Do you have a fantasy football draft to prepare for? A great way to get ready is to use our FREE mock draft simulator! Beyond that, you can check out our Expert Consensus Rankings to see where fantasy football analysts feel you should be selecting players. Below our analysts share their 2023 fantasy football rankings and player notes for defenses.
You can find our expert consensus rankings here. And here’s our fantasy football ADP.
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- Fantasy Football Draft Strategy
- 2023 Fantasy Football Draft Kit
2023 Fantasy Football Draft Rankings: Defenses (DST)
2023 Fantasy Football Players Notes
Andrew Erickson shares his fantasy football player notes for a few defenses.
San Francisco 49ers
Arguably the NFL’s best real-life defense, the 49ers DST was awesome in 2022. They finished 3rd overall in points scored and in takeaways per game. Even with the loss of DC DeMeco Ryans, I don’t think this unit takes a step back based on their personnel. If anything their strengths as a top-end run-stuffing defense will force teams to air the ball out, leading to more sacks/turnovers etc. The schedule is also very favorable to open the year with matchups at Pittsburgh, at the Rams, home versus the Giants and home versus the Cardinals.
New England Patriots
New England was fantasy football’s No. 1 DST last season, but there is strong evidence that they are overvalued as the DST4 in 2023. Their schedule is BRUTAL. The Patriots have the toughest schedule based on Vegas’ forecasted win totals. It’s a tough scene for the once every-year AFC East champions, that find themselves at the bottom looking up at the rest of their division. Things start tough right off the bat, with a home opener versus the Eagles, followed by matchups versus the Dolphins (primetime) and Aaron Rodgers-led Jets in New York. They close the first month of the year in Dallas. Woof.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Per FantasyPros’ strength of schedule tool, the Jaguars are tied with three other teams (Titans, Browns, Falcons) with the No. 1 SOS for fantasy DSTs. As heavy favorites to win the AFC South, expect the Jaguars to play with leads and generate turnovers as teams try to climb back in games. Keep in mind that last year, they were the 6th-highest scoring DST after finishing 3rd in total pressures. They are a perfect streaming option in Week 1, as they take on the Indianapolis Colts on the road. Jacksonville ranked third in points scored from Week 9 onward last season.
What is Fantasy Football?
Fantasy football is a game that allows you to act as a virtual general manager for a football team. In fantasy football, you select and manage a team of real NFL players. The players on your team earn points for your team based on their real-life performance in games each week. These points are then totaled and compared to your opponent’s team each week to determine the winner.
At the beginning of the season, you participate in a draft with other fantasy football players. During the draft, you take turns selecting players from the NFL to add to your team. The goal is to build the best team possible with the players you select.
During the season, you can make trades with other players, pick up new players from the free agent pool, and even drop players from your team who aren’t performing well. You can also make strategic decisions each week about which players to start in your lineup.
Overall, fantasy football is a fun and exciting way to get more involved in the NFL season. It allows you to put your knowledge of the game to the test and compete with others to see who can build the best team. And with the right strategy and a bit of luck, you could be the one taking home the championship trophy at the end of the season!
Fantasy Football 101: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide
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