RotoBaller's 2025 D/ST rankings place Denver, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Baltimore on top, with a tiered ladder guiding early-draft selections and favorable Week 1 matchups. The piece emphasizes dialing in defenses by schedule strength and looks at how schedule volatility can swing streaming picks in the early going.

Key IDP names surface in the outlooks: Garrett remains a sack-heavy anchor while Watt’s-era dominance shows signs of aging, and Baun, Hamilton and Starks emerge as versatile playmakers with multi-stat upside. Dre Greenlaw and Trent McDuffie are highlighted as value-connected defenders, with Parsons a standout name in fantasy debates on elite-dL alongside the Packers’ evolving defense questions.

Patrick Mahomes lands at No.5 on NFL players’ Top 100 list, trailing Barkley, Jackson, Allen and Chase, while Montana’s QB ranking places him outside the top-3 behind Purdy, Allen, Burrow, Herbert and Hurts. Mahomes still steers a KC offense that posted a 15-1 mark with a decimated receiving corps, highlighted by four fourth-quarter comebacks and seven game-winning drives last season. KC’s Brazil trip adds travel nuance, with a late-week opener vs Chargers on the horizon. The article also flags a possible upgrade at safety as Kansas City contemplates Justin Simmons, alongside notes on Gabe Davis’ Bills practice-squad move and Luke Goedeke’s hefty TB extension, illustrating a mood toward sharpening offensive and defensive depth ahead of 2025.

Buffalo sits atop the AFC East as Josh Allen anchors a balanced, explosive attack with a stout defense, while Kansas City, Baltimore and Jacksonville shape a 14-team playoff field. The NFC leans on Philadelphia and San Francisco, but Detroit, Dallas and others push for the wild cards. The season centers on clutch defenses and opportunistic offenses, with coaching edge and health often tilting the standings. SB60 pits the familiar powerhouses in a classic Bay Area duel, San Francisco prevailing 30-27 as Purdy outduels Allen in a tight, hard-fought finale.

Expect a mix of seasoned contenders and playoff surprises, as depth on defense and a complementary run game become decisive. The path to February in Santa Clara hinges on maintaining pressure, closing out tight games, and maximizing a few key skill-position players around elite quarterbacks. The 14-team playoff landscape means every matchup matters in December, with home-field and health shaping a championship run for the ages.