Best Week 4 Defense (2024)

FAQs

Is the Browns defense good for fantasy? ›

Best Fantasy Football Defense Value Pick: Cleveland Browns

Cleveland retained everyone who had 3.0 sacks or more from last year, and this defense looks poised to pick up right where it left off.

The Baltimore Ravens come in as the top fantasy defense in Week 2 against a Raiders offense with the lowest implied total (17). While the Ravens struggled to contain the Chiefs offense in the season opener, they should bounce back this week.

Baltimore's defense is absolutely a MUST-START this week. Sam Howell and the Commanders have taken 40 sacks already this season. It's the second-most through seven games since 1970, behind only David Carr's Texans (43). Washington has also allowed the third-most fantasy PPG to opposing defenses this season.

Cleveland Browns

The defensive backfield is arguably the best in the league and kept coordinator Jim Schwartz in the building. Cleveland is a safe bet to stay a top-10 defense in 2024 despite playing Dallas, Philadelphia, Kansas City, and Miami outside of their division games.

Top Week 9 picks: Besides the Giants, the opposing Raiders (11.8% rostered) scored a combined 28 fantasy points from Weeks 5-7 while facing plus matchups, thanks largely to the strong play of defensive end Maxx Crosby. The Commanders (31.6%) and Patriots (31.2%), also going head-to-head, both warrant a look as well.

As a general rule, don't take a DST until the last three rounds of your draft, and don't panic if a run on defenses starts early. Waiting until the last round of the draft is still a winning recipe.

DeMarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson should see an increase in targets as well. Nacua's own teammate is one of the more viable options. The 30-year-old veteran has some experience playing with Stafford, as he was targeted 39 times by the Rams' offense in 2024 and caught 26 of them.

Is a 5 2 defense good? ›

The 5–2 (or 5–4, or 3–4, or Okie, or 50 defense) is a popular defense at all levels of coaching, in part because it has simple reads, is easy to coach, and allows coaches to concentrate on technique.

Off-ball linebackers have the most fantasy value in these formats. Other leagues weigh big plays more heavily. In these formats, sacks and interceptions are worth four times or more the value of solo tackles.

I still think you can play the Browns defense because they're good enough to get you a solid floor at bare minimum, but I will admit that there is some risk here this week.

Rounds 15 and 16

This is where you get the kicker and defense. Remember not to draft defenses based on overall rankings.