In the wake of the 2026 NFL schedule release, FlurrySports looks at five fantasy football defenses that have favorable matchups early on.
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If you’re like me, fantasy football defenses are a constant revolving door over the course of the season. Streaming team defenses just makes sense. Typically, the best weekly scorers at the position benefit from playing against bad offenses.
With the 2026 NFL schedule release taking place this past week, it’s worth digging into the first few slates to see which defenses you should target in fantasy drafts to begin the season. While it’s next to impossible to find a team with a perfect schedule, a few teams have a pretty favorable outlook defensively in at least two of their first three games to begin the season.
Overall, this discussion is probably more pertinent for making early redraft league plans. However, this insight is immediately applicable for any dynasty managers who are in leagues where team defenses are used. It may be worth scooping up a defense with a favorable schedule of opponents to utilize at the start of the year.
Let’s take a look at five fantasy football team defenses with favorable early-season schedules.
Fantasy Football Defenses to Target Based on Early-Season Schedules
Los Angeles Chargers
With Jesse Minter departing to become the head coach in Baltimore, the Chargers will have Chris O’Leary as their defensive coordinator. He was with the organization in 2024 as the safeties coach, so this is not necessarily a brand-new face. Meanwhile, the Chargers’ defense won the 2026 NFL schedule release as far as favorable opponents to begin the campaign.
L.A. will open with home games against the Cardinals and Raiders, which pretty much speaks for itself. There is a strong likelihood that these teams will be among the five worst offenses in the league. Perhaps there’s even a world where Arizona will be starting rookie QB Carson Beck, depending on how the offseason goes.
After the first two weeks, managers would need to pivot to streaming the defense position beginning in Week 3 as the Bolts’ schedule of offensive opponents gets much tougher.
Baltimore Ravens
Despite last season being a disaster for the Ravens in the standings, the defense showed teeth when key contributors were healthy. This was especially true against poor offensive opponents, and Baltimore projects to have several such matchups early in the 2026 season.
The Ravens will open the campaign at the Colts, who have a major question mark at quarterback. Even if Daniel Jones is able to play, it’s anyone’s guess as to how he will perform coming off a torn Achilles. Week 2 has the Ravens at home against the Saints. For now, this can only be viewed as a plus matchup.
Facing the Cowboys in Week 3 will be difficult, but managers may want to keep the Ravens handy for the favorable matchups that follow. The Titans, Falcons and Browns comprise the schedule from Weeks 4-6.
Cleveland Browns
For now, we can only speculate when it comes to the competency of the Browns’ offense. The team’s ability to play complementary football may be an issue, but Cleveland remains stout from a personnel standpoint defensively. The early portion of the 2026 schedule is not super daunting when it comes to their upside as a fantasy football defense.
To open the season, the Browns will be in Florida to face the Jaguars. I’m happy to fade Trevor Lawrence, and the over/under for this game of 40.5 is the second-lowest total of the Week 1 NFL betting slate.
A tricky spot against the Buccaneers in Week 2 is followed by home games against the Panthers and Steelers. Those both have defensive slugfest written all over them. The Browns also get the Jets in Week 5.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers make for an interesting case to be a fantasy football defense target early in the 2026 season. Week 1 will see them clash with the rival Rams. However, with the game being the first of the year and taking place in Melbourne, one could argue that defenses may have the edge.
Whether one opts to ride with the 49ers in Week 1 or not, the next two weeks serve up excellent schedule spots. San Fran will get the Dolphins and Cardinals at home in Weeks 2 and 3, two teams expected to be offensively challenged.
New coordinator Raheem Morris doesn’t inspire a ton of confidence, but it’s tough to envision the Niners not posting solid fantasy scores in at least two of their first three games.
Tennessee Titans
The Titans’ defense was more competent than their 2025 fantasy numbers suggest. Tennessee’s offensive struggles routinely put the defense in a bad spot. Personnel-wise, there’s something to work with, and new head coach Robert Saleh brings a defensive identity that should help the unit play with more discipline and confidence.
As for the Titans’ schedule to begin the 2026 campaign, they are set to open with the Jets, Eagles and Giants. One could argue that all three of those teams have potential and upside on offense to varying degrees this year, but they also carry plenty of uncertainty. Thus, the Titans have some sleeper appeal as a fantasy football defense capable of starting the year out strong.
