Fantasy Football Week 2 Defense Rankings: Browns take a hit, Cardinals slip, Seahawks a dark horse

Determining which defenses to target each week in fantasy football is largely based on matchups. The best strategy is to pick a unit that has turned in excellent performances while also playing against a favorable opponent.

The Cleveland Browns have taken a step back in Week 2 after a disappointing performance last week. The Arizona Cardinals have also lost some of their value after getting torched by the Buffalo Bills last week. They also have a difficult Week 2 matchup with the Los Angeles Rams' high-powered offense, making them a fade for fantasy lineups.

The Seattle Seahawks are in the opposite situation this week after finishing among the top ten defenses in Week 1 and getting a favorable matchup with the New England Patriots' weak offense. Here's where they stand among the Week 2 defense rankings.

Fantasy Football Week 2 defense rankings

Week 2 DST

#10: New England Patriots

The New England Patriots defense is one of the biggest Week 2 sleepers in fantasy football. They ranked as the DST7 in Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals on the road and now they get a better matchup at home against the Seattle Seahawks.

#9: Kansas City Chiefs

The Bengals severely struggled to get any offense going against the Patriots last week. The Kansas City Chiefs ranked as just DST23 in a difficult matchup with the Baltimore Ravens last week, but Week 2 is much more favorable for them.

#8: San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers recorded just one sack and one interception last week, but that was against Aaron Rodgers. A matchup against Sam Darnold should give them more opportunities to score fantasy football points.

#7: New York Jets

The New York Jets sacked Brock Purdy three times last week, but they gave up way too many points for a strong fantasy football performance. They are still one of the most talented units and get a strong matchup against the Tennessee Titans.

#6: Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks impressively finished as the DST10 in fantasy football last week in a favorable matchup against the Denver Broncos. They get another attractive matchup in Week 2 against the Patriots.

#5: Indianapolis Colts

Facing off against the Green Bay Packers is usually a poor matchup for fantasy football defenses, but Week 2 is a different situation. Jordan Love was injured last week and will be replaced by Malik Willis, making the Indianapolis Colts an excellent streamer.

#4: Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers stepped up in a big way to finish as the DST6 against a talented Atlanta Falcons offense. Their relentless pass rush makes them one of the best defenses to target in Week 2 against the Denver Broncos and rookie quarterback Bo Nix.

#3: Los Angeles Chargers

The Los Angeles Chargers opened their 2024 season with an impressive DST4 finish. They are likely to keep it rolling in Week 2 against the Carolina Panthers, the best overall matchup for fantasy defenses.

#2: Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys impressively recorded six sacks and two interceptions in Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns. While the New Orleans Saints were offensively dominant last week, facing the Cowboys is a much different situation than playing against the Panthers.

#1: Baltimore Ravens

The Ravnes' defense had a disappointing start to their 2024 season, finishing as just the DST20. That was against the Chiefs, one of the best offenses in the NFL, but a matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders this week gives them a good chance to get back on track.

Here are the full DST rankings for Week 2 of the 2024 fantasy football season:

Rank	Team	Opponent
1	Ravens	Raiders
2	Cowboys	Saints
3	Chargers	Panthers
4	Steelers	Broncos
5	Colts	Packers
6	Seahawks	Patriots
7	Jets	Titans
8	49ers	Vikings
9	Chiefs	Bengals
10	Patriots	Seahawks
11	Commanders	Giants
12	Broncos	Steelers
13	Jaguars	Browns
14	Texans	Bears
15	Bills	Dolphins
16	Browns	Jaguars
17	Eagles	Falcons
18	Lions	Buccaneers
19	Titans	Jets
20	Falcons	Eagles
21	Buccaneers	Lions
22	Cardinals	Rams
23	Bears	Texans
24	Dolphins	Bills
25	Rams	Cardinals
26	Packers	Colts
27	Bengals	Chiefs
28	Vikings	49ers
29	Giants	Commanders
30	Saints	Cowboys
31	Raiders	Ravens
32	Panthers	Chargers