The rest of the AFC West should be afraid. Terrified. Aghast, even.
Because the Soul Patrol is back, baby!
For those of you who aren’t old and decrepit like this hack, the Soul Patrol was the nickname given to the Jack Tatum-led defenses of the 1970s in Oakland. And three weeks into the 2026 season, no defense in the AFC has more fantasy points than Maxx Crosby and the 3-0 Las Vegas Raiders.
Just one year ago, the Raiders fielded one of the worst defenses in the league. But under first-year head coach Klint Kubiak and defensive coordinator Rob Leonard, the Raiders have been respectable—the Silver and Black ranks 12th in total defense and seventh in scoring defense.
The Raiders have also been racking up big plays—three games in, the Raiders are one of five NFL teams who have double-digit sacks. The Raiders’ nine takeaways lead the league.
Now to be fair, we haven’t exactly seen the Raiders play a Murderer’s Row of opponents—the Los Angeles Chargers, Arizona Cardinals and New Orleans Saints are a combined 2-4. And fantasy managers willing to roll Vegas out this week at home against the red-hot Kansas City Chiefs are straddling the line between brave and insane. And the schedule over the next month is probably going to mean the party’s over.
But it was quite the unexpectedly enjoyable soiree—and with matchup defenses that’s all fantasy managers can ask.
THE NO-DOUBTERS
Minnesota Vikings (vs. Miami Dolphins)
After three weeks, the Minnesota Vikings are the kings of fantasy defenses. The Vikings lead the league in scoring defense at just 12 points per game, have an NFL-high 14 sacks and sit third in the league in takeaways. This week, Brian Flores’ wildly aggressive unit hosts a Miami Dolphins team that could legitimately go 0-17. The Dolphins are tied for last in the league in scoring at a whopping 12 points per game, and Miami’s lone real offensive weapon (running back De’Von Achane) just went down with an ACL tear.
Seattle Seahawks (vs. Los Angeles Chargers)
The Seahawks were the seventh-ranked fantasy defense after two weeks and appeared to have a dream matchup last Sunday with a Washington Commanders team starting their backup quarterback. What happened next was—unexpected. But Seattle was done in in Week 3 more by ill-timed mistakes than a poor defensive outing, and now they return home to face a winless Chargers team that is floundering offensively. Take a breath—an angry Seattle defense is going to take your frustration out on the Bolts along with their own.
Pittsburgh Steelers (at Cleveland Browns)
The Steelers started the season hot defensively—T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith got after the quarterback, the Steelers piled up big plays and the fantasy points followed. Things cooled last week against Joe Burrow and the Bengals, but look for the Steelers to get back on track Thursday night in Cleveland. The Browns may be 2-1, but the team has been inconsistent offensively, Deshaun Watson has been dropped nine times in three games, and the Browns have been a top-10 fantasy matchup for opposing defenses dating back to 2025.
Cleveland Browns (vs. Pittsburgh Steelers)
Fun fact—the Cleveland Browns have lost just one of their last eight home games against the Steelers. Fun fact No. 2—the Steelers have been a favorable fantasy matchup for defenses so far this season, surrendering the fifth-most fantasy points per game to the position. The Browns aren’t quite as good defensively as they were a year ago, but the team has rebounded nicely after a miserable Week 1 in Jacksonville. Points are going to be at a premium on Thursday night.
Kansas City Chiefs (at Las Vegas Raiders)
This one’s dicey enough that it maybe should be a streamer more than a sure thing (Word salad alert!). But the Chiefs have played excellent defense in two of their three games, and Steve Spagnuolo is one of the best defensive coordinators in the league. This is going to be the stiffest test the 3-0 Raiders have faced and then some. If the Raiders’ struggles in the run game continue (just 100 yards a game) and Kirk Cousins has to try to outduel Patrick Mahomes, Spags will heat Cousins up. Cousins is many things. Mobile is not one of them.
STREAMERS OF THE WORLD, UNITE!
Baltimore Ravens (vs. Tennessee Titans)
The Baltimore defense was supposed to be much-improved in 2026. The Ravens may be 2-1, but it’s more in spite of that defense than because of it—Baltimore is allowing almost 31 points and 400 yards of offense per game. Of course, that came against actual NFL offenses, and the Tennessee Titans qualify as one in name only. No team in the AFC has gained fewer yards per game this season. Only two teams are averaging fewer points per game. If ever there was a “get right” spot, this is it.
Buffalo Bills (vs. New England Patriots)
To be clear, while the Bills may be 3-0, Buffalo’s defense has not played especially well in many respects this year—the Bills are 24th in the league in total defense and have allowed 26 points per game. But the New England Patriots are a dysfunctional mess on offense. The offensive line is getting pushed around. The receivers can’t get open. And quarterback Drake Maye is a turnover machine dating back to last year’s postseason. The Patriots are fifth in fantasy points per game allowed to defenses this year.
Chicago Bears (vs. New York Jets)
The fantasy production of the Chicago defense has quietly been improving—a unit that didn’t look great in Week 1 at Carolina just positively put the clamps on an undefeated Philadelphia Eagles team at Soldier Field Monday night. The Jets have looked improved offensively with Geno Smith at quarterback, but last week’s numbers were inflated by Detroit’s decision that playing defense is stupid. The Bears are a top-10 fantasy defense for the season—and a top-10 fantasy defense in Week 4.
Green Bay Packers (at Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
It might seem strange to see the Packers listed here. After all, the last time we saw the Pack, they were giving up all the rushing yards ever to the Atlanta Falcons. The Packers had an OK fantasy outing in Week 2 against the Jets, but that was sandwiched inside two clunkers. But this week the Packers head south to take on a Buccaneers team that was one of the best fantasy matchups for defenses this season before Baker Mayfield got hurt. Now, Tampa will likely be rolling out an undrafted rookie under center.
New Orleans Saints (vs. Atlanta Falcons)
Feeling froggy in Week 4? Playing in a league with a bunch of defense-hoarding jerkfaces? Well, if you’re at the end of your rope, the Saints are the defense for you. New Orleans hasn’t played very well defensively this year, and the Falcons may have found a winning formula last week—play football like it’s 1956. But this is also a Saints team that beat the Ravens in Baltimore two weeks ago facing a Falcons team that has given up the second-most fantasy points to defenses in 2026.
CAVEAT EMPTOR, FOLKS
Denver Broncos (at San Francisco 49ers)
Despite an absolutely brutal schedule out of the gate (at Kansas City and home against the Jaguars and Rams) the Denver defense is back in the top 10 in fantasy points—the Broncos shook off a disastrous opener at Arrowhead to shut down two potent offenses in the second half. Were this game at Mile High, this writer might just go ahead and roll Denver out. But it’s in Santa Clara against a 49ers offense that has scored 98 points in three games despite numerous injuries on offense.
Jacksonville Jaguars (at Cincinnati Bengals)
After something of a letdown game on the road in Denver in Week 2, the Jaguars posted their second dominant defensive performance in three weeks against the Patriots Sunday, logging three sacks and three takeaways while allowing just six points. But for whatever reason, the Jaguars just aren’t the same team away from EverBank Stadium, and last week the Cincinnati offense handed Pittsburgh’s defense their worst fantasy effort of the season. Not saying to drop the Jags necessarily. But if you start them, temper expectations.
Gary Davenport is a two-time Fantasy Sports Writers Association Football Writer of the Year. Follow Gary on X at @IDPGodfather.
