The 2023 Defense Rankings: Fantasy Football Deep Dive

The Desai Guys continue their Fantasy Football Rankings series by ranking the best NFL defenses to draft.

Tad: San Francisco 49ers

Coming in with one of the best defensive lines in the league. And even more of a threat, especially with the addition of Javon Hargraves
The combo of Dre Greenlaw and Fred Warner can be especially dangerous, especially against offenses with big slot receivers.
Their secondary is a little weak but that wasn’t an issue last year
3rd ranked defense last year – not to mention they are in a division with some of the weakest or most questionable offenses in the league

Amar: Dallas Cowboys

There may have been changes on offense, but the defense has stayed the same
- Dan Quinn has really made this unit one of the best in the NFL. They will likely keep Micah Parsons as an edge rusher all year, which will only boost their ranking
In back-to-back seasons they finished in the top-3
This is a defense that if you took earlier than your last two picks, people wouldn’t question it

Philadelphia Eagles

They got Jalen Carter and Kelee Ringo in the 2023 NFL Draft
Finished 5th last season and are in a division that could be very turnover prone
Plus Nakobe Dean could be a sleeper candidate for the biggest surprise player
The offense will rarely put them in a bad position so the opportunities for turnovers are a plenty

Carolina Panthers

Ejiro Evero is coaching a young and talented unit that could be a sleeper this season
- Burgeoning talent in the front seven including Derrick Brown, Yetur Gross-Matos, Shaq Thompson, and of course Brian Burns
- Signed Vonn Bell in the offseason to make one of the more underrated secondaries in the league
  - Bell, Jaycee Horn, Jeremy Chinn, Donte Jackson, and Xavier Woods
Last season in Denver, the defense allowed the 8th fewest total yards in the league and tied for the 14th fewest total points
- Allowed the 10th fewest rushing yards per game as well

Miami Dolphins

Vic Fangio is going to do wonders for this defense
The addition of Jalen Ramsey just made this secondary that much better
- He is getting knee surgery, but he will only miss the first game or two of the regular season
9th in the NFL in points scored by the defense and they were great at getting after the quarterback
- Tied for 9th most pressure in the NFL

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This offense worries me and how well they’ll do
While the defense should be fine if they have to see the field a ton that could be a problem

Green Bay Packers

Similar to Tampa Bay in that if Jordan Love is not the answer, this offense will have problems
The Packers forced a lot of turnovers last season and if they get fatigued, they won’t be able to do that this coming season

Los Angeles Rams

Outside of Aaron Donald, these guys don’t have a single name that screams out at you, and a bunch you’ve never even heard of.
I don’t think they’ll generate a lot of sacks or turnovers. They currently have a rookie as their starting edge rusher.
I think this is a team some will draft on Donald’s name and it won’t pay off

Who are some of the best fantasy football defenses you can depend on? We break down that question as they reveal their fantasy football defense rankings!