Fantasy Football: Week 1 Kicker and Defense Rankings

MIAMI, Sept. 8 (UPI) -- If you are new to fantasy football, you might have jumped too early in your draft when selecting a fantasy football defense or kicker. Most veterans of the game know to wait until the later rounds when targeting those units.

But with waiting comes inconsistency. That is why it is important to consider multiple factors when selecting your weekly starting defense and kicker. The primary factor to consider will always be match-up. Oftentimes this season, you will be able to snipe some quality points off of the waiver wire by picking up a defense facing a bad opponent or kicker primed for extra chances.

When it comes to kicker, you should look for a team likely to score in bunches or a team that could struggle to punch it into the red zone. That way, your kicker will have more attempts from offensive inefficiency or be able to convert several extra points.

To make those choices easier, here are our kicker and defense rankings for Week 1.

If you haven't drafted yet, check out our top 150 fantasy football rankings for 2016 or view our Draft Kit, complete with overall and positional rankings, and cheat sheets.

TOP SHELF

There might not be a better fantasy football match-up, for a defense, to be found this season than the Seattle Seahawks hosting the Miami Dolphins. Ryan Tannehill opens the season in a very hostile environment against the "Legion of Boom." To put it nicely: There "won't not" be turnovers. Also throw Seattle kicker Steven Hauschka into the mix as a must start. I see lots of scoring from one side.

SNEAKY PLAYS

Houston Texans superstar J.J. Watt appears ready to return from injury to partake in Week 1 festivities. The Texans are also facing a turnover prone Jay Cutler and a Chicago Bears offensive unit with underwhelming NFL talent. Look for the Texans to force some turnovers and its defensive line to put some sizzle into an ugly game.

Arizona Cardinals kicker Chandler Catanzaro should be a solid play at the kicker position for Week 1. Catanzaro will face the Patriots in Arizona and should have plenty of opportunities for extra points and even a few from distance.

LONGSHOTS

The Philadelphia Eagles are an interesting play if you are desperate. The Eagles host the Cleveland Browns, who had trouble stopping any offense last season. I can see the Browns trailing early in this one and having to play comeback behind a slinging Robert Griffin III. Ugly.

Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell will show plenty of leg Monday night facing Washington. Even though the Steelers are known for 'going for two,' after a score, expect Boswell to fire off several attempts in Landover.