We’re headed into Week 10, and the defense position is one that you may need to fill with several teams on a bye. Or, perhaps, you’re looking to stream the best available.
Let’s take a look at the defense/special teams units to target on the waiver wire in Week 10 that you should consider adding to your fantasy football lineups. All units listed below are rostered in less than 50% of Yahoo, ESPN, and/or Sleeper leagues.
Looking for other positions? Check out our Week 10 Waiver Wire article, which covers a plethora of players from all positions.
1) New York Giants (at CAR)
You would think the team that leads the NFL in sacks would be universally rostered in fantasy football. However, the New York Giants are still rostered in only 5% of Yahoo leagues and 4% of ESPN leagues, one of the more bizarre trends in fantasy this season.
New York is a must-start most weeks simply because of the high floor that their pass rush provides. That’s especially true in a Week 10 matchup against the abysmal Carolina Panthers.
At least Dexter Lawrence's highlight reel is always fun. pic.twitter.com/YotQTT9BDf
— Nick Falato (@nickfalato) October 29, 2024
The Panthers have actually done reasonably in pass protection this year (eighth-lowest sack rate allowed), but their 28th-ranked turnover rate makes them a juicy matchup every week.
The Giants should be rostered in every league regardless, but we’ll see their percentage rocket up for Week 10. Even with a bye week coming in Week 11, fantasy managers should carve out a roster spot for New York this week.
2) Detroit Lions (at HOU)
The Detroit Lions surely miss superstar edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, but the pass rush hasn’t been totally hopeless in his absence. Since Hutchinson’s leg injury in Week 6 vs. the Dallas Cowboys, Detroit ranks 12th in sack rate and 13th in pressure rate.
While that’s nothing to throw a parade for, even an average pass rush should make hay against the disintegrating Houston Texans offense.
The Texans have allowed the fifth-highest sack rate this season and is fresh off an abysmal eight-sack showing against the New York Jets, the most in any game of C.J. Stroud’s career.
.@jets pass rush forced CJ Stroud to drop back 38X and complete 11 passes with plenty of throwaways like this. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/6dQ89LEbk1
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) November 1, 2024
There’s certainly risk in streaming the Lions, as wide receiver Nico Collins is on track to return from injured reserve for Houston. That could spell trouble for a Detroit defense that plays man coverage at the highest rate (41%) in the NFL this season.
Still, deeper league managers can take a shot on a unit that will almost certainly generate multiple sacks against the leaky Texans offensive line.
3) Tennessee Titans (at LAC)
The Titans finally generated some takeaways on Sunday vs. the New England Patriots. Tennessee’s three takeaways were a season-high after the Titans generated only three over their first seven games combined.
Justin Herbert is on a tear and hasn’t thrown an interception since Week 2, which makes this a much dicier matchup. Still, there are surprisingly few strong matchups for above-average defenses in Week 10. Tennessee still ranks third in yards per play allowed, so bank on the Titans capping the Chargers’ ceiling a bit.
4) Atlanta Falcons (at NO)
The team that ranks last in sack rate will never be a particularly useful option in fantasy. The Falcons are higher than usual this week due to the bevy of rough matchups for the best D/ST units, coupled with the New Orleans Saints’ persistent struggles.
Even with Derek Carr back in the lineup, the Saints could only muster a meager -0.01 EPA per dropback against the Panthers. This was the first time all season that a team did not post a positive EPA per dropback against Carolina.
With Chris Olave likely out after a frightening concussion, the Saints simply don’t have the ceiling to be particularly threatening to even a relatively toothless Atlanta defense.
5) Miami Dolphins (at LAR)
The Miami Dolphins have only 10 sacks, tied for the second-fewest in the NFL. After a promising start in terms of pressure generation, the Dolphins’ pass rush has totally collapsed in the last two weeks. Since Week 8, Miami’s 21% pressure rate is fourth-worst in the league.
Unfortunately, that’s one of the very few surefire ways to generate negative plays from Matthew Stafford. The Los Angeles Rams quarterback has thrown five interceptions when pressured this season, tied for third most in the league.
With Miami’s pass rush disintegrating, the Dolphins are a stay-away in a primetime road matchup.
6) New England Patriots (at CHI)
The Chicago Bears have posted a couple mediocre offensive showings in a row, but they are a different unit at Soldier Field. In true home games, the Bears have scored at least 24 points in every game and have turned it over just once.
The New England Patriots took advantage of a favorable Week 9 matchup in Tennessee but still allowed 5.5 yards per play, a below-average figure. This is more of a get-right spot for Caleb Williams and the offense rather than an opportunity to stream the Pats’ D/ST.
7) Arizona Cardinals (vs. NYJ)
The Arizona Cardinals didn’t allow a touchdown for the second time in three weeks, a stunning development for a defense that was one of the worst to begin the season.
The issue is that the Cardinals aren’t really equipped with the personnel to slow down Davante Adams and Garrett Wilson. Arizona ranks 27th in yards per target allowed to wide receivers (8.7). With the Jets’ offense showing signs of life in the second half of its Week 9 win over the Houston Texans, the Cards are a risky D/ST streamer even at home.
8) Indianapolis Colts (vs. BUF)
The Indianapolis Colts played reasonably well in a difficult Sunday night environment at the Minnesota Vikings. The Colts’ defense outscored its offense 7-6, with a Kenny Moore fumble return touchdown being the only time they reached the end zone.
Unfortunately, Indy will now face a Bills team with the third-lowest turnover rate and lowest sack rate allowed. The Colts are unlikely to be a usable option in this game.
9) Los Angeles Rams (vs. MIA)
The Los Angeles Rams rattled Geno Smith into three interceptions, giving L.A. seven takeaways during its three-game win streak. The Rams had four takeaways over their first five games combined.
Still, the Dolphins have looked like a different unit with Tua Tagovailoa back from his injured reserve stint. In Tua’s two games back, Miami ranks second in points per drive and has only turned it over once on a Raheem Mostert fumble.
Given that the Rams are unlikely to feast on takeaways again, expect the Dolphins to move the ball regularly.
10) Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. MIN)
The Jaguars have been a wretched defense all season, and this is a particularly problematic matchup for them. Jacksonville plays man coverage at the fourth-highest rate (34.4%). Thanks in large part to Justin Jefferson, Sam Darnold has the third-highest passer rating (121.0) against man coverage this season.
The Jags will surely bracket Jefferson like every defense. But as we saw in the Vikings’ Week 9 over the Indianapolis Colts, single-high defenses that plan for Jefferson can get burned by Minnesota’s supporting cast targets just as easily.
11) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. SF)
The wheels have fallen off for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense. Entering their MNF matchup in Kansas City, the Bucs rank 29th in defensive EPA per play (-0.11). They’ve allowed 2.84 points per drive in that span, second-worst ahead of only the Carolina Panthers.
The San Francisco 49ers may not be as fearsome as past offenses, but this could be Christian McCaffrey’s season debut. Even with CMC likely to have some pitch count, the Bucs are in the conversation for the least playable defense in Week 10.
12) Dallas Cowboys (vs. PHI)
The Dallas Cowboys have given up the second most points per drive on the season, ahead of only the Carolina Panthers. Dallas is back home, which has been its worst nightmare this season. At AT&T Stadium, the Cowboys are allowing 39.7 PPG and 7.6 yards per play. Both those are the worst of any team at home this season.
While the Philadelphia Eagles are still prone to self-inflicted wounds, they also generate explosive plays at a rate that should break Dallas’ defense. The Eagles have gained 20+ yards on 7.1% of their plays this season, the eighth-highest rate in the league.
Even if Jalen Hurts runs into a turnover and a couple of sacks, the trio of Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith should do more than enough damage to the abysmal Cowboys defense.
13) Carolina Panthers (vs. NYG)
Forget that the New York Giants are typically a solid matchup against which you can stream a D/ST. The Panthers posted their second-best defensive game of the season in Week 9 vs. the New Orleans Saints…and still conceded 22 points and 427 total yards. Carolina didn’t even post a positive EPA per play on defense (-0.03).
The Panthers will most likely not perform at the second-worst level of any defense in Week 10. The Giants have only exceeded 21 points in a single game this season and rank 31st in points per drive. But Carolina is not a D/ST worth rostering, no matter the circumstances.