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Matt's top 10 fantasy football defenses (D/ST) to draft for 2025. Target these fantasy football team defenses (DEF) as upside picks in fantasy football drafts.
Training camps are heating up, and I've got my top-10 fantasy football defenses (D/ST) you should target for drafts and preparations for the 2025 fantasy football season.
When looking at the top fantasy football defenses, fantasy managers need to find defensive squads that will create turnovers, create sacks, and produce on special teams. It also doesn't hurt to have a favorable schedule.
While strictly playing the matchups and streaming defenses has been a tried and true method in the past, it never hurts to have a defense that you can set and forget. These are 10 defenses that will allow managers to do just that. Be sure to also bookmark our team's constantly-updated full fantasy football defense (D/ST) rankings for 2025.
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10. Seattle Seahawks D/ST
Last season, the Seahawks averaged 8.2 fantasy points per game, the fifth most, while compiling 45 sacks, the 10th most. Seattle's top-4 players in the sack department are all returning, led by Leonard Williams, who finished 2024 with 11 sacks.
Leonard Williams knows how to get to the quarterback 💪
(via @NextGenStats) pic.twitter.com/AidlXHMtCP
— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) June 30, 2025
Joining Williams, Boye Mafe, Jarran Reed, and Derick Hall this season is former Dallas Cowboy DeMarcus Lawrence, who has recorded 450 tackles and 61.5 sacks over 141 career contests, including three sacks in the four games he played last season.
The 26 touchdowns surrendered had the Seahawks in the middle of the pack defensively. Still, the 13 interceptions were also the 12th most, thanks partly to the returning trio of defensive backs in Riq Woolen, Coby Bryant, and Julian Love, who each had three interceptions.
9. Los Angeles Rams D/ST
Los Angeles has one of the best defensive fronts in football with Braden Fiske, Poona Ford, and Kobie Turner. Last season, Fiske and Turner had 8.5 and 8.0 sacks, respectively, with Byron Young and Jared Verse adding 12 to the overall team total. Los Angeles drafted Josaiah Stewart in the third round this past April to ensure those edge-rushers stay fresh.
Jared Verse brought the pressure 😤#NFLTop100 | #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/urnCsKHm6J
— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) August 1, 2025
The most significant issues facing the Rams are who is making tackles and who will defend the pass? More specifically, who will step up in the linebacking corps with Christian Rozeboom and his 135 tackles no longer around? Second, who can be counted upon to stop the other team's pass-catchers? Darious Williams finished with a 61.5 PFF coverage grade, while Ahkello Witherspoon finished with a grade of 58.8, ranking 102nd and 129th of 222 cornerbacks.
Los Angeles' DST outlook rests 100% on whether that front can create pressure, which it'll need to do to keep pressure off the back end.
8. Green Bay Packers D/ST
Green Bay's inclusion here isn't sexy; however, it is necessary considering this defense was the third-highest-scoring unit in fantasy last season, averaging 8.9 fantasy points per game.
The band is back together. Green Bay had six players each record 85 or more tackles in Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie, Javon Bullard, Keisean Nixon, Xavier McKinney, and Edgerrin Cooper. McKinney's eight interceptions were second to Kerby Joseph of the Lions' nine last season.
Xavier McKinney blitz 😤
📺: #HOUvsGB on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/LBA92g1wH3— NFL (@NFL) October 20, 2024
Green Bay was also persistent in getting to the quarterback, registering 45 sacks and doing it with a committee approach. This committee returns the top nine sack-getters from a season ago.
7. Buffalo Bills D/ST
Buffalo could move up this list if it can get consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
Last season, Buffalo finished sixth in fantasy scoring, averaging 8.1 fantasy points per game. It forced nearly as many turnovers (32) as it had sacks (39).
Matt Milano looks to be healthy again, which should give this defense a huge boost, as should the addition of Joey Bosa opposite Greg Rousseau. Rousseau led the Bills with eight sacks, and if Bosa can remain healthy, his presence alone should push Rousseau into double-digit territory.
"This is exciting for me. No more outside linebacker. I'm ready to get my hand in the dirt, get back to the six technique and rush the passer.
New #Bills DE Joey Bosa says he's eager to return to his more natural position with Buffalo.
Adds that he's happy he's got plenty of… pic.twitter.com/lr6TemZwpA
— Built in Buffalo (@BuiltInBuffalo_) June 12, 2025
Added pressure up front should lead to more turnovers on the back end. The Bills look to increase that total to 25, which is no small feat since the 16 interceptions were the fifth most.
6. Houston Texans D/ST
Last season, the Texans ranked fourth in sacks with 49, second in interceptions with 19, and eighth in fantasy points scored per game with eight. Houston had some big weeks for fantasy managers, topping 10 fantasy points on seven occasions.
In two NFL seasons, Will Anderson Jr. has shown improvement, going from seven sacks in his rookie season to 11 sacks last season. He plays opposite Danielle Hunter, who once again recorded 10-plus sacks for the fifth time in six seasons.
Will Anderson Jr. did not hold back 💪#NFLTop100 | #HTownMade pic.twitter.com/PCIPkfXe9T
— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) August 6, 2025
It's not just that Houston has one of the most deadly edge duos in the game today; the secondary also features a pair of ball-hawking playmakers in Derek Stingley Jr. and Calen Bullock, who each had five picks last season. If that weren't enough, Houston added C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the mix, whose resume includes 18 career interceptions in 75 contests.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers D/ST
T.J. Watt's presence in this Steelers lineup justifies the team's top-5 ranking. The $123 million man has registered 108 sacks in 121 regular-season contests, including 30.5 over the last two seasons.
T.J. Watt is in ELITE company 😳@_TJWatt | #HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/1MzfYyjkKX
— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) July 17, 2025
Joey Porter Jr. has proved in just two seasons that he is an elite defender in the secondary, recording 17 pass breakups in 33 career games and finishing 2024 with 70 total tackles. Last season, teams avoided Porter; this season, they may not be able to with the addition of All-Pro Jalen Ramsey.
While this defense projects to be one of the best, it also has one of the oldest secondaries, with Ramsey (30), Darius Slay (34), Chuck Clark (30), and Juan Thornhill (29). With Aaron Rodgers now at the helm and a roster that has seen significant turnover at the offensive skill positions, can this secondary hold up if the offense falters?
4. Minnesota Vikings D/ST
Minnesota was one of two teams last season that averaged more than 9.0 fantasy points per contest, averaging 9.8 per contest and reaching double-digit fantasy production in half its games. This was thanks to a league-best 24 interceptions (33 total takeaways) and 49 sacks, which ranked fifth.
Those takeaway numbers are impressive; however, teams were able to move the ball through the air, and Minnesota is in the process of replacing Cam Bynum and Stephon Gilmore, who combined for four interceptions and 19 passes defensed, with Isaiah Rodgers and Mekhi Blackmon, who missed the entirety of the 2024 season. As good as Harrison Smith has been, the Pro Bowl safety is now 36 and entering his 14th season.
Minnesota lost some key pieces on its defense, but Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel remain in Brian Flores' aggressive scheme after the duo combined for 23.5 sacks in 2024. Greenard broke out in a big way last season. Not only did he have 12.5 sacks (10th), but he also had a 22% pass rush win rate, which ranked sixth.
Jonathan Greenard was a FORCE 😤#NFLTop100 | #Skol pic.twitter.com/2dUCXg3rDs
— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) August 5, 2025
3. Philadelphia Eagles D/ST
Philadelphia lost several key contributors, including Milton Williams, Josh Sweat, Brandon Graham, and Darius Slay. The trio helped the Eagles record 41 sacks, 13 interceptions, and 8.1 fantasy points per game.
However, the Eagles have been drafting well over the years. They can get after the quarterback with interior pressure, courtesy of Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter, or off the edge, with Zack Baun and Nolan Smith Jr.
On the back end, the homegrown talent is as good as any in the NFL. Quinyon Mitchell has proved to be a shutdown corner in this league, holding his own against the elite. Cooper DeJean has made a name for himself as a nickel defender, while Kelee Ringo will step in and replace Slay, who is now in Pittsburgh.
Good luck getting by Quinyon Mitchell 😳#NFLTop100 | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/5kRiSVWFtK
— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) August 4, 2025
2. Baltimore Ravens D/ST
At number two, arguably the most complete roster in the NFL, the Baltimore Ravens.
Kyle Hamilton was a problem 🫣#NFLTop100 | #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/9jLyxaRx6a
— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) August 1, 2025
Baltimore had no issues getting after the quarterback, as it produced 54 sacks, the second most last season. Its problem is that it couldn't stop the pass early on in the 2024 season and didn't register a double-digit fantasy week until Week 9. Eventually, the Ravens got their secondary sorted and finished the last two weeks of the season by scoring 31 fantasy points.
Baltimore is much better positioned in the secondary heading into the 2025 season, thanks to the signing of Jaire Alexander and Chidobe Awuzie and the selection of Malaki Starks in this past April's draft.
The Georgia product is a big-play threat on every dropback. As a junior, Starks would finish the campaign with six interceptions. That nose or the ball doesn't end in coverage, either, as he isn't afraid to come downhill and defend the run, as his 77 tackles a season ago suggest.
1. Denver Broncos D/ST
The Denver Broncos finished 2024 as the top-rated fantasy defense, so it makes sense that they will remain at the top of the list heading into 2025. Playing defense becomes much easier when you only have to defend half the field. That's what the Broncos are tasked with every time Patrick Surtain II steps on the field, much like Darrelle Revis once did in New York.
Looking back at the game-by-game numbers from Pat Surtain’s DPOY campaign 🏝️
PS2 never allowed more than 45 yards in a game 🔥 https://t.co/U8NF4p9MX7 pic.twitter.com/tMFlWj64VU
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) June 25, 2025
Denver was the only team to average more than 10 fantasy points per game last season, averaging 10.3 per contest, thanks to 15 interceptions and a league-high 63 sacks. Those 63 sacks were nine more sacks than the next closest team. Nik Bonitto (13.5), Jonathon Cooper (10.5), and Zach Allen and his 8.5 sacks and monster new contract are all back in the fold for the Broncos, so that sack total isn't going anywhere.
If that wasn't enough to keep offensive coordinators awake at night, Denver spent some money in the free-agency market, adding Dre Greenlaw, D.J. Jones, and Talanoa Hufanga. While those additions will undoubtedly help the Broncos retain the crown, the most significant addition is the return of Alex Singleton, who missed 14 contests due to injury after registering 177 total tackles in 2023.
Honorable Mention D/STs
- Kansas City Chiefs D/ST
- Detroit Lions D/ST
- New York Giants D/ST
- Dallas Cowboys (if Micah Parsons saga resolves itself)
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