Here is your weekly dose of defensive team rankings coming out of week 2 and heading into week 3.
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Please keep in mind, these defensive rankings are based on season points to date to give fantasy owners an idea of who the best team defense/ special teams are year to date. We do not factor in previous years scoring.
| Rank | Defense | % Owned (Yahoo) |
Pts Allow |
Sack | Sfty | Int | Fum Rec |
Def TD |
Blk Kick |
SpTm TD |
Ftsy Pts |
Week 3 |
| 1 | Baltimore | 99% | 37 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 28 | vs NE |
| 2 | Green Bay | 93% | 40 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 28 | at SEA |
| 3 | Cleveland | 10% | 51 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 26 | vs BUF |
| 4 | Houston | 97% | 17 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | at DEN |
| 5 | Chicago | 98% | 38 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | vs STL |
| 6 | Seattle | 70% | 27 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 23 | vs GB |
| 7 | New York (Jets) | 82% | 55 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 22 | at MIA |
| 8 | New England | 87% | 33 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 22 | at BAL |
| 9 | Tampa Bay | 3% | 51 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 21 | at DAL |
| 10 | Philadelphia | 96% | 33 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | at ARI |
| 11 | Washington | 10% | 63 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 20 | vs CIN |
| 12 | Atlanta | 17% | 24 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | at SD |
| 13 | Arizona | 20% | 34 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 19 | vs PHI |
| 14 | St. Louis | 2% | 49 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 18 | at CHI |
| 15 | Buffalo | 41% | 59 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16 | at CLE |
| 16 | Denver | 25% | 46 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 15 | vs HOU |
| 17 | San Diego | 11% | 24 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14 | vs ATL |
| 18 | Carolina | 1% | 43 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 | vs NYG |
| 19 | Miami | 5% | 43 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13 | vs NYJ |
| 20 | Indianapolis | 1% | 61 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13 | vs JAX |
| 21 | Pittsburgh | 96% | 35 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | at OAK |
| 22 | Detroit | 66% | 44 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | at TEN |
| 23 | San Francisco | 99% | 41 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | at MIN |
| 24 | New York (Giants) | 82% | 52 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | at CAR |
| 25 | Cincinnati | 40% | 65 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | at WAS |
| 26 | Minnesota | 8% | 46 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | vs SF |
| 27 | Dallas | 41% | 44 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | vs TB |
| 28 | New Orleans | 9% | 69 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | vs KC |
| 29 | Jacksonville | 3% | 53 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | at IND |
| 30 | Tennessee | 7% | 66 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | vs DET |
| 31 | Oakland | 18% | 57 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | vs PIT |
| 32 | Kansas City | 7% | 75 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -7 | at NO |
News and Notes about 2012 defenses
San Francisco defense -They continue to do their thing, but the 49ers just aren’t scoring big points for fantasy owners. Without INT’s, fumble recoveries, and the all important pick 6, the 49ers will continue to struggle, even though they are statistically still one of the best defenses in the NFL.
Cleveland Browns defense -The surprising Cleveland Browns defense is still in the top 3 in fantasy scoring for 2012 at 26, and they get to face the Buffalo Bills/ Ryan Fitzpatrick in week 3. If you need a solid defense for this upcoming Sunday, the Browns should be one of your first pickups as they have the opportunity for multiple INT’s, and even a pick 6
Chicago Bears defense – The Chicago Bears have one of the more impressive defenses through the first two weeks of the seasons in the NFL, and they get the St. Louis Rams in week 3. With eight sacks, 4 interceptions, and three fumble recoveries, the Bears are an obvious must start, and don’t forget about Devin Hester, if anyone ever kicks it to him, he is always a threat to take it to the house.
That is it for this weeks defensive/ special teams rankings, if you need personalized fantasy team advice be sure to log in to the forums where our head NFL writer Mike Sherman, or I, will be happy to assist.
ARLINGTON, TX – FEBRUARY 06: Clay Matthews #52 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates with teammates Frank Zombo #58 and Daryn Colledge #73 in the final minute of the Packers 31-25 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers during Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)
