10 D/ST sleepers to target for fantasy football in Week 1

6. Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins were a top-10 scoring defense in the league last year (21.1 points per game), and they were also top-half in the league in interceptions (18;10 by cornerback Xavien Howard) and sacks (41).

In Week 1 Miami will get Mac Jones making his first NFL start under center for the Patriots. New England made a serious effort to upgrade their weapons this offseason (Jonnu Smith, Hunter Henry, Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne), but Agholor and Bourne as their top two wide receivers is hardly a daunting task for Howard and fellow top corner Byron Jones.

If the Dolphins can control the Patriots ground game and put the onus on Jones, it will be to their distinct advantage. Even in a perfect scenario for New England, they’ll surely want to lean on the running attack, shorten the game and leave with something along the lines of a 20-14 win. It all lines Miami’s defense to deliver some sort of fantasy points, with sneaky upside if they can force New England off its ideal gameplan.

5. Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks were a record-setting bad defense early last season, then as their schedule softened the unit got better late. There’s too much talent here to be as bad as they were early in 2020, but they’re probably not as good as they were late.

The Indianapolis Colts are in line to have quarterback Carson Wentz on Sunday. He can only be better than what he was with the Eagles last year. But coming off a foot injury on the early end of a 5-12 week timetable invites other questions, and invites possible opportunities for Seattle’s defense in Week 1.

As with many D/STs on this week’s list, the Seahawks have a wide range of outcomes. But as a Wentz detractor, it’s easy for me to see some massive upside.