Top 32 Fantasy Football Defense Rankings for 2024

It’s time to get defensive! No, not like that … I’m talking about fantasy defenses. Much like the kickers, most defenses don’t see much love in fantasy drafts until the late rounds, but a good one can still be quite valuable. The Ravens and Cowboys both scored over 170 fantasy points in 2023!

Here are my initial fantasy football rankings for every position, and now it’s time to dig a little bit deeper into each fantasy lineup position.

Defensive values can change at a moment’s notice, and some finishes might surprise you. Just look at the Raiders, who weren’t highly touted but finished seventh among defenses last season. So let’s look at the defensive rankings, as well as who some of the top values and busts are for 2024.

Saints defense (Ranked DEF10, ADP DEF14)

The Saints ranked eighth among fantasy defenses last season, and the additions of DE Chase Young and rookie CB Kool-Aid McKinstry should keep this an attractive fantasy option in 2024.

Jaguars defense (Ranked DEF13, ADP DEF18)

Jacksonville’s defense wasn’t great last season, finishing 17th in points. But adding DT Arik Armstead to improve the interior of the line, and the team added five defenders in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Packers defense (Ranked DEF22, ADP DEF16)

The Packers defense was a disappointing 21st in fantasy points last season, and it’s playing in a division that is loaded with potential offensive firepower. This unit won’t be picked in most drafts.

Patriots defense (Ranked DEF27, ADP DEF21)

The Patriots defense struggled last season, finishing 25th in fantasy points. And that was with Bill Belichick calling the shots. With no huge additions in the offseason, I don’t expect improvement.