So, how do defenses score points in fantasy football? Defenses and special teams (D/ST) units earn fantasy points through a variety of actions that hinder the opposing team’s offense. These actions include stopping drives, forcing turnovers, sacking the quarterback, and even scoring points themselves through defensive or return touchdowns.
For many fantasy football players, the D/ST position is a unique challenge and a source of much deliberation. Unlike individual offensive players, a D/ST unit represents a collective effort. Fathoming how these units rack up points can seem complex, but it boils down to a few key categories that reward disruptive play and penalize mistakes. This guide will break down the intricacies of D/ST scoring, ensuring you can make informed decisions when drafting, trading, or streaming your defense. We’ll delve into the specifics of defensive scoring and explore how these units contribute to your defensive fantasy points.
The Core Components of D/ST Scoring
At its heart, how defense scores fantasy is by preventing the opponent from scoring points and, ideally, creating scoring opportunities for their own team. Most fantasy football platforms, like ESPN, Yahoo, and NFL.com, have similar scoring systems, but there can be subtle differences. It’s crucial to know the specific rules of your league. Generally, D/ST scoring can be categorized into a few main areas:
Limiting Opponent’s Points
This is the most fundamental way a defense earns fantasy points. The less the opposing team scores, the more points your D/ST accumulates. This is often tied to yards allowed as well.
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Points Allowed:
- 0 Points Allowed: Typically yields a significant point bonus.
- 1-6 Points Allowed: A solid baseline of points.
- 7-13 Points Allowed: Still good, but the bonus points decrease or disappear.
- 14-20 Points Allowed: Neutral or minimal points, depending on the league.
- 21-27 Points Allowed: Often results in negative points.
- 28-34 Points Allowed: Significant negative points.
- 35+ Points Allowed: Catastrophic negative points.
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Yards Allowed: Some leagues also award points based on limiting the opponent’s total yardage.
- Less than 200 yards: Bonus points.
- 200-299 yards: Solid, often neutral points.
- 300-399 yards: Minimal points or small negative points.
- 400+ yards: Negative points.
Forcing Turnovers
Turnovers are a direct indicator of defensive disruption and directly lead to D/ST points.
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Interceptions:
- Each interception typically earns 2 fantasy points.
- Some leagues offer bonus points for interceptions returned for touchdowns (return touchdowns defense fantasy).
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Fumbles Recovered:
- Each fumble recovery typically earns 2 fantasy points.
- Similar to interceptions, fumbles returned for touchdowns often come with a bonus.
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Turnover Differential: Some leagues might also award points based on the overall turnover differential in the game (how many turnovers your D/ST forced versus how many they committed, though D/STs don’t commit turnovers themselves, this is usually tied to fumbles lost by the offense).
Sacking the Quarterback
Sacks are a critical measure of defensive pressure and ability to disrupt the passing game.
- Sack Points:
- Each sack typically earns 1 fantasy point.
- Some leagues offer a bonus for sacks that result in a significant loss of yardage (e.g., a sack for 10+ yards). This is often referred to as sack points fantasy football.
Defensive Touchdowns
This is where D/ST units can truly explode for fantasy points.
- Interception Return Touchdowns: An interception that is run back for a touchdown is a huge point-earner, often worth 6 points, plus any bonus points awarded for the turnover itself and potentially for the touchdown itself depending on league settings.
- Fumble Return Touchdowns: Similarly, recovering a fumble and returning it for a score earns significant fantasy points.
- Special Teams Return Touchdowns: While often credited to the player who scored, some leagues allocate these points to the D/ST if the returner is on the unit (e.g., a blocked punt returned for a touchdown). This falls under return touchdowns defense fantasy.
- Safety: A safety, where an offensive player is tackled in their own end zone, typically awards 2 points to the D/ST, plus it forces the opponent to kick the ball back to the scoring team, offering another possession opportunity. This is known as safety points fantasy.
Penalties
Defensive penalties can hurt your team’s ability to stop the opponent and often result in lost fantasy points for the D/ST.
- Defensive Penalties: Yards gained by the opposing offense due to defensive penalties will often result in a deduction of fantasy points for your D/ST. This includes things like pass interference or holding. Penalty yardage fantasy football can be a significant factor in negative scoring.
Deciphering IDP Scoring
While we’re focusing on team D/ST, it’s worth noting the existence of Individual Defensive Player (IDP) leagues. In IDP scoring, you draft individual defensive players rather than a team D/ST. Each player earns points based on their individual statistics like tackles, sacks, interceptions, batted passes, and defensive touchdowns. While the scoring categories are similar, the strategy for drafting and managing IDPs is vastly different from managing a team D/ST.
Common D/ST Scoring Structures
Let’s look at a typical scoring breakdown. Remember, these are examples, and your league might differ.
Example D/ST Scoring Table
| Stat Category | Points per Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Defensive Touchdown | 6 | Interception return, fumble return, blocked punt/FG return |
| Interception | 2 | |
| Fumble Recovery | 2 | |
| Sack | 1 | |
| Safety | 2 | |
| Blocked Kick | 1 | |
| Points Allowed (0) | 10 | Bonus |
| Points Allowed (1-6) | 7 | |
| Points Allowed (7-13) | 4 | |
| Points Allowed (14-20) | 1 | |
| Points Allowed (21-27) | -2 | |
| Points Allowed (28-34) | -4 | |
| Points Allowed (35+) | -6 | |
| Yards Allowed (< 200) | 5 | Bonus |
| Yards Allowed (200-299) | 2 | |
| Yards Allowed (300-399) | -1 | |
| Yards Allowed (400-499) | -3 | |
| Yards Allowed (500+) | -5 | |
| Defensive 2-Point Conv. | 2 | Rare, but possible |
| Any Penalty Yardage | -0.05 | Per yard gained by opponent due to penalty, or negative points per penalty |
Important Note: Some leagues might have a tiered system for points allowed and yards allowed, offering diminishing returns as the numbers increase. For instance, allowing 14 points might give 1 point, but allowing 15 points might give 0 points, and allowing 16 points might give -1 point. This is why reading your league’s specific scoring rules is paramount.
Strategies for Maximizing D/ST Points
Now that we know how points are scored, how can we leverage this knowledge?
Streaming Defenses
One of the most popular strategies for D/ST is “streaming.” This involves picking up a new defense each week from the waiver wire that has a favorable matchup.
- Identify Weak Offenses: Look for teams that struggle to protect the passer, turn the ball over frequently, or have an ineffective running game. Teams with a new or struggling quarterback are often good targets.
- Consider Home Field Advantage: Defenses playing at home, especially in hostile environments, often perform better.
- Analyze Opposing Offensive Lines: Teams with poor offensive line play are more susceptible to sacks and pressure.
- Check for Injuries: Key offensive linemen or skill players being out can significantly weaken an offense.
- Matchups Against Pass-Heavy Teams: While high volume can lead to more stats, pass-heavy offenses that are also turnover-prone can be goldmines for D/ST points. Conversely, run-heavy teams might limit sacks but could be more prone to fumbles.
- Weather Conditions: Bad weather (rain, snow, high winds) can neutralize passing games and lead to more turnovers and sacks.
Identifying Elite D/ST Units
While streaming is effective, some teams are consistently good enough to draft and start week after week. These teams usually possess a strong pass rush, a ball-hawking secondary, and a disciplined tackling unit.
- Dominant Pass Rush: Teams with multiple players capable of generating pressure can rack up sacks.
- Opportunistic Secondary: Defenses with talented cornerbacks and safeties are more likely to intercept passes.
- Disciplined Tackling: Reducing big plays and forcing opponents into tougher situations is crucial.
- Coaching and Scheme: A well-coached defense with a sound scheme can elevate the play of its individual players.
Factors That Hurt D/ST Performance
Conversely, some factors can signal a poor week for your D/ST.
- Playing Against Elite Offenses: Facing teams with consistent, high-powered offenses (e.g., Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen) is generally a bad idea for your D/ST.
- Road Games in Loud Stadiums: Playing in a difficult away environment can lead to communication issues and mistakes for the defense.
- Injuries to Key Defensive Players: Losing a star pass rusher or shutdown cornerback can significantly impact a defense’s effectiveness.
- Offensive Injuries to Opponent: If the opposing team is missing key offensive linemen or playmakers, it can make their offense less threatening, but sometimes a less predictable offense can be more challenging for a D/ST to prepare for. However, more often than not, the struggling offense is the better target.
D/ST Scoring Examples in Action
Let’s break down a hypothetical game and see how D/ST points would accrue.
Team A D/ST vs. Team B Offense
- Team B Offense scores 17 points.
- Team B Offense gains 350 total yards.
- Team B Quarterback is sacked 4 times.
- Team B Quarterback throws 2 interceptions.
- Team B fumbles the ball 3 times, and Team A recovers 2 of them.
- Team A D/ST returns one of the recovered fumbles for a touchdown.
- Team A D/ST commits 2 defensive penalties for 20 yards.
Calculating the Points (using the example table above):
- Points Allowed (14-20): +1 point
- Yards Allowed (300-399): -1 point
- Sacks (4): 4 * 1 = +4 points
- Interceptions (2): 2 * 2 = +4 points
- Fumble Recoveries (2): 2 * 2 = +4 points
- Fumble Return TD: +6 points
- Defensive Penalties (20 yards): -0.05 * 20 = -1 point (or -1 point per penalty, depending on league)
Total Defensive Fantasy Points: 1 + (-1) + 4 + 4 + 4 + 6 + (-1) = 17 points
This is a solid outing for a D/ST, showcasing the impact of turnovers and defensive touchdowns.
Common Pitfalls and Considerations
- Overvaluing Big Names: Sometimes, a highly-touted defense plays a tough opponent. Don’t be afraid to bench your top-tier defense for a less prestigious unit in a much better matchup.
- Ignoring “Garbage Time” Points: A team might be down by a lot, but if their defense is still on the field, they can give up points and yards. Conversely, an offense that is blowing out an opponent might take their foot off the gas, potentially reducing your D/ST’s opportunities for sacks or turnovers.
- Confusing D/ST with IDP: Always confirm whether your league plays with team D/ST or Individual Defensive Players. The strategies are entirely different.
- League-Specific Scoring: This cannot be stressed enough. Always check your league’s scoring settings. A league that heavily rewards sacks will make teams with strong pass rushes far more valuable. A league that penalizes points allowed heavily will favor defenses that keep scores low.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How many points is a defensive touchdown worth in fantasy football?
A defensive touchdown (interception return, fumble return, etc.) is typically worth 6 fantasy points, in addition to the points awarded for the turnover itself (usually 2 points). Some leagues may offer additional bonuses.
Do penalties hurt D/ST scoring?
Yes, defensive penalties generally hurt D/ST scoring. Many leagues deduct points based on penalty yardage fantasy football or a set number of points per penalty.
What is considered a good fantasy D/ST score?
A “good” D/ST score can vary greatly depending on the league’s scoring settings and the overall scoring environment of the week. However, generally speaking, 10-15 fantasy points is considered a good outing, while 20+ points is an elite, league-winning performance for a single week. Scores below 5 points are often considered disappointing.
How do I find good D/ST matchups?
You can find good D/ST matchups by analyzing team schedules, identifying offenses that struggle with turnovers, have poor offensive line play, or are prone to giving up sacks. Websites and fantasy football analysts often provide weekly D/ST rankings and matchup analysis.
Can I get points for a safety in fantasy football?
Yes, a safety points fantasy is typically awarded 2 fantasy points to the D/ST unit.
What are IDP leagues?
IDP stands for Individual Defensive Player. In IDP leagues, you draft individual defensive players (like a linebacker, defensive end, or cornerback) instead of an entire D/ST unit. Each player earns points based on their individual stats.
By carefully considering these scoring categories and employing smart strategies, you can turn the D/ST position from a weekly headache into a consistent advantage in your fantasy football league. Remember to always stay informed about your league’s specific rules and do your homework on matchups each week.