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
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

Week 1 Defense (DEF) Streamers and Starts - 2018 Fantasy Tiers, Rankings

Bill Dubiel breaks down all 2018 fantasy football Week 1 defenses (DEF) -- draft targets, streamers, sits/starts, and D/ST waiver wire pickups to add. His Week 1 rankings and tiers for all of the NFL defenses.

We're back and it feels so good! Below are RotoBaller's Week 1 defense tiers and rankings, or which defenses to stream, start and target at the end of your 2018 drafts for Week 1 of the NFL and fantasy football season.

Our tiered defense rankings are your guide to drafting defenses, making waiver wire pickups/adds to improve your lineups, and to decide which defenses to start, sit, target, avoid or stream for Week 1.

Starting the right defense every week can be a difference-maker, so we have broken out our defense rankings into tiers with analysis on each matchup. Some of these Week 1 defenses have good matchups and are not widely owned, representing fantasy scoring opportunities if they are available on your league's waiver wire for a Week 1 pickup or add. Good luck in Week 1 RotoBallers!

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

Week 1 Defenses To Start & Stream: Tiers & Rankings

Tier 1 Defenses

1. Jacksonville Jaguars (@ NYG)
2. Baltimore Ravens (vs. BUF)
3. Minnesota Vikings (vs. SF)

The Jaguars were the top fantasy DST by a good margin last year, scoring eight defensive touchdowns and sitting at or near the top of almost every DST scoring category, including sacks, interceptions, forced fumbles, and points allowed. They lost pretty much nobody in the offseason, so there is zero reason for a downturn of any kind here. A matchup against Eli Manning and the Giants just further solidifies their number one ranking for the week.

The Bills have no offensive line to speak of (or receiving corps, really) and still haven't announced a starting QB for Week 1--even when they do, it's one of A.J. McCarron, Josh Allen or (God help us) Nathan Peterman. You can feel safe streaming against them most weeks, the fact that it's the perpetually talented Ravens makes this a slam-dunk.

The Vikings are up here based purely on roster talent, and the matchup is more of a mystery. Jimmy Garoppolo was brilliant once he was handed the reins in San Francisco, but I still don't know what to think of their offense. I'm gambling on what I know with this one, and that's the fact that Minnesota's defense is really, really good at every level.

 

Tier 2 Defenses

4. New Orleans Saints (vs. TB)
5. Cincinnati Bengals (@ IND)
6. Los Angeles Rams (@ OAK)
7. Tennessee Titans (@ MIA)
8. Detroit Lions (vs. NYJ)
9. Carolina Panthers (vs. DAL)

The Saints crushed their draft on the defensive side in 2017, and that led to a vastly-improved unit over the porous defenses of years past. They've got bona fide star power at all levels with Marshon Lattimore, Cameron Jordan, Marcus Williams and Sheldon Rankins, and they added some solid pieces in free agency that should lead to even more success in 2018 (looking at you, Demario Davis). A very solid option against Ryan Fitzpatrick and the shaky Bucs offense in Week 1.

The Lions DST finally took a big step forward last year after a half-decade of futility, and they've still got enough pieces in place to find their way into Tier 3 or higher most weeks. Regardless of whether its Josh McCown (unlikely) or Sam Darnold (more likely) under center in Week 1, the Lions' ball-hawking secondary should be able to put up some interceptions, and a touchdown wouldn't shock me.

 

Tier 3 Defenses

10. Pittsburgh Steelers (@ CLE)
11. Kansas City Chiefs (@ LAC)
12. New England Patriots (vs. HOU)
13. Philadelphia Eagles (vs. ATL)

I, like many others, have some cautious optimism for the Browns in 2018. They pieced together a perfectly viable offense in the offseason, adding Jarvis Landry, Carlos Hyde, and most importantly Tyrod Taylor at quarterback. The man they call "TyGod" (or is it "Tuh-God" now?) is ultra-careful with the ball, so the upside is limited as far as turnovers are concerned for the Steelers. However, the Browns offensive line might not be able to handle the Steelers front-seven, a group that led the NFL in sacks last year. This is still Cleveland, and I'm not ready to run scared from them until they prove they're a team ready to win.

The Eagles are going to be towards the top most weeks, but with a wonky Thursday night tilt against the high-flying Falcons, I can't rank them any higher than this. They've got a ton of talent up front, especially with the additions of Michael Bennett and Haloti Ngata in the offseason, so expect the big plays to pile up over the course of the season along with the victories.

 

Tier 4 Defenses

14. Buffalo Bills (@ BAL)
15. Seattle Seahawks (@ DEN)
16. Green Bay Packers (vs. Chicago)

I'm not supremely confident in the Bills chances of winning games this year, but there is still a lot of talent on the defensive side of the ball after a solid offseason. Adding Star Lotulelei should help them stop the run to some extent (a skill which evaded them entirely as a team last year), and rookies Tremaine Edmunds and Harrison Phillips should make immediate impacts. Tre'Davious White and Jordan Poyer return to lead the secondary, who have some big-play potential against Joe Flacco in Week 1. If the Bills can bottle up Alex Collins, they could return some fantasy value in the opening tilt.

The addition of Muhammad Wilkerson and Dean Lowry should significantly help the defensive line take a step forward, and the Packers certainly still have a capable enough pass rush. The big question is whether or not Clay Matthews and Nick Perry can stay on the field for 16 games. The Green Bay front office spent significant draft capital on beefing up their secondary, selecting Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson to help supplement the contingent of Tramon Williams, Davon House and potential star Kevin King. Ultimately this team has a load of defensive fantasy potential, but it remains to be seen if they can capitalize on that--Week 1 against Mitch Trubisky and the Bears is a good place for them to show out.

 

Tier 5 Defenses

17. Denver Broncos (vs. SEA)
18. Los Angeles Chargers (vs. KC)
19. Washington Redskins (@ ARI)
20. Arizona Cardinals (vs. WAS)
21. New York Giants (vs. JAX)
22. Dallas Cowboys (@ CAR)

The Broncos are little more than an expensive middle-of-the-road defense at this point, but they'll get a crack at Seattle's still-terrible offensive line in Week 1. Russell Wilson always finds ways to move the ball though, so the Broncos won't make it out of Tier 5 this week, even if they are at home.

The Chargers were quietly excellent on defense last year and should be locked in as a top-12 DST for the entire season. Losing Jason Verrett (again) for the season certainly hurts, but there is star power on all levels of this unit. I expect to find them in the upper tiers most weeks, but I'm a shade nervous against a Chiefs offense that has a ton of explosive potential. This week I'm playing it safe, but how the Chargers fare against Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill and Kareem Hunt will be a good barometer of what we can expect moving forward.

 

More Weekly Lineup Prep


Check out RotoBaller's famous fantasy football draft sleepers and waiver wire pickups list, updated regularly!


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
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

NBA

Trey Jemison III Joins Knicks on Two-Way Contract
Kevin McCullar Jr.

Signs New Two-Way Deal With Knicks
Matt Ryan

Returns to Knicks on Exhibit 10 Contract
NBA

Alex Len Signs Exhibit 9 Deal With Knicks
Nickeil Alexander-Walker

Expected to Take on Larger Offensive Role With Hawks
Thomas Sorber

Undergoes Surgery
Dominic Canzone

Has Five-Hit, Three-Homer Game Tuesday
Cal Raleigh

Sets Single-Season Home Run Record for a Switch-Hitter
Jayden Reed

Undergoes Clavicle and Foot Surgeries, Out for Foreseeable Future
Bo Bichette

to Miss Rest of Regular Season
Zach Neto

Placed on 10-Day Injured List With Hand Injury
Yordan Alvarez

Out on Tuesday, Dealing With "Significant" Ankle Sprain
Aaron Jones Sr.

Vikings Place Aaron Jones Sr. on Injured Reserve With Hamstring Injury
CFB

Diego Pavia Refutes Report of Seeking Seventh Collegiate Season
Christian Kirk

Expected to Return in Week 3
CFB

Diego Pavia Seeking Another Year of Eligibility
Tarik Skubal

on Track to Start Thursday
CFB

Kevorian Barnes Questionable Against SMU
Bo Bichette

has Short-Term Knee Injury, Could Return for Postseason
Tosan Evbuomwan

Joins Knicks
NBA

Kai Jones Links Up With EuroLeague Team
Bismack Biyombo

Returns to Spurs
Bones Hyland

Rejoins Timberwolves
Kobe Bufkin

Moves to Brooklyn
Trey Yesavage

Sets Franchise Strikeout Record On Monday
Yordan Alvarez

To Receive MRI For Sprained Left Ankle On Tuesday
Willson Contreras

Exits Early Monday With Right-Biceps Tightness
Yordan Alvarez

Exits With Ankle Sprain
Brock Bowers

Officially Active on Monday Night
Jauan Jennings

Day-to-Day With Ankle Injury
Logan O'Hoppe

Activated Off Seven-Day Injured List
CBJ

Denton Mateychuk Dealing With Groin Issue
Bo Horvat

Fine for Training Camp
Kirby Dach

on Track to Be Ready for Opening Night
Jose Altuve

Returns Against Rangers
J.J. McCarthy

Expected to Miss 2-4 Weeks With High-Ankle Sprain
J.J. McCarthy

Likely Out for Week 3 With High-Ankle Sprain
Jean Silva

Gets Finished For The First Time In His Career
Aaron Jones Sr.

Unlikely to Play in Week 3 Due to Hamstring Injury
Diego Lopes

Returns To The Win Column
Jayden Daniels

' Week 3 Status in Doubt
Rob Font

Outclassed In The Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
David Martinez

Wins His Second UFC Fight
Jared Gordon

Suffers Brutal TKO Loss At Noche UFC 3
Rafa Garcia

Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Brian Thomas Jr.

Dealing with Wrist Injury
Dustin Stoltzfus

Drops A Decision At Noche UFC 3
Kelvin Gastelum

Gets Back In The Win Column
Diego Ferreira

Suffers Second-Round TKO
Alexander Hernandez

Extends His Win Streak With A Brutal TKO
Quang Le

Suffers First-Round Knockout
Santiago Luna

Shines In His UFC Debut
Christopher Bell

Earns his First Bristol Cup Series Victory
Alex Bowman

Falls Short of Advancing Through Cup Series Playoffs
Chase Briscoe

Collects his Third Top-10 Finish at Bristol
Ryan Blaney

Strong Top-Five Bristol Performance Advances him to the Playoffs
Corey Heim

Earns his First Career Cup Series Top-10 Finish at Bristol
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Leads Greece to Bronze Medal
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Drops 28 Points in EuroBasket Finals
CFB

Indiana's Lee Beebe Jr. Out for Season with Knee Injury
Dennis Schröder

Dennis Schroder Named EuroBasket MVP
Bryce Eldridge

Giants to Promote Bryce Eldridge
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Progressing in Recovery
Jonathan Kuminga

Receives New Offer From Warriors
Kenneth Walker III

Bounces Back with Big Week 2 Performance
Bijan Robinson

Rushes for 143 Yards in Week 2
Justin Fields

Currently in Concussion Protocol
Cincinnati Bengals

Bengals Calling Around to Available Free-Agent Quarterbacks
Joe Burrow

to Undergo Surgery, Out at Least Three Months
Emil Heineman

Aiming to Take the "Next Step" This Season
Braeden Cootes

Good to Go for Camp
Ivan Fedotov

Blue Jackets Acquire Ivan Fedotov From Flyers
Aaron Jones Sr.

Injures Hamstring During Sunday Night Football
Darren Waller

Not Expected to Play in Week 3
Garrett Crochet

Punches Out 12 in Win
Cole Ragans

to Return on Wednesday
Jameson Williams

Records Long Touchdown in Week 2, Still Limited to Downfield Role?
George Kirby

Strikes Out 14 in Win
Jayden Daniels

Considered "Day-to-Day" with Knee Injury
Carlos Estévez

Carlos Estevez Exits with Back Tightness
Jonathan Taylor

Tops 200 Yards From Scrimmage in Week 2 Win
Joe Burrow

Could Miss Three Months if he Requires Toe Surgery
Quentin Grimes

Still Not Close to a New Contract Agreement
Joel Embiid

"Looking Slender, Spry and in Positive Spirits"
Ty Gibbs

Has Arguably his Best Career Drive, but Only Finishes 10th
Chase Elliott

Despite Crashing Out at Bristol, Chase Elliott Advances to Round of 12
Austin Dillon

Misses Round of 12 After Extremely Mediocre Bristol Run
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen Fails to Advance to Round of 12
Josh Berry

Finishes Last in All Three Round of 16 Races to Fail to Advance
Luis Arraez

Takes a Seat on Sunday With Head Injury
Adolis García

Adolis Garcia Activated, Starting on Sunday
CFB

Ryan Williams Explodes In Return To Field
CFB

Drew Allar Plays Mediocre Game In Blowout Win
CFB

LaNorris Sellers Exits Game In Blowout Loss
CFB

DJ Lagway Tosses Five Interceptions In Loss
CFB

Garrett Nussmeier Plays Game Manager in Saturday's Win
CFB

CJ Carr Remains Poised In Narrow Loss
CFB

John Mateer Leads Oklahoma In Rout
CFB

Arch Manning Struggles Against UTEP
CFB

Jeremiah Smith Impresses In Win
Bryan Woo

Records Career-High 13 Strikeouts
CFB

Sam Leavitt Shines As Arizona State Rebounds From Week 2 Loss
Ivan Demidov

Turning Heads in Rookie Camp
NHL

Calvin de Haan Signs With Swedish Team
Samuel Girard

Skates With Non-Contact Jersey
Mackenzie Blackwood

Dealing With Injury Ahead of Training Camp
Spencer Knight

Signs Three-Year Extension With Blackhawks
Chris Buescher

May have Another Solid Run at Bristol
Corey Perry

Out 6-8 Weeks Following Surgery
Kyle Busch

Should DFS Managers Roster Kyle Busch at Bristol?
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

Is Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Too Risky to Consider Rostering at Bristol?
Michael McDowell

Could be A Solid Value Option For Bristol DFS Lineups
Chase Elliott

Probably Won't Factor in for Bristol Win
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Not as Strong at Bristol as Other Short Tracks
Alex Bowman

Needs to Win to Make Round of 12
Ross Chastain

has Never Led at Bristol but Has Been Pretty Consistent
Austin Dillon

Richmond Speed Unlikely to Carry Over to Bristol
Josh Berry

Might Run Well at Bristol, but Almost Certainly Won't Win to Advance
Justin Haley

Bristol One of Justin Haley's Few Recent Bright Spots
CFB

Austin Simmons Listed As Game-Time Decision Against Arkansas
CFB

Nico Iamaleava Struggles In Fourth Straight Loss
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Dealing With a "Tweak"
BUF

Alexandar Georgiev Joins Sabres on One-Year Deal
Corey Perry

Injured During Pre-Camp Skate
CFB

Antonio Williams Out Against Georgia Tech
CFB

CJ Bailey Flashes Again in Win Over Wake Forest
CFB

Jaxson Moi a Game-Time Decision for Tennessee on Saturday
Jean Silva

A Favorite At Noche UFC 3
Diego Lopes

Set For Noche UFC 3 Main Event
Rob Font

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
David Martinez

Set For Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
Rafa Garcia

An Underdog At Noche UFC 3
Jared Gordon

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Dustin Stoltzfus

Looks To Return To The Win Column
Kelvin Gastelum

In Dire Need Of Victory
Diego Ferreira

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Malcolm Brogdon

Heading to Knicks on One-Year Deal
CFB

David Sanders Jr. Won't Play Against Georgia
Landry Shamet

Staying with the Knicks
CFB

Dylan Edwards Slated to Return on Friday
Adam Lowry

Aims for Early-Season Return
P.J. Washington

Officially Signs Contract Extension

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP