ClutchPoints
Relax, and don’t worry about your star fantasy football players coming off a down week. Although it can be disturbing when standout players say they don’t care about stats. Come on. But it’s time to look at the defensive side of fantasy football, and here are the rankings for Week 3 of the 2025 season.
At the top of the list are the Green Bay Packers. They can bring the pass-rush heat. And that means all kinds of problems for the Cleveland Browns. This is by far and away the unit with the most potential for a big score in Week 3.
Let’s take a look at the Packers’ matchup and see what other defenses fantasy managers can rely on as they try to build a good start to the season.
The Packers could make life miserable for Joe Flacco. Jayden Daniels couldn’t get loose from the Packers. What will the statue known as Flacco do?
With Micah Parsons and Rashan Gary, the Packers have the No. 2-ranked pass rush duo in the NFL, according to Sports Illustrated.
While Gary is chasing his first 10-sack season, Year 2 in Jeff Hafley’s scheme, and the arrival of Parsons could lift him to new heights,” Jacob Slinkman wrote. “Parsons should create more opportunities for Gary, with Parsons getting a lot of attention and double teams from the offensive line, leaving Gary more one-on-one chances.
“While they will start the season in the No. 2 spot, this duo has every opportunity to be the best pass-rushing tandem in the NFL by a long shot.”
Denver’s Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper ranked in the No. 1 spot.
Look for the Packers to get at least four sacks of Flacco. And there’s also a heightened chance of a pick-six because of the intense quarterback pressure.
The Falcons are starting to reap the benefits of their foray into the two first-round picks in this year’s draft. Both of the rookies, Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr., got on the sack train against the Vikings. And they should a load to handle against the Panthers.
Plus, the Panthers lost center Austin Corbett and right guard Robert Hunt to serious injuries in the loss to the Cardinals. That makes things even more tasty for the Falcons and their pass rush.
Additionally, quarterback Bryce Young hasn’t exactly set the world on fire for the Panthers through two weeks.
The Falcons totaled six sacks and 16 pressures against the Vikings in Week 2. And that means good stuff along the line, according to atlantafalcons.com
“You gotta talk about the kids up front,” head coach Raheem Morris said. “And you gotta call them kids. Those young guys came out and played.”
Young kids, indeed. Morris said the youth movement is rocking and rolling in the right direction.
“It’s what we talked about all throughout the offseason, those guys having big roles for us, whether it was rushing, whether it was ball hawking for...
