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Position Rankings · 2026
UpdatedFantasy Defense Rankings 2026
Top 32 defenses for the 2026 NFL fantasy football season, refreshed daily from live NFL stats.
The top fantasy defense for 2026 is Minnesota Vikings (10.9 PPG), followed by Pittsburgh Steelers and Jacksonville Jaguars. Rankings are ordered by half-PPR points per game and refresh daily. Defenses record no receptions, so this order is identical in PPR, half-PPR, and standard leagues.
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| # | Player | Team | Half-PPR | GP | Bye | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 18.6 to 10.9 PPG | ||||||
| 1 | Minnesota Vikings | MIN | 10.9 | 7 | 6 | |
| 2 | Pittsburgh Steelers | PIT | 9.4 | 8 | 9 | |
| 3 | Jacksonville Jaguars | JAX | 9.0 | 8 | 7 | |
| 4 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | TB | 8.6 | 8 | 10 | |
| Tier 25.7 to 7.6 PPG | ||||||
| 5 | Cincinnati Bengals | CIN | 7.6 | 7 | 6 | |
| 6 | Seattle Seahawks | SEA | 7.1 | 8 | 11 | |
| 7 | Green Bay Packers | GB | 7.0 | 8 | 11 | |
| 8 | Denver Broncos | DEN | 6.9 | 8 | 10 | |
| 9 | Chicago Bears | CHI | 6.5 | 8 | 10 | |
| 10 | Tennessee Titans | TEN | 6.1 | 8 | 9 | |
| 11 | Kansas City Chiefs | KC | 6.0 | 7 | 5 | |
| 12 | Cleveland Browns | CLE | 5.9 | 8 | 11 | |
| 13 | New England Patriots | NE | 5.9 | 8 | 11 | |
| 14 | Las Vegas Raiders | LV | 5.8 | 8 | 13 | |
| 15 | Washington Commanders | WAS | 5.7 | 7 | 7 | |
| Tier 34.1 to 5.1 PPG | ||||||
| 16 | Carolina Panthers | CAR | 5.1 | 7 | 5 | |
| 17 | Houston Texans | HOU | 5.1 | 7 | 8 | |
| 18 | New York Giants | NYG | 5.1 | 7 | 8 | |
| 19 | San Francisco 49ers | SF | 5.1 | 7 | 8 | |
| 20 | Detroit Lions | DET | 4.9 | 7 | 6 | |
| 21 | New York Jets | NYJ | 4.9 | 8 | 13 | |
| 22 | Buffalo Bills | BUF | 4.7 | 7 | 7 | |
| 23 | Los Angeles Chargers | LAC | 4.7 | 7 | 7 | |
| 24 | Atlanta Falcons | ATL | 4.6 | 8 | 11 | |
| 25 | Los Angeles Rams | LAR | 4.5 | 8 | 11 | |
| 26 | New Orleans Saints | NO | 4.1 | 7 | 8 | |
| Tier 42.0 to 3.3 PPG | ||||||
| 27 | Baltimore Ravens | BAL | 3.3 | 9 | 13 | |
| 28 | Dallas Cowboys | DAL | 3.0 | 8 | 14 | |
| 29 | Arizona Cardinals | ARI | 2.6 | 8 | 14 | |
| 30 | Indianapolis Colts | IND | 2.5 | 8 | 13 | |
| 31 | Miami Dolphins | MIA | 2.4 | 7 | 6 | |
| 32 | Philadelphia Eagles | PHI | 2.0 | 8 | 10 | |
Beyond the rankings
Set-and-forget tier
The only defenses worth a mid-round pick rather than a weekly stream.
- Minnesota Vikings10.9 PPG
- Pittsburgh Steelers9.4 PPG
- Jacksonville Jaguars9.0 PPG
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers8.6 PPG
- Cincinnati Bengals7.6 PPG
Best streaming targets
Mid-tier units that are usually unrostered, where matchup decides the week.
- Chicago Bears6.5 PPG
- Tennessee Titans6.1 PPG
- Kansas City Chiefs6.0 PPG
- Cleveland Browns5.9 PPG
- New England Patriots5.9 PPG
Crowded bye weeks
Weeks that sideline multiple top-12 defenses at once. Plan a stream in advance.
- Week 103 top-12 units out
- Week 113 top-12 units out
- Week 62 top-12 units out
- Week 92 top-12 units out
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the best fantasy defense for 2026?
Minnesota Vikings is the top-ranked fantasy defense for the 2026 season at 10.9 points per game in the half-PPR format, based on the most recent NFL season.
Who are the top 5 fantasy defense for 2026?
The top 5 fantasy defense for 2026 are: 1. Minnesota Vikings (10.9 PPG), 2. Pittsburgh Steelers (9.4 PPG), 3. Jacksonville Jaguars (9.0 PPG), 4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8.6 PPG), 5. Cincinnati Bengals (7.6 PPG).
How often are these defense rankings updated?
These rankings refresh daily from live NFL stats. They were last updated November 6, 2026.
What scoring format are these rankings based on?
Points per game in the half-PPR scoring format, the most common fantasy football setup.
Do these defense rankings change in PPR or standard leagues?
No. Defenses do not record receptions, so the PPR, half-PPR, and standard orders are identical. One defense ranking serves every scoring format.