While getting a high-tiered, set-and-forget defence may take a load off your mind, it’s perfectly reasonable to play it week-by-week, streaming defences with the best matchups.
1. Los Angeles Rams
278 points allowed, 53 sacks, 14 INTs, 8 fumbles recovered, 4 TDs, 151 points.
Last year’s top defence lost some key pieces, but has been in the top four in three of the past four years.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers
306 points allowed, 56 sacks, 18 INTs, 9 fumbles recovered, 3 TDs, 148 points.
Have led the league in sacks for four straight seasons and have been the second-rank fantasy DEF twice in a row.
3. Washington Football Team
317 points allowed, 47 sacks, 16 INTs, 7 fumbles recovered, 3 TDs, 127 points.
Has perhaps the best front seven in the league and unit had its first top-15 fantasy finish in a decade.
4. Baltimore Ravens
291 points allowed, 39 sacks, 10 INTs, 12 fumbles recovered, 4 TDs, 141 points.
Has finished in the top 10 of points allowed every year since 2016 and forced a turnover in 14 of 16 games last year.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
343 points allowed, 48 sacks, 15 INTs, 10 fumbles recovered, 1 TD, 119 points.
Champs returned all their key pieces after finishing in the top eight of each key category.
6. San Francisco 49ers
366 points allowed, 30 sacks, 12 INTs, 8 fumbles recovered, 1TD, 90 points.
Took a step back last year with Nick Bosa out and have a new coordinator in charge with Saleh gone.
7. New England Patriots
341 points allowed, 24 sacks, 18 INTs, 4 fumbles recovered, 4 TDs, 108 points.
Has finished in the top 12 in eight of the past nine seasons and made some big additions over last year.
8. Indianapolis Colts
348 points allowed, 40 sacks, 15 INTs, 10 fumbles recovered, 6 TDs, 145 points.
Had a breakout season last year thanks to six return TDs, but lost some important pieces.
9. Buffalo Bills
375 points allowed, 38 sacks, 15 INTs, 11 fumbles recovered, 4 TDs, 118 points.
Have been a top-10 unit for the past three seasons and added to pass rush in the draft.
10. Cleveland Browns
411 points allowed, 38 sacks, 11 INTs, 10 fumbles recovered, 2 TDs, 97 points.
With the amount of talent they’ve amassed, the Browns DEF should easily get their first top-15 finish since 2001.
11. New Orleans Saints
337 points allowed, 45 sacks, 18 INTs, 8 fumbles recovered, 1 TD, 126 points.
After tying for the league lead in INTs, the Saints lost two of their three best CBs, among other key pieces.
12. Denver Broncos
424 points allowed, 42 sacks, 10 INTs, 6 fumbles recovered, 1 TD, 78 points.
Von Miller returns after missing 2020 to a defence that made some big improvements this off-season.
13. Los Angeles Chargers
418 points allowed, 27 sacks, 12 INTs, 7 fumbles recovered, 2 TDs, 76 points.
Now coached by the man in charge of the Rams last year, the Chargers will look to emulate their stadium-mates.
14. Miami Dolphins
330 points allowed, 41 sacks, 18 INTs, 11 fumbles recovered, 3 TDs, 143 points.
Jumped from literally the worst defence in 2019 to eighth last year and should remain a top-10 unit.
15. Minnesota Vikings
453 points allowed, 23 sacks, 15 INTs, 7 fumbles recovered, 61 points.
After several years near the top of the rankings, the Vikings disappointed in 2020 before reloading this off-season.
16. Seattle Seahawks
365 points allowed, 46 sacks, 14 INTs, 8 fumbles recovered, 105 points.
Had a great second half to the 2020 season and have built a very good pass rush.
17. Arizona Cardinals
345 points allowed, 48 sacks, 11 INTs, 10 fumbles recovered, 111 points.
Adding J.J. Watt and getting Chandler Jones back should solidify the Cards as a top-10 unit.
18. Kansas City Chiefs
358 points allowed, 32 sacks, 16 INTs, 6 fumbles recovered, 4 TDs, 109 points.
A solid mid-range option that should have some value as a matchup-dependent streamer.
19. New York Giants
349 points allowed, 40 sacks, 11 INTs, 11 fumbles recovered, 2 TDs, 97 points.
A defence on the rise after some awful seasons, the Giants are in shape for another good year.
20. Green Bay Packers
363 points allowed, 41 sacks, 11 INTs, 7 fumbles recovered, 2 TDs, 94 points.
Solid unit returns 15 of their top 16 defenders in terms of snaps played last year.