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Defenses matter a lot in fantasy football. If you can draft and matchup the right players against sub-par defenses, you have a recipe for success. It’s not as easy as just looking at the best and worst defenses from 2014 though, and that’s why we’re here to help.
In this eight article series, we’re going to take a look at all the defenses in the NFL. We’ll look at whether or not teams have improved for 2015, and dive into the passing and rushing defensive potential of every NFL team, one division at a time.
Today we are taking a look at the AFC North passing and rushing defenses, and their outlook for the 2015 fantasy football season. When this series is over, you will have a great grasp of which defenses to target for plus matchups.
In this eight article series, we're going to take a look at the passing and rushing defenses of every NFL team, one division at a time.
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AFC North Pass Defense Ranking
2014 Pass Defense Ranking per DVOA and Fantasy Points against Quarterbacks and Wide Receivers, per ESPN
Pittsburgh Steelers
2014 Rankings: 30, 27, 22
The Steeler secondary was among the worst in the NFL last season, and at least some of that blame could fall on the pass rush. Nine times the Steelers failed to record more than a couple of sacks, and the secondary, full of problems all its own, simply wasn’t good enough to make up for it.
2015 Projected Pass Defense Ranking: Bottom Half
That putrid Pittsburgh pass rush got even worse this off-season when Jason Worilds decided to retire. Worilds was the team’s best pass rusher in 2014, and although the addition of first round pick Bud Dupree could fill that void in time, it’s a little much to expect from a rookie, especially on a team that's rarely utilized rookies. Without any other significant changes, the Steelers secondary could have another rough year in store this coming season. Fantasy players should take notice.
Baltimore Ravens
2014 Rankings: 15, 16, 28
Baltimore finished as a middling defense against the pass in 2014, especially struggling against the WR position. The Raven secondary was one of only a handful of teams to give up more than 3,000 yards to the WR position and allowed WRs to find the end-zone 15 times in 2014.
2015 Projected Pass Defense Ranking: Middle of the Park
As long as Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil continue terrorizing QBs, the Ravens secondary should be solid in 2015. Fantasy owners shouldn’t second guess starting a QB against Baltimore, though, and should look forward to weeks when a WR faces the purple and black.
Cleveland Browns
2014 Rankings: 2, 5, 14
Joe Haden and the rest of the Browns’ secondary was one of the best in the NFL last season, coming second in terms of DVOA against the pass and fifth against the QB position. Those numbers should be taken with a grain of salt, though, given the fact that Cleveland was rushed on more than 31 times a game—also second most in the NFL.
2015 Projected Pass Defense Ranking: Top 10
21 interceptions last season may have inflated the team’s defensive stats a little and could point to some decline in 2015. That said, Haden has solidified himself as a shutdown corner and the rest of the secondary remains under appreciated. QBs may have some more success this coming year, but as long as Haden remains on the corner the Browns will be a defense to fear at the WR position.
Cincinnati Bengals
2014 Rankings: 7, 3, 3
Despite dropping significantly in fantasy rankings, Cincinnati was the best in their division against the pass in 2014. The Bengals held the QB position to under 14 points a week and shut down opposing WRs as well, all with little semblance of a pass rush. Only the Seahawks were better in both categories, yet another example of just how good Cincinnati’s secondary was a season ago.
2015 Projected Pass Defense Ranking: Top 10
A healthier Geno Atkins could help bring some life into the Bengals pass rush, and if Vontaze Burfict can stay healthy as well Cincinnati could actually improve on last season. They may not be a great fantasy defense scoring-wise, but fantasy players should hesitate before starting a QB or WR against them.
AFC North Run Defense Rankings
2014 Rush Defense Ranking, per DVOA and Fantasy Points Against Running Backs, per ESPN:
Pittsburgh Steelers
2014 Rankings: 17, 13
Much better than they were against the pass, Pittsburgh finished in the top half of the league against the run in 2014. However, part of that success could be attributed to the simple fact that opposing offenses had little reason to run the football when throwing was so easy.
2015 Projected Run Defense Ranking: Middle of the Pack
Pittsburgh has certainly made it a focus to acquire more youth on the defensive side of the football and that youth could grow into yet another strong Steeler defense, but 2015 may not be that year. Dupree is a great addition, but there simply isn’t much else to make the Steelers a defense something to be afraid of in 2015, which puts them right in the middle of the league. They aren’t a defense to target, but aren’t one to fear either.
Baltimore Ravens
2014 Rankings: 5, 1
Many thought the Ravens would decline in 2014, but Baltimore didn’t seem to get the memo. Statistically amongst the best run defenses in the league last season, Baltimore held the RB position to only 5 total rushing TDs and barely more than 10 fantasy points per game. So much for decline.
2015 Projected Run Defense Ranking: Top 10
The loss of Haloti Nagta will hurt, but a full off-season of preparation for C.J. Mosley could help weather some of that blow. Mosley started all 16 games of his rookie season and was among the best tacklers in the league. Couple that with strong ends in Dumervil and Suggs and the Ravens front seven looks to be dangerous once again in 2015. Take a long hard look before starting a RB against Baltimore.
Cleveland Browns
2014 Rankings: 31, 20
As stated before, part of the Browns’ success against the pass in 2014 can be attributed to their atrocious run defense, and a second-to-last place DVOA against the run supports that. Cleveland gave up nearly 18 points a week to the RB position, struggling mightily throughout all of 2014.
2015 Projected Run Defense Ranking: Bottom 10
With a similar cast of players on defense and little fire power on offense, Cleveland may be lucky if it can finish in the middle of league against the run this coming season. They’re a defense to target.
Cincinnati Bengals
2014 Rankings: 28, 28
For every bit the Bengals were great against the pass in 2014, they were equally awful against the run. RBs managed 1,600 yards and found the end-zone 15 times against Cincinnati last season, numbers that get even worse when factoring in the 826 yards the Bengals surrendered in receiving yards to the RB position. Only the Saints allowed more.
2015 Projected Run Defense Ranking: Middle of the Pack
A healthy Burfict could change the entire makeup of the Bengal’s run defense, but it will like take more than one player to turn around last season’s debacle. It’s not unreasonable for them to finish near the back half of the league in 2015, but it’s also not impossible they finish somewhere in the middle. Either way, fantasy players shouldn’t hesitate to start a RB versus Cincy.
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