X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Updated Fantasy Football Defense (D/ST) Rankings (2025) - Broncos D/ST, Steelers D/ST, Vikings D/ST, Chiefs D/ST, Bills D/ST, Packers D/ST, Jets D/ST

Andrew Van Ginkel - IDP, Minnesota Vikings, DST, Defense, Fantasy Football Def

RotoBaller's updated 2025 fantasy football defense (D/ST) rankings for redraft leagues. These are updated DEF rankings for fantasy football drafts in 2025.

Whether you like to ride with an elite defense all season or stream a stop unit each week, identifying a defense with favorable early-season matchups is key. Ahead of your fantasy draft, we're here to help with our updated 2025 fantasy football defense (D/ST) rankings for redraft leagues. Below, check out where key fantasy defenses like the Broncos, Steelers, Vikings, Chiefs, Bills, Packers, and Jets stand, among all 32 D/STs.

Our team never stops covering all things fantasy football -- so be sure to also check out our 2025 best ball fantasy football rankings, 2025 dynasty fantasy football rankings, and 2025 NFL rookie fantasy football rankings. Whatever you're interested in, we've got you covered.

RotoBaller's lead NFL analyst Nick Mariano has put together these updated 2025 rankings, which will, of course, be updated regularly throughout the NFL offseason. As injuries happen and depth charts shake up, be sure to check back in.

Editor's Note: Access RotoBaller’s trusted fantasy football rankings for PPR, Standard, Dynasty, Super Flex, and Best Ball formats. Get tiered cheat sheets, expert analysis, and player outlooks to dominate your draft from every angle.

 

2025 Fantasy Football Defense (D/ST) Rankings

D/ST Tier D/ST Rank D/ST Name Position
1 1 Denver Broncos DST
1 2 Pittsburgh Steelers DST
1 3 Baltimore Ravens DST
1 4 Philadelphia Eagles DST
2 5 Minnesota Vikings DST
2 6 Kansas City Chiefs DST
3 7 Los Angeles Chargers DST
3 8 Detroit Lions DST
3 9 Buffalo Bills DST
3 10 Houston Texans DST
4 11 Seattle Seahawks DST
4 12 Green Bay Packers DST
4 13 New York Jets DST
4 14 Los Angeles Rams DST
4 15 Cleveland Browns DST
5 16 San Francisco 49ers DST
5 17 Dallas Cowboys DST
5 18 New England Patriots DST
5 19 Chicago Bears DST
5 20 Tampa Bay Buccaneers DST
5 21 New York Giants DST
5 22 Atlanta Falcons DST
6 23 Arizona Cardinals DST
6 24 Miami Dolphins DST
6 25 Washington Commanders DST
6 26 Carolina Panthers DST
6 27 New Orleans Saints DST
7 28 Indianapolis Colts DST
7 29 Jacksonville Jaguars DST
7 30 Las Vegas Raiders DST
7 31 Cincinnati Bengals DST
7 32 Tennessee Titans DST

 

Recent Fantasy Football Defense (D/ST) News

T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Still Not Close on New Contract

According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Pittsburgh Steelers and linebacker T.J. Watt aren't close to resolving the ongoing contract dispute. The team wants to keep him. However, there are still some glaring issues regarding a new deal, specifically, length and guaranteed money.

The 30-year-old is still a top defensive option despite closing in on a decade of service in the National Football League, most recently finishing the 2024 campaign with 11.5 sacks while totaling 61 tackles. With training camp commencing in a few weeks, there is a greater sense of urgency for a deal to get done. If Watt isn't on the field come Week 1, it won't be an ideal scenario for a Steelers defense that is projected to be one of the most potent fantasy units in 2025.

Contract Length an Issue for Cowboys, Micah Parsons

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero says that Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and All-Pro pass-rusher Micah Parsons already had a handshake deal months ago on a new contract extension, but the length of the pending extension is where the current hangup is. The Cowboys and Jones have always favored locking up their stars on long-term deals for five or six years, but the trend in the league of late has been shorter contract extensions.

Parsons, who is 26 years old, might prefer a shorter contract extension that would allow him another bite at the apple as he nears the end of his career. Both quarterback Dak Prescott and receiver CeeDee Lamb negotiated four-year deals recently, so perhaps that's what Parsons is trying to do as well. Contract talks aside, Parsons has at least 12 sacks in four straight seasons and will remain a high-end IDP fantasy target going into 2025 drafts.

Steelers Acquiring Jalen Ramsey

The Pittsburgh Steelers are trading for Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey, according to NFL insiders Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport. The seven-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro selection has been rumored to be on the way out of Miami all offseason, and this situation is finally concluding. Ramsey's adjusted contract includes a $1.5 million raise in 2025, and he will earn $26.6 million this year. The former No. 5 overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars out of Florida State is set to join forces with Joey Porter Jr. and Darius Slay Jr. in Mike Tomlin's defense.

The 30-year-old might not be in his prime anymore, but he's still an effective defensive back who brings an attitude to a stop unit. In 135 career games with the Jaguars, Rams, and Dolphins, Ramsey has tallied 534 tackles (432 solo), 24 interceptions, 108 pass deflections, 25.5 run stuffs, three sacks, and seven forced fumbles.

Minkah Fitzpatrick Heading Back to Miami

Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick is being traded to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for cornerback Jalen Ramsey, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Ramsey trade was announced just before it was known that Fitzpatrick was part of the deal.

The 28-year-old was originally selected by the Dolphins in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft out of Alabama, but he was dealt to Pittsburgh after just one season with the organization. Overall, the three-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowl selection has tallied 608 tackles (400 solo), 20 interceptions, 54 pass deflections, five forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, and four defensive touchdowns in 106 career games.

Shemar Stewart, Bengals Continue Contract Talks, No Progress Made

According to USA Today's Tyler Dragon, the Cincinnati Bengals and rookie defensive end Shemar Stewart have had recent contract discussions. Unfortunately, nothing came from the talks, with Dragon adding that "a resolution doesn't appear to be in sight." Both sides remain at a stalemate regarding "language" in Stewart's contract, which is reportedly different from Cincinnati's selections in previous years. The 2025 No. 17 overall pick refused to participate in mandatory minicamp.

It also seems he isn't a lock to show up at training camp. The Bengals made moves to bolster the offense by giving new deals to Ja'Marr ChaseTee Higgins, and Mike Gesicki. However, the franchise has pumped the brakes on prioritizing contracts on the defensive side of the ball, considering defensive end Trey Hendrickson is also seeking a new deal of his own. With that said, Cincinnati has one of the best offenses in the National Football League. On the other hand, the defense needs work, although things may not improve if Stewart continues to miss out on valuable practice time.

Dolphins Interested in Asante Samuel Jr.

The Miami Dolphins have reached out to free-agent cornerback Asante Samuel Jr., according to the Miami Herald. The organization dealt All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for All-Pro and former Dolphins safety Minkah Fitzpatrick last week, so they are in the market for a veteran corner. Samuel was a second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Florida State by the Los Angeles Chargers. In 50 career games, he tallied 176 tackles (148 solo), 37 pass deflections, six interceptions, and one fumble recovery. A significant shoulder injury limited the 25-year-old to just four games in 2024.

Maxwell Hairston Facing Sexual-Assault Lawsuit

Buffalo Bills rookie cornerback Maxwell Hairston has been named in a civil lawsuit related to an alleged incident that happened in 2021, according to WKBW.com. Bryant Law Center and Meyers & Flowers filed the Lawsuit on Tuesday, and a woman is accusing Hairston of sexual assault while he was a student at the University of Kentucky. Hairston was selected by the Bills in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft (No. 30 overall) after a stellar career for the Wildcats. In 32 games, he compiled 87 tackles, six interceptions, and 10 pass deflections. This is a situation worth monitoring as he heads into his first NFL training camp.



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!

More Fantasy Football Analysis


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.




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Jalen Thompson

Heading into Last Year With Cardinals?
Gabriel Bonfim

Looks For His Third UFC Win
Najee Harris

Suffers Eye Injury in Fireworks Mishap
Stephen Thompson

Returns At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Calvin Kattar

In Dire Need Of Victory
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere A Favorite At UFC Nashville
Nate Landwehr

Aims To Bounce Back
MMA

Austen Lane Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Vitor Petrino

Set For His Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Set To Open Up UFC Nashville Main Card
Junior Tafa

Set For Light-Heavyweight Bout
Alex Bregman

Will Return to Red Sox This Weekend
Chris Sale

Braves Won't Consider Trading Chris Sale
Clarke Schmidt

to Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery on Friday
Nick Nash

Unlikely to Make Falcons Active Roster
Lane Johnson

in No Rush To Retire
Jalen Williams

Signs Contract Extension With Thunder
Blake Corum

has "Gotten His Speed Back"
Jarquez Hunter

Picking Up Rams Offense Quickly
Alijah Martin

Agrees to Two-Way Deal With Raptors
Tristan Vukcevic

Set to Return to Washington
Kirk Cousins

Feels Misled by Falcons
Bijan Robinson

Says Falcons Have "Outlandish Goals" for the Running Game
Luther Burden III

Bears Expect Luther Burden III to be Ready for Training Camp
Cole Kmet

an Unlikely Trade Piece
Tony Pollard

Titans Hope to Balance Rushing Attack With Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears
Byron Buxton

Sitting Thursday
Quentin Johnston

Not Assured of Starting Role
Cordarrelle Patterson

on the Roster Bubble in Pittsburgh?
Shedeur Sanders

Not Assured of Roster Spot in Cleveland?
Wan'Dale Robinson

Hoping For More Downfield Opportunities
Anfernee Simons

Celtics Are "Actively Trying to Trade" Anfernee Simons
NBA

Alex Ducas Heading to Australia
Dominick Barlow

Inks Two-Way Deal With 76ers
Jordan McLaughlin

Spurs Re-Sign Jordan McLaughlin to One-Year Deal
Dylan Harper

Out Thursday, Expected to Play Saturday
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Homers Twice on Wednesday
Mike Trout

Homers Twice in Win Over Rangers
Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Leads Yankees to Victory
Salvador Perez

Crushes Two Homers in Win
Cleveland Browns

Greg Newsome on the Trade Block?
VJ Edgecombe

Diagnosed with a Sprained Thumb
Zach Tom

An Extension Candidate in Green Bay
Devin Booker

Agrees to Extension with Phoenix
Trevor Williams

to Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery
Kyren Williams

Rams Not Willing to Pay Kyren Williams Top-Market Money?
Byron Buxton

Exits After Hit-by-Pitch, X-Rays Negative
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Playing on Wednesday
Alex Bregman

has "Really Good Chance" to Return Before All-Star Break
Christian Kirk

the No. 2 WR in Houston?
Teoscar Hernández

Teoscar Hernandez Expected to Return on Friday
Jerome Ford

the Likely Starter for Cleveland to Begin 2025
Chig Okonkwo

"Poised" for Best Season of Career
Walter Clayton Jr.

Leads Jazz to Summer League Win
Carter Bryant

Struggles in Summer League Loss
Kyle Filipowski

Drops a Double-Double in Summer League Action on Tuesday
Oklahoma City Thunder

Malevy Leons Logs Impressive Summer League Outing on Tuesday
Dalton Knecht

Collects 25 Points in Lakers Summer League Win
Los Angeles Lakers

Darius Bazley Drops 27 Points in Summer League on Tuesday
Gary Woodland

Looking to Find Rhythm at Scottish Open
Aaron Rai

Brings Consistent Play to Scottish Open
Maverick McNealy

a Solid Value Play at Scottish Open
Aldrich Potgieter

Making Scottish Open Debut
Tom Kim

Looks to Rebound at Scottish Open
Brian Harman

a Safe Option at Scottish Open
Luke Clanton

a Sneaky Value Play at Scottish Open
Sam Burns

Looking to Stay Hot at Scottish Open
Chet Holmgren

Agrees to Rookie Max Extension
Alex Bregman

Not Returning Wednesday
Jhoan Duran

Unavailable Due to Illness
Shane McClanahan

Tosses Clean Frame in First Rehab Appearance
Jacob Wilson

Day-to-Day After HBP
Nicolai Hojgaard

May Feel More at Home in Europe
Harry Hall

Showing Fine Form Heading to Scotland
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. to be Reassessed Wednesday
Ryan Fox

Playing Well Since Early Spring Struggles
Malaki Branham

Traded to Washington
Max Greyserman

has Solid History at the Genesis Scottish Open
Blake Wesley

Moves to Washington
Harris English

Aims High for Scotland Next
Corey Conners

Primed for the Genesis Scottish Open
Kelly Olynyk

on the Move Again
Daniel Brown

Attempts the Scottish Swing Again
Anthony Davis

Recovering From Eye Surgery
Jacob Bridgeman

Needs Putter to Work at Genesis Scottish Open
Cal Raleigh

Continues Historic Homer Pace Tuesday
Jacob Wilson

Exits Early On Tuesday With Left Hand Contusion
Scottie Scheffler

Headlines Field at Genesis Scottish Open
Rory McIlroy

a Smart Play for Scottish Open
Adam Scott

Looking to Build on History at The Renaissance Club
NASCAR

Sepp Straka Not Likely to Find Momentum at Scottish Open
Justin Rose

Hopes Month Hiatus Helps Him Bounce Back at Scottish Open
Luis Garcia

Fans Four in Rehab Outing
NHL

Tyler Johnson Retires After 13 NHL Seasons
Jack McBain

Inks New Five-Year Deal with Mammoth
Cam York

Re-Signs with Flyers for Five Years
Jake Knapp

Fits the Mold for Success at The Renaissance Club
Ty Gibbs

Finishes Second at Chicago and Advances in In-Season Challenge
Alex Bowman

Defeats Bubba Wallace in In-Season Challenge, but Not Without Controversy
Alex Bowman

Bubba Wallace Wrecked by Alex Bowman Again, Putting Playoffs in Doubt
Michael McDowell

Throttle Failure Ends Michael McDowell's Chances to Win at Chicago
Austin Hill

Earns First NASCAR Cup Series Top Ten at Chicago
Tyler Reddick

Scores a Strong Third-Place Run at Chicago
Kyle Busch

Matches his Best Career Finish At Chicago on Sunday
Denny Hamlin

Fights his Way to a Top-5 Finish at Chicago
William Byron

has his Worst Weekend of the Season at Chicago
Sonny Milano

on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Jakub Dobes

Signs Two-Year Deal with Canadiens
NHL

Hendrix Lapierre Signs One-Year Deal with Capitals
Carson Hocevar

Should DFS Players Consider Carson Hocevar for Chicago Lineups?
Tye Kartye

Kraken Re-Sign Tye Kartye for Two Years
Ross Chastain

May be A Decent DFS Option for Chicago Lineups
Dmitri Voronkov

Signs Two-Year, $8.35 Million Extension with Blue Jackets
Ryan Preece

Should DFS Players Roster Ryan Preece at Chicago?
Austin Dillon

Is Too Great of A Risk to Add to Chicago Lineups
Zane Smith

Is A Value Play Worth Rostering At Chicago
Austin Hill

is A Favorable Value Option for Chicago DFS Lineups
Ty Dillon

Is Ty Dillon A Decent Driver to Add For NASCAR DFS At Chicago?
William Byron

Qualifying Crash Makes William Byron a Likely DFS Must-Have
Alex Bowman

Should Finish Well, but Probably Costs Too Much for Serious DFS Consideration
Joey Logano

Has Been Relatively Mediocre on Road Courses Lately
Ryan Blaney

Doesn't Really Fit Neatly into Optimal DFS Lineups
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF