Editors Note: Originally, this article incorrectly used seasonal fantasy points instead of per-game numbers. The rankings did not change, but the volume of acceptable committees was inflated. We apologize for the error.
There are a couple of common approaches to addressing the team defense position in fantasy drafts.
- Draft a top defense fairly early.
- Draft two defenses fairly late to stream your way to production that is on par with a top defense.
Well, there is another common approach. Draft a decent defense, drop it when it underproduces, and hate the team defense position all season long.
Let's avoid that third approach.
Going After a Top Defense
Simply put, you're in the wrong place for a top defense. But if that's how you roll, we have multiple avenues for you to take here.
- Use the Draft Dominator. With it, you'll be able to get fully customized rankings. You'll know exactly which top defense you should target.
- Go straight to our Defensive Team rankings. These are customized, but you'll get a general feel for highly-rated defenses.
If you're having trouble deciding on a top defense or you want one with an easy schedule, take a moment to check out our SOS for defenses.
Now, let's find a DTBC.
Starting-Level Defenses
If we have a DTBC, we won't be taking an early defense. And that means we won't start the season with a single starting-level defense (listed with their projected fantasy points).
- Buffalo Bills - 6.6
- Indianapolis Colts - 6.5
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 6.5
- Dallas Cowboys - 6.5
- New Orleans Saints - 6.3
- Los Angeles Rams - 6.3
- Miami Dolphins - 6.3
- New England Patriots - 6.2
- Pittsburgh Steelers - 6.2
- Green Bay Packers - 6.2
- Los Angeles Chargers - 6.1
- Kansas City Chiefs - 6.1
Matching the Dolphins
The goal of creating a DTBC is to compete against starting-level defenses. But if we just want to get into the Top 12, we can just take the Kansas City defense. Instead of just getting by, let's compete toward the top and be in the top half of a 12-team league. So, to get a top-six defense, we need to beat the Dolphins (and Rams and Saints).
Without taking any of the 12 defenses listed above, let's fine 6.4 PPG and beat the Dolphins.
Finding DTBCs
Finding the right committee will be based on three things:
- Bye week compatibility - This seems obvious, but your two defenses can't have the same bye week.
- Projected fantasy points scored - Defenses projected to score more fantasy points this season will generally rank higher in the list of possible committees.
- Strength of schedule - Defenses with easier opponents will generally rank higher in the list of possible committees.
So let's get to it.
Looking through the 169 possibilities, a whopping 63 of them are projected to beat the Dolphins. And 15 of them are projected to beat the Bills.
Yes, tons of quality options with a good deal of variety.
Rank | Defense 1 | Defense 2 | FanPts |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Minnesota Vikings | Cleveland Browns | 6.8 |
2 | Philadelphia Eagles | Denver Broncos | 6.8 |
3 | Philadelphia Eagles | Cincinnati Bengals | 6.8 |
4 | Baltimore Ravens | Cleveland Browns | 6.8 |
5 | Cincinnati Bengals | Cleveland Browns | 6.8 |
6 | Denver Broncos | Washington Commanders | 6.8 |
7 | Philadelphia Eagles | Houston Texans | 6.7 |
8 | Denver Broncos | Tennessee Titans | 6.7 |
9 | Philadelphia Eagles | Baltimore Ravens | 6.7 |
10 | Philadelphia Eagles | Washington Commanders | 6.7 |
11 | Cleveland Browns | Carolina Panthers | 6.7 |
12 | Washington Commanders | Cleveland Browns | 6.7 |
13 | Denver Broncos | Baltimore Ravens | 6.7 |
14 | Denver Broncos | Cincinnati Bengals | 6.7 |
15 | Cincinnati Bengals | San Francisco 49ers | 6.7 |
16 | Cleveland Browns | Houston Texans | 6.6 |
17 | Denver Broncos | Houston Texans | 6.6 |
18 | Tennessee Titans | New York Giants | 6.6 |
19 | Denver Broncos | Minnesota Vikings | 6.6 |
20 | Philadelphia Eagles | Cleveland Browns | 6.6 |
21 | Philadelphia Eagles | New York Giants | 6.6 |
22 | Philadelphia Eagles | San Francisco 49ers | 6.6 |
23 | Denver Broncos | New York Jets | 6.6 |
24 | Denver Broncos | Arizona Cardinals | 6.6 |
25 | Denver Broncos | Carolina Panthers | 6.6 |
26 | San Francisco 49ers | Baltimore Ravens | 6.6 |
27 | New York Giants | Houston Texans | 6.5 |
28 | Washington Commanders | Houston Texans | 6.5 |
29 | Cleveland Browns | Tennessee Titans | 6.5 |
30 | San Francisco 49ers | Tennessee Titans | 6.5 |
31 | San Francisco 49ers | Minnesota Vikings | 6.5 |
32 | Philadelphia Eagles | New York Jets | 6.5 |
33 | Philadelphia Eagles | Arizona Cardinals | 6.5 |
34 | Philadelphia Eagles | Carolina Panthers | 6.5 |
35 | Philadelphia Eagles | Atlanta Falcons | 6.5 |
36 | Cleveland Browns | New York Jets | 6.5 |
37 | Arizona Cardinals | Cleveland Browns | 6.5 |
38 | Cleveland Browns | Atlanta Falcons | 6.5 |
39 | Cleveland Browns | Chicago Bears | 6.5 |
40 | Denver Broncos | Jacksonville Jaguars | 6.5 |
41 | Baltimore Ravens | New York Giants | 6.5 |
42 | San Francisco 49ers | Arizona Cardinals | 6.5 |
43 | San Francisco 49ers | Carolina Panthers | 6.5 |
44 | Washington Commanders | Cincinnati Bengals | 6.5 |
45 | Cincinnati Bengals | Detroit Lions | 6.4 |
46 | San Francisco 49ers | Houston Texans | 6.4 |
47 | Baltimore Ravens | Houston Texans | 6.4 |
48 | Cincinnati Bengals | Houston Texans | 6.4 |
49 | Cincinnati Bengals | Tennessee Titans | 6.4 |
50 | Washington Commanders | Tennessee Titans | 6.4 |
51 | Minnesota Vikings | New York Giants | 6.4 |
52 | Minnesota Vikings | Arizona Cardinals | 6.4 |
53 | Cleveland Browns | Jacksonville Jaguars | 6.4 |
54 | Denver Broncos | Chicago Bears | 6.4 |
55 | Cincinnati Bengals | New York Giants | 6.4 |
56 | New York Giants | Carolina Panthers | 6.4 |
57 | San Francisco 49ers | Jacksonville Jaguars | 6.4 |
58 | San Francisco 49ers | Atlanta Falcons | 6.4 |
59 | Washington Commanders | San Francisco 49ers | 6.4 |
60 | Arizona Cardinals | Baltimore Ravens | 6.4 |
61 | Cincinnati Bengals | Arizona Cardinals | 6.4 |
62 | Washington Commanders | Arizona Cardinals | 6.4 |
63 | Washington Commanders | Carolina Panthers | 6.4 |
64 | Denver Broncos | Detroit Lions | 6.3 |
65 | Houston Texans | Carolina Panthers | 6.3 |
66 | Cleveland Browns | Las Vegas Raiders | 6.3 |
67 | Denver Broncos | Las Vegas Raiders | 6.3 |
68 | Philadelphia Eagles | Tennessee Titans | 6.3 |
69 | Washington Commanders | Minnesota Vikings | 6.3 |
70 | Philadelphia Eagles | Chicago Bears | 6.3 |
71 | Cleveland Browns | Seattle Seahawks | 6.3 |
72 | Denver Broncos | Seattle Seahawks | 6.3 |
73 | Denver Broncos | Atlanta Falcons | 6.3 |
74 | New York Giants | Jacksonville Jaguars | 6.3 |
75 | Washington Commanders | New York Giants | 6.3 |
76 | San Francisco 49ers | Chicago Bears | 6.3 |
77 | Cincinnati Bengals | Carolina Panthers | 6.3 |
78 | Cincinnati Bengals | Atlanta Falcons | 6.3 |
79 | Philadelphia Eagles | Detroit Lions | 6.2 |
80 | Cleveland Browns | Detroit Lions | 6.2 |
81 | San Francisco 49ers | Detroit Lions | 6.2 |
82 | Minnesota Vikings | Houston Texans | 6.2 |
83 | Arizona Cardinals | Houston Texans | 6.2 |
84 | Chicago Bears | Houston Texans | 6.2 |
85 | San Francisco 49ers | Las Vegas Raiders | 6.2 |
86 | Minnesota Vikings | Tennessee Titans | 6.2 |
87 | Baltimore Ravens | Tennessee Titans | 6.2 |
88 | Arizona Cardinals | Tennessee Titans | 6.2 |
89 | Tennessee Titans | Atlanta Falcons | 6.2 |
90 | Philadelphia Eagles | Jacksonville Jaguars | 6.2 |
91 | Philadelphia Eagles | Seattle Seahawks | 6.2 |
92 | New York Giants | New York Jets | 6.2 |
93 | Arizona Cardinals | New York Giants | 6.2 |
94 | San Francisco 49ers | New York Jets | 6.2 |
95 | San Francisco 49ers | Seattle Seahawks | 6.2 |
96 | Baltimore Ravens | Carolina Panthers | 6.2 |
97 | Baltimore Ravens | Chicago Bears | 6.2 |
98 | Washington Commanders | Baltimore Ravens | 6.2 |
99 | Cincinnati Bengals | Jacksonville Jaguars | 6.2 |
100 | Cincinnati Bengals | Chicago Bears | 6.2 |
101 | Arizona Cardinals | Jacksonville Jaguars | 6.2 |
102 | Washington Commanders | Jacksonville Jaguars | 6.2 |
103 | Minnesota Vikings | Detroit Lions | 6.1 |
104 | New York Giants | Detroit Lions | 6.1 |
105 | Baltimore Ravens | Detroit Lions | 6.1 |
106 | Washington Commanders | Detroit Lions | 6.1 |
107 | Houston Texans | New York Jets | 6.1 |
108 | Houston Texans | Jacksonville Jaguars | 6.1 |
109 | Houston Texans | Atlanta Falcons | 6.1 |
110 | Washington Commanders | Las Vegas Raiders | 6.1 |
111 | Tennessee Titans | Carolina Panthers | 6.1 |
112 | Minnesota Vikings | Baltimore Ravens | 6.1 |
113 | Cincinnati Bengals | Minnesota Vikings | 6.1 |
114 | Minnesota Vikings | New York Jets | 6.1 |
115 | Minnesota Vikings | Atlanta Falcons | 6.1 |
116 | New York Giants | Seattle Seahawks | 6.1 |
117 | New York Giants | Atlanta Falcons | 6.1 |
118 | New York Giants | Chicago Bears | 6.1 |
119 | Baltimore Ravens | Seattle Seahawks | 6.1 |
120 | Baltimore Ravens | Atlanta Falcons | 6.1 |
121 | Cincinnati Bengals | Seattle Seahawks | 6.1 |
122 | Arizona Cardinals | New York Jets | 6.1 |
123 | Carolina Panthers | New York Jets | 6.1 |
124 | Washington Commanders | New York Jets | 6.1 |
125 | Washington Commanders | Seattle Seahawks | 6.1 |
126 | Arizona Cardinals | Atlanta Falcons | 6.1 |
127 | Philadelphia Eagles | Las Vegas Raiders | 6 |
128 | New York Giants | Las Vegas Raiders | 6 |
129 | Minnesota Vikings | Jacksonville Jaguars | 6 |
130 | Minnesota Vikings | Carolina Panthers | 6 |
131 | Baltimore Ravens | Jacksonville Jaguars | 6 |
132 | Arizona Cardinals | Seattle Seahawks | 6 |
133 | Carolina Panthers | Seattle Seahawks | 6 |
134 | Seattle Seahawks | Atlanta Falcons | 6 |
135 | Arizona Cardinals | Detroit Lions | 5.9 |
136 | Carolina Panthers | Detroit Lions | 5.9 |
137 | Houston Texans | Seattle Seahawks | 5.9 |
138 | Baltimore Ravens | Las Vegas Raiders | 5.9 |
139 | Cincinnati Bengals | Las Vegas Raiders | 5.9 |
140 | Tennessee Titans | New York Jets | 5.9 |
141 | Tennessee Titans | Chicago Bears | 5.9 |
142 | Minnesota Vikings | Seattle Seahawks | 5.9 |
143 | Minnesota Vikings | Chicago Bears | 5.9 |
144 | New York Jets | Atlanta Falcons | 5.9 |
145 | Chicago Bears | New York Jets | 5.9 |
146 | Carolina Panthers | Jacksonville Jaguars | 5.9 |
147 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Atlanta Falcons | 5.9 |
148 | Arizona Cardinals | Chicago Bears | 5.9 |
149 | New York Jets | Detroit Lions | 5.8 |
150 | Chicago Bears | Detroit Lions | 5.8 |
151 | Arizona Cardinals | Las Vegas Raiders | 5.8 |
152 | Tennessee Titans | Seattle Seahawks | 5.8 |
153 | New York Jets | Jacksonville Jaguars | 5.8 |
154 | Chicago Bears | Jacksonville Jaguars | 5.8 |
155 | Chicago Bears | Seattle Seahawks | 5.8 |
156 | Carolina Panthers | Atlanta Falcons | 5.8 |
157 | Chicago Bears | Carolina Panthers | 5.8 |
158 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Detroit Lions | 5.7 |
159 | Atlanta Falcons | Detroit Lions | 5.7 |
160 | Carolina Panthers | Las Vegas Raiders | 5.7 |
161 | Atlanta Falcons | Las Vegas Raiders | 5.7 |
162 | New York Jets | Seattle Seahawks | 5.7 |
163 | Seattle Seahawks | Detroit Lions | 5.6 |
164 | Tennessee Titans | Jacksonville Jaguars | 5.6 |
165 | Minnesota Vikings | Las Vegas Raiders | 5.5 |
166 | New York Jets | Las Vegas Raiders | 5.5 |
167 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Las Vegas Raiders | 5.4 |
168 | Seattle Seahawks | Las Vegas Raiders | 5.4 |
169 | Chicago Bears | Las Vegas Raiders | 5.4 |