It’s Week 1 of a new NFL season, but the top defense/special teams plays in fantasy to start the season will be the usual suspects. For the most part, the top defenses remain at the top regardless of opposition. Points allowed is a crapshoot, so it’s all about looking at who will rack up some sacks or which opposing quarterback is susceptible to throwing interceptions.
Fantasy football rankings, Week 1: Defense/special teams
Fantasy football is back! Here are SB Nation’s consensus defense/special teams rankings for Week 1.
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
The top defenses that deserve an extra look this week, especially for you DFS players, are Carolina and Seattle. Granted, Carolina plays on the road against the defending Super Bowl champions. But the Panthers are going up against a quarterback whose only regular season snap came in the victory formation. Seattle on the other hand, play host to a Miami Dolphins team under a new head coach with Ryan Tannehill under center. With DeVante Parker looking more and more likely to be out this weekend with a hamstring injury, Tannehill is going to rely heavily on Jarvis Landry, Jordan Cameron and dump-offs to Arian Foster.
The Rams and Eagles deserve a look this week against similarly questionable teams - the 49ers and Browns - that are implementing new offenses. The New York Giants face Dake Prescott making his NFL debut. The Giants may not have much long-term value, but they are worth a look for those of you that like to stream defenses.
Defense/special teams, Week 1
(ZS: Zach Senvisky, JM: Jason Marcum, AP: Adam Patrick, SK: Scott Kaliska, JG: Jeff Goldberg, KB: Kyle Bennett)
| Rk | Consensus | Opp. | ZS | JM | AP | SK | JG | KB |
| 1 | Seattle Seahawks | vs. MIA | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 2 | Carolina Panthers | at DEN | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 3 | Houston Texans | vs. CHI | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 4 | Arizona Cardinals | vs. NE | 2 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 |
| 4 | Denver Broncos | vs. CAR | 5 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| 6 | Los Angeles Rams | at SF | 6 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 4 |
| 7 | Kansas City Chiefs | vs. SD | 9 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| 8 | Minnesota Vikings | at TEN | 7 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 8 | 14 |
| 9 | Cincinnati Bengals | at NYJ | 8 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 10 |
| 10 | Buffalo Bills | at BAL | 10 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 15 |
| 11 | Green Bay Packers | at JAC | 13 | 9 | 21 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| 12 | New England Patriots | at ARI | 16 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 18 |
| 12 | New York Jets | vs. CIN | 11 | 17 | 11 | 15 | 12 | 11 |
| 14 | Philadelphia Eagles | vs. CLE | 18 | 11 | 14 | 11 | 14 | 6 |
| 15 | Tennessee Titans | vs. MIN | 12 | 16 | 9 | 17 | 16 | 13 |
| 15 | Pittsburgh Steelers | at WAS | 14 | 14 | 25 | 16 | 15 | 12 |
| 17 | Baltimore Ravens | vs. BUF | 17 | 18 | 24 | 14 | 17 | 17 |
| 18 | Cleveland Browns | at PHI | 21 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 19 |
| 19 | New York Giants | at DAL | 25 | 15 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 16 |
| 20 | San Francisco 49ers | vs. LA | 19 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| 21 | Oakland Raiders | at NO | 15 | 20 | -- | 21 | -- | 22 |
| 22 | Dallas Cowboys | vs. NYG | 22 | 25 | 16 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| 23 | Washington Redskins | vs. PIT | 20 | -- | 23 | -- | 21 | 24 |
| 23 | Jacksonville Jaguars | vs. GB | 24 | 22 | -- | 23 | 22 | 23 |
| 25 | Detroit Lions | at IND | 23 | 23 | -- | 22 | 23 | -- |
| 25 | San Diego Chargers | at KC | -- | -- | 15 | -- | -- | -- |
| -- | Chicago Bears | at HOU | -- | -- | 17 | -- | -- | -- |
| -- | Indianapolis Colts | vs. DET | -- | -- | 19 | -- | -- | 21 |
| -- | Miami Dolphins | at SEA | -- | 24 | -- | 24 | 24 | -- |
