Defense, more than any other position, is all about that week’s opponent. Sure, you might opt for the Rams in a mediocre matchup over the 49ers in a great one, but for the most part, there aren’t many “every-week” D/STs. As such, the rankings below should be viewed as more of a general guide. The teams with more talent or ones that exhibited a general knack for sacks and takeaways last season are ranked higher, but we all know takeaways (particularly fumble recoveries) and D/ST touchdowns are, at best, inconsistent, and, at worst, completely fluky. And even just one more TD can vault a D/ST five or more spots in the end-of-season rankings (and potentially sway your weekly matchup.)
DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT: Ultimate 2019 Fantasy Cheat Sheet
On top of that, matchups are impossible to predict at this point. We reference some matchups that look favorable/unfavorable, but that’s largely based on the experience/track record of the projected starting QBs. Once the season starts, injuries strike, and young players get more experience, everything changes.
2019 STANDARD RANKINGS:Quarterback | Running back | Wide Receiver | Tight End | Kicker | Top 200
Our standard recommendation is to wait on defense until one of the final few rounds. Most won’t do that, but be careful about investing too much draft capital in a position that is sure to change hands at least once and a pain to devote two roster spots to. Even the “sure things” aren’t so sure, both in the short and long term.
Our D/ST rankings will be updated throughout the preseason, so check back for updates and additional analysis.
2019 PPR RANKINGS:Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | Top 200
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Fantasy Football 2019: Defense rankings
Rankings based on standard scoring leagues
