• No motion within the high three: The Steelers, Lions and Ravens remained dominant in Week 3.
• Big bounce from the Giants: After feasting on the injury-riddled Browns offensive line, the Giants line of defense jumps up the rankings after Week 3.
• Unlock your edge with a PFF+ subscription: Get full entry to all our in-season fantasy instruments, together with weekly rankings, WR/CB matchup charts, weekly projections, the Start-Sit Optimizer and extra. Sign up now!
Estimated studying time: quarter-hour
The line of defense is the center of any profitable protection, tasked with each disrupting the opposing quarterback with a cross rush and shutting down dashing assaults on the line of scrimmage.
Elite defensive strains can change the course of a sport by making use of stress, forcing hurried throws and creating turnovers whereas additionally stifling run performs to manage the tempo.
This season, we are going to monitor NFL line of defense play all season lengthy. Unlike our offensive line rankings, which in some instances contemplate previous-season rankings, these rankings can be primarily based purely on 2024 play.
While the Chicago Bears had been our Twenty seventh-ranked unit heading into the season, they’ve began the season scorching and at the moment rank fourth by means of two video games.
Key:
Red textual content = Players with grades beneath 60.0
Best participant = highest-graded participant
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (no change)
Top 5 in snap counts:
First in pass-rush grade and second in run-defense grade, the Steelers’ entrance continues to be a dominant power for the yr. The staff’s 42.7% stress fee is one of the best within the NFL, whereas their 25 run stops rank fifth.
Top Player: TJ Watt
Watt is tied for fifth in pass-rush grade amongst edge rushers and can also be third in general grade. Watt makes influence performs on a weekly foundation regardless of a decrease pass-rush win fee on apparent passing conditions.
2. Detroit Lions (no change)
Top 5 in snap counts:
The Lions’ pass-rush unit dropped to second-best in grade (86.4) by means of three weeks however nonetheless has the very best pass-rush win fee within the NFL (61.3%).
The run protection strikes up a spot to tenth finest for the season, because it nonetheless ranks finest in damaging grade fee.
Top Player: Aidan Hutchinson
Hutchinson maintained his red-hot begin in Week 3 with a 31.4% pass-rush win fee. He totaled eight pressures and grades as the very best general edge defender by means of three weeks (93.4).
