Fantasy D/ST Tiers & Rankings 2023

When drafting a defense for fantasy football, we’re mainly focused on what can help us earn points (sacks, turnovers, TDs), as opposed to limiting the opponent’s scoring output. Obviously, doing both is preferred, but we already have a good sense of which teams are expected to score the most or least in a given week by using Vegas team totals. But how do we know who to target for sacks, interceptions, and fumble recoveries?

Sacks, interceptions, and a sack leading to a fumble can only occur when the opposing team drops back to pass, so the easiest way to estimate defensive success in fantasy scoring is to target defenses that will see plenty of dropbacks and have the means to benefit from those dropbacks. Strong D-Line play, pressure rate, and a secondary capable of consistently producing INTs are essentially what we’re targeting when choosing a defense. 

Using the great Brandon Thorn’s Offensive Line and Defensive Line rankings can give us a massive edge over our league-mates when selecting a defense. We can predict which teams will have the biggest advantages in the trenches, which will help us select defenses more likely to rack up pressures and sacks and lead us to fantasy points. There are a few defenses in the league that we can feel confident in starting each week, but the vast majority of fantasy defenses are only streaming options against inferior offenses or inexperienced quarterbacks. Below is a breakdown, by tier, of our favorite defenses to roster early in the season, as well as ones who project to have favorable schedules toward the middle and later parts of the season to help us build a potential streaming roadmap if we’re unable to land one of the top defenses in our initial draft.

Tier 1: Every-Week Starters

Dallas Cowboys

The Dan Quinn-led Cowboys finished as the D/ST2 last season and arguably got better in the offseason. They drafted the highly-regarded Mazi Smith to be an anchor in the middle of the defensive line, with Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence back as the outside anchors in pass rush. Dallas also signed Stephon Gilmore to man the other corner position opposite Trevon Diggs. There are playmakers at every level of this defense, while they boast Thorn’s No. 1-ranked defensive line. They should be an elite fantasy defense once again this season.

Philadelphia Eagles

Philly was a consistent fantasy performer last season, finishing as the D/ST5 thanks to a league-high 70 sacks. Their 25.5% pressure rate ranked second behind only Dallas, and they largely return the same personnel up front with first-round pick Jalen Carter substituted for offseason departure Javon Hargrave. Their star power paired with depth up front gives them a consistent fantasy floor with upside for more each week with Darius Slay and James Bradberry manning the outside corner positions.

San Francisco 49ers

DeMeco Ryans may have left for the head coaching position in Houston, but the San Francisco defense should excel once again in 2023. Their top-end talent and depth up front give them an amazing floor, with playmakers littered throughout the secondary adding elite weekly upside. Combine that with a Charmin-soft schedule in the early going and playing in the same division as the Rams and Cardinals, and the 49ers have a great chance to finish above their D/ST3 finish in 2022. Their first four matchups against the Steelers, Rams, Giants, and Cardinals all feature offensive lines landing in the bottom 10 of Brandon Thorn’s Offensive Line rankings. 

Tier 2: Good Defenses with Favorable Early-Season Matchups

Los Angeles Chargers