2026 fantasy football DSTs with good early schedules: Jaguars and Chiefs could help early

In the world of fantasy football, draft season is drawing near and strategizing for early success is crucial. I recently published preseason DST rankings, but I wanted to focus on the early-season schedule. While some may claim that streaming or grabbing the last pick on the board is sufficient, I believe that a bit of strategy can enhance the effectiveness of our defenses.

Drafting a D/ST isn't as critical as selecting the top wide receiver or RB in the early rounds, but it still has a significant impact on the season. I've compiled a list of early-season DSTs that could help you draft effectively this summer, along with my general strategy for selecting defenses.

First, I never select a defense as my first pick. According to previous data, drafting a defense in the top three positions based on ADP only gives a 3.8% chance of ending up with the top-ranked fantasy defense. Moreover, I want to maximize my chances of having breakout running backs and wide receivers, so I usually take my defense and kicker as my last two picks.

I never draft two defenses, and I always consider the early season schedule when selecting a defense. This means looking beyond Week 1 and avoiding the temptation to target the top Week 1 defense.

Now, let's examine my preferred defenses for their early-season schedule:

1. Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks had the top-scoring defense last season, averaging 10.5 fantasy points per game. They are my top-ranked defense in preseason rankings, and I like them as a draft target. They face a middle-of-the-pack Patriots team in Week 1, but I believe their defense is talented enough to handle an average matchup. In Week 2, they take on the Cardinals, who may be missing their starting running back due to injury, and in Week 3, they face the Commanders, who will be without their starting left tackle.

2. Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles finished 7th last season and averaged 7.9 fantasy points per game. They start the season against the Commanders and Titans. I see this as an opportunistic defense that could create turnovers in their Week 1 game against the Commanders. The Titans, their Week 2 opponent, may be one of the worst offenses in the NFL, making this a favorable matchup for the Eagles. Their Week 3 game against the Bears is less appealing, but we'll focus on the earlier games first.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars have the seventh-most favorable Week 1 matchup against the Browns. They'll face a potentially weaker offense in Week 2 and a potentially weaker defense in Week 3 as they take on the Broncos.