In contrast to Week 1, we now have data and a full-game sample size on which we can base 2025 weekly defensive rankings.
Managers tend to overlook defenses when it comes to fantasy football, but they can be the difference between winning and losing your week.
For example, anyone who played Baltimore or Buffalo D/ST in Week 1 got zero contribution to their score. Whereas teams like Denver and Indianapolis produced a double-digit performance.
As always, identifying favorable matchups is the best way to play a D/ST in fantasy. Here are our Week 2 D/ST rankings, best starts and sleepers, and some matchups to avoid.
FANTASY WEEK 2 RANKINGS: QB | RB | WR | TE | PK | Non-PPR Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Football Defense Rankings Week 2: Who to start, sit at D/ST
9/14 Update: Brock Purdy ruled out against New Orleans; the Saints' defense moved up as a result.
| RANK | TEAM | OPPONENT | |
| 1 | Denver Broncos | @ IND | |
| 2 | Pittsburgh Steelers | SEA | |
| 3 | Arizona Cardinals | CAR | |
| 4 | San Francisco 49ers | @ NO | |
| 5 | WAS | ||
| 6 | Baltimore Ravens | CLE | |
| 7 | New England Patriots | @ MIA | |
| 8 | Dallas Cowboys | NYG | ⬆️ 1 |
| 9 | Detroit Lions | CHI | |
| 10 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | @ HOU | |
| 11 | Los Angeles Rams | @ TEN | |
| 12 | @ GB | ||
| 13 | Los Angeles Chargers | @ LV | |
| 14 | Minnesota Vikings | ATL | |
| 15 | Kansas City Chiefs | PHI | |
| 16 | Cincinnati Bengals | JAX | |
| 17 | Chicago Bears | @ DET | |
| 18 | Philadelphia Eagles | @ KC | |
| 19 | Houston Texans | TB | |
| 20 | Seattle Seahawks | @ PIT | |
| 21 | Buffalo Bills | @ NYJ | |
| 22 | New York Jets | BUF | |
| 23 | Atlanta Falcons | @ MIN | |
| 24 | New Orleans Saints | SF | ⬆️ 3 |
| 25 | Carolina Panthers | @ ARI | |
| 26 | Jacksonville Jaguars | @ CIN | |
| 27 | Cleveland Browns | @ BAL | |
| 28 | Indianapolis Colts | DEN | |
| 29 | New York Giants | @ DAL | |
| 30 | Tennessee Titans | LAR | |
| 31 | Miami Dolphins | NE | |
| 32 | Las Vegas Raiders | LAC |
Who are the best fantasy defenses in Week 2?
Denver and Pittsburgh both stay near the top, even though Pittsburgh had a weird shootout with...the Jets? Anyway, that whole game felt strange, and Pittsburgh has a good defensive unit. The Seahawks' offense looked lethargic and bad in Week 1.
As for the Broncos, yes, they do have to play Daniel Jones, who had an all-time historic performance in Week 1. Wait, seriously? A historic Daniel Jones outing and a Jets offensive shootout in the same week?
Look, if Jones goes out there and balls out for the second week in a row, against Denver of all defenses, then so be it. But this is Daniel Jones we are talking about. Start Denver and be confident they can shut down the Colts.
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Who are the best fantasy defense sleepers in Week 2?
So many people are in the mindset to troll the Cowboys (especially their defense), and it's for a good reason. But they held their own against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1. They now face a New York Giants team that looked atrocious offensively in their season opener.
It's understandably difficult to start a defense that just gave up 40 points on SNF. This is especially true when they face a team in Week 2 that put up 32 points in Week 1. However, the Bills' defense is not as bad as it looked against Baltimore. You have to have a short-term memory when a defense plays a QB like Lamar Jackson. If the Jets score 30 or more points in back-to-back games, it would be the first time since 2021. The Bills' defense should bounce back in Week 2.
Defenses to avoid in Week 2 of fantasy football
The Chargers' offense looked scary good in their Week 1 game in Brazil. You should want no part of the Raiders D/ST in Week 2 against Justin Herbert.
If the Miami Dolphins let Daniel Jones have a historical performance, it's probably best to never start them again this season, barring a miracle turnaround.