Fantasy Football Player Notes
2022 Draft Rankings
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1.
Buffalo Bills
BUF (vs . NE)
Buffalo's D is slightly overrated from last year. To open the season, they get the Rams and Titans - two offenses that aren't exactly the prime matchups you'd expect from the No.1-ranked DST. Still, they rank inside the top-5 after boasting the league's No. 1 pressure rate per dropback with Von Miller added into the fold.
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2.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TB (at ATL)
It's a tough first four games for the Buccaneers DST to start the season. On the road versus a high-powered Dallas offense followed by a Divisonal road matchup versus the Saints, who have owned Tampa during the regular season. After that, it's home versus a non-turnover prone Aaron Rodgers and then Kansas City.
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3.
San Francisco 49ers
SF (vs . ARI)
You want the 49ers defense in fantasy football drafts. Their two first matchups - Chicago, Seattle - should allow them up to dial up pressure on fringy QBs. They were PFF's 4th-highest graded pass-rush unit a season ago and added USC pass-rusher Drake Jackson in the second round of the draft.
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4.
Indianapolis Colts
IND (vs . HOU)
The Colts are likely due for some defensive regression with all the turnover they had on that side of the ball this offseason, but it's hard to ignore their two juicy matchups to start the year: @HOU and @JAC.
They are definitely worth drafting if you can't get a better option, but don't view them as an elite unit. Two road Divisonal games may not be as easy as they look on paper. Indy also tied Dallas with the highest turnover differential in 2021, despite ranking 31st in pressure rate (18%). |
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5.
Los Angeles Rams
LAR (at SEA)
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6.
New Orleans Saints
NO (vs . CAR)
The Saints still possess a top-tier defense, and therefore should not be overlooked with a cakewalk of easy matchups. Atlanta, Tampa Bay and Carolina round out New Orleans' first 3 games. Two are against pushovers at QB, while Tampa is a matchup the Saints have dominated since TB12's arrival. In four regular season games versus Brady's Buccaneers, the Saints have never scored fewer than 16 fantasy points.
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7.
Denver Broncos
DEN (vs . LAC)
The Broncos fit all the criteria you are looking for a draft-able fantasy DST. They boast an elite real-life defense that features the likes of Randy Gregory, Bradley Chubb and Pat Surtain II. Denver will pose problems for their two first opponents: Seattle and Houston.
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8.
New England Patriots
NE (at BUF)
The Patriots tend to be one of the more reliable units from season-to-season - top-12 DST since 2018 - and 2022 is no different. They open up against Miami and Pittsburgh, who will feature QBs that should scare no fantasy GM.
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9.
Dallas Cowboys
DAL (at WAS)
Dallas owned the No. 1 turnover differential in the NFL in 2021, which is likely going to regress. 26 interceptions is just not repeatable. It's hard to draft them confidently with that in mind, considering they also open the season versus Tampa Bay and the Bengals.
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10.
Los Angeles Chargers
LAC (at DEN)
The Chargers obviously boast a ton of talent on the defensive side of the ball, but their two matchups to start the season against AFC West foes might make them tough to trust right out of the gates.
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11.
Green Bay Packers
GB (vs . DET)
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12.
Miami Dolphins
MIA (vs . NYJ)
Miami's defensive is legitimately one of the best-built units in the NFL. They are stacked nicely at all three levels and ranked third in pressures a season ago. They are in play as a fringe DST1 at home versus New England in Week 1, who routinely drop the ball every time they play in South Beach.
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13.
Baltimore Ravens
BAL (at CIN)
Week 1: Jets. Week 2: Dolphins. Health withstanding, expect the Ravens to regain top-5 form sooner rather than later. They are overdue for positive TO differential after finishing five-worst in that category from a season ago.
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14.
Cleveland Browns
CLE (at PIT)
The Browns are strong across the board on defense and get dream matchups during the first month of the year. At Carolina, home versus the New York Jets, home versus the Steelers and at Atlanta should result in double-digit fantasy points from Myles Garrett and company. It's by far the easiest schedule for any DST to open the season.
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15.
Philadelphia Eagles
PHI (vs . NYG)
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16.
Pittsburgh Steelers
PIT (vs . CLE)
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17.
Kansas City Chiefs
KC (at LV)
The Chiefs have the NFL's most difficult strength of schedule, and it starts right from the get-go. You can't trust them as a draft-eligible fantasy DST.
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18.
Cincinnati Bengals
CIN (vs . BAL)
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19.
Tennessee Titans
TEN (at JAC)
At home versus the turnover-prone Daniel Jones and New York Giants in Week 1.
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20.
Arizona Cardinals
ARI (at SF)
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21.
Minnesota Vikings
MIN (at CHI)
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22.
Carolina Panthers
CAR (at NO)
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23.
Washington Commanders
WAS (vs . DAL)
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24.
Chicago Bears
CHI (vs . MIN)
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25.
New York Giants
NYG (at PHI)
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26.
New York Jets
NYJ (at MIA)
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27.
Seattle Seahawks
SEA (vs . LAR)
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28.
Jacksonville Jaguars
JAC (vs . TEN)
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29.
Las Vegas Raiders
LV (vs . KC)
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30.
Detroit Lions
DET (at GB)
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31.
Atlanta Falcons
ATL (vs . TB)
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32.
Houston Texans
HOU (at IND)
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