Unless most of the teams in your league carry a backup defense, more than half of the league should be available to you every week. Perhaps instead of playing one above average defense every week, regardless of matchup, we should instead target the widely available waiver wire defenses with the best matchups in any particular week? You can always make exceptions if your rent-a-defense gets hot - heck, you might find a team worth starting all year by accident. Even if you don't, good matchups will continue to get greater in number as more QBs get injured or yanked as the season goes on. You can steal some points from bad weather come December. Each week I'll list the startable fantasy defenses on most waiver wires and rank them.
**Chicago, San Francisco and New England have great matchups in Week 7 but are assumed to be rostered**
Week 6 Results
Carolina (vs Tampa Bay - London) - 7 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 5 INT
Another yahtzee! Jameis Winston didn’t disappoint, setting a career high in interceptions. The Bucs offensive line didn’t disappoint, allowing seven sacks. We will be targeting the Bucs going forward.
A Look Ahead: BYE @SF TEN - We will come back to the Panthers and as a top five D/ST to date they might be worth holding through their bye and playing in the suboptimal matchup at San Francisco in Week 8.
Green Bay (vs Detroit) - 3 sacks
The Packers trailed throughout and somehow won… not a great recipe for D/ST scoring.
A Look Ahead: OAK @KC @LAC - Even though they let us down in Week 6, we’ll consider the Packers this week because of the opponent and setting.
Los Angeles Chargers (vs Pittsburgh) - 1 INT
It’s a trap! The Steelers side ended up being the useful D/ST here as Devlin Hodges stuck with the short game in his first NFL start while the Steelers led wire to wire.
A Look Ahead: @TEN @CHI GB - Ryan Tannehill being named starter would probably make these less attractive, but we’ll go away from the Chargers in any event.
San Francisco (at Los Angeles Rams) - 4 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 7 pts allowed
The 49ers defense was dominant against the Rams passing game and held up well in a key goal line stand vs. the run.
A Look Ahead: @WAS CAR @ARI - The 49ers D/ST is an everyweek start from here on out, and especially attractive this week at Washington.
Baltimore (vs Cincinnati) - 2 sacks, 1 INT
This performance was better than the stats make it look. The Bengals returned the opening kickoff for a score and didn’t really put up much of a fight after that.
A Look Ahead: @SEA BYE NE - The Ravens defense continues to underwhelm. We probably won’t use them again this year.
Washington (at Miami) - 5 sacks, 2 INT
Miami (vs Washington) - Nada. Zilch. Bupkis.
The Washington defense stifled Josh Rosen to the point of him getting the hook (and Ryan Fitzpatrick almost led yet another fitzmagical comeback win), while the Miami defense continues to play like rotten tuna.
Washington, Miami A Look Ahead: Haha! This was a one time only offer
Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda
Pittsburgh (at Los Angeles Chargers) - 1 sack, 1 fumble recoveries, 2 INT, 1 DEF TD
Somewhere along the way, the Steelers become a top five D/ST. They’re worth holding through their bye with the Dolphins up in Week 8
Denver (vs Tennessee) - 7 sacks, 3 INT, 0 pts allowed
I’ve always believed that a D/ST should get a bonus when the opposing quarterback gets pulled. The Broncos D/ST is coming on after a slow start, but we won’t go to them this week vs Kansas City.
New York Giants (at New England) - 3 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 1 INT, 1 DEF TD
Who would thunk both D/ST’s would be good plays on Thursday night?
Week 7 Candidates
**Chicago, San Francisco and New England have great matchups in Week 7 but are assumed to be rostered**
Buffalo (vs Miami)
The Bills should have been rostered through the bye, but if they weren’t, you know what to do
A Look Ahead: PHI WAS @CLE - It might be worth it to play the Bills vs a solid Eagles offense next week to get the Washington matchup in Week 9.
New Orleans (at Chicago)
The Saints defense has turned into a shut down unit since Drew Brees got hurt. The Bears offense can shut itself down at times. This one isn’t in the Superdome, but the Saints defense is on a roll.
A Look Ahead: ARI BYE ATL - Part of the reason to try the Saints this week is to play them in Kyler Murray’s first visit to the Superdome next week.
Tennessee (vs Los Angeles Chargers)
The Titans defense was mostly toothless at Denver last week, but the Chargers offensive line was soft and chewy enough to gum to death last week vs. Pittsburgh. The Titans D/ST has been a solid play in both home games this year and in both road games against suspect offensive lines (Cleveland and Atlanta)
A Look Ahead: TB @CAR KC - The best reason to play the Titans this week is to get them vs Tampa next week
Green Bay (vs Oakland)
The Packers defense was stout against the run and got a few sacks but mostly played bend but don’t break football against the Lions. Jon Gruden has been underrated this year and might have the Raiders ready to match the Packers blow for blow in Lambeau, but if they aren’t, the defense could feast on Derek Carr in an uncomfortable catch up situation.
A Look Ahead: @KC @LAC CAR - The Chargers line is in shambles so the “road” game in Week 9 might one to target
Minnesota (at Detroit)
The Vikings are on the road in this NFC North clash, but they are the hotter defense coming in, and they have only been a fantasy dud in one out of five games - although that was a road divisional game at Chicago. The Lions are licking their wounds on a short week of rest and could be vulnerable.
A Look Ahead: WAS @KC @DAL - The best reason to play the Vikings this week is to get them vs Washington next week
Los Angeles Rams (at Atlanta)
Once among the elite fantasy D/ST options, the Rams have probably been dropped in many leagues. They actually had multiple sacks and takeaways last week and Aaron Donald will be a handful for a beleaguered Falcons offensive line.
A Look Ahead: CIN BYE @PIT - The best reason to play the Rams this week is to get them vs Cincinnati next week
Week 8 Preemptive Pickups
**New England, Chicago and San Francisco are assumed to be rostered**
Pittsburgh (vs Miami)
New Orleans (vs Arizona)
Los Angeles Rams (vs Cincinnati)
Detroit (vs New York Giants)
Tennessee (vs Tampa Bay)
