Fantasy football managers will have plenty of strong options for their defense/special teams slot in Week 7, with only the Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys on bye. Below, we rank the 30 defenses in action for Week 7, highlighting the best options and potential streaming alternatives.
All stats courtesy TruMedia unless otherwise stated.
1) Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. NYJ)
It’s a little difficult to get a read on this matchup until we see how much the Jets’ offense has changed under new offensive play-caller Todd Downing. New York is not in action until Monday night vs. the Buffalo Bills, but the Steelers almost certainly profile as a safe plug-and-play unit.
The Steelers are allowing the fourth-fewest points per drive and are tied for fifth with 11 takeaways. As such they have a fairly high floor while also generating plenty of the plays valuable for D/ST units, even if their pass rush is less fearsome than usual.
Aaron Rodgers won’t throw three interceptions very often like he did last Sunday vs. the Minnesota Vikings. However, the Jets’ low-ceiling offense doesn’t make them a scary proposition to face in fantasy. Rodgers will likely face plenty of long down-and-distance situations, as the Steelers allow the second-fewest yards per rush and will face a Jets offense that generates the second-fewest yards per rush.
2) New York Jets (at PIT)
The Jets won’t be in action in Week 6 until Monday night, but through five weeks, they’ve ranked fifth in PPG allowed and second in sack rate. Although Justin Fields has improved his propensity to hold the ball and eat negative plays, the Steelers quarterback still has the fifth-longest average time to throw and has taken the ninth-highest sack rate.
As a result, the Jets’ pass rush should have time to get after Fields and the Steelers’ offense. Pittsburgh’s run-heavy play-calling should also play into New York’s hands, as the Jets entered Week 6 ninth in yards per rush allowed (4.2).
3) Buffalo Bills (vs. TEN)
The Bills won’t play until Monday night against the Jets, but a home game against the Titans’ offense is a cushy landing spot off a short week.
Will Levis’ return to the lineup is a promising sign for the Bills, as the second-year Titans quarterback leads the league with 10 turnovers despite missing the majority of Tennessee’s Week 4 game vs. Miami and having his bye already.
4) Minnesota Vikings (vs. DET)
This is a little lower than you’d expect for the stellar Vikings defense, particularly at home coming off a bye. Still, it’s difficult to rank any unit at the top against the Lions’ offense, particularly given that Detroit offensive coordinator Ben Johnson got to see Brian Flores’ defense twice last year.
In those two games, the Lions averaged 30 points per game and had just one turnover and two sacks allowed. While Minnesota’s defensive personnel is markedly different, it at least provides some pause that the Lions had little difficulty with the Vikings’ defense last year. Ultimately the Vikings’ D/ST will be more dependent on game script in Week 7, as the Lions will be tough to handle if they can lean on their well-schemed run game.
5) Los Angeles Chargers (at ARI)
The Chargers didn’t miss a beat returning from their bye week, stifling the Broncos’ offense on the road. Los Angeles ranks first in points allowed per drive and tied for eighth in takeaways, proving that it’s a must-start every week.
A Monday night trip to an up-and-down Cardinals offense provides some risk, but the Chargers have proven to be a unit worth starting regardless of the matchup so far.
6) Denver Broncos (at NO)
The Broncos were one of the best defenses in the league through five weeks, but they fell apart for stretches in Week 6 vs. the Los Angeles Chargers after losing Patrick Surtain II. The Defensive Player of the Year contender left the game after his head hit the ground. Should he enter concussion protocol, he won’t be able to return for the short turnaround for Thursday night.
Surtain injured on this play. #LACvsDEN pic.twitter.com/yfsWXJjKw5
— Rate the Refs App (@Rate_the_Refs)
The Broncos’ defense is still startable against Spencer Rattler, who took five sacks and threw two interceptions in his first start. But without Surtain, a unit that may have ranked at the top of this list is a little further down.
7) New York Giants (vs. PHI)
The Giants’ ferocious pass rush gives them a fairly high ceiling in fantasy, even if the Eagles are healthy again and can be expected to put up some points via explosive plays. The Giants lead the NFL with 26 sacks after taking down Joe Burrow four times in Week 6, while Jalen Hurts ranks 21st in sack rate (8.2%).
8) Green Bay Packers (vs. HOU)
At some point, the takeaways will dry up. That’s just math and years of empirical evidence. But after finishing their win over the Arizona Cardinals with three straight fumble recoveries, the Packers are up to a league-high 17 takeaways. That’s the most by any team through six games since the 2018 Chicago Bears.
That’s the most valuable currency in fantasy football, so the Packers are a must-start D/ST until their run cools off. C.J. Stroud has thrown four interceptions in his last four games, so there’s a reasonable chance Green Bay will keep its run going for at least another week.
9) Tennessee Titans (at BUF)
The Titans continue to play well on defense despite Will Levis’ best efforts to sabotage them. Tennessee is allowing the fewest yards per drive (23.1) and has forced punts on a league-high 50% of opponent drives this season.
It’s a little tough to get a read on Buffalo before the Bills play their Monday night game, and the Titans don’t generate much in the way of sacks or takeaways. But against Josh Allen’s high-variance play style, this unit is worth a start.
10) Houston Texans (at GB)
The Texans will likely concede their fair share of points at Lambeau Field but should generate plenty of negative plays as well. Jordan Love has the second-highest interception rate in the league this season (4.1%), behind only Will Levis.
The Texans should also be able to get to Love in the pocket a few times, as Houston is fourth in sack rate (9.5%). Those positive splash plays should be enough to offset mediocre totals from points and yards allowed.
11) New Orleans Saints (vs. DEN)
Wait, is a team that just gave up 51 points seriously ranked this high? Yes, because the Saints get to wash away the taste of Sunday’s beatdown from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a short-week home game against Bo Nix.
The Saints’ weakness is tackling, as they allow a league-worst 7.2 yards after the catch per reception. The good news for them is that the Broncos average the fourth-fewest YAC per reception, despite Nix’s low average pass depth. Denver’s total inability to stretch the field should make the Saints a viable starting option if your league-mates can’t stand the stench of their Week 6 meltdown.
12) Indianapolis Colts (vs. MIA)
Week 7 is the last week that Tua Tagovailoa must miss on injured reserve, so the Colts will get a juicy matchup against Tyler Huntley. With De’Von Achane also having suffered a concussion in Miami’s last game vs. the New England Patriots, the Dolphins could be further short-handed and provide the Indy D/ST a fairly high floor.
Ultimately the Colts capitalized reasonably well on a favorable matchup against the Titans in Week 6 on the road. That suggests they should be a borderline startable D/ST at home vs. the Dolphins, as Miami seems ill-equipped to exploit the Colts’ leaky secondary.
13) New England Patriots (vs. JAC)
The Patriots haven’t really lived up to their reputation this season, ranking 22nd in points per drive and 25th in pressure rate.
However, the dysfunctional Jaguars face very real questions about the job security of head coach Doug Pederson. They were only able to muster 16 points on 4.6 yards per play against the Chicago Bears. As such, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Patriots emerge as a borderline streamable unit.
14) Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. NE)
The Jaguars have been one of the worst defenses all year. Only the Panthers have allowed more points per game, and only the Saints and Rams have allowed more yards per play.
Still, Drake Maye will be making just his second start (and first away from Gillette Stadium). Maye had three turnovers and took four sacks in his career debut. Most young quarterbacks are negative play magnets, and Maye’s draft profile suggests he’ll follow that same pattern. As such, Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker alone should make the Jags a usable unit against the Patriots’ woeful offensive line.
15) San Francisco 49ers (vs. KC)
The 49ers will face a familiar bugaboo in Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense. While Mahomes has diced up San Francisco in their Super Bowl meetings as well as a 44-23 regular-season win in 2022, the Niners could have slightly more success this time around.
The primary fantasy appeal lies in the possibility of takeaways. San Francisco has forced turnovers at the sixth-highest rate on a per-drive basis (16.1%), while Kansas City has turned it over at the third-highest rate (16.0% of drives).
16) Miami Dolphins (at IND)
The Dolphins could get a matchup against Anthony Richardson after the second-year quarterback was close to returning Week 6.
That would give the Dolphins D/ST a boom-or-bust outlook. The issue is that the Miami defense hasn’t fared well in the type of disruptive categories that lend itself to strong D/ST rankings — they are 24th in sack rate and 22nd in takeaways per drive. If Flacco starts again, the Dolphins will move way down these rankings.
17) Philadelphia Eagles (at NYG)
The Eagles have just two takeaways this season, tied for the fewest in the NFL. A matchup against the Giants isn’t as juicy as it looked before the season, and they could fall down these rankings a touch if Malik Nabers can return from his concussion.
The Eagles are a bottom-10 defense by most metrics, including points and yards allowed per drive, so don’t expect much from this unit in any given week.
18) Cleveland Browns (vs. CIN)
For what it’s worth, the Browns have vexed Joe Burrow and the Bengals’ offense over the years. In six career starts vs. Cleveland, Burrow is averaging -0.08 EPA per play with 10 passing touchdowns and eight turnovers. As a team, the Bengals are averaging just 19.8 PPG in those six games, including 13.8 PPG in the last four meetings.
Still, the healthy triumvirate of Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins makes Cincy a difficult offense to start any D/ST against. The Browns are not the same unit that led the league in total defense last year, so even at home, they are a below-average option for Week 7.
19) Washington Commanders (vs. CAR)
The Commanders have mostly been a horrendous defense, ranking 28th in EPA per play. But Washington demonstrated they could at least take advantage of a favorable matchup, holding the Browns to 13 points and generating seven sacks and a takeaway two weeks ago.
With this matchup also being at home, it’s not a total stretch to imagine the Commanders providing a little streaming value. They’re really only a viable option if you’re desperate, but the opportunity for sacks and takeaways should be there given the likely positive game script.
20) Kansas City Chiefs (at SF)
The Chiefs will be coming off a bye, but the 49ers’ offense is not a fun unit to face no matter what the rest situation. And with San Francisco coming off a longer week after playing on Thursday night, the Chiefs’ rest advantage will be slightly mitigated.
The biggest issue for Kansas City is its struggles against tight ends. George Kittle has the fifth-highest target rate of any tight end this season (24.5%), and his five red-zone touchdowns are the most of any player regardless of position. On the flip side, the Chiefs are allowing a league-high 81.8 yards per game to tight ends.
21) Cincinnati Bengals (at CLE)
The Bengals did just post their best defensive game in ages, holding the New York Giants to seven points. It was Cincinnati’s fewest points allowed in a game since 2019. Now the Bengals get a game against Deshaun Watson and the miserable Browns offense, making one of the league’s worst units slightly more enticing.
Among Cleveland’s many offensive weaknesses, the most fruitful for opposing D/ST units is Watson’s propensity for taking sacks. However, the Bengals are poorly equipped to take advantage of that, ranking 30th in sack rate and 26th in pressure rate this season.
22) Baltimore Ravens (at TB)
The Ravens have not been the same unit that led the league in scoring last year, and now they face a Buccaneers team that just put up 51 points and ranks fifth in points per drive.
Baltimore’s leaky pass defense could get tested here, as the Ravens rank 28th in yards per attempt allowed, while Baker Mayfield ranks sixth with 7.9 yards per attempt. You can likely do better this week.
23) Detroit Lions (at MIN)
The Lions had their best defensive showing of the season in keeping the Dallas Cowboys out of the end zone in Week 6. But Detroit lost superstar edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, who was virtually the entire pass rush. Hutchinson is the only player who has accounted for over half of his team’s pressures this season.
Losing Hutchinson alone would be bad enough, but the Lions were already thin on the edge. Marcus Davenport and John Cominsky are out for the season, so it’s not clear where the pressure will come from now. Even if Sam Darnold typically provides a turnover or two, the Lions could find it difficult to stop the Vikings down-to-down in this game.
24) Seattle Seahawks (at ATL)
The Seahawks’ defense feasted on three juicy matchups to begin the season, but a combination of injuries and much tougher matchups have sent this unit crashing to Earth. After allowing 14.3 PPG with 11 sacks the first three games, the Seahawks have allowed 35.7 PPG with six sacks the last three games.
A 1 p.m. Eastern road game against the Falcons does not exactly serve as a bounce-back opportunity. The Seahawks could conceivably return starters Byron Murphy and Riq Woolen after the long week, which could improve their outlook. Still, this is not a unit you’ll want to stream anytime soon.
25) Los Angeles Rams (vs. LV)
The Rams rank last in defensive EPA per play and, frankly, lack startable defensive talent.
Even with a terrific matchup at home against a Raiders offense in disarray, it’s hard to see much upside for this unit in fantasy. The Rams have allowed opponents to score on 48% of their drives, the fifth-highest rate. They also just don’t get off the field easily, allowing the third-most yards per drive (36.8).
26) Arizona Cardinals (vs. LAC)
The Cardinals’ inexperienced defense was able to pick off Jordan Love but offered little resistance otherwise in a dispiriting 34-13 loss that could have been worse if the Packers hadn’t taken their foot off the gas in the fourth quarter.
The Chargers are not a high-powered offense, so the Cardinals are unlikely to get gashed downfield like they were on Sunday. But Arizona is not a unit worth starting against any opponent, so they are a pass.
27) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. BAL)
The Bucs exploited rookie Spencer Rattler in his first start, generating a season-high three takeaways and adding five sacks. Tampa Bay has 15 sacks in its last three games, but a matchup against Lamar Jackson and the league-leading Ravens run game is big trouble.
The Bucs rank 24th in yards per rush allowed, suggesting that they’ll have problems stopping Baltimore’s fastball.
28) Atlanta Falcons (vs. SEA)
The Falcons have the lowest sack rate for the third time in the last four seasons, a discouraging reality for a pass rush that seemingly added an important late-offseason boost by trading for Matthew Judon. But going against a Seahawks team that passes more than any team, the Falcons are also likely to earn negative points in leagues that award points for yards allowed.
Without the ability to create negative plays, the Falcons’ defense could have a hard time holding Geno Smith below his 296.3 passing-yard average.
29) Las Vegas Raiders (at LAR)
The Raiders were gashed on the ground by the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6. That resulted in 32 points allowed despite Justin Fields averaging only 6.0 yards per attempt and not passing for any touchdowns. The Rams still have Matthew Stafford’s creation and Kyren Williams in the backfield, which should be enough to shred a hapless Raiders defense.
30) Carolina Panthers (at WAS)
The evergreen team in these rankings is the Carolina Panthers. Carolina ranks last in scoring defense, allowing 33.8 points per game and giving up at least 22 points in every game this season. There are no scenarios where the Panthers are a startable D/ST.
Against the Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite Jayden Daniels on the road, Carolina is a clear last-place defense this week.
