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.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
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 | -- | -- |
