Updated Fantasy Football Defense Rankings 2025: Best D/STs to draft, top sleepers and streamers

Picking defensive teams in fantasy football drafts -- and even including them in fantasy leagues at all -- is often a less desirable plan each season. 

However, if you play in one of the few old-school formats that includes D/ST units, it's still crucial to know how to squeeze them into your draft strategy.

Typically, these are not meant to be long-term fixtures on your fantasy football team. Managers should feel comfortable cycling through team defenses based on bye weeks, matchups, roster crunches, and more. However, those who draft an elite defensive unit might feel a bit more inclined to hang on.

We'll explain when it's best to do that below as we rank all 32 NFL defenses for fantasy football drafts.

Fantasy Football defensive team rankings: Best D/STs for 2025 drafts

Generally, given how volatile week-to-week production happens with fantasy D/STs, managers ideally should focus on the teams that have some elite mix of these two attributes, whether it be for a single week or on the balance of the season:

• Pass rush and sacks upside
• Favorable divisional schedule

Takeaway potential (interceptions, fumble recoveries) rarely plays consistently year-to-year as a tipping point for D/ST rankings.

For fantasy defense success, start with advantages along the line of scrimmage. Everything flows out from the pass rush. 

The argument could be made that as more teams employ 2-High defenses with safeties preventing big plays, coverage sacks might become more prevalent. Still, it's best not to blindly rely on this trend spilling over. 

Bank on a team with at least one elite pass-rusher along its line.

While it's tempting to draft one of the top defenses with a few rounds left, ideally, managers should continue building depth at RB/WR (and QB/TE, depending on league format) before saving defense and kicker for the final two rounds.

However, if league scoring dictates selecting a D/ST more aggressively, wait as long as possible.

D/ST to target for division schedule

• Houston Texans (AFC South: Jaguars, Colts, Titans)
• New England Patriots (AFC East: Jets, Dolphins)

Week 1 Start 'Em defenses

• Arizona Cardinals (at Saints) -- also one of our top fantasy D/ST sleepers to draft
• Miami Dolphins (at Colts)
• Washington Commanders (vs. Giants)

Promising pass-rushing defenses with fantasy upside

• Seattle Seahawks
• Dallas Cowboys
• Cleveland Browns
• New York Giants

(The Denver Broncos, the No. 1-ranked D/ST overall, also have arguably the juiciest Week 1 matchup against rookie Cam Ward's Tennessee Titans, so that negates finding the best sleeper for the opener.)

While drafting a D/ST is important, use the inseason fantasy football waiver wire to find the best mix of matchup plays and breakout teams.

See how all 32 NFL team defenses fill out in our fantasy defensive team rankings for 2025 drafts.

These fantasy football D/ST rankings are based on the following settings:

• 1 point per sack
• 2 points per interception
• 2 points per fumble recovery
• 6 points per touchdown (defensive and return)
• 2 points per safety/blocked kick
• Points allowed penalization scoring, including negative points for 28+ allowed

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