If you are just starting out in fantasy football, you may still be learning all the terminology and acronyms. One acronym that confuses new players is DST.
Unlike most fantasy football positions where you select a single player, DST allows you to select an entire team’s defense and special teams.
Most fantasy positions, such as quarterback, award points to your team based on a single player’s stats each week.
DST calculates how many points you scored based on the defense and special teams as a whole.
The DST will also consider the performance of special teams on the same team as the defense.
What is DST Scoring?
You may be wondering how fantasy football scoring works now that you know DST stands for defense and special teams.
The following table breaks down each scoring factor in defense and special teams, so you know what to watch for when watching your DST play.
Defense
Most of the time, your fantasy football defense will earn you more points than your special teams.
Points Allowed
You will earn points based on how many points the defense has allowed.
You will earn the maximum amount if your defense allows zero points.
Whenever the opposing offense scores more points, your defense’s points will be reduced.
Sacks
Depending on your league scoring, you will earn one or two fantasy points for each sack a player on your defense earns.
In football, a sack occurs when a defensive player tackles the quarterback before he can throw the ball.
Touchdowns
Fantasy scoring for your DST is heavily influenced by touchdowns. Every time your defense or special teams score a touchdown, your team is awarded six points.
All pick sixes, fumble recoveries for touchdowns, and kick return touchdowns are worth six points for your DST position.
Interceptions And Fumble Recoveries
Creating more fantasy points for your team through interceptions and fumbles is one way the defense can generate turnovers.
Interceptions earn your team two points based on your league scoring, while fumbles earn points only if the defense recovers them.
A defense that forces a fumble does not earn points in most fantasy leagues because if they do not recover the fumble, then they have not produced a turnover.
Safety
In fantasy football, the DST can also generate a safety by tackling the offense inside their own end zone.
The safety will earn your fantasy team two points in most leagues, as well as your real life defense two points.
Special Teams
Normally, special teams don’t earn your team too many points week after week, but every once in a while they can turn the tide.
Blocked kicks
Most fantasy leagues give two points for blocking a field goal or extra point attempt. Although this does not occur very often, your DST should get a few blocks throughout the season.
PAT Return
It is possible for the defense to score two points by returning the ball to the opponent’s end zone when attempting a two-point conversion or extra point.
Your fantasy defense will earn two to four points for doing this.