Even after losing its starting quarterback, the Seattle Seahawks defense stood up and performed in Week 1. And the Cincinnati Bengals delivered a surprise. But it’s on to Week 2, and here are the fantasy football defense and special teams rankings for the 2026 season.

It looks like there are offenses to fear in Week 2. Most notably, the Bears. So this is not the week to put the Vikings into your starting lineup. A much safer, and wiser, pick is the Eagles.

Fantasy Football standouts

The Eagles pretty much shut down the Commanders' offense in Week 1. And now they get a crack at the shaky offense of the Titans. They entered the season with big expectations, according to ESPN.

“The Vic Fangio defense should be an absolute monster,” Dan Graziano wrote. “Sure, the Jonathan Greenard pec strain is a blow to the pass rush, but he shouldn't be out too long. And the Eagles expect guys such as Moro Ojomo to contribute there in the meantime. The Eagles look like the kind of defense that can carry a transitioning offense through early-season growing pains.”

The Eagles looked the part in Week 1 against the Commanders. That’s true even though they faltered late and almost allowed the Commanders to tie the game right at the end.

But the Eagles get the Titans this week. That’s a team coming off a wretched offensive performance against the lowly Jets. Cam Ward threw for only 140 yards and got sacked three times. On the ground, the Titans managed only 68 yards on 14 carries.

The Eagles should be able to create turnovers this week. And it should be a good week for the unit.

Also rock solid are the Buccaneers. They get the awful Browns offense. Plus, a lot of the points they surrendered last week can be attributed to the turnovers of their offense. Baker Mayfield and company should be able to take care of the football and the Browns' weak defense.

Other standouts

This is a good week to settle in with the Seahawks and watch them work. This unit is expected to be elite many weeks in 2026. And this is one of those weeks.

The players believe in themselves, according to Seahawks.com.

“I think just going into Year 3, we are just really more connected,” veteran defensive tackle Jarran Reed said. “I think we are more focused than ever. A lot of people always try to bring up the Super Bowl and all that, but literally nobody talks about it. We don't bring it up. We just worry about the day that we are in, the present that we're in, and we just attack the day.”

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Another safe pick is the 49ers. However, there’s a word of caution. The Dolphins are unlikely to drop back 50 times and pass the ball. That’s true even if they fall behind. So the 49ers will have to make hay on forced fumbles, tackles for loss, and holding down points. But those are still good possibilities.

Fantasy Football sleepers

The Jaguars looked the part in Week 1. Yes, it came against the lowly Browns. And we’re going to buy into them since it’s early in the season.

The Jaguars have a basic approach that should serve them well against a Broncos team that got embarrassed by the Chiefs in Week 1. Head coach Liam Coen said the defense can be aggressive when needed, according to the team’s YouTube page via roundtable.io.

“We're remaining true to our core. I mean,” Coen said. “Have our eyes on the quarterback. Get tips and overthrows. Be able to cause some of those tight window throws that zone coverage can do, and can be challenging on any quarterback.

“But also knowing that, hey, man, there's times where we might need to go and challenge these guys and be able to get up in there. It's always that balance.”

Another sleeper unit is the Packers. Yes, they didn’t hold up against the Vikings. And that team had a shaky veteran at quarterback. And yes, they miss Micah Parsons pretty badly. But this is a proud team, and they should be able to disrupt the Jets’ offense and make big plays.

Also while the Cowboys turned in a big dud against the Giants, this week should be much different. Look for a possible pick-six. Also, there’s a chance Kavontae Turpin makes a house call on a punt or kickoff return.

Fantasy Football Week 2 Defense Rankings

1. Philadelphia Eagles (PHI) at TEN
2. Los Angeles Chargers (LAC) vs. LV
3. San Francisco 49ers (SF) vs. MIA
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (TB) vs. CLE
5. Seattle Seahawks (SEA) at ARI
6. Baltimore Ravens (BAL) vs. NO
7. Jacksonville Jaguars (JAC) at DEN
8. Green Bay Packers (GB) vs. NYJ
9. Pittsburgh Steelers (PIT) at NE
10. Denver Broncos (DEN) vs. JAC
11. Houston Texans (HOU) vs. CIN
12. New England Patriots (NE) vs. PIT
13. Los Angeles Rams (LAR) vs. NYG
14. Dallas Cowboys (DAL) vs. WAS
15. Las Vegas Raiders (LV) at LAC