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Updated fantasy football DEF rankings and tiers - the top 32 team defenses (DST) to draft in 2025. Win more with RotoBaller's fantasy football defense rankings.
The time has come, and fantasy football drafts are in full swing. If you have played fantasy football in the past, you know defenses, which are often overlooked, can be the difference between winning and losing your matchups. We're here as always to help you crush you drafts, and today we're looking at our NFL team's updated fantasy football defense (DEF) rankings and tiers for 2025 drafts.
In this DEF ranking article below, you will see where key defenses such as the 49ers DEF, Jets DEF, Vikings DEF, Chargers DEF, Steelers DEF, Ravens DEF and Broncos DEF stand for 2025. When the time comes in your drafts, you'll want to target defenses with the best early season matchups, and our draft rankings will guide you to the best picks. Will the Jets defense rebound this year and show more fantasy upside? Will the Ravens defense be a legit DST to start week to week? Will the Broncos and Vikings continue to be elite fantasy options in 2025?
These updated fantasy football DEF rankings have been put together by Nick Mariano, RotoBaller's lead NFL forecaster and rankings guru, and will help answer some of those defense questions. You'll also see relevant DEF fantasy football news and DEF outlooks for certain key defenses below. Good luck with your drafts RotoBallers, and let's get to it!
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Updated DEF Rankings for Fantasy Football Drafts
Bookmark our PPR rankings, Half-PPR rankings, and standard (non-PPR) rankings
| DEF Tier | DEF Rank | Defense (DEF) Name | Pos. |
| 1 | 1 | Denver Broncos DEF | DST |
| 1 | 2 | Pittsburgh Steelers DEF | DST |
| 1 | 3 | Baltimore Ravens DEF | DST |
| 1 | 4 | Philadelphia Eagles DEF | DST |
| 2 | 5 | San Francisco 49ers DEF | DST |
| 2 | 6 | Minnesota Vikings DEF | DST |
| 3 | 7 | Kansas City Chiefs DEF | DST |
| 3 | 8 | Buffalo Bills DEF | DST |
| 3 | 9 | Los Angeles Chargers DEF | DST |
| 3 | 10 | Arizona Cardinals DEF | DST |
| 4 | 11 | Houston Texans DEF | DST |
| 4 | 12 | Detroit Lions DEF | DST |
| 4 | 13 | Dallas Cowboys DEF | DST |
| 4 | 14 | New York Giants DEF | DST |
| 4 | 15 | Seattle Seahawks DEF | DST |
| 5 | 16 | New York Jets DEF | DST |
| 5 | 17 | Cleveland Browns DEF | DST |
| 5 | 18 | Los Angeles Rams DEF | DST |
| 5 | 19 | New England Patriots DEF | DST |
| 5 | 20 | Chicago Bears DEF | DST |
| 5 | 21 | Green Bay Packers DEF | DST |
| 5 | 22 | Indianapolis Colts DEF | DST |
| 6 | 23 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers DEF | DST |
| 6 | 24 | Atlanta Falcons DEF | DST |
| 6 | 25 | Washington Commanders DEF | DST |
| 6 | 26 | Carolina Panthers DEF | DST |
| 6 | 27 | Las Vegas Raiders DEF | DST |
| 7 | 28 | Jacksonville Jaguars DEF | DST |
| 7 | 29 | Cincinnati Bengals DEF | DST |
| 7 | 30 | New Orleans Saints DEF | DST |
| 7 | 31 | Miami Dolphins DEF | DST |
| 7 | 32 | Tennessee Titans DEF | DST |
Fantasy Football DEF Rankings News
- Tremaine Edmunds Dealing with Soft-Tissue Issue
- Dolphins, Matthew Judon Agree to One-Year Deal
- Bengals Give Trey Hendrickson a Raise
- Micah Parsons Undergoes MRI on Back, Gets "Pretty Clean" Results
- Derrick Harmon Not Expected to Land on Injured Reserve
- Jaire Alexander Could be Ready for Week 1
- Trevon Diggs Has No Limitations, Could Play Week 1
DEF Rankings Fantasy Football Outlooks
Zaire Franklin, Indianapolis Colts
Zaire Franklin led all fantasy linebackers in both Standard IDP points per game and total points last year. He did this largely with tackles, which are the most consistent and reliable statistic in Standard IDP Scoring leagues. The roots of this performance are consistent and reliable, as the Colts' defensive leader has consistently finished at or near the top of the total tackles board in each of the past three seasons. However, there are reasons to believe Franklin will experience a minor step back from this LB1 overall finish last year.
The primary concern would be his big play rate. In 2024, Franklin registered two INTs and five Forced Fumbles. For context, 66.6% of Franklin's career interceptions and 56% of his career Forced Fumbles came in 2024. This was a massive spike, considering he had just one INT and four FF in his previous 50 games combined.
With the sample size we have on Franklin, it is safe to project he will only force two turnovers in 2025 while still registering 175 total tackles and two sacks. Those numbers keep him in the top-five of our LB ranks, but put him a notch behind Zack Baun's upside in Philly.
T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers
For three straight offseasons, T.J. Watt has held a comfortable lead over all other defenders in our fantasy rankings… but that lead is shrinking after a "disappointing" 2024 campaign. Last year, Watt's total sacks, QB hits, pressure rate, pressure total, and Pass Rush Win Rate all dropped significantly. That kind of dip during a healthy campaign is usually a clear sign of decline for an edge rusher entering his age-31 season. Of course, even in that down year, Watt finished as DL3 in Standard IDP points per game, proving 80% of T.J. Watt is still a valuable fantasy asset.
However, the signs of decline are there, and his age suggests those signs may not be a mirage. While the former Defensive Player of the Year still merits top-five defender consideration based on his volume and big play ability, his decline in efficiency and the rise of younger defenders like Brian Branch and Zack Baun have helped close the gap Watt used to have over any other fantasy defender.
As a result, fantasy managers should resist reaching for Watt this year. Instead, you should wait and take whichever of the top five DLs goes last.
Zack Baun, Philadelphia Eagles
Many of us have been waiting for a Zack Baun breakout since his rookie year, and it finally happened in 2024. In his first season with the Eagles, the Wisconsin alum earned an All-Pro honor, a big new contract, a Super Bowl ring, and the most important distinction of all… LB2 overall in IDP Standard Scoring. While some may see Baun as a one-year wonder, the reasons for his breakout are repeatable. The Wisconsin alum struggled with the Saints because they used him improperly, deploying him primarily as an edge rusher.
Philly played to Baun's strengths, deploying him as a standup linebacker who moved all over the formation. That usage allowed Baun to finish third in the NFL in solo tackles, sixth in total tackles, tied for second in forced fumbles, and tied for sixth amongst interior linebackers in sacks.
With the Eagles signing Baun to the NFL's fourth-largest contract for an inside linebacker, it is clear that the All-Pro should remain in the same role on an elite defense for the foreseeable future. Thus, he should be one of the first two true linebackers off the board in IDP drafts.
Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers
Fred Warner is the best linebacker in the NFL, but that hasn't translated into elite fantasy efficiency. If you're looking for tackle consistency, Warner has it. If you're looking for elite tackle totals, search elsewhere. The 49ers' leader has never collected fewer than 118 total tackles, but he's never topped 131. For fantasy purposes, that means he's reliable... but never near the top of a very important statistical category. The same goes for almost every other statistical category IDP managers care about, as Warner trails players like Zack Baun in terms of sacks and TFLs.
However, Warner does differentiate himself with his consistency. In fact, the All-Pro has started every single game in his NFL career, missing just one half of play when he fractured his ankle. It's worth noting that even after fracturing that ankle against New England last year, he posted double-digit tackle totals in San Fran's next two games.
Warner also went on to finish as LB5 overall in total fantasy points last year, proving his consistency offers dividends even when he's injured and lacking flashy totals. That consistency makes the BYU alum the perfect pick for people looking to wait on LB in drafts.
Alex Singleton, Denver Broncos
Singleton tore his ACL early in the 2024 campaign, but he's already back at practice, and reports indicate he does not appear to be slowed by the knee injury. However, the Montana State alum recently suffered a broken thumb during practice that required surgery and is expected to sideline him for one week of camp. The good news is Sean Payton expects Singleton to be back at practice within a week and has already designated Singleton as Denver's starting MIKE for Week 1.
That is great news for IDP fans, as Singleton sits third in tackles-per-game since becoming the Broncos' starting MIKE during the 2022 season. More importantly, he sits third in solo tackles per game during that same span. It is those solo tackles that make Singleton a fantasy force, as he doesn't collect many sacks, forced turnovers, or TFLs.
Fortunately, the solo takedowns are so prolific that he ranks as LB6 in our Standard IDP Scoring over the past three seasons, on a points per game basis, despite the lack of big plays. Thus, the only real concern for this former Eagle is injury. With a clean bill of health on his knee, Singleton remains a top ten LB.
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Check out all of RotoBaller's fantasy football rankings. Staff rankings are updated regularly for all positions and include standard formats, PPR scoring, tiered rankings and dynasty leagues.
