Whether you prioritize a roster spot for a specific defense week in and week out, or stream the position via the waiver wire, some thought goes into the D/ST spot in fantasy football.
If you decide to draft it, do you go for the stifling stop-unit, like the Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets? Or maybe you go for the big-play defense, like the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys?
You can’t really go wrong with any of those options, though the 49ers could have the widest range of outcomes in the bunch. They finished as the DEF10 just last season, with a new defensive coordinator on board and some roster turnover; in short, it could be a mixed bag of a season, though there’s no doubt there’s plenty of upside with this Nick Bosa-led crew.
[2024 Fantasy Draft Rankings: QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/ST | Kickers]
Even if you don’t spend up for a top D/ST option, there are several units out there with upside.
Take, for instance, the Chicago Bears, who are ranked as a top-nine D/ST by three of our four experts. It’s an intriguing sleeper option, given that the Bears are ranked with the third-easiest schedule in 2024 based on projected win totals and considering they were the DEF5 from Weeks 11-18 last year. Despite being ranked as the consensus DEF12, they’re the 20th unit off draft boards.
You can also consider the Atlanta Falcons, who have quietly rebuilt their defense over the past two seasons, tied for the second-easiest strength of schedule in the league based on their opponents’ .453 win percentage last season. Star safety Jessie Bates III and the recently extended A.J. Terrell should pair well with new edge rusher Matthew Judon (acquired from the Patriots) and FA signing S Justin Simmons to form what just might be one of the league’s most underrated fantasy defenses this season, currently the 16th defense off the board.
No matter where you fall in the draft order, there’s an option for you. The only question is — which one will you choose?
Which defense do you think will break out for fantasy football in the 2024 season?
