Now that the NFL schedule is out, fantasy managers are already looking ahead to matchups. When drafting defenses in fantasy football, there’s really just one thing that matters: the early-season schedule. So which defenses should you target with favorable matchups in September?

Fantasy Defenses With Favorable Early-Season Schedules
When I was just starting out in fantasy football, I thought drafting a good defense was the way to go. But after a few seasons, I learned that fantasy points on defense have more to do with bad offenses than good defenses.
Sure, it’s better to have a strong defense than a weak one. But the most important thing is who they’re playing. A bad defense against a weak offense is usually a better fantasy play than a top defense against a strong offense.
We’re usually not great at predicting which defenses will finish at the top. The best ones often come off the waiver wire. That’s why the only thing I focus on when drafting a defense is the early season schedule.
Ideally, you want multiple matchups against struggling or rookie quarterbacks. Here are the defenses you should be targeting in drafts this year.
1) Denver Broncos (vs. TEN, at IND)
I almost left the Broncos off this list. The goal here is to avoid paying up for defenses. You should never draft one before the last two rounds of a snake draft or spend more than $1 in an auction.
That said, the Broncos were the No. 1 fantasy defense last year — by a good margin. They averaged 1.2 points per game more than the next-best unit. That’s a big gap in fantasy terms. There’s always someone in your league who overpays for a top defense based on last year’s stats.
But if the Broncos fall to you at the right price, they offer the best possible start. They open at home against rookie QB Cam Ward, who will be making his first career start on a Titans team expected to be near the bottom of the league. Then they hit the road to face either Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones. I expect Denver to be the top fantasy defense heading into Week 3.
2) Miami Dolphins (at IND, vs. NE)
The Dolphins weren’t a bad defense last year, even if they don’t have the fantasy reputation of a top-tier unit. They finished seventh in total defensive EPA.
This season, they start with the same shaky quarterback combo mentioned above in Indy. Then they face Drake Maye and the Patriots. Maye could be fun to watch, but the Pats still don’t have many weapons on offense.
Looking ahead, if you can stomach a likely dud in Week 3 at Buffalo, Miami becomes a great option again in Weeks 4 and 5 — against the Jets and Panthers. They’re usable in four of the first five weeks.
3) Pittsburgh Steelers (at NYJ, vs. SEA, at NE)
The Steelers land at No. 3 mostly because of the Week 2 game against Seattle, which isn’t a great matchup. Still, they’ll be at home, and I think they’ll cause problems for Sam Darnold.
They open against last year’s starter, Justin Fields, now in New York. Fields might still put up fantasy points, but he could also give the ball away. In Week 3, they face Maye and New England.
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Like the Broncos, the Steelers are a legitimately good defense. That means they could be more expensive than you’d like in drafts.
The matchups aren’t quite as soft as Denver or Miami, but the Steelers could still be a top-tier unit early. They’re a safe pick for the first three weeks before you may need to pivot.
4) Arizona Cardinals (at NO, vs. CAR)
I think the Panthers will be better this year. Bryce Young looked more comfortable after being benched, and the team added Tetairoa McMillan to give him a true WR1. Still, Carolina isn’t exactly scary.
As for Week 1, here’s a little preview for our upcoming streaming column: we’re going to be targeting the Saints.
New Orleans’ quarterback room includes 26-year-old second-round rookie Tyler Shough, Spencer Rattler, and Jake Haener. They don’t have any prime-time games this year — a pretty clear sign that expectations are low.
Arizona’s defense wasn’t very good last year, but as we’ve said, that’s not a huge deal when the opposing offense is worse. The Cardinals can give you two useful weeks right out of the gate.