Fantasy football defense rankings, Week 3: From elite (Browns) to streamable (Packers)

You’ve got your fantasy football lineup all but set for the week, with a few tweaks to be made here and there as Sunday’s slate of games is ready to kick off.

But you’re trying to optimize your lineup to make sure you get the most points. And that’s why you have to make sure your D/ST position has the best possible squad to win you the week.

That’s what these rankings will help with: A look at the elite, solid, and streamable options that could win you some virtual games in your league.

Let’s break down the Week 3 D/ST tiers:

Elite

1. Cleveland Browns (vs. Giants)

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Chargers)

3. Los Angeles Chargers (at Steelers)

4. Seattle Seahawks (vs. Dolphins)

5. San Francisco 49ers (at Rams)

Steelers-Chargers might be one of the lowest scoring games of the season (non Thursday Night division) considering how much Los Angeles loves to run the ball and Pittsburgh’s inability to consistently throw it.

Solid

6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. Broncos)

7. Chicago Bears (at Colts)

8. Cincinnati Bengals (vs. Commanders)

9. Buffalo Bills (vs. Jaguars)

10. Las Vegas Raiders (vs. Panthers)

The Buccaneers are your best bet here, but don’t sleep on a Bills unit that’s been resting since Thursday night of Week 2 and won’t take the field until Monday night in Buffalo against a hapless Jacksonville offense.

Streaming Options

11. Houston Texans (at Vikings)

12. Green Bay Packers (at Titans)

13. Indianapolis Colts (vs. Bears)

14. Baltimore Ravens (at Cowboys)

15. New Orleans Saints (vs. Eagles)

The Packers should be able to light up Will Levis. The Ravens and Saints have significantly tougher tasks but both have proven themselves as worthy defenses to start the season.