Fantasy Index

Factoid

Bills defense circles the wagons

Consistency at an erratic position

Consistency is hard to come by with fantasy defenses. Some leagues are scrapping the position. Many fantasy coaches that use them will wait until the last round to select them. There are few reliable choices.

But consider the Buffalo Bills. At a position with little year to year stability, Sean McDermott's group has been on a heck of a roll.

Sacks and takeaways are the drivers with most fantasy defenses. And the Bills over the last five years have been the league's best defense for takeaways, and one of the better ones -- 11th -- for sacks. Different personnel, different assistant coaches, but McDermott's oversight has been a constant. It's a trend worth investing in.

Tables show defensive performance in takeaways and sacks over the past five years, sorted by average total over that span.

NFL DEFENSES, TAKEAWAYS, 2020-2024
Defense'20'21'22'23'24Avg
Buffalo263027303229.0
Dallas233433262227.6
Pittsburgh272223273326.4
Indianapolis253321242525.6
Minnesota222425223325.2
Tampa Bay252920261823.6
Green Bay182624183123.4
San Francisco202030281723.0
Houston92527242922.8
Cincinnati172124262522.6
Miami292614271622.4
New England223030181222.4
New Orleans262514291722.2
Baltimore221525311722.0
Denver161923262521.8
Chicago181623282421.8
NY Giants222219311521.8
Kansas City222920172021.6
Philadelphia191627182621.2
LA Chargers192124212121.2
LA Rams222522152020.8
Seattle221825191820.4
Arizona212720171720.4
Detroit121922232420.0
Cleveland211920281220.0
Tennessee232220141819.4
Washington231918181719.0
NY Jets191416271718.6
Atlanta212017161818.4
Jacksonville1792727917.8
Carolina221617111716.6
Las Vegas151513221315.6

Buffalo hasn't been quite as impressive in terms of pass rush, but they've been a top-12 group twice, and finished below-average only once.

NFL DEFENSES, SACKS, 2020-2024
Defense'20'21'22'23'24Avg
Pittsburgh565540474047.6
Baltimore393448605447.0
Tampa Bay484745484646.8
Philadelphia492970434146.4
Dallas314154465244.8
LA Rams535038413844.0
Miami414840563544.0
Denver423636426343.8
Seattle463445474543.4
Kansas City323155573942.8
Buffalo384240543942.6
New Orleans454648343942.4
Washington473843394342.0
San Francisco304844483741.4
Cleveland384334494141.0
Minnesota235138434940.8
Indianapolis403344513640.8
Green Bay413934454540.8
Houston343239464940.0
NY Jets313345484340.0
Arizona484136334139.8
LA Chargers273540484639.2
NY Giants403441344538.8
New England243654362835.6
Tennessee194339453235.6
Chicago354920304034.8
Detroit243039413734.2
Cincinnati174230443633.8
Las Vegas213527463833.4
Carolina293935273232.4
Jacksonville183235403431.8
Atlanta291821423128.2

It's early, the NFL Draft is yet to come, and there will be more roster movement. I'm not sure where the Bills will show up on my board. But they're going to be one of the better -- definitely safer -- selections at the position.

--Andy Richardson

Fantasy Index