Daily Fantasy Football 2015: DFS Sleeper D/STs to Target Early This Season

Even in the depths of DraftKings fantasy football at the defense and special teams positions, where top-dollar options don't surpass $3,500 in Week 1, there are steals to be had in the 2015 season's early weeks.

Only eight teams' defensive units are at or above the $3,000 plateau for the opening Sunday of football, but below them, there's no shortage of diamonds to be found in the rough. No defense will break your salary, and that can often allow owners to procure a big day from a top unit, but there's nothing more satisfying than landing some major points from a sleeper selection.

Taking the Week 1 salaries in mind on a $50,000 budget, let's look at five defense and special teams units worth the plunge in the early goings.

Minnesota Vikings ($2,800)

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Second-year head coach Mike Zimmer's fingerprints were all over his Minnesota Vikings defense in his debut season at the helm, as it improved from one of the league's most hapless units to ranking 11th in team defense for 2014.

The 3-4 is stout up front with Sharrif Floyd and Linval Joseph plugging up lanes, and veteran linebackers Everson Griffen and Chad Greenway should help the development of a young star playmaker in Anthony Barr. There is finally dependability in the defense's most questionable area—the secondary—with Terence Newman and Xavier Rhodes thriving.

The greatest chance for explosion from this unit, however, comes from the big-play ability of Cordarrelle Patterson. After some sophomore struggles, the 24-year-old looks primed for some kickoff and punt return magic after his 107-yard touchdown return in Saturday's preseason contest against the Dallas Cowboys.

Opening up against a 49ers offense ranked 25th last season by DraftKings, Minnesota should start strong and build confidence.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($2,800)

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Stats from the previous season don't always tell the whole story. That's the case with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as a defense that struggled in 2014 is expected to take major strides early on in the new campaign.

The dominant ability in this unit hasn't been in question, with Gerald McCoy wreaking havoc in the interior and Lavonte David blowing up plays off the edge. It's the overall cohesiveness that has been lacking, which is quickly fading away with the likes of Alterraun Verner and Major Wright shoring up the secondary.

In a Week 1 battle of rookie quarterbacks Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota, Winston simply has more to work with around him on offense. Behind a struggling offensive line, Mariota should be running wild, and the Bucs' speedy rushers should chase him all game long. Tampa Bay will likely card a strong start to the season defensively.

Philadelphia Eagles ($2,700)

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They put up the most points per game on DraftKings among all defense and special teams units in 2014, but the Philadelphia Eagles still aren't getting the love salary-wise. They come in at an affordable rate owners should take advantage of.

Despite that strong stature in fantasy, the Eagles D/ST unit has 21 teams slotted ahead of it for Sunday and Monday's matchups. Philly is likely to finish much better than that, considering the rave reviews regarding free-agent cornerback addition Byron Maxwell. This is a unit that forced 28 turnovers last season (sixth in the league) and is building for even more in 2015.

An underrated front featuring Fletcher Cox should help nullify what's left of the Falcons' run game in the two teams' Monday Night Football opener, and it should allow the Eagles' secondary members to make plays on Matt Ryan.

New York Jets ($2,800)

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That scary New York Jets defensive front isn't just back in 2015—it reloaded and is ready to make more chaos in opposing backfields.

It's safe to say the Jets were already just fine up front with Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson, but they went ahead and threw No. 6 overall pick Leonard Williams into the fold. The big bodies up front will open up even more lanes for the likes of Calvin Pace and Quinton Coples, who should thrive under defensive-minded head coach Todd Bowles.

Most importantly, the Achilles' heel of the secondary is no longer that with the additions of Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie. Opening up against a Cleveland Browns offense with more questions than answers at the moment, New York should feast in Week 1.

Tennessee Titans ($2,800)

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This is easily the biggest wild card and largest gamble of the crop, but don't sleep on the Tennessee Titans defense to start turning some heads and put up some Week 1 fantasy points on a favorable matchup.

The Bucs won't be the only ones in Week 1 feasting on a rookie quarterback, as the Titans will also welcome Jameis Winston to the NFL. Winston's affinity for throwing the ball to the other team is well-documented, from his 18-interception campaign at Florida State in 2014 to a couple of picks so far this preseason.

Tennessee is still piecing things together up front, but it has enough of a core with the dominant Jurrell Casey and Sammie Hill to open things up for Derrick Morgan, Avery Williamson and Zach Brown at the second level. Two preseason picks by new addition Perrish Cox should have the secondary hawking to the ball and making life difficult for Winston.

DraftKings is giving away over $10 million in Week 1 of the NFL season. Use this knowledge to help you win some of that cash. The biggest first-place prize ever at $2 million will be awarded. Play now for FREE at DraftKings.com.