Week 5 Fantasy Football Rankings: Detroit Lions and Weekend's 3 Top Defenses

If you find the right defense, they can actually be one of your highest point-getters in a given week. Okay, that's dependent on your league's scoring, but defense is not something to neglect.

There are always individual matchups to play. But these are the kind of defenses that you pretty much want to play on a weekly basis.

At the very least, these teams may allow a lot of points, but also make big plays with big risks.

So, if you have any of these units on your team, activate them. The point totals will be there at week's end.

Detroit Lions

The Bears offensive line has not done a good job of keeping Jay Cutler on his feet. On the other hand, Detroit's defensive front is quite adept at getting quarterbacks off of their feet.

The Lions have returned two interceptions for scores this year, which is tied for second in the league, behind the idle Ravens.

Both of those came last week against the Cowboys, but the matchups are very similar. The Lions were facing a quarterback that often tries to do too much who was behind an offensive line that struggled to protect him.

If you really think about it, that's an identical situation to what the Bears have. It's not that I am not expecting a few big plays from the Chicago offense, because I am. But I am also expecting sacks and interceptions.

When that happens, the fantasy point totals are raised.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa Bay's first two games this year were the defense's worst, at least as it relates to fantasy. But take a look at who they faced in those two games.

Week 1: Detroit Lions and Calvin Johnson

Week 2: Minnesota Vikings and Adrian Peterson

The subsequent two weeks have been much better for the Buccaneers' defense.

While the 49ers do have something of a resurgent offense, they don't have Calvin Johnson or Adrian Peterson.

I am not predicting a Buccaneers win here, but it will be a close, low scoring game.

San Francisco 49ers

While we're on the subject of that game, let's take a look at the other defense. The 49ers have a strong red zone defense.

Their pass defense is a little prone to the big play, but they don't allow a lot of points. The two games that have given the 49ers the most trouble have been against the Cowboys and Eagles.

The Buccaneers have talented receivers, but they don't match the groups that those teams have to offer.

This game will be low scoring. Even when the 49ers were dominated by the Buccaneers in 2010, it was a relatively low scoring game.

This 49ers' team is much more capable of handling them.