The new kickoff rules didn’t exactly have a huge fantasy impact on the defense and special teams landscape to start the 2024 NFL season, but we still got some noteworthy performances from multiple units across the league in Week 1.
Here is a closer look at my defensive rankings for your fantasy football team entering Week 2.
Top 30 Fantasy Defense Rankings
FIND MORE POSITIONAL RANKINGS: QB | RB | WR | TE | K | Flex | SF
1) Indianapolis Colts (at GB)
2) Los Angeles Chargers (at CAR)
3) Baltimore Ravens (vs. LV)
4) New York Jets (at TEN)
5) Houston Texans (vs. CHI)
6) Pittsburgh Steelers (at DEN)
7) Dallas Cowboys (vs. NO)
8) Seattle Seahawks (at NE)
9) Kansas City Chiefs (vs. CIN)
10) Cleveland Browns (at JAX)
11) San Francisco 49ers (at MIN)
12) New York Giants (at WAS)
13) New England Patriots (vs. SEA)
14) Tennessee Titans (vs. NYJ)
15) Atlanta Falcons (at PHI)
16) Buffalo Bills (at MIA)
17) Denver Broncos (vs. PIT)
18) Miami Dolphins (vs. BUF)
19) Philadelphia Eagles (vs. ATL)
20) Chicago Bears (at HOU)
21) Washington Commanders (vs. NYG)
22) New Orleans Saints (at DAL)
23) Arizona Cardinals (vs. LAR)
24) Detroit Lions (vs. TB)
25) Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. CLE)
26) Green Bay Packers (vs. IND)
27) Minnesota Vikings (vs. SF)
28) Los Angeles Rams (at ARI)
29) Cincinnati Bengals (at KC)
30) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at DET)
The Top Defenses To Start in Week 2
Los Angeles Chargers Defense
In the world of streaming fantasy defenses, it can be as simple as finding a defense available on your waiver wire facing off against a terrible offense. There’s an argument that no offense was worse to start the 2024 season than the Carolina Panthers.
Carolina’s offense produced just 193 total yards (an average of 3.5 yards per play), scored only 10 points, and turned the ball over three times against the New Orleans Saints. In case you’re wondering, those numbers helped produce a total offensive EPA (expected points added) of -19.14 in Week 1.
Quarterback Bryce Young showed very little progress from the struggles we saw from him last year, which is evident by his brutal EPA metrics from the team’s season opener.
Young’s Week 1 EPA Stats
- Offensive Dropback EPA: minus-9.64
- Offensive Throw EPA: minus-7.19
- Offensive Sacked EPA: minus-5.66
- Offensive Pass Scramble EPA: minus-3.21
- Offensive Interception EPA: minus-5.89
If this trend continues, then the Chargers’ pass-rushing duo of Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack could force the young quarterback into a handful of mistakes in this contest, which makes the Chargers defense a great play for Week 2.
Indianapolis Colts Defense
In Week 1, the Indianapolis Colts faced a talented Houston Texans offense with an ascending superstar under center in C.J. Stroud. Fortunately for the Colts, they will likely face Malik Willis in their Week 2 matchup against the Green Bay Packers after Jordan Love’s injury against the Philadelphia Eagles.
To give you an idea of what a fantasy-friendly quarterback Willis is for opposing fantasy defenses, know that he’s thrown a total of 67 passes in his career, has been sacked 15 times, and has three interceptions.
This means Willis takes a sack an average of every 4.4 pass attempts and throws a pick every 22 attempts. Translation: You want to start a fantasy defense that is facing off against Willis.
Additionally, if you’re playing in an IDP league, make sure you start rookie Laiatu Latu in Week 2 as well.