform. Denver rode its amazing defense to a Super Bowl title last year, but Malik Jackson and Danny Trevathan will be tough to replace. The Cardinals’ defense should be great again, but Tyrann Mathieu is coming off his second torn ACL. How much will losing Josh Norman hurt the Panthers, and should the Jets start getting worried about Darrelle Revis’ decline?
Those are all questions worth considering when picking your defense, but in the heat of the draft moment, it probably won’t matter too much. Just go with your gut and stick with it for a few weeks, or at least until you find a better defensive matchup on the waiver wire. You probably won’t win a fantasy title with D/ST, but fielding a good one every week certainly won’t hurt your chances.
| Rank | Consensus | DC | AW | SK | MG | DG |
| 1 | Denver Broncos | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 2 | Seattle Seahawks | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | Arizona Cardinals | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | Carolina Panthers | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| 5 | Los Angeles Rams | 5 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
| 6 | Minnesota Vikings | 6 | 8 | 10 | 5 | 8 |
| 7 | Houston Texans | 11 | 6 | 5 | 12 | 4 |
| 8 | Kansas City Chiefs | 8 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 9 |
| 9 | Cincinnati Bengals | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 10 |
| 10 | New England Patriots | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 7 |
| 11 | New York Jets | 7 | 11 | 11 | 6 | 11 |
| 12 | Buffalo Bills | 13 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 17 |
| 13 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 18 |
| 14 | Oakland Raiders | 12 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 |
| 15 | Miami Dolphins | 17 | 15 | 18 | 14 | 15 |
| 16 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 18 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 12 |
| 17 | Green Bay Packers | 15 | 17 | 12 | 18 | 19 |
| 18 | New York Giants | 20 | 19 | 22 | 17 | 13 |
| 19 | Detroit Lions | 19 | 18 | 21 | 19 | 20 |
| 20 | Baltimore Ravens | 23 | 20 | 19 | 22 | 14 |
| 21 | Washington | 16 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 21 |
| 22 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 21 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 22 |
| 23 | Philadelphia Eagles | 22 | 23 | 16 | 25 | 25 |
| 24 | Chicago Bears | 25 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 |
| 25 | Atlanta Falcons | 24 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 23 |
| 26 | Indianapolis Colts | 26 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 26 |