Fantasy Football Week 15: Best Team Defense to Start

Rank Team PA/G PYA/G RYA/G Int Fum TD Sk Notes
1 Baltimore   Ravens 15.5  192.3  85.8  14  19  5 45 Been great except a game or two all year and have an   easy remaining schedule.
2 Houston   Texans 16.0  183.5  91.5  17  8  2 36 Losing Schaub may have made one of the best defenses   in the NFL this year even better. The Texans have to continue to play great   defense to win.
3 San   Francisco 49ers 14.0  234.5  70.5  18  16  2 31 Probably the best defense in the NFL, they only allow   14 Points per game. A little light on touchdowns though because   kickers wisely avoid their returners.
4 Pittsburgh   Steelers 15.2  179.1  97.0  10  5  1 30 Disappointing on turnovers but otherwise solid.
5 Detroit   Lions 23.5  209.1  136.1  18  15  10 35 Leads NFL in Defensive Touchdowns, but gave up   28 points to Vikings' without Adrian Peterson.  Face Packers during   final week so watch out.
6 Chicago   Bears 19.6  256.5  101.7  17  10  7 29 Great schedule other than Packers next week.
7 Green   Bay Packers 21.4  288.5  106.0  27  9  9 27 Great schedule now that division rivals are banged   up.
8 New   York Jets 20.8  200.8  109.2  15  13  4 29 They have managed to win eight games so far and it is not   because of their offense.
9 Philadelphia   Eagles 22.5  218.9  115.1  12  7  4 42 Not living up to expectations but still a better than   average defense when their offense can hold on to the ball for some time.
10 Atlanta   Falcons 20.5  241.3  95.2  13  8  2 25 Good defense but you are not going to want to play it   against New Orleans, at home, next Week.
Rank Team PA/G PYA/G RYA/G Int Fum TD Sk Notes
11 Denver   Broncos 23.2  232.9  124.2  9  10  6 37 Have stepped it up big time to help propel the Tim   Tebow led Broncos into first in their division.
12 New   York Giants 26.8  263.7  127.9  15  9  1 36 Offense has been better than expected, but still a   solid fantasy start.
13 Jacksonville   Jaguars 19.4  190.8  111.5  13  13  3 26 Continue to impress on the defensive side of the   ball.  Probably would give up more points if their offense was better,   good schedule for more turnovers.  Just a bad game against the tough Falcons last Thursday down one of their best defensive Cornerbacks.
14 Buffalo   Bills 26.2  232.8  130.7  16  6  7 19 Started out the year hot with turnovers but have   cooled considerably with injuries.
15 Dallas   Cowboys 21.6  243.2  101.2  15  10  2 35 Have not been the same with injuries to key players   but still playing well at times.
16 Kansas   City Chiefs 23.5  209.3  132.5  17  9  4 23 They cannot score on offense so defense has to keep   them in games.
17 Cincinnati   Bengals 20.8  214.8  100.0  7  15  4 36 Not as good as it once was, the Bengals still enjoy   opponents who have struggled to be as consistent on offense as defense.
18 Cleveland   Browns 19.5  180.7  150.9  7  13  0 25 Very likely to finish the season with some low   scoring games. Playing playoff bound opponents who will want to rest their   best players against bad team.
19 Seattle   Seahawks 19.9  230.8  104.3  17  8  4 25 Have turned it around defensively after starting as one   of the worst in the NFL.
20 Tennessee   Titans 19.3  240.4  121.8  10  12  2 24 Has not been great but faces Colts, Jaguars, and most   likely the resting Texans.
Rank Team PA/G PYA/G RYA/G Int Fum TD Sk Notes
21 San   Diego Chargers 23.0  201.5  128.9  14  6  3 22 Seem to not be turning it over on offense less. Face struggling teams the rest of the season.
22 Miami   Dolphins 18.9  244.2  89.9  10  6  2 32 New England would be crazy not to rest their players   next week against the struggling Dolphins.
23 Washington   Redskins 22.3  219.8  113.6  9  13  2 34 Nothing special but opponents generally do not have   to score a lot to beat them.
24 New   Orleans Saints 22.0  268.0  110.3  7  12  3 27 Offense scores too much to be a great fantasy start   most weeks.
25 New   England Patriots 21.1  308.7  107.3  18  6  3 29 Still one of the worst in the NFL but check out their   schedule: at the Broncos, followed by the Dolphins and Bills at home.
26 Arizona   Cardinals 22.2  242.8  117.2  9  7  0 34 Not very good but great remaining games against the   Browns, Bengals and Seahawks.
27 St.   Louis Rams 25.1  208.8  156.8  10  11  2 35 Looking a little better but the Seahawks are not very   good anyways.
28 Oakland   Raiders 27.2  233.7  141.0  15  5  0 27 Really struggling but face the Chiefs next week.
29 Carolina   Panthers 27.3  236.5  128.9  10  8  0 26 One of the worst defenses in the NFL. Hopefully they   can rebuild their defense like the Jaguars or the Texans to win a few more games   next year.
30 Minnesota   Vikings 28.0  248.8  101.4  6  12  0 40 Have not been good all year, no reason to believe   they will start any time this year.
31 Tampa   Bay Buccaneers 28.5  248.8  139.7  13  10  4 20 Have totally collapsed with their offense, only   hope is that it will not get worse.
32 Indianapolis   Colts 29.4  240.5  144.3  6  10  3 21 No reason to start in most formats.
Rank	Team	PA/G	PYA/G	RYA/G	Int	Fum	TD	Sk	Notes
1	Baltimore Ravens	15.5	192.3	85.8	14	19	5	45	Been great except a game or two all year and have an easy remaining schedule.
2	Houston Texans	16.0	183.5	91.5	17	8	2	36	Losing Schaub may have made one of the best defenses in the NFL this year even better. The Texans have to continue to play great defense to win.
3	San Francisco 49ers	14.0	234.5	70.5	18	16	2	31	Probably the best defense in the NFL, they only allow 14 Points per game. A little light on touchdowns though because kickers wisely avoid their returners.
4	Pittsburgh Steelers	15.2	179.1	97.0	10	5	1	30	Disappointing on turnovers but otherwise solid.
5	Detroit Lions	23.5	209.1	136.1	18	15	10	35	Leads NFL in Defensive Touchdowns, but gave up 28 points to Vikings' without Adrian Peterson. Face Packers during final week so watch out.
6	Chicago Bears	19.6	256.5	101.7	17	10	7	29	Great schedule other than Packers next week.
7	Green Bay Packers	21.4	288.5	106.0	27	9	9	27	Great schedule now that division rivals are banged up.
8	New York Jets	20.8	200.8	109.2	15	13	4	29	They have managed to win eight games so far and it is not because of their offense.
9	Philadelphia Eagles	22.5	218.9	115.1	12	7	4	42	Not living up to expectations but still a better than average defense when their offense can hold on to the ball for some time.
10	Atlanta Falcons	20.5	241.3	95.2	13	8	2	25	Good defense but you are not going to want to play it against New Orleans, at home, next Week.
Rank	Team	PA/G	PYA/G	RYA/G	Int	Fum	TD	Sk	Notes
11	Denver Broncos	23.2	232.9	124.2	9	10	6	37	Have stepped it up big time to help propel the Tim Tebow led Broncos into first in their division.
12	New York Giants	26.8	263.7	127.9	15	9	1	36	Offense has been better than expected, but still a solid fantasy start.
13	Jacksonville Jaguars	19.4	190.8	111.5	13	13	3	26	Continue to impress on the defensive side of the ball. Probably would give up more points if their offense was better, good schedule for more turnovers. Just a bad game against the tough Falcons last Thursday down one of their best defensive Cornerbacks.
14	Buffalo Bills	26.2	232.8	130.7	16	6	7	19	Started out the year hot with turnovers but have cooled considerably with injuries.
15	Dallas Cowboys	21.6	243.2	101.2	15	10	2	35	Have not been the same with injuries to key players but still playing well at times.
16	Kansas City Chiefs	23.5	209.3	132.5	17	9	4	23	They cannot score on offense so defense has to keep them in games.
17	Cincinnati Bengals	20.8	214.8	100.0	7	15	4	36	Not as good as it once was, the Bengals still enjoy opponents who have struggled to be as consistent on offense as defense.
18	Cleveland Browns	19.5	180.7	150.9	7	13	0	25	Very likely to finish the season with some low scoring games. Playing playoff bound opponents who will want to rest their best players against bad team.
19	Seattle Seahawks	19.9	230.8	104.3	17	8	4	25	Have turned it around defensively after starting as one of the worst in the NFL.
20	Tennessee Titans	19.3	240.4	121.8	10	12	2	24	Has not been great but faces Colts, Jaguars, and most likely the resting Texans.
Rank	Team	PA/G	PYA/G	RYA/G	Int	Fum	TD	Sk	Notes
21	San Diego Chargers	23.0	201.5	128.9	14	6	3	22	Seem to not be turning it over on offense less. Face struggling teams the rest of the season.
22	Miami Dolphins	18.9	244.2	89.9	10	6	2	32	New England would be crazy not to rest their players next week against the struggling Dolphins.
23	Washington Redskins	22.3	219.8	113.6	9	13	2	34	Nothing special but opponents generally do not have to score a lot to beat them.
24	New Orleans Saints	22.0	268.0	110.3	7	12	3	27	Offense scores too much to be a great fantasy start most weeks.
25	New England Patriots	21.1	308.7	107.3	18	6	3	29	Still one of the worst in the NFL but check out their schedule: at the Broncos, followed by the Dolphins and Bills at home.
26	Arizona Cardinals	22.2	242.8	117.2	9	7	0	34	Not very good but great remaining games against the Browns, Bengals and Seahawks.
27	St. Louis Rams	25.1	208.8	156.8	10	11	2	35	Looking a little better but the Seahawks are not very good anyways.
28	Oakland Raiders	27.2	233.7	141.0	15	5	0	27	Really struggling but face the Chiefs next week.
29	Carolina Panthers	27.3	236.5	128.9	10	8	0	26	One of the worst defenses in the NFL. Hopefully they can rebuild their defense like the Jaguars or the Texans to win a few more games next year.
30	Minnesota Vikings	28.0	248.8	101.4	6	12	0	40	Have not been good all year, no reason to believe they will start any time this year.
31	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	28.5	248.8	139.7	13	10	4	20	Have totally collapsed with their offense, only hope is that it will not get worse.
32	Indianapolis Colts	29.4	240.5	144.3	6	10	3	21	No reason to start in most formats.