Week 9 Results

Washington (at NY Giants) - 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery

We finally decide to play the Commanders and Daniel Jones has his best home game in years.

A Look Ahead: PIT @PHI DAL - Russell Wilson was actually playing well going into the bye, so it's a dishonorable discharge for the Commanders D/ST.

LA Chargers (at Cleveland) - 6 sacks, 3 INT

In a changing world, Jameis Winston feeding our fantasy D/ST is still there for us.

A Look Ahead: TEN CIN BAL - If you have the Chargers D/ST for Week 10, you might have the best D/ST play of the week.

Houston (at NY Jets) - 2 sacks

Yeah we had the wrong side of this one. If the Texans offensive line doesn't improve, we are going to target them in this column for the rest of the year.

A Look Ahead: DET @DAL TEN - Let's check on Will Anderson Jr., but Weeks 11 and 12 look promising.

Philadelphia (vs Jacksonville) - 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 2 INT

This looked like the Eagles were going to give the Jaguars an atomic wedgie, and then it turned into a very close game. Still a D/ST hit because of how the Eagles played to get the game to 22-0. The final score was 28-23.

A Look Ahead: @DAL WAS @LAR - The Eagles defense will introduce themselves to Cooper Rush in a lot of fantasy lineups this week.

New Orleans (at Carolina) - 1 sack, 1 INT

I didn't get the memo that this was the week the Saints players were going to get Dennis Allen fired for once and for all.

A Look Ahead: ATL CLE BYE - Let's see if the team gets a ding dong the witch is dead bounce this week against the Falcons before deciding whether to use them vs. the Browns in Week 11.

LA Rams (at Seattle) - 7 sacks, 3 INT, 1 DEF TD

Kam Kinchens' line about not being worried during his 103-yard touchdown return because DK Metcalf wasn't out there was perfect. Our D/ST yahtzee of Week 9. Hopefully, you had them in.

A Look Ahead: MIA @NE PHI - The Dolphins aren't a great matchup, but you almost want to leave the Rams D/ST in any way because they are red hot. They are the #1 D/ST since Week 5.

New England (at Tennessee) - 1 sack, 1 INT

The Titans ended up being the better side of this one as Tony Pollard played and played his butt off.

A Look Ahead: @CHI LAR @MIA - Don't think we'll consider them again this season.

Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda

Indianapolis (at Minnesota) - 4 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 2 INT, 1 DEF TD

The Colts defense played one of their best halves of the year and outscored the offense on the night thanks to a Kenny Moore II fumble return touchdown.

NY Jets (vs Houston) - 8 sacks, 1 fumble recovery

Too many plays looked like jailbreaks against C.J. Stroud in this one.

Jacksonville (at Philadelphia) - 3 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 1 DEF TD

There has to be a way to use Travon Walker on offense after he rumbled through the Eagles offense with power, speed, and moves on his fumble return touchdown.

Tennessee (vs New England) - 4 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 2 INT

Drake Maye is letting it all hang out behind a piecemeal offensive line, which is good for both Patriots offense and opposing D/ST scoring.

Arizona (vs Chicago) - 1 safety, 6 sacks

Jonathan Gannon's no-name defense is on our radar after they made Caleb Williams look like, well, a rookie.

Week 10 Candidates

**Minnesota, Kansas City, Baltimore, and Philadelphia are assumed to be rostered**

Detroit (at Houston)

The Lions look like one of the best D/ST to just leave in your lineup no matter the opponent, but this week, they'll face an offensive line that gave up eight sacks in Week 9. 

A Look Ahead: JAX @IND CHI - Looks like a Thanksgiving buffet of D/ST targets.

LA Chargers (vs Tennessee)

The Chargers D/ST has been in the top 10 so far this year, and they'll face Mason Rudolph or Will Levis this week. Another slam dunk.

A Look Ahead: CIN BAL @ATL - Not exactly conducive to D/ST production.

Chicago (vs New England)

The Bears defense wasn't stellar last week, but they still had two takeaways and three sacks. Against Drake Maye and the Patriots offensive line, they could double those numbers.

A Look Ahead: GB MIN @DET - This is the last week we'll consider the Bears D/ST for at least a month.

LA Rams (vs Miami)

No D/ST is hotter than the Rams. The Dolphins offense isn't a great draw, but sometimes you don't argue with the trends when you're looking for a rent-a-defense.

A Look Ahead: @NE PHI @NO - The Rams will be in this column a lot in November.

San Francisco (at Tampa Bay)

The 49ers were probably carried through the bye in many leagues. If they weren't, the matchup with Baker Mayfield is good not because the Buccaneers offense has collapsed without Evans and Godwin but because Mayfield will play on that razor's edge to give his team the best chance to win.

A Look Ahead: SEA @GB @BUF    

Buffalo (at Indianapolis)

Joe Flacco is looking his age and the Bills are humming on offense. This one isn't complicated.

A Look Ahead: KC BYE SF - Time to find out what the Bills are made of - with the D/ST off your roster.

Arizona (vs NY Jets)
NY Jets (at Arizona)

The Cardinals are hitting their stride on both sides of the ball. The Jets appeared to be doing the same last week. Neither quarterback is turnover-prone, and the D/STs have been inconsistent but with enticing peaks. Both are suitable plays this week.

A Look Ahead Arizona: BYE @SEA @MIN - Bye bye        
A Look Ahead New York Jets: IND BYE @SEA - The Jets matchup next week may be the tiebreaker.

NY Giants (vs Carolina - Germany)

Bryce Young is playing better, although he could be replaced by Andy Dalton. The Panthers offense isn't the creampuff matchup they appeared to be earlier this year, and the Giants pass rush has cooled off. If you have to dig deep, the Giants are still viable with their recent track record and Daniel Jones playing well going into this one.

A Look Ahead: BYE TB @DAL - We'll come back to them in Week 13.

Week 11 Preemptive Pickups

Miami (vs Las Vegas)
NY Jets (vs Indianapolis)
Cleveland (at New Orleans)
LA Rams (at New England)
Houston (at Dallas)