Projecting outlooks for Fantasy Football defensive/special teams units is always a significant challenge. Personnel changes, injuries and other factors alter the expectations for many defenses from year to year. The Dallas Cowboys had the 20th-ranked Fantasy defense in 202, then finished first in 2021. Washington was the sixth-best defense in 202, then fell to 27th last season. 

Jacob Gibbs has examined all 32 Fantasy defensive units for 2022. Gibbs uses a data-driven approach that has helped him consistently provide accurate rankings at every position. He has proven to be one of the nation's most accurate Fantasy rankers in recent years -- posting the eighth-most accurate results over the past three seasons, according to Fantasy Pros.

Now Gibbs has provided his 2022 Fantasy defense rankings, exclusively for SportsLine members. We can tell you Gibbs is extremely high on the Kansas City defense after their offseason overhaul. The Chiefs aren't being drafted as a top-10 unit according to early average draft position data, but Gibbs has them ranked seventh. Another surprise: the Los Angeles Chargers grabbed a top-10 spot in Gibbs' rankings. The Chargers had just the 26th-ranked Fantasy defense in 2021, but Gibbs has them ranked ninth after a busy offseason.   

Gibbs also highlights a defense to watch that is on the rise and could become a frequent starting option! This pick could be the difference between winning and losing in some important weeks of the season. 

So which defense isn't likely to repeat their strong 2021 performance? And which surprising unit ranks inside the Top 12? ... Join SportsLine here to see complete Fantasy football defense/special teams rankings, all from one of the nation's most accurate rankers!