Confession time: This writer has a soft spot for ultra-aggressive defenses. Whether it was Buddy Ryan’s “46” in the in the 1980s with the Chicago Bears or Dick LeBeau’s “Blitzburgh” zone-blitz scheme the following decade, I love defenses that act, not react. That set the tempo for a game.
Yes, there are more recent examples, I’m old. Let me reminisce.
The most recent example would be Brian Flores’ defense in Minnesota. The Vikings don’t have constant five-man fronts like Ryan or send a safety while dropping a defensive tackle like LeBeau. Schematically, it’s a fairly straightforward setup with a 4-3 base and a lot of two-high nickel sets.
What sets the Vikings apart is Flores’ affinity for heating opposing quarterbacks up. Minnesota blitzes over 70 percent of the time—a staggering number when you consider no other team sends an extra guy over half the time. It’s not a matter of if the Vikings are coming—it’s a matter of how many.
That aggressiveness is helping fantasy managers, too. One month into the season the Vikings are fantasy’s highest-scoring defense. Minnesota is fifth in the league in total defense, seventh against both the pass and the run, first in scoring defense and sacks and tied for third in the league in takeaways.
Is that good? It sounds good.
THE NO-DOUBTERS
Minnesota Vikings (at New Orleans Saints)
If Monday night’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons is any indication, the Saints offense has problems. The team that couldn’t run the ball before Travis Etienne got hurt is lost now on the ground, and asking Tyler Shough to drop back 50 times against the Minnesota pass rush on Sunday isn’t conducive to his living to see Monday. The Saints have shown improvement at times this year, but they remain a flawed squad that has been hit hard by injuries. The Vikings will still be the top fantasy defense a week from now.
Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)
That’s right—the Jaguars are a no-doubt, lock that in fantasy start this week at home against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Jaguars are quietly second in fantasy points among defenses, and in their two games at Everbank Stadium Jacksonville has been outright dominant, outscoring two visitors (each .500 or better) 69-16. Meanwhile, the Eagles could be without Saquon Barkley. And DeVonta Smith. And Dallas Goedert. And right tackle Lane Johnson. The Eagles have, as they say, issues. Avail yourself of them.
Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Indianapolis Colts)
The Steelers have cooled off a bit defensively after a hot start to the season, but they still sit in a familiar spot—among the top-five defenses in fantasy points. The Colts have won two straight, but beating a Commanders team led by a rookie third-string quarterback doesn’t exactly impress. The biggest takeaway in Indy over the season’s first month is that Daniel Jones is about as mobile as a lamppost. Given Pittsburgh’s formidable pass rush, that’s going to be a problem for the Colts in Week 5.
Denver Broncos (at Los Angeles Chargers)
Last year’s elite defenses have demonstrated why you can’t trust a defense from one year to the next. The Broncos haven’t stumbled as badly as the Houston Texans over the first month of the season, but statistically speaking they are well off last year’s pace. With that said, the Chargers have gone from contender to tomato can—and the 0-4 Bolts have given up the second-most fantasy points to defenses this year. The Chargers are a dumpster fire. Get warm.
Chicago Bears (at Green Bay Packers)
That the Bears have remained an offensive buzzsaw despite starting three different quarterbacks in four games is garnering most of the run, and rightly so. But the last couple of weeks, the Bears have been rolling on defense as well, ranking inside the top-five in fantasy points over that span. Meanwhile, the Packers are floundering offensively, especially on the ground—the team’s 86 yards last week was a season-high. The Packers have also allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to defenses in 2026. Lambeau ain’t saving this team this time against these Bears.
Houston Texans (at Tennessee Titans)
That the Texans are 0-4 is surprising in and of itself. But the reason why is a stunner. One of the NFL’s best defenses a year ago has been a shell of that unit this year—Houston has the fifth-worst pass defense in the league and has allowed the sixth-most points per contest. But if you’ve sunk the cost and rode Houston this far despite the team barely ranking inside the top-20 in fantasy points, you can’t give up now—the Titans have next to no offense and have been kind to opposing defenses this season.
STREAMERS OF THE WORLD, UNITE!
Cincinnati Bengals (at Miami Dolphins)
The Bengals have dropped two straight, the first of which was an ugly defensive performance in Pittsburgh. But Cincinnati appears to have accomplished that which the Cowboys aspired to—the Bengals defense isn’t Ryan’s Bears (Mike Ditka just swore at me), but they have been better than last year’s mess. A top-five ranking in points for the year is born of one massive week more than their prowess, but a plus fantasy matchup in Miami gets the Bengals on the streaming radar this week. Who Dey and all that.
New York Giants (at Washington Commanders)
The Giants are somehow in first place in the NFC East despite losing starting quarterback Jaxson Dart, and the defense has played a significant role—the Giants are seventh in fantasy points at the position, and while they haven’t had any huge games they also haven’t laid any eggs. Now Big Blue heads to Washington to take on a Commanders team that can’t run the ball who will as likely as not be starting Athan Kaliakmanis at quarterback. He’s a real person. Or so I found out last Sunday.
Cleveland Browns (at New York Jets)
This Browns defense isn’t as dominant as last year, but they are rounding into shape. Take away the Week 1 debacle in Jacksonville and Cleveland has been steady—steady enough to rank inside the top-five since Week 2. Meanwhile, the Jets appear to be headed toward another Jets season—last week New York had fewer total yards than their opponent had on the ground. With Breece Hall more likely than not sitting another week (at least), the Jets are going to struggle to move the ball again. Forcing Geno Smith to take chances is good for fantasy defenses.
Dallas Cowboys (vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Remember when the Cowboys were going to be better defensively this season? Those were fun times. It’s also clearly fallacy—a month into the season the Cowboys are a bottom-10 defense in terms of yards allowed and a bottom-five defense in terms of points allowed. The thing is, this week at least, it doesn’t matter—the winless Buccaneers have surrendered more fantasy points to defenses than any team in the NFL, and Tampa will be starting an undrafted rookie under center on the road on a short week.
CAVEAT EMPTOR, FOLKS!
Seattle Seahawks (vs. San Francisco 49ers)
This is one of those matchups where the course of action is dictated by record. If your fantasy team is 2-2 or better and you have the Seahawks rostered (not like they’re sitting on waiver wires), then roll ‘em out like any other week—with the expectation that their output will be less than average. But if you have come out of the gate slow and are point-scrounging, it’s a far tougher call. Brock Purdy doesn’t get sacked. Or make many mistakes with the ball. Some people have no consideration for others.
