Fantasy Football Week 5 Rankings: Ranking the Top 5 Defenses

It obviously helps to have a complete lineup each week in fantasy football, but we all have to remember that sometimes our team won't play well, thus making a loss more plausible.

However, if you are able to have the highest (or one of the highest) scoring defenses each week, you increase your shot at winning by quite a bit.

In addition, the defense may make up for some points that your offensive players fail to account for.

So with that said, here are Week 5's top five defenses.

5. New York Giants (vs Seattle Seahawks)

Although Giants' defensive end Justin Tuck most likely won't suit up, the New York Giants still have a very favorable matchup this week.

For one, the game is at home and the Seattle Seahawks have been outscored 57-17 in their two road games this year.

Also, The Big Blue Wrecking Crew has been on a roll since their Week 1 loss to the Washington Redskins and don't appear to be stopping.

The Giants aren't going to get you all the sexy points from turnovers, blocks and touchdowns, but they will get sacks and limit a weak Seattle offense in scoring opportunities.

4. Indianapolis Colts (vs Kansas City Chiefs)

The past two weeks, the Indianapolis Colts have been riding their defense into some very close games.

This week, however, the Colts will get their first win thanks to the defense (despite all their injuries), as they will keep getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Kansas City's Matt Cassel will be their newest victim.

Defensive end Dwight Freeney will force a fumble or two and Indy will get at least one defensive score, and they will only allow 10 point to the visiting Chiefs.

3. Tennessee Titans (at Pittsburgh Steelers)

Even though safety Chris Hope is out, the Tennessee Titans still have a top-ten defense and the Pittsburgh Steelers still have a very susceptible offensive line.

However, the Titans need not blitz too much, as Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger won't be 100 percent. They'll need to devote more defenders to coverage to stop Pittsburgh's offensive strength, which is its passing game.

With Hope out Pittsburgh will score a touchdown or two through the air, but Big Ben will also toss a couple picks and get sacked at least twice en route to a loss at home for the Steelers.

2. Detroit Lions (vs Chicago Bears)

The bad news is that rookie defensive tackle Nick Fairley is still out, but the good news for Detroit is that they're 4-0 and still have a solidly improving defense.

As for the Bears, quarterback Jay Cutler continues to under-perform and although running back Matt Forte has been great, he is the entire Chicago offense.

So, if Detroit can shut down Forte, they will shut down the Bears.

Also, the Lions know how to score on defense, as evidenced by the Dallas game.

In addition, Chicago won't be able to keep up with Detroit's offense, and the Lions will not only win, but they will force five turnovers and really put The Windy City on the NFC North back-burner.

1. Cincinnati Bengals (at Jacksonville Jaguars)

This week's game between the Bengals and Jaguars will be fun to watch in the trenches, because Cincy has the seventh-ranked rush defense while the Jags have the seventh-ranked rush offense.

However, the Bengals also have the league's third-ranked pass defense whereas Jacksonville ranks dead last in passing offense.

So, expect the Bengals to keep seven or eight in the box and blitz all game, forcing Jacksonville to throw the ball.

It's a battle of rookie quarterbacks between Blaine Gabbert (Jaguars) and Andy Dalton (Bengals), but Gabbert will get dismantled by Cincinnati's defense, as they will prove to be the much better unit.

Jacksonville running back Maurice Jones-Drew will have an average day at best, and Cincy will force four turnovers in addition to sacking Gabbert five times.

Be sure to check out John on Bleacher Report.

And, you can follow him on Twitter @ Sportswriter27.