Seattle Seahawks (2014: 143 points): The thing about the Seahawks is their talent to take away the ball. How can any fantasy player ignore the Legion of Boom? In 2015 with Kam Chancellor still holding out and Earl Thomas returning from injury it is unlikely that there will be a lot of booming going on early in the season. The Seahawks defense always picks up towards the end of the season so their first defense off the board value is a little suspect. In all likelihood if you are the person drafting the Seahawks defense, you are doing far too early and for a very menial payout for what its worth.
Houston Texans (2014: 170 points): If you are drafting the Texans then you know it is all about J.J. Watt. Watt could be the league's best player overall and considering he could score offensive and defensive touchdowns he is not a player to pass up. The Texans defense overall is a bit different, a complex makeup of middling defenders, youthful rookies, and savvy veterans. The Texans added Vince Wilfork to a defensive line that is already pretty imposing. The Texans also have their former first round pick returning in Jadeveon Clowney and their 2015 1st round pick Kevin Johnson bolstering their secondary. The key for the Texans is to have solid offensive drives that keep this defense fresh and ready to generate pressure.
Buffalo Bills (2014: 169 points): The Buffalo Bills boasted a pretty incredible sack total last season at 54. This made them one of the most dominant defenses in the NFL. Mario Williams, Marcell Dareus, and Jerry Hughes put constant pressure on opposing quarterbacks and dominating the line of scrimmage. The Bills defense has not changed significantly except they brought in better role players and have defensive mastermind Rex Ryan as their head coach. The Bills could very well be the top defense in fantasy football if their anemic offense does not leave them over exposed.
Baltimore Ravens (2014: 141 points): The Ravens may not have the flashiest defense ranking 6th last year in fantasy points but their whole organization is driven by getting to the quarterback. Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil are two veteran pass rushers who always find ways to get sacks and make plays. The duel threat of inside linebackers C.J. Mosley and Daryl Smith prove to be an imposing duo in the middle. The Ravens should finish in the top 5 in defense this year.
Honarable Mentions:
St. Louis Rams (2014: 147 points): The Rams might have the best defensive line in football. Robert Quinn, Aaron Donald, Chris long, and Michael Brockers are a force to be reckoned with. The Rams main problem is that their offense could not keep up with their defensive dominance. Sam Bradford struggled to put up points when he was on the field which was not for long. The Rams now have a more balanced offensive attack; their offensive line is still pretty horrendous however they have looked better in preseason. Nick Foles and Todd Gurley should be capable of sustain the offense on longer drives as the season goes on allowing one of the best defensive lines in football to come on to the field fresh.
Dallas Cowboys (2014: 117 points): The Dallas Cowboys have added several key pieces to this defense that has made them more dangerous on that side of the ball. Now I know when your defensive sack leader (Jeremy Mincey) only has 6, it's hard to be impressed. However the Cowboys added Greg Hardy, Randy Gregory, and Byron Jones, not to mention some linebackers in the middle rounds that will help them tremendously. Mincey, 2nd year playoff hero Demarcus Lawrence should be starting as an end, and Randy Gregory could get the nod as a starter on the other side. The amount of pressure the Cowboys can generate has doubled if not tripled thanks to these additions and since Rod Marinelli is a coach who preaches force turnovers, the secondary could be in for a big year. As an added bonus the Cowboys have one of the easiest schedules in the NFL.
