Which is the best defense for fantasy football? 2024 rankings explored

While fantasy football rosters often include players from every offensive skill position, they usually have an entire NFL team's defense, rather than individual players. Managers score fantasy points whenever their team's defensive unit records counting stats such as sacks, turnovers, touchdowns, and safeties.

Fantasy defenses also receive points for holding their offensive opponents to fewer points in NFL games. This makes it wise for managers to target good all-around defenses in their fantasy drafts, with a focus on units that pressure opposing quarterbacks and force turnovers. Here is the best one to target in drafts with the 2024 NFL season quickly approaching.

Which is the best defense for fantasy football in 2024?

DST rankings (image credit: Getty)

The Baltimore Ravens finished the 2023 fantasy football season as the highest-scoring defense. They did so by recording multiple sacks in 15 of their 17 games and totaling 18 interceptions, averaging more than one per game. They retained most of their defensive players during the offseason, so they should be one of the top units once again.

Despite the Ravens' defensive dominance, it's the San Francisco 49ers that currently have the top ADP of any defense for the 2024 fantasy football season. They finished in seventh place last year in total fantasy points scored, and with Nick Bosa one of the most consistent sack producers in the NFL, it makes sense why they are one of the top targets this year.

The Ravens and 49ers are excellent defenses to target this season, as are the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets. However, it's the Dallas Cowboys that take the top spot in the 2024 defense rankings for fantasy football. They have finished among the top five in each of the past three seasons, including a strong second-place finish last year.

Micah Parsons headlines the Cowboys' defense as one of the best overall pass rushers in the NFL. Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland have each turned in seasons with the most interceptions in the league, so the Cowboys' defense has an ideal combination of rushing the passer and forcing turnovers. They are the best defense to target in fantasy drafts for the 2024 season.

Defense rankings for 2024 fantasy football

1. Dallas Cowboys
2. Baltimore Ravens
3. San Francisco 49ers
4. New York Jets
5. Cleveland Browns
6. Kansas City Chiefs
7. Houston Texans
8. Pittsburgh Steelers
9. Buffalo Bills
10. Miami Dolphins
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
12. Philadelphia Eagles
13. New Orleans Saints
14. Chicago Bears
15. Las Vegas Raiders
16. Atlanta Falcons
17. Los Angeles Chargers
18. Detroit Lions
19. Cincinnati Bengals
20. Indianapolis Colts
21. New York Giants
22. Jacksonville Jaguars
23. Seattle Seahawks
24. New England Patriots
25. Denver Broncos
26. Green Bay Packers
27. Minnesota Vikings
28. Los Angeles Rams
29. Washington Commanders
30. Arizona Cardinals
31. Tennessee Titans
32. Carolina Panthers