NFL defenses are ranked in the following categories: red zone trips per game, third down conversion percentage, yards per rush attempt, yards per pass attempt, sack percentage allowed, rushing touchdowns per game and passing touchdowns per game. These rankings can be used when assessing fantasy matchups for the upcoming week. When doing that, look at the run and pass-oriented stats individually.
| Rank | Team | Red Zone Pos. | Third Down % | YPR | YPA | Sack % | TD-Run | TD-Pass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denver (6-0) | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 16 |
| 2 | Washington (2-4) | 13 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 64 |
| 3 | New Orleans (5-0) | 16 | 2 | 14 | 7 | 13 | 15 | 5 | 72 |
| 4 | Pittsburgh (4-2) | 2 | 26 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 19 | 75 |
| 5 | Minnesota (6-0) | 7 | 8 | 13 | 24 | 2 | 3 | 19 | 76 |
| 5 | Philadelphia (3-2) | 20 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 23 | 76 |
| 7 | Indianapolis (5-0)) | 4 | 30 | 17 | 1 | 16 | 15 | 1 | 84 |
| 8 | New York Jets (3-3) | 7 | 12 | 16 | 4 | 31 | 14 | 3 | 87 |
| 9 | Arizona (3-2) | 20 | 3 | 1 | 20 | 14 | 6 | 27 | 91 |
| 9 | San Francisco (3-2) | 4 | 23 | 2 | 14 | 20 | 15 | 13 | 91 |
| 11 | New England (4-2) | 7 | 19 | 26 | 10 | 23 | 1 | 10 | 96 |
| 12 | Chicago (3-2) | 11 | 24 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 22 | 13 | 98 |
| 12 | Green Bay (3-2) | 11 | 14 | 8 | 15 | 17 | 6 | 27 | 98 |
| 14 | Dallas (3-2) | 6 | 5 | 19 | 18 | 22 | 6 | 23 | 99 |
| 15 | New York Giants (5-1) | 19 | 4 | 23 | 6 | 4 | 28 | 17 | 101 |
| 16 | Baltimore (3-3) | 26 | 9 | 6 | 27 | 11 | 9 | 19 | 107 |
| 17 | Cincinnati (4-2) | 13 | 20 | 15 | 21 | 12 | 9 | 19 | 109 |
| 18 | Oakland (2-4) | 30 | 7 | 21 | 19 | 7 | 26 | 5 | 115 |
| 19 | Seattle (2-4) | 23 | 10 | 22 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 10 | 119 |
| 20 | Carolina (2-3) | 16 | 25 | 31 | 12 | 3 | 22 | 13 | 122 |
| 21 | Miami (2-3) | 25 | 11 | 4 | 32 | 28 | 15 | 13 | 128 |
| 22 | Atlanta (4-1) | 20 | 29 | 27 | 13 | 24 | 12 | 5 | 130 |
| 22 | Buffalo (2-4) | 23 | 13 | 32 | 2 | 29 | 28 | 5 | 132 |
| 24 | Houston (3-3) | 2 | 18 | 29 | 17 | 30 | 32 | 5 | 133 |
| 25 | Kansas City (1-5) | 7 | 15 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 22 | 26 | 147 |
| 26 | Jacksonville (3-3) | 17 | 27 | 10 | 25 | 32 | 9 | 29 | 150 |
| 27 | Tennessee (0-6) | 30 | 15 | 5 | 28 | 25 | 19 | 32 | 154 |
| 28 | Cleveland (1-5) | 26 | 21 | 30 | 22 | 21 | 30 | 10 | 160 |
| 29 | Detroit (1-5) | 30 | 22 | 25 | 29 | 9 | 19 | 31 | 165 |
| 30 | Tampa Bay (0-6) | 13 | 28 | 28 | 31 | 15 | 22 | 30 | 167 |
| 31 | St. Louis (0-6) | 28 | 31 | 18 | 30 | 18 | 30 | 17 | 172 |
| 32 | San Diego (2-3) | 28 | 32 | 20 | 23 | 26 | 27 | 23 | 179 |
