While Seattle’s offense is sputtering, the Seahawks’ defense is firing on all cylinders and appear have an extremely favorable matchup in Week 3 against San Francisco. Throw Carolina into that boat, as well, aside from the sputtering offense part. The Panthers are about as locked-in as it gets and, even with a semi-daunting matchup against Minnesota, you really would have to go out of your way to find a reason not to start them this weekend.
Fantasy football rankings, Week 3: Defense/special teams
The SB Nation fantasy team reveals which defense/special teams rank in the top 25 heading into Week 3.


The Texans, while being one of the top defenses thus far, deserve some recognition this week as the Patriots, who will be using a third-string quarterback this week, have faced some struggles against opposing defensive ends. They’ll be greeted by J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney.
Would you much rather stream? I’m not sure there’s a better option than the Miami Dolphins this weekend. They’ll face a Cleveland Browns team on it’s third quarterback in as many weeks. Sure, the Patriots tore the Dolphins apart last week -- and sure, Miami held the Seahawks’ offense in check in Week 1 -- but the Dolphins are at home and heavily favored. Another nice streaming option is the Buccaneers, who are facing Case Keenum and a Rams team that has scored nine points in eight quarters of play this season.
Defense/Special Teams, Week 3
(ZS: Zach Senvisky, JM: Jason Marcum, AP: Adam Patrick, SK: Scott Kaliska, JG: Jeff Goldberg, KB: Kyle Bennett, DG: Derek Gordon)
| Rk | Consensus | Opp. | ZS | JM | AP | SK | JG | KB | DG |
| 1 | Seattle Seahawks | vs. SF | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Carolina Panthers | vs. MIN | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| 3 | Arizona Cardinals | @ BUF | 5 | 3 | 19 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| 4 | Denver Broncos | @ CIN | 9 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 5 |
| 5 | Cincinnati Bengals | vs. DEN | 2 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 15 | 6 | 6 |
| 6 | Houston Texans | @ NE | 3 | 12 | 16 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 12 |
| 7 | Miami Dolphins | vs. CLE | 15 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 10 |
| 8 | New England Patriots | vs. HOU | 11 | 2 | 22 | 8 | 14 | 10 | 3 |
| 9 | Baltimore Ravens | @ JAC | 4 | 11 | 8 | 16 | 10 | 9 | 13 |
| 10 | Pittsburgh Steelers | @ PHI | 7 | 20 | 6 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 20 |
| 11 | Minnesota Vikings | @ CAR | 13 | 13 | 2 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 11 |
| 12 | Los Angeles Rams | @ TB | 14 | 7 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 11 | 7 |
| 13 | New York Jets | @ KC | 6 | 18 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 18 |
| 14 | Kansas City Chiefs | vs. NYJ | 12 | 14 | 20 | 9 | 6 | 14 | 17 |
| 15 | Green Bay Packers | vs. DET | 10 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 17 | 15 | 16 |
| 16 | Dallas Cowboys | vs. CHI | 16 | 8 | 18 | 18 | 7 | 18 | 14 |
| 17 | New York Giants | vs. WAS | 17 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 8 |
| 18 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | vs. LA | 18 | 15 | 21 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 15 |
| 19 | Oakland Raiders | @ TEN | 19 | 21 | 13 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 21 |
| 19 | Tennessee Titans | vs. OAK | -- | 9 | 23 | -- | 19 | 24 | 9 |
| 21 | Buffalo Bills | vs. ARZ | 20 | 19 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 20 | 19 |
| 22 | Jacksonville Jaguars | vs. BAL | 23 | 24 | -- | 19 | 21 | 21 | 24 |
| 23 | San Diego Chargers | @ IND | 24 | -- | 12 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 24 | Philadelphia Eagles | vs. PIT | 22 | 23 | -- | 22 | -- | 25 | 23 |
| 25 | San Francisco 49ers | @SEA | -- | 27 | 15 | 21 | -- | -- | 27 |
| 25 | Detroit Lions | @ GB | 21 | 22 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 22 |
| -- | Washington | @ NYG | 25 | 25 | -- | 24 | 24 | 22 | 25 |
| -- | Chicago Bears | @ DAL | -- | -- | -- | 23 | 22 | 23 | -- |
| -- | Indianapolis Colts | vs. SD | -- | -- | 25 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| -- | Cleveland Browns | @ MIA | -- | -- | -- | -- | 25 | -- | -- |











