Fantasy Football 2014 Defense/Special Teams Rankings: Week 3

Author:

Seattle’s coming off of a loss and gets Denver at home in a Super Bowl rematch, so, for at least one week, there’s a new team leading off Athlon Sports’ Fantasy Football Defense/Special Teams Rankings for Week 3. After struggling with Miami’s running game in Week 1, New England’s defense rebounded in a big way on the road against Minnesota. The Patriots collected six sacks, picked off Matt Cassel four times and scored as many points as the Vikings’ offense (six) thanks to a blocked field goal that Chandler Jones returned 58 yards for a touchdown. The good times should continue this week with 0-2 Oakland and rookie quarterback Derek Carr set to visit Gillette Stadium.

Each week during the NFL season, we will rank enough players at each position to appease everyone from those in 8-team leagues to 16-team leagues, those that can start two QBs, two TEs, three RBs and four WRs. We cut out the rest, because if you're looking at who the 50th-best running back or the 17th-best kicker is for that week, you need more help than any Web site can give you.

Positional Rankings: QB I RB I WR I TE I DST I K

2014 NFL Week 3 Fantasy Football Rankings — Defense/Special Teams


Rank	Player	Opp	Comments
1	New England Patriots	vs. OAK	Pats rack up 6 sacks, 4 INTs and block FG for TD.
2	Carolina Panthers	vs. PIT	Panthers' D has been stout thus far.
3	Cincinnati Bengals	vs. TEN	Bengals picked off Ryan 3 times last week.
4	Houston Texans	at NYG	After feasting on Raiders, TO-prone G-Men next.
5	San Francisco 49ers	at ARI	49ers struggled to stop Bears after 1st Q.
6	Seattle Seahawks	vs. DEN	Champs struggled vs. SD, get Manning and co. next.
7	Arizona Cardinals	vs. SF	Cards' D getting job done early.
8	Baltimore Ravens	at CLE	Ravens' D manhandled Steelers last week.
9	Denver Broncos	at SEA	Barometer game for Broncos' new-look D.
10	Buffalo Bills	vs. SD	6 sacks, 5 takeaways in 2 games.
11	St. Louis Rams	vs. DAL	Rams gave up 144 rushing yards to Rainey.
12	New Orleans Saints	vs. MIN	Saints' D usually tougher at home.
13	Chicago Bears	at NYJ (Mon.)	Revamped D came up big (4 sacks, 4 TAs) vs. SF.
14	Cleveland Browns	vs. BAL	Pick-six helps fuel Browns' W over Saints.
15	Kansas City Chiefs	at MIA	Shorthanded D kept Broncos in check.
16	Tennessee Titans	at CIN	Titans got run over by Murray last week.