Fantasy Football Week 1: Fantasy Defenses That Will Score Big

A fantasy defense is often the most overlooked part of a fantasy team, but when in the right matchup, it can score you big points.

With a few sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery, your fantasy defense can give the production that a skill player would. To get that type of production out of your defense, get one of these three defenses in your lineup.

New York Giants

The Giants have a decent fantasy defense to begin with, but their value goes up a notch or two with their Week 1 matchup against the Washington Redskins.

With Rex Grossman at quarterback, the Giants' defensive backs will have an opportunity to make some plays on the ball. Helping matters will be a pass rush that will make it a long day for Grossman.

Defenses playing the Redskins having success will be a theme of the fantasy season beyond just Week 1.

Seattle Seahawks

Unlike the Giants, the Seahawks will not have a good fantasy defense for the rest of the season. What makes them a good fantasy play in Week 1 is their matchup with the San Francisco 49ers.

The 49ers very well may end up with the worst offense in the NFL. They undoubtedly have the worst quarterback situation in the league. Outside of Frank Gore, they really have very little going for them on that side of the ball.

The Seahawks have few playmakers on the defensive side of the ball, but that won't matter on Sunday. Seattle's defense will score you big points.

Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals defense will be a good play this Sunday when they take on the Carolina Panthers, led by rookie quarterback Cam Newton.

The Cardinals are another team that won't be worth starting more often than not, but expect them to be all over Newton.

Newton struggled with his accuracy in the preseason, and I wouldn't expect that to change once the regular season hits.

This has the feel of a multi-interception game for Arizona's defense.