Many fantasy teams wait until the end of the draft to select defenses. As with any other position, top performers one year can flop the next, while gems can be found at the end of the draft or in free agency. Last year the Eagles used 11 defensive and special teams touchdowns to finish atop most fantasy scoring systems, and few saw that coming.
A few teams, though, have been consistent year after year in recording defensive and special teams touchdowns. Over the last five seasons, the Bears, Cardinals and Patriots have all accumulated at least 28 D/ST TDs. No other teams have reached 25 in that span.
Arizona has been the most consistent, with at least 4 defensive touchdowns in each of the last five years. No other team has managed that; everyone else has had at least one season with 3 or fewer. That's part of why the Cardinals have had a top-10 fantasy defense in all but one of those seasons (in scoring systems giving 1 point for sacks, 2 points for takeaways and 6 points for all touchdowns). Defensive touchdowns provide a big boost.
Chicago leads the way with 32 TDs over that last five seasons, but it's fair to wonder if they'll keep things going. They slipped to just 2 TDs last season, better than only five teams. They also ave a brand new coaching staff.
Defensive touchdowns over the last five seasons are presented below.
| DEFENSIVE AND SPECIAL TEAMS TDS, 2010-2014 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | Total |
| Chicago | 2 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 32 |
| Arizona | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 28 |
| New England | 5 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 28 |
| Green Bay | 6 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 24 |
| Seattle | 3 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 24 |
| Denver | 3 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 23 |
| Buffalo | 4 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 22 |
| Dallas | 3 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 21 |
| Kansas City | 3 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 21 |
| Philadelphia | 11 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 21 |
| Tennessee | 2 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 21 |
| Baltimore | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 20 |
| San Diego | 3 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 19 |
| San Francisco | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 19 |
| Cincinnati | 1 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 18 |
| Indianapolis | 2 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 18 |
| Minnesota | 5 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 18 |
| St. Louis | 5 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| Tampa Bay | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 18 |
| Detroit | 2 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 17 |
| Pittsburgh | 6 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 17 |
| Atlanta | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 16 |
| NY Jets | 0 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 16 |
| Cleveland | 3 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 15 |
| Houston | 6 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 15 |
| Oakland | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 15 |
| Washington | 0 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 13 |
| Carolina | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 12 |
| Jacksonville | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 11 |
| Miami | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 |
| New Orleans | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 11 |
| NY Giants | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
--Andy Richardson