Defense in fantasy football is typically one of the more difficult roster positions to predict. It’s the only position in standard leagues that relies on a collective unit rather than an individual player. With a running back, for instance, we can judge the offensive line. We can judge the effectiveness of the quarterback play. We can get very close to understanding what a running back’s workload will be. Most of the equation, however, is what that individual running back does with those elements.
Fantasy football rankings 2015: Defense/Special Teams, Preseason Week 4
We’re here to rank defenses for your 2015 fantasy football league as the preseason comes to a close. Here are our consensus rankings.
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With a defense, the variables are a lot harder to get a grip on. Sure, we can consider the strength of schedule for a defense. Even then, we don’t truly know how good an opposing collective offense will be. We can consider the playmakers of a defense. Sacks, interceptions and fumble recoveries can all add to fantasy production. Still, it’s a lot to assume, and often those assumptions are based on an unstable foundation.
Even if you completely nail your prediction, and you end up with the best defense of the season, it doesn't always put you at a clear advantage. Take the Philadelphia Eagles, for instance. The Eagles' defense led all other defenses in fantasy football for the 2014 season. The difference between the Eagles and the Seattle Seahawks (ranked No. 7 in 2014), was about four points per week. Seattle's defense was being drafted, on average, in the ninth round of fantasy drafts in 2014. There are plenty of examples like this every year, yet people continue to spend valuable draft picks on their defenses.
It seems a bit hypocritical to practically dismiss any benefit of projecting fantasy defenses, then proceed to rank them. The truth is, defenses serve their purpose. They can make or break your week at times. They have value. It’s just that the value should be recognized and handled appropriately in fantasy drafts. We’re here to narrow your focus. We’re here to list who we believe has the better odds of being that difference maker in the week where you really need one. It’s up to you to decide how much those odds are worth to you. Recognize the value and take it when it matters most. Here are our rankings for the upcoming season:
(DK: Daniel Kelley; DC: Dan Ciarrocchi; AW: Alex Welch; JD: John Daigle; KA: Kenneth Arthur; SK: Scott Kaliska; MG: Michael Gallagher)
| Rank | Consensus | DK | DC | AM | JD | SK |
| 1 | Seattle Seahawks | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Buffalo Bills | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Houston Texans | 3 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 4 |
| 4 | St. Louis Rams | 4 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 3 |
| 5 | Denver Broncos | 5 | 6 | 11 | 3 | 5 |
| 6 | New York Jets | 8 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 7 |
| 7 | Miami Dolphins | 6 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 10 |
| 8 | Arizona Cardinals | 9 | 5 | 9 | 11 | 6 |
| 9 | Cincinnati Bengals | 13 | 8 | 5 | 12 | 14 |
| 10 | Baltimore Ravens | 10 | 11 | 13 | 8 | 11 |
| 11 | New England Patriots | 12 | 7 | 14 | 15 | 8 |
| 12 | Green Bay Packers | 7 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 |
| 13 | Carolina Panthers | -- | 13 | 8 | 14 | 9 |
| 14 | Philadelphia Eagles | 11 | -- | -- | 7 | 15 |
| 15 | Kansas City Chiefs | 14 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 13 |
| 16 | Minnesota Vikings | -- | 14 | 10 | -- | -- |
| -- | Atlanta Falcons | 15 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| -- | Cleveland Browns | -- | 16 | -- | 16 | -- |
| -- | Dallas Cowboys | 16 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| -- | Indianapolis Colts | -- | -- | 16 | -- | -- |
| -- | Detroit Lions | -- | -- | -- | -- | 16 |
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SB Nation presents: How to determine fantasy sleepers and busts
