Your guide to drafting fantasy football D/ST in 2025

New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II (97) runs out of the tunnel prior to the start of the game between the New York Giants and the Washington Commanders at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024.

Reliability.

It's a word that often comes up when purchasing a car or even when you're about to draft a defense/special teams (D/ST) unit in fantasy football. After all, a broken-down vehicle on the side of the road is still a problem – even if it has all the bells and whistles. In the same vein, you wouldn't want to leave your draft with players like Josh Allen and Saquon Barkley only to be saddled with the Carolina Panthers' defense, right?

If you're in the process of crushing your fantasy draft, or even just preparing for one, it's important not to let the little things drag you down. Just as you'd change the oil and air filters on your vehicle, you'll want to secure a solid defense that won't cause bigger issues down the road if left unattended.

D/ST may not be glamorous, but it's honest work – and a thankless job. The Denver Broncos' D/ST returns to the top spot in 2025, but keep an eye on teams like the New York Giants further down the rankings for their sleeper potential.

The rankings will undoubtedly change as the season rolls along, but we're here to get you started.

Some weeks, it may just be the reason why you win. The important thing is that we don't want it to be the reason why you lose.

That's why we've compiled our 2025 D/ST rankings in one place to serve as your draft guide to the position. Here's a breakdown for drafting fantasy defenses as the Week 1 kickoff inches closer.

2025 Fantasy football rankings D/ST

1. Denver Broncos. Despite a difficult division and a middle-of-the-road schedule, the Broncos maintain their hold on the top spot until proven otherwise. They were fantasy's best unit in 2024 and added talent in the offseason. With the Titans and Colts on tap to start the season, Denver can get out to a hot start. Couple that with a favorable schedule for the fantasy playoffs, including two matchups at home, and there is a recipe for success.

2. Houston Texans. The Texans benefit from playing in a division that will feature a rookie quarterback in Tennessee and a situation in Indianapolis that will have defensive coordinators salivating. An aggressive DeMeco Ryans defense should only make life more difficult, especially after adding C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the fold. They can challenge for the best fantasy D/ST of 2025.

3. Philadelphia Eagles. Philly lost Milton Williams, Josh Sweat and Darius Slay, but is littered with talent across the board. After a dominant Super Bowl performance, there is more than enough here to continue their strong play.

4. Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens are the fast food of the fantasy D/ST realm. It's consistent and you know exactly what you're getting. Sometimes they're better than expected, but it's never bad enough to prevent you from coming back. That counts for something.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers. Another fantasy staple, Pittsburgh has gone all-in for 2025. T.J. Watt's contract dispute ended before it became an issue and the secondary got an upgrade in Jalen Ramsey. Coming off another top-5 finish in 2024, this remains one of the more consistent units to trust in fantasy.

6. Minnesota Vikings. Brian Flores runs an aggressive defense, but J.J. McCarthy's inexperience as a starter could put this unit in some tough spots this season. Some key departures mean they're likely to take a step back, but not by much. Still, this isn't a D/ST for the risk-averse.

7. Buffalo Bills. The Bills are favored in every game of the 2025 season, meaning they should have plenty of positive game scripts to work with. After forcing 32 turnovers last season, there is no reason to believe a repeat isn't in store, especially since the Bills are no strangers to repeating history.

8. Seattle Seahawks. This team is almost unrecognizable, resembling a group thrown together by the computer in the fifth season of a Madden franchise mode. Yet that is more on the offensive side of the ball as Mike Macdonald's team finished as DST6 in 2024. Having added even more pieces this offseason, things are looking up on young Macdonald's farm.

9. New York Jets. The Jets defense took a step back in 2024, but should benefit from the return of Jermaine Johnson and the addition of Aaron Glenn as head coach. With a team that projects to run the ball and control the clock, their defense should be on the field a lot less in 2025 – creating an all-around more effective unit, even with the question mark that is their offense.

10. Detroit Lions. Despite a lengthy list of injuries in 2024, the Lions still managed a DST10 finish to the season. With new coordinators on both sides of the ball, however, some concerns arise. The reinforcements on the way, especially the return of Aidan Hutchinson, should make the transition smoother though.

11. Los Angeles Rams. The linebackers are an issue, but the Rams looked like a Super Bowl contender last season and have more than enough in the trenches to continue being a problem for the opposition.

12. Green Bay Packers. There is no real weakness in this defense, but they were fairly reliant on turnovers for their fantasy production in 2024. While a team like the Bills worked to address their pass rush concerns, the Packers face the reality of playing in a tougher division with a less-dominant offense. They are still a worthy selection, but it comes with its risks.

13. New York Giants. Big Blue has sleeper potential in 2025, boasting a pass rush that promises to inflict pain and suffering on opposing quarterbacks with Brian Burns and Abdul Carter off the edge. Russell Wilson won't put them in a bad spot with costly turnovers either, boosting the floor for what could be a sneaky good defense. There's a real chance you can get this potential top-10 unit at a significant discount.

14. Los Angeles Chargers. Jesse Minter appears to be on the fast track to landing a head coaching job in the near future and it's all thanks to a solid defense. They'll need some progression from their young players in the secondary and production from Khalil Mack, but they can be on the rise throughout the season if things break right.

15. Kansas City Chiefs. Another year older and plagued by a tough 2024 fantasy season, it's hard to get on the Chiefs' bandwagon when it comes to their DST in fantasy. Steve Spagnuolo has done a great job of building Kansas City into a solid unit over the years, but there are better options available.

16. San Francisco 49ers. The return of Robert Saleh also brought some additional investments on defense. San Francisco spent five picks in the top 113 of the draft on defensive players and will look for a return to form in 2025.

17. Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys are hoping for a bounce-back season after parting ways with Mike McCarthy. Former Bears coach Matt Eberflus wasn't effective in the big chair, but the hope is he can find some effectiveness again as a coordinator. Dallas has the pieces in place to continue forcing turnovers and generating pressure. Provided they figure out a deal with Micah Parsons, there's no reason they can't return to being a solid fantasy option again in 2025.

18. Arizona Cardinals. A defensive-minded head coach, Jonathan Gannon had the privilege of investing six of seven picks for his unit through the draft. With improvement at all three levels and the signing of Josh Sweat, the Cardinals also feature a schedule with some good matchups early on. The narrative can change quickly for the redbirds.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

20. Cleveland Browns

21. Washington Commanders

22. New England Patriots

23. Chicago Bears

24. Atlanta Falcons

25. Cincinnati Bengals

26. Indianapolis Colts

27. New Orleans Saints

28. Miami Dolphins

29. Jacksonville Jaguars

30. Las Vegas Raiders