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NBC Sports
18 hours ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Fantasy football defenses (DST) with favorable early-season schedules: Broncos, Cardinals at the top
Fantasy football draft season is kicking into gear, which means we're all searching for rankings to help us with our drafts or collect insights to modify our rankings. Yet, far too often, strategies for drafting defenses get ignored. While many people will say, 'Who cares? I just stream' or 'Just take whoever's left in the last round,' I do believe we can maximize the effectiveness of our drafts with just a touch of strategy. Drafting a D/ST doesn't have the same make-or-break consequence as drafting your first-round wide receiver or your sleeper RB in the middle rounds, but it is still a decision with ripple effects that can cost you one week or potentially more during your season. Below, I'll give you some of my favorite defenses to target in fantasy football drafts this summer. Fantasy Football Defense Draft Strategy Before I get into the specific teams, I did want to briefly mention my general strategy for drafting defenses. For starters, I am never the first one to draft a defense. In 2017, ESPN analyzed 15 years of ADP data and found that ONLY TWO TIMES over 15 seasons did a D/ST that was drafted first, second, third, or fourth, according to ADP, actually finish as the top-ranked fantasy defense. That means only two times have the top 60 D/STs selected wind up as the best D/ST. In my article last year, I covered that those odds haven't gotten much better since that article came out. That means that reaching and being one of the first four managers to draft a defense gives you a 3.3% chance of drafting the best overall defense. That's not enough to entice me to do that. I also want to maximize my chances of having early breakout running backs and wide receivers on my team, so I will always take my defense and kicker as my last two picks, I will never draft two defenses, and I will always focus on the early season schedule when drafting a defense. For me, that means looking behind Week 1. I know targeting the top Week 1 defense is trendy, and I will give you some options below, but I'd prefer to draft a defense that I can hold onto for three or four weeks. That will not only save me FAAB dollars in adding a brand new defense in Week 2, but it will also free up the time and energy to focus my waiver wire attention on the running backs and wide receivers who might pop off in the coming weeks. So, who are those defenses that I'm targeting for their early-season schedule? Fantasy Football Defense Early Season Schedule Picks FIRST THREE GAMES: TITANS, COLTS, CHARGERS This shouldn't come as a huge surprise. The Broncos finished last year as the top-scoring defense in football, averaging 10.5 fantasy points per game based on FantasyPros scoring. For context, that's what DK Metcalf and Josh Downs averaged per game in half-PPR scoring last season. So we like the Denver defense as it stands, and then we love what we get from them the first two weeks, with games against Titans and Colts teams that have more question marks at quarterback. Cam Ward may wind up being a really good quarterback, but he'll be a rookie in his pro debut, going on the road in altitude to face one of the best defenses in football. He has a passing attack led by Calvin Ridley and whatever is left of Tyler Lockett, and an offensive line that ranks 24th in PFF's preseason offensive line rankings. Things are a little better for the Colts, who have a good offensive line, Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman, and Josh Downs, but they will also have either Daniel Jones or Anthony Richardson at quarterback, and both of them have been prone to giving the ball away. Lastly, the matchup against the Chargers doesn't seem like a great one on paper, but with Mike Williams retiring, Najee Harris dealing with an eye injury, and Tre Harris a late signing, you have to wonder what this offense looks like early in the season. Even if they look solid, you've got the Broncos in two good matchups to start. FIRST FOUR GAMES: JETS, SEAHAWKS, PATRIOTS, VIKINGS The Broncos may be a hard defense to snag if you're not the first one to draft a defense, which could make the Steelers slightly more realistic. They finished fourth last season, averaging 8.6 fantasy points per game in FantasyPros scoring. They open up the season against a Jets offense that will be starting Justin Fields at quarterback and doesn't have many proven options in the passing game other than Garrett Wilson. We like Fields for fantasy, but he will turn the ball over, and he hasn't shown that he can lead a consistently high-scoring offense. After that Jets game, the Steelers get a matchup against a Seahawks offense that has the 30th-ranked offensive line according to PFF, and then a matchup against a Patriots team that has the 29th-ranked offensive line. I'm a firm believer that pressure on the quarterback is crucial for fantasy defense success because it not only leads to sacks but also leads to pressure that can cause turnovers. The Steelers' defense could feast in those two matchups, especially with both offenses having questions around the health of their veteran receivers (Cooper Kupp for the Seahawks and Stefon Diggs for the Patriots) in addition to quarterbacks without a long track record of NFL success. The Steelers will that up with a game against a rookie quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, and a Vikings offense that may be without wide receiver Jordan Addison if he gets suspended for his offseason DUI. FIRST FOUR GAMES: TEXANS, TITANS, EAGLES, COLTS Now we're starting to get to the defenses that will more likely be available to you in the last two rounds of the draft. The Rams finished last year as the 13th-ranked defense, according to FantasyPros scoring, but they have a lot of talent on their defensive line with Jared Verse, Kobie Turner, and Braden Fiske. That's the big component of putting them on this list because they get a Texans offense in Week 1 that has PFF's worst-ranked offensive line heading into 2025. The Texans' line was brutal last year and might be even worse this year. With Joe Mixon also battling a foot injury and still out, this Rams defensive front may put a lot of pressure on C.J. Stroud and rack up their fair share of sacks. After that first game, the Rams get the Titans and Colts, who we mentioned earlier. There is a game against the Eagles sandwiched in there, so you might drop the Rams after the first two weeks, but that's still likely to be two good weeks of production at minimum. FIRST FIVE GAMES: SAINTS, PANTHERS, 49ERS, SEAHAWKS, TITANS This is a bit of an off-the-wall pick because this Cardinals defense finished the season as the 18th-ranked fantasy defense, according to FantasyPros scoring. However, there is a lot of young talent on their defense, like first-round pick Walter Nolen III, second-round pick Will Johnson, and last year's first-round pick Darius Robinson, who played just six games last year. This could be a better defense overall, and they get a Saints offense in Week 1 that may be one of the worst offenses in football. They will start either Tyler Slough or Spencer Rattler at quarterback behind an offensive line that ranks 22nd in PFF's offensive line rankings. That's a matchup we want to target. After that, they get a Panthers offense that I'm just not sure about. I know Bryce Young looked better after being benched last year, but he takes a lot of sacks, and I'm just not sure he's more than a league-average quarterback. I expect some regression for Chuca Hubbard this year, and the offense is relying heavily on rookie wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. The Cardinals will also face the Seahawks and Titans in the first five games, and we talked about those offenses above, so we know why those could be solid matchups. The Week 3 matchup against the 49ers might be one we want to avoid, but Deebo Samuel is no longer in San Francisco, and Brandon Aiyuk is still returning from an injury, while Jauan Jennings is holding out for a new contract. The 49ers are unlikely to be an offense we want to attack, but you may get to Week 3 and decide they're not an offense you need to avoid if you want matchups against the Seahawks and Titans. FIRST THREE GAMES: SEAHAWKS, SAINTS, CARDINALS We've always thought of the 49ers' defense as one of the premier units in football, but they finished last season ranked 25th in fantasy points per game. A good chunk of that had to do with injuries, and I think this will be a better unit overall this year. They drafted Mykel Williams in the first round, signed Yetur Gross–Matos to a free agent deal, and traded for Bryce Huff, who flashed real pass-rushing juice with the Jets. Plus, Robert Saleh is a really good defensive coach. I think this is a unit that could surprise in Week 1 against a Sam Darnold-led Seahawks offense that has the offensive line concerns we mentioned above and no true downfield pass-catching threat with both Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp (if he's the old version we know and love) thriving over the middle of the field. Given that and the Seahawks' offensive line concerns while facing Nick Bosa, I like the 49ers here, enough so that I would take them for Week 1 to get the next matchup. After that game, they face a Saints offense that we already mentioned could be one of the worst in football and a Cardinals offense that has really failed to live up to expectations so far. Maybe you'll want to avoid the Cardinals game by Week 3, and that's fine, but I think you'll like what you get from the 49ers for the first two weeks. FIRST FOUR GAMES: RAIDERS, DOLPHINS, STEELERS, PANTHERS Back in the Bill Belichick years, the Patriots always had one of the best defenses in football. Last year, they finished 31st in fantasy points per game. By all accounts, we should avoid them, but they now have Mike Vrabel leading the way and should have Christian Barmore healthy, Robert Spillane in the fold, and both Carlton Davis and Marcus Epps added to the secondary. I don't think they'll be a great defense, but I think they'll be an improved one, and I think this Raiders offense will be really bad. They have Geno Smith under center and Ashton Jeanty at running back, but little else in the way of dynamic talent. When you add to that a slightly below-average offensive line, I think you get an offense that we want to target in fantasy leagues. The Week 2 matchup for the Patriots is not ideal, but the Dolphins were not one of the top 10 worst matchups for defenses even when they were healthy last season because they usually have turnover issues on offense. PFF gives the Dolphins the 25th-ranked offensive line heading into the 2025 season after the retirement of Terron Armstead, so if the Patriots' defensive line can get pressure on Tua Tagovailoa, this could be a manageable matchup for New England and then allows you to use them against the Steelers and Panthers in the next two weeks. I might be alone, but I'm not sold on the Steelers as an offense we want to avoid. I have no idea what Aaron Rodgers has left in the tank, but I know he's basically a statue in the pocket right now. I have no clue what the Steelers' rushing attack is going to get from Jaylen Warren or rookie Kaleb Johnson, and I don't think they have any difference-making receiving options other than DK Metcalf. With PFF also giving them the 21st-ranked offensive line heading into the season, I might be OK targeting the Steelers with early-season matchups. Of course, you may choose to use New England for just week one and move on, and that's totally fine too. Fantasy Football Defense Week 1 Targets If you're not interested in maximizing value for a few weeks and are fine with having to use the waiver wire to find a new defense after just one week, below are my favorite fantasy football defense (DST) options solely for Week 1. The Denver Broncos (vs Titans), Pittsburgh Steelers (vs Jets), Arizona Cardinals (vs Saints), Los Angeles Rams (vs Texans), and New England Patriots (vs Raiders) are all defenses that I covered above, so you know why I like those matchups. I also mentioned that I'm not sure how good the Steelers' offense will be, so that makes the New York Jets (vs Steelers) a solid option in Week 1. The Philadelphia Eagles were one of the top defensive units in fantasy football last year, so they always appear to be a team we can trust. They get a Week 1 matchup against a Cowboys offense that has a below-average offensive line (23rd in PFF's rankings), and a fairly mediocre running game with Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders leading the way. We know CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens are talented, but this Eagles pass rush could prevent Dak Prescott from having any time to hit big plays down the field to either receiver. I know it's hard to trust the Washington Commanders' defense, but there are some talented pieces here with Bobby Wagner, Von Miller, Mike Sainristil, Trey Amos, and Jonathan Jones. If they can also get a bounce-back season from Marson Lattimore, this could be a good secondary. They will also go up against a Giants offense that has one of the worst offensive lines in football (apart from Andrew Thomas) and will start a past-his-prime Russell Wilson at quarterback with limited receiving options apart from Malik Nabers. I'm OK with this gamble in deeper formats. It may be even harder to trust the Cincinnati Bengals' defense after their brutal showing in 2024, but a matchup against the Browns in Week 1 is super enticing. PFF ranked the Browns as the 27th offensive line in football, and they will likely start immobile Joe Flacco under center to begin the season. The other option is Kenny Pickett, which is also nice for fantasy purposes. Quinshon Judkins' contract and legal situations mean Jerome Ford or Dylan Sampson will likely be the starting running back behind that poor offensive line, and all of the wide receivers behind Jerry Jeudy have not proven to be consistent producers during their NFL careers. I'd rather not take this gamble in shallower leagues, but I can see it in deeper formats.
Forbes
2 days ago
- Sport
- Forbes
How to Use the Late Round QB Strategy in 2025 Fantasy Football
FLORHAM PARK, NEW JERSEY - JULY 28: Justin Fields #7 of the New York Jets practices during training ... More camp at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center on July 28, 2025 in Florham Park, New Jersey. (Photo by) Each year, one of the most popular draft strategies is the late-round quarterback strategy. Below, we'll be explaining how you should use this strategy to win your 2025 fantasy football league. To give examples of player ADP, we'll be using FantasyPros. With that said, let's dive right into the article. How To Use The Late Round QB Strategy in 2025 Fantasy Football With the late-round quarterback strategy, the earliest you should be trying to draft a quarterback is in round nine. Round eight is typically the absolute cutoff, but the reason it's round nine this year is because of one player. Justin Fields. If you're looking to build a late-round quarterback roster, you desperately want Fields. Right now, Fields is going as the QB10, but there's a clear drop off in his overall rank. Bo Nix at QB8 is 80th overall, then Kyler Murray at QB9 is 90.5. Fields at QB10 is a new tier at 112.5. You can find my full breakdown on Fields here, but he's one of the only players with an incredibly high floor and ceiling combination. In both years that Fields has played in at least 13 games, he's had 17 plus points per game. Despite only throwing for 2,242 yards in 2022, Fields had 19.7 PPG due to 1,143 rushing yards. Now that Fields is back to being a full-time starter, you should expect him to come close to scoring at least 17 PPG. If Fields can take that next step as a passer, he has true QB1 upside. Now the only expectation to this rule is Fields, who can serve as your only quarterback in most ESPN leagues. Other than that, you should be looking to pair two quarterbacks together. Not only should you simply draft two quarterbacks, but you also want to balance them out. One of them should have an extremely high ceiling, while the other has somewhat of a safe floor. The order you draft them in does not matter. When talking about your last pick, that really means all of the skill positions. Your kicker and then defense should always be your last two picks. This year, the quarterback that should be your last pick is the one with a ton of upside. For 2025 fantasy football, that's Anthony Richardson. At QB29 prices and an ADP of 182 overall, you can get Richardson in every single draft. The floor with Richardson is that he doesn't even start this year, and that's why you have to pair him with someone else. However, the rushing upside is insane. You can read my full breakdown on Richardson here. Richardson was the 4th overall pick in the NFL Draft, which should give him another opportunity to start over Daniel Jones and also showcase his unreal upside. Just like Fields, Richardson is an elite runner, posting 635 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns in just 15 career games. EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 19: Drake Maye #10 of the New England Patriots drops back to pass ... More during an NFL football game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on September 19, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by) The quarterbacks you want to target are in this order. First draft Fields in round nine. If that's the case, you've successfully completed the late-round quarterback strategy this year and can use the picks after to further attack the other positions you're already strong at. If you can't draft Fields, here are a few possible pairings. Select Drake Maye at QB16 (126.5 ADP), C.J. Stroud at QB18 (129), or Michael Penix Jr at QB22 (157 ADP). Then pair these quarterbacks with Richardson in the last round of your draft. All three are guaranteed to hold a starting role this year, which gives them a fairly high floor. If you need to start any of these guys for a few weeks, it's not the end of the world. At the same time, these players are extremely talented and all have paths to becoming a top 12 quarterback this year. If you've enjoyed this article, make sure to follow my author profile for more 2025 fantasy football content!
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fantasy Football Rankings 2025: Justin Boone's Top Quarterbacks
Justin Boone won the FantasyPros Most Accurate Expert Award in 2019 and has eight top-10 finishes in the competition. He now brings his rankings acumen to the Yahoo Fantasy audience after recently joining the team as an analyst. He will consistently be refining his draft rankings during training camps, the preseason and leading up to the season. When news breaks, rankings updates will be reflected here, so bookmark this page and get ready for your drafts! And be sure to follow the links below to see his latest redraft rankings at every position. Latest QB Updates While it's important to follow the latest news coming out of training camps, let me preach some caution about overreacting to reports about players' performances in practice. If the drum beat is consistent, it can definitely turn into a reality when the regular season comes around, but most players will have good and bad days this time of year. So when you hear about young quarterbacks like Caleb Williams or J.J. McCarthy throwing interceptions in practice, don't panic. Williams is learning a new system under Ben Johnson and this is McCarthy's first opportunity to be the No. 1 QB for the Vikings after missing last season due to injury. I'm still projecting both players to flirt with low-end QB1 fantasy numbers in 2025. Let's also not overreact to players leaving practice due to injuries. Some people seemed ready to write Justin Fields off for the season when he was carted off last week with a toe issue, but the Jets QB is already back at practice and not expected to miss any time. He remains a low-end QB1 in my projections. I'm monitoring the Matthew Stafford situation a little closer, since he's dealt with back ailments in the past and is being called week-to-week. But we've got more than a month until the season kicks off, so Stafford has plenty of time to get right. The chance of this popping back up in the season is concerning though, which keeps him down in the low-end QB2 range for fantasy. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] 2025 Fantasy Rankings (Half PPR) QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF | K | Top 300 Quarterbacks 2025 Fantasy Rankings (Half PPR) QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF | K | Top 300
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fantasy Football Rankings 2025: Justin Boone's Top 300
Justin Boone won the FantasyPros Most Accurate Expert Award in 2019 and has eight top-10 finishes in the competition. He now brings his rankings acumen to the Yahoo Fantasy audience after recently joining the team as an analyst. He will consistently be refining his draft rankings during training camps, the preseason and leading up to the season. When news breaks, rankings updates will be reflected here, so bookmark this page and get ready for your drafts! And be sure to follow the links below to see his latest redraft rankings at every position. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] 2025 Fantasy Rankings (Half PPR) QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF | K | Top 300 Top 300 2025 Fantasy Rankings (Half PPR) QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF | K | Top 300
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fantasy Football Rankings 2025: Justin Boone's Top Defenses
Justin Boone won the FantasyPros Most Accurate Expert Award in 2019 and has eight top-10 finishes in the competition. He now brings his rankings acumen to the Yahoo Fantasy audience after recently joining the team as an analyst. He will consistently be refining his draft rankings during training camps, the preseason and leading up to the season. When news breaks, rankings updates will be reflected here, so bookmark this page and get ready for your drafts! And be sure to follow the links below to see his latest redraft rankings at every position. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] 2025 Fantasy Rankings (Half PPR) QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF | K | Top 300 Defenses 2025 Fantasy Rankings (Half PPR) QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF | K | Top 300
