Spoiler: the Tennessee Titans might be a little higher in the fantasy defense rankings than you'd expect this year. Last season they were just 18th, and even that was their first time finishing in the top 20 in six years. (In a scoring system of 1 point for sacks, 2 for takeaways and 6 for touchdowns.)

One plus is they hired Dean Pees as their defensive coordinator. Pees was the Ravens coordinator the last few seasons, and Baltimore led the league in takeaways a year ago. Pees pulled a Brett Favre, "retiring" from Baltimore and then emerging from retirement a short time later to run Tennessee's defense. Didn't even cost the Titans a draft pick.

But even aside from the Pees hire, Tennessee was one of the most improved defenses in the second half of last year in key fantasy areas. Especially sacks: after having just 13 in the first eight games, Tennessee had 30 in the last eight games. That ties with Pittsburgh for the most in the second half of the season, and the 17-sack swing was the biggest in the league by far.

2017 SACKS AND TAKEAWAYS, 1ST HALF VS. 2ND
Team 1st Sack1st Take2nd Sack2nd TakeSack NetTake Net
Tennessee Titans 131230917-3
Green Bay Packers 131424811-6
New England Patriots 1682610102
Oakland Raiders 12519974
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 812141462
New York Jets 11131776-6
Pittsburgh Steelers 2611301140
Baltimore Ravens 1917221730
Detroit Lions 1616191630
Atlanta Falcons 186211034
Cleveland Browns 1691842-5
Arizona Cardinals 189191213
New York Giants 137141215
Buffalo Bills 1417138-1-9
Los Angeles Rams 25152313-2-2
Washington Redskins 22122011-2-1
Miami Dolphins 168147-2-1
Cincinnati Bengals 226198-32
Carolina Panthers 2772314-47
New Orleans Saints 23121913-41
Chicago Bears 23111911-40
San Francisco 49ers 1791311-42
Kansas City Chiefs 18131313-50
Denver Broncos 1971410-53
Philadelphia Eagles 22131618-65
Seattle Seahawks 23131612-7-1
Indianapolis Colts 161298-7-4
Houston Texans 2012124-8-8
Los Angeles Chargers 2691718-99
Minnesota Vikings 2410139-11-1
Jacksonville Jaguars 35162017-151
Dallas Cowboys 27111110-16-1

Table is sorted by sack differential. Green Bay and New England also made great gains from the first half to the second (although Green Bay fired coordinator Dom Capers anyway).

Numbers can be interpreted in different ways, so be careful not to read too much into Jacksonville's presence near the bottom of the table. Their 20 sacks in the final eight games still ranked 7th over that time period. But their first half was so ridiculously productive (they had a couple of 10-sack games) it stands to reason that their second half would pale in comparison to that 35-sack half.

But back to Tennessee. Their pass rush has a lot of 2018 promise. They used their top pick on pass-rushing linebacker Rashaan Evans (pictured; 21 sacks in college). The addition of Pees could help their takeaway numbers. They've got Adoree' Jackson on returns -- no touchdowns a year ago, but 8 in college and a couple of long returns last year. Those who wait until the final rounds to pick a defense might find them as one of the best options.

--Andy Richardson