A strong performance from your defense and special-teams unit can make or break a fantasy week, serving as an important supporting element to your star players. Below we rank the 28 defenses in action for Week 6, highlighting the best options and potential streaming alternatives. All stats courtesy TruMedia unless otherwise stated.
1) Pittsburgh Steelers (at Raiders)
The Steelers have allowed the fewest PPR points per game entering their Sunday night matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. Now they face a Raiders team that ranks in the bottom 10 in scoring offense and could face a quarterback controversy after another Gardner Minshew dud.
The Steelers have the fifth-highest pressure rate in the league this season, which could generate plenty of negative plays against the error-prone Raiders offense.
2) Houston Texans (at Patriots)
The Texans pass rush should feast against a Patriots offense allowing the highest pressure rate in the league. Houston ranks 10th in PPR points per game allowed and just held Josh Allen to 9-for-30 passing in its win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
WWE SmackDown! 🤣 pic.twitter.com/NYVNh7OM5K
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans)
3) Denver Broncos (vs Chargers)
The ferocious Broncos pass rush could be in position to exploit a Chargers offense line that played its most recent game in Week 4 without starting tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt. While the bye week likely improved Los Angeles’ health outlook, Justin Herbert is also still dealing with a high-ankle sprain as well. The Chargers have gone three-and-out on 51.1% of their drives, the highest rate in the league.
A 100 YARD PICK 6!! @PatSurtainll pic.twitter.com/Xh3CG05U9J
— NFL (@NFL)
4) Chicago Bears (vs Jaguars in London)
Although the Jaguars have shown flashes of big-play potential, Jacksonville is among the more error-prone offenses this year, giving the Bears a higher ceiling in fantasy. Chicago has also not allowed more than 21 points in 11 straight games, the longest active streak in the league, giving them a fairly high floor as well.
5) San Francisco 49ers (at Seahawks)
The 49ers are facing a Seahawks offense that just got shut down at home by the New York Giants and now has to play on a short week. Of course, the same applies to San Francisco, but the 49ers have rebounded from a tough start and rank ninth in fewest fantasy points allowed.
Nick Bosa pick!! His 2nd career INT 😲
📺: #AZvsSF on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/1ANft4skMo— NFL (@NFL)
6) Los Angeles Chargers (at Broncos)
The other defense in Denver next Sunday should also feast. The Chargers rank fifth in fewest fantasy points allowed per game while also boasting the leading scoring defense in the league (12.5 PPG). The Broncos are not nearly as enticing a matchup as they looked earlier in the season, but the Chargers still look like a team capable of posting a strong fantasy day.
7) New York Jets (vs Bills)
The Jets contained a Minnesota Vikings offense that had been thriving the first month of the season and rank third in fantasy PPG allowed this season. The Bills have hit a speed bump the last two weeks, with Josh Allen completing just 30% of his passes in Sunday’s loss vs the Houston Texans. Thus the Jets remain a startable fantasy defense with Buffalo’s offense not looking nearly as fearsome as it did to begin the year.
8) Philadelphia Eagles (vs Browns)
The Eagles have had their share of problems, ranking 24th in fantasy defense this season. But the Cleveland Browns are not in position to exploit any unit at the moment. With an extremely favorable matchup in Week 5 vs the Washington Commanders, the Browns could only muster 13 points, with the touchdown coming late in garbage time. At this point, the Browns are an automatic target for owners streaming defenses on a week-to-week basis.
9) Green Bay Packers (vs Cardinals)
The Packers have generated the most takeaways in the league this season, providing a gold mine for fantasy managers. The Cardinals are not a plus matchup, and their running game could take advantage of a Green Bay defense that ranks 24th in success rate against the run. Still, the Packers’ propensity for takeaways alone makes them a startable D/ST every week.
Got to the QB again!#GBvsLAR pic.twitter.com/2bfGHrTCEY
— Green Bay Packers (@packers)
10) Tennessee Titans (vs Colts)
The Titans have quietly been among the best defenses in the league this season, ranking second in fewest fantasy points allowed. Tennessee could potentially move up these rankings depending on Anthony Richardson’s health. Indianapolis has looked considerably more functional and less error-prone with Joe Flacco under center, putting up 61 points the last two weeks. Nevertheless, the Titans’ performance to date makes them a must-start until proven otherwise.
11) Buffalo Bills (at Jets)
The Bills were clobbered two weeks ago at Baltimore but face a reeling Jets offense that has become one-dimensional. The Jets rank 30th in yards per rush (3.6), making New York ill-equipped to exploit Buffalo’s leaky run defense. That should allow the Bills to play to their strength in the secondary, with Christian Benford’s emergence providing them a true No. 1 cornerback option to combat Garrett Wilson.
12) Baltimore Ravens (vs Commanders)
The Ravens struggled against the red-hot Bengals offense in Week 5 and now face the prohibitive Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite in Jayden Daniels. So while Baltimore was likely drafted as a plug-and-play defense, it’s worth looking around for better potential streaming options.
13) Indianapolis Colts (at Titans)
The Colts have had two strong defensive outings and three horrendous ones, making them extremely difficult to read. For now, they land in the middle of the table pending the Titans quarterback decision. Tennessee head coach Brian Callahan has said that Will Levis will start if healthy, which is great news for the Colts. Levis leads the NFL with nine turnovers despite missing most of the Titans’ last game vs. the Miami Dolphins and having a bye in Week 5.
14) New Orleans Saints (vs Buccaneers)
The Saints have yet to play in Week 5 and will be on a short week after visiting Kansas City on Monday night. Tampa Bay ranks ninth in scoring offense thanks to an extremely efficient passing offense, so the Saints are a mid-tier option pending their MNF performance at Arrowhead Stadium.
15) Cleveland Browns (vs Eagles)
The Browns are an upside option facing Jalen Hurts, who has turned the ball over in nine straight games. However, Cleveland is not the same unit that led the league in yards per game last season. After getting shredded by the Washington Commanders on Sunday, the Browns rank 23rd in scoring defense. They’re better than that by fantasy standards (12th in fewest PPR points allowed), but will likely struggle to stop Philly without splash plays.
16) New York Giants (vs Bengals)
The Giants move up the rankings after a seven-sack performance in their Week 5 upset over the Seattle Seahawks. After that, New York now has an NFL-leading 22 sacks, with Dexter Lawrence leading all defensive tackles with six sacks this season. The Bengals are a tough matchup with Joe Burrow and the passing game rolling, but Lawrence should be able to exploit a leaky Bengals interior offensive line to generate a few negative plays.
Sexy Dexy gets the @Giants 7th sack of the day to seal this game 😤
📺: #NYGvsSEA on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/Yboq5CDybH— NFL (@NFL)
17) New England Patriots (vs Texans)
The Patriots have been a middling defense this year, ranking 18th in fantasy PPG allowed. They do rank as an above-average unit in takeaways (11th) and sacks (14th), giving them a little more upside at home.
18) Atlanta Falcons (at Panthers)
The Panthers’ short-term bump from switching to Andy Dalton at quarterback appears to have fizzled out after a 36-10 thumping at the hands of the Chicago Bears. Atlanta is not much of a streaming target, ranking 23rd in fantasy points allowed on defense, but the Falcons do have three takeaways (two of which resulted in touchdowns) in their last two games. In addition, Atlanta has the benefit of a long week after playing on Thursday night in Week 5.
19) Las Vegas Raiders (vs Steelers)
The Raiders could not exploit a favorable matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, making them a very shaky proposition in fantasy circles. The Steelers are not a big-play offense (though the same could have been said for the Broncos), so the Raiders’ best hope is that Justin Fields’ longer average time to throw results in more sack opportunities for Maxx Crosby and the pass rush.
20) Seattle Seahawks (vs 49ers)
The Seahawks have disintegrated since a strong three-game start to the season. The last two weeks, Seattle has allowed a league-high 35.5 points per game. If not for a controversial fumble call at the goal line that led to a 102-yard Rayshawn Jenkins fumble return, the Seahawks’ Week 5 defensive showing would have been a true catastrophe.
99 yards and a skip into the endzone…
TOUCHDOWN RAYSHAWN JENKINS! pic.twitter.com/XY4wpFXLwI
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks)
21) Detroit Lions (at Cowboys)
The Lions are coming off a bye, which was sorely needed after a woeful defensive showing against the Seahawks (516 yards on 6.6 yards per play allowed). Aidan Hutchinson continues to lead the league with 6.5 sacks despite already recording his bye week, but the negative plays are mostly nonexistent otherwise. The Cowboys are not as fearsome a fantasy proposition as they were last year, but a road game at Dallas still does not profile as a favorable matchup.
22) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at Saints)
The Bucs have been ravaged by injury, so this ranking is subject to change. Without the likes of Antoine Winfield Jr. and Calijah Kancey in Week 5 vs the Atlanta Falcons, the pass rush was totally toothless in allowing Kirk Cousins to eviscerate them for 509 pass yards. If the Bucs are a little healthier, a more favorable matchup against the battered Saints offensive line playing on a short week could improve their ranking.
23) Cincinnati Bengals (at Giants)
The Bengals have the second-worst scoring defense in the league, allowing 29 points per game. A Germaine Pratt forced fumble in overtime notwithstanding, Cincinnati was totally powerless to stop Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens in a 41-38 loss. The Giants looked frisky in an upset win at Seattle even without rookie sensation Malik Nabers or starting running back Devin Singletary. As such, this profiles as more of a situation that favors starting Giants offensive players in fantasy rather than one where you can even consider streaming the Bengals D/ST.
24) Dallas Cowboys (vs Lions)
As of publication, the Cowboys were still awaiting their Sunday night game at Pittsburgh. The Cowboys’ run defense could be the issue here against a Detroit team that is averaging over 150 rush yards per game and ranks second in rushing success rate behind the Ravens. And with starting edge rushers Micah Parsons and Demarcus Lawrence unlikely to play, a potentially toothless pass rush would spell trouble as well.
25) Jacksonville Jaguars (vs Bears in London)
The Jaguars finally recorded their first win of the season but remain an unplayable defense in fantasy circles. Jacksonville allowed 34 points and 447 yards in their win over the Indianapolis Colts. Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen combined for four sacks (one of which was a Walker strip-sack), so there’s a little negative-play upside against Caleb Williams. Still, this is not a unit capable of offering much drive-to-drive resistance.
26) Arizona Cardinals (at Packers)
The Cardinals pitched a second-half shutout in their upset win over the San Francisco 49ers, easily the best half of the season for a mostly anonymous unit. Still, this team ranks 27th in yards per play allowed and is going against a Packers offense that specializes in explosive plays. A road contest at Lambeau Field is not the time to start this unit in fantasy.
27) Washington Commanders (at Ravens)
The Commanders took advantage of a toothless Cleveland Browns attack to deliver their best defensive performance of the season. Nevertheless, Washington still ranks 31st in yards per rush allowed. Going against the best rushing attack in the NFL (the Ravens rank first with 6.1 yards per rush), that spells potential disaster.
28) Carolina Panthers (vs Falcons)
The Panthers are allowing a league-high 33.0 points per game, comfortably the most in the NFL. And with top pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney going down with a shoulder injury in their Week 5 loss vs the Chicago Bears, an already struggling unit may have to play without its most notable contributor. Against a Falcons offense that finally clicked and will have extra rest after playing on Thursday night in Week 5, that could spell disaster.
