-2024 NFL Schedule -Strength of Schedule
MOCK DRAFT
Ask the Commish.Com 2024 Draft Kit
The Ravens defense was special in 2023 and became the first team in NFL history to lead the league in points allowed (16.5 per game), sacks (60), and takeaways (31). But a few changes are coming this season that could make a negative impact. Baltimore lost defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, linebacker Patrick Queen and safety Geno Stone. However, with standout players like defensive lineman Justin Madubuike, linebacker Roquan Smith, cornerback Marlon Humphrey and safety Kyle Hamilton still on the roster, the Ravens DST should once again be a top unit. You should draft the Ravens DST in all leagues as a No. 1 option with a late-round pick.
You might have liked what you saw from the Broncos defense after the first part of the 2023 season, and you might like who the Broncos play to begin the 2024 season. But those are the only two reasons why you'd be remotely interested in this DST. The 42 sacks they registered was below league average and the team didn't do much to add to its squad this offseason. And as good as they were at creating turnovers last season, they'll be challenged to do it again without safety Justin Simmons or linebacker Josey Jewell. But they'll start the season against the Seahawks and Steelers in consecutive weeks, offering the chance for some early-season points before their schedule gets harder. You could consider the Broncos among streaming options in drafts.
The Texans took a big leap forward in their first season under DeMeco Ryans after he helped turn the 49ers into one of the NFL's best defenses, but it didn't always translate to Fantasy points. The Texans scored the 15th-most Fantasy points per game. That could change in 2024 after Houston added sack artist Danielle Hunter to the mix. The Texans project as a high-upside target if you wait on drafting DST.
The Vikings defense lost standout pass rusher Danielle Hunter this offseason, but Minnesota added some reinforcements in free agency with Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel and Blake Cashman. Then, the Vikings added Dallas Turner in the NFL Draft, and the Vikings DST could be a nice surprise this season. We need to see it from the Vikings DST first before recommending the unit as a starting option, but the Vikings DST could be worth adding off the waiver wire in all leagues during the season.
The Jets finished last season as a top-five Fantasy unit despite the fact that their offense could not stay on the field. With Aaron Rodgers back from his torn Achilles, they have a chance to challenge for No. 1 overall. While the Jets used their first five draft picks on the offensive side of the ball, they did add Haason Reddick via trade and signed Javon Kinlaw and Isaiah Oliver to one-year deals. They should once again be drafted as a top-five unit in one of the final two rounds of Fantasy drafts.
One of the biggest surprises in football last year was the downfall of the Eagles defense. They were a top-five DST in Fantasy Football in 2022 and fell outside the top 20 in 2023. The man tasked with fixing that will be Vic Fangio, a coach who has led many dominant defenses in the past, though recently the results have been more uneven. The Eagles used their first three picks on defensive players in the 2024 NFL Draft including cornerbacks in Round 1 and Round 2. We are cautiously optimistic and rank the unit as a top-10 option worthy of a pick in the final two rounds of Fantasy drafts.