The consensus among fantasy football experts and enthusiasts is to draft a defense (D/ST) late in your draft, typically in the final rounds. Here are key points to consider:
- The sweet spot to draft a defense is generally between the 11th and 14th rounds, often around the 13th or 14th round in a standard 12-team league
- Many advise waiting until the last two or three rounds to pick a defense to prioritize skill positions like running backs, wide receivers, and quarterbacks earlier in the draft
- If you want a top-tier defense (like San Francisco, Seattle, or Kansas City), you might consider drafting it slightly earlier, around the 8th to 10th rounds, but this is less common and can come at the cost of missing out on valuable offensive players
- Drafting more than one defense is generally discouraged because there is little scarcity at the position and carrying multiple defenses takes up valuable roster spots
- Streaming defenses during the season-picking up defenses based on weekly matchups-is a popular strategy if you do not draft a top defense early
In summary, the best practice is to wait until the last few rounds of your draft to select a defense, unless you are targeting an elite unit and are willing to reach slightly earlier. Kickers should be drafted last, after defenses
Recommended Draft Round for Defense in Fantasy Football:
- Standard 12-team leagues: Rounds 11–14, often 13th or 14th
- If targeting elite defense: Possibly rounds 8–10
- Avoid drafting defense earlier than round 8 unless elite
- Do not draft more than one defense
- Draft kicker in the very last round
This strategy balances roster depth and upside while minimizing risk at the defense position
