We are officially in the second half of the fantasy football season. At this point, we have a very good idea of who the top defenses are and, more importantly, what offenses we want to target when streaming defenses. Here are all defenses ranked for Week 9, as well as the top defensive streamers available in more than 50% of Yahoo leagues.
Week 9 Fantasy Defense Rankings and Streamers
1) Cincinnati Bengals (vs. LV) *Top Streamer
This is a very difficult week for defenses, as there are not a lot of great matchups. Fortunately, the best matchup out there features a defense available in nearly 70% of Yahoo leagues.
The Cincinnati Bengals may not have a great defense, but the most important factor in streaming defenses is the caliber of the opposing offense.
The Raiders are giving up the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing defenses. While this would be a better matchup with Aidan O’Connell at quarterback, the Raiders severely lack offensive firepower beyond Brock Bowers.
2) Chicago Bears (at ARI)
Outside of a 41-point explosion against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 2, this offense has really sputtered. Kyler Murray has not thrown more than one touchdown pass in any other game. They’ve failed to reach 20 points four times since Week 3.
Meanwhile, the Bears have one of the best defenses in the league. They entered Week 8 averaging three sacks per game and forcing 13 turnovers.
3) Minnesota Vikings (vs. IND)
Brian Flores’ defense got exposed by Sean McVay last Thursday night, but Flores remains one of the top defensive minds in football. Expect the Minnesota Vikings to use their extra three days of preparation to figure things out.
It should be much easier against a Colts offense sending out the inconsistent and mistake-prone Anthony Richardson. The Colts QB is completing fewer than 50% of his passes and has more interceptions than touchdown throws on the season.
4) New England Patriots (at TEN) *Top Streamer
The Titans are on the precipice of mailing it in for the 2024 season. Whether it’s Will Levis or Mason Rudolph, it’s not a good situation at quarterback. The team traded away DeAndre Hopkins. Calvin Ridley has been battling through injury. Things just aren’t going well.
The New England Patriots don’t have a great defense, but no team allows more fantasy points per game to opposing defenses than the Titans. They’re averaging just 4.3 yards per play, the second-worst rate in the league.
5) Baltimore Ravens (vs. DEN)
The Baltimore Ravens are an extreme pass-funnel defense. You can throw all over them, but you can’t really run. They allow the third-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks but the 12th-fewest to running backs.
That’s a bad setup for the Broncos, who would prefer to lean on Javonte Williams than ask Bo Nix to air it out. The rookie QB is averaging just 178 passing yards per game.
With the Ravens likely to have a positive game script throughout, we could see Nix forced into mistakes.
6) Philadelphia Eagles (vs. JAX)
Trevor Lawrence has been playing much better lately. Nevertheless, this remains one of the better matchups on the week given Lawrence’s penchant for turning back into a pumpkin.
This ranking is more of a product of the Philadelphia Eagles being home favorites and the likelihood of a positive game script leading to sacks and turnover opportunities. Otherwise, it’s not the greatest matchup, as the Eagles are below average in defensive fantasy points per game.
7) New Orleans Saints (at CAR) *Top Streamer
The New Orleans Saints are definitely at risk of getting run over by Chuba Hubbard and possibly a returning Jonathon Brooks. This is a very bad run defense. The Saints are second to last in rush defense success rate. Typically, we don’t want defenses against teams that run the ball because there’s a much lower probability of a turnover and lower chances at a sack.
Javonte Williams goes untouched into the end zone! #DENvsNO on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/00Bqt0nJiR— NFL (@NFL)
Nevertheless, Bryce Young is back in the saddle, and you can certainly do worse than taking a defense against him if he starts. Given the lack of quality options this week, the Saints are a good streaming option available in about 65% of Yahoo leagues.
8) Houston Texans (at NYJ)
Aaron Rodgers may be better than Zach Wilson, but the Jets aren’t exactly a juggernaut offense. The arrival of Davante Adams has helped, but this is still a team with a banged-up 41-year-old quarterback who is averaging fewer than 20 points per game.
The Houston Texans have a very good pass rush and also lead the league in defensive rush success rate. That’s a problem for a Jets offense that relies heavily on Breece Hall.
9) Cleveland Browns (vs. LAC)
We’re not even through the top 12 defenses and we’re already getting to the uninspiring options. The Cleveland Browns have had good defenses in the past, but this year’s version is not quite as good.
They are averaging the third-most fantasy points per game. However, this team really struggles against the pass, allowing the fifth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers.
Given the Browns’ top-third ranking in rush defense success rate, combined with the Chargers’ preference for running the football, the hope here is this ends up being a low-scoring game where the Browns survive by simply not allowing many points.
10) Los Angeles Chargers (at CLE)
It’s never a good thing when two teams in the same game are ranked back-to-back. Yet, here we are.
The Los Angeles Chargers technically have a top-12 defense in terms of fantasy points per game, but it would be a stretch to say they’ve been good. They find themselves inside the top 10 this week because they have a home game against the historically turnover-prone Jameis Winston.
11) Tennessee Titans (vs. NE)
This would be a much more enticing option if Jacoby Brissett were still starting. Drake Maye has provided a spark to the Patriots offense. In his first two starts, they instantly scored as many or more points than in any game under Brissett.
At the same time, Maye has been a bit reckless at times. He threw two interceptions in his first start and took six sacks over his first two. The Patriots have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to opposing defenses, making the Tennessee Titans viable.
12) Kansas City Chiefs (vs. TB)
Here we have an objectively great defense with a terrible matchup against a great offense. Baker Mayfield has been playing like an MVP candidate. He actually leads all quarterbacks in pass success rate.
It remains to be seen how this offense can continue to function without Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. With the Kansas City Chiefs favored at home, hopefully, those forced to start them can get a few sacks and a turnover or two.
13) Buffalo Bills (vs. MIA)
The last time these two teams met, the Buffalo Bills completely dominated even before Tua Tagovailoa suffered his second-half concussion. Since then, the Dolphins have not only been the worst offense in the league, they’ve been the worst offense in NFL history. Skylar Thompson and Tyler Huntley ranked 35th and 41st in pass success rate before Tagovailoa’s return.
The Dolphins should be much better offensively this time around, now that the band is back together. The Bills have been a top-12 defense in fantasy points per game, but they’re closer to No. 18 than to the top five. You can start them if you need to, but I wouldn’t feel great about it.
14) New York Jets (vs. HOU)
The New York Jets were supposed to have a good defense. Instead, this unit is 18th in fantasy points per game. This is a bad matchup for them against a very good Texans offense that is not prone to mistakes.
The best case for the Jets is that C.J. Stroud has taken a fair amount of sacks this season, averaging just under three per game. They can be started in a pinch, but we generally want to target weaker offenses.
Most sacked quarterbacks in the NFL:
Deshaun Watson: 33
Daniel Jones: 21
Geno Smith: 20
C.J. Stroud: 20
Caleb Williams: 20— Will Kunkel (@WillKunkelFOX)
15) Carolina Panthers (vs. NO)
It speaks to the lack of quality matchups this week that the Carolina Panthers, who rank third to last in defense success rate, are 15th. This is presuming, for now, that Spencer Rattler makes a third start (or Jake Haener makes his first). If Derek Carr returns, lower this unit a few spots.
Rattler took a staggering 11 sacks in his first two starts. At the very least, that gives the Panthers a solid floor if he has to play again.
16) Washington Commanders (at NYG)
Last year, the Washington Commanders had a historically bad pass defense. This year, they are clearly much improved.
These two teams met back in Week 2, and the Giants only scored 18 points. However, Daniel Jones, who has been prone to sacks and turnovers, took just one sack and didn’t turn it over. On the road, fantasy managers should be even less excited about using the Commanders.
17) New York Giants (vs WAS)
The New York Giants have been surprisingly good on defense this season. They rank seventh in pressure rate and actually lead the NFL in sack rate. When these teams met in Week 2, they sacked Jayden Daniels five times, which is the most he’s been sacked in a game this season.
The flip side is the Commanders have been a truly elite offense. They entered Week 8 tied with the Ravens for the most points per game. We generally want to avoid defenses against elite offenses, but the Giants should have a decent enough floor via sacks.
18) Arizona Cardinals (vs. CHI)
We are now getting to the part of the rankings where you don’t want to be starting any of these defenses. The Arizona Cardinals are capable of holding their own against weak offenses. Two weeks ago, they prevented the Chargers from scoring a touchdown. But overall, this is not a strong fantasy defense.
The Cardinals’ defensive success rate ranks dead last. They average just 2.0 sacks per game. Meanwhile, Caleb Williams and the Bears have been playing much better. Avoid the Cards if you can.
19) Denver Broncos (at BAL)
The Denver Broncos have one of the best defenses in the league. Yet, they are unstartable in Week 9. That’s what happens when you face the MVP frontrunner, Lamar Jackson.
Lamar Jackson shaking multiple defenders where everyone else in the history of the world would get smoked. Unfair. pic.twitter.com/nybc7yKjiW
— JetPack Galileo (@JetPackGalileo)
There’s no complicated analysis here. We want defenses facing bad offenses, not the best offense in football.
Jackson is second in the league in pass success rate. The Ravens are the No. 1 scoring offense in the NFL. Don’t start defenses against the literal best offense.
20) Detroit Lions (at GB)
In Week 8, the Detroit Lions were a top defensive streamer against the Titans. This week, we want no part of them against a Packers offense allowing the eighth-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing defenses.
The Lions haven’t been bad with a top-10 defensive success rate. But on the road in a divisional game against a good offense, they are not a viable fantasy starter.
21) Seattle Seahawks (vs. LAR)
This defense might have looked a bit more interesting two weeks ago. Now, with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua back, the Rams sure look back to being a playoff contender. They lit up the Vikings’ very good defense on Thursday night.
The Seattle Seahawks have been a top-10 defense in fantasy points per game, and the Rams were one of the 10 most generous opponents in fantasy points allowed to defenses. But with their offense healthy, this is another defense to avoid.
22) Los Angeles Rams (at SEA)
The Los Angeles Rams have been a below-average defense in fantasy points per game this season. They’ve been even worse in defensive success rate, ranking sixth worst in the league.
On the road against a Seahawks offense that has been in the top 10 in offensive success rate, the Rams are not a viable fantasy option.
23) Atlanta Falcons (vs. DAL)
The Cowboys have been very Jekyll and Hyde offensively this season. Dak Prescott seems a bit more prone to mistakes than usual with three multi-interception games.
With that said, this Atlanta Falcons defense is atrocious. They are in the bottom eight in fantasy points per game and have the fourth-worst defensive success rate. They belong nowhere near fantasy lineups.
24) Dallas Cowboys (at ATL)
Last year, the Dallas Cowboys defense was a cheat code. They were the highest-scoring fantasy “player” over the first half of the season. This year … not so much.
This defense is banged up and could be without Micah Parsons for another week. But their main issue is defending the run.
The Cowboys have the third-worst rush defense success rate. That’s bad news going up against an elite talent in Bijan Robinson. With Kirk Cousins looking like his normal self and a high projected point total, the Cowboys are not a viable fantasy option.
25) Green Bay Packers (vs. DET)
The Lions are the worst type of team to start a defense against. Jared Goff is chasing records with his elite completion percentage. Their offensive success rate is second-best in the league. They run the ball extremely well, which limits opportunities for sacks and turnovers.
There goes Sonic! 🦔
📺: #DETvsMIN on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/s3dX2xw4Yi— NFL (@NFL)
The Green Bay Packers have been a viable fantasy defense this year. They’re actually in the top five in fantasy points per game, but most of their scoring has come in favorable matchups. This is not one of them.
26) Miami Dolphins (at BUF)
Last week, the Miami Dolphins were a top streamer against the Cardinals. This week, not so much.
The Dolphins may not have been able to score any points while Tagovailoa was out, but their defense still held things down. They’ve been elite at stopping the pass, allowing the fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. Even in Week 2, when they were blown out by the Bills, they limited Josh Allen to single-digit fantasy points. Their pressure rate is No. 1 in the league.
While the Dolphins have a defense worth starting in the right matchups, we are not starting any defense on the road against the Bills’ top-five scoring offense.
27) Indianapolis Colts (at MIN)
Somehow, we live in a world where we are fading defenses going up against Sam Darnold. The way to stop Darnold is to pressure him. He’s in the bottom third in the league in pressured completion percentage. Unfortunately, the Indianapolis Colts rank third-worst in pressure rate.
With the Vikings possessing a top-six scoring offense and Darnold playing well, the Colts are not an option this week.
28) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at KC)
Could this be the game that finally unlocks Patrick Mahomes? The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a pass-funnel defense. They rank second to last in pass defense success rate. While they’ve been pretty good at stopping the deep ball, that’s not Mahomes’ game anymore anyway.
This is a perfect spot for Mahomes to destroy the Bucs with a series of short passes to Travis Kelce and DeAndre Hopkins, and maybe he’s able to uncork one deep to Xavier Worthy.
Although the Chiefs aren’t the juggernaut offense they’ve been in previous years, we’re still not starting bad defenses against Mahomes.
29) Jacksonville Jaguars (at PHI)
The Jacksonville Jaguars are another massive pass funnel. Their pass-defense success rate ranks eighth-worst in the league. They’re in the bottom 10 in both pressure rate and sack rate.
Jalen Hurts is at his best with a clean pocket. He should have plenty of it this week. The Jaguars are one of the worst defenses you can start this week.
30) Las Vegas Raiders (at CIN)
It certainly doesn’t bode well when the top-ranked defense on the week is facing the team whose defense ranks last.
The Cincinnati Bengals allow the seventh-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing defenses, and most of that came in their Week 1 flop against the Patriots. Meanwhile, the Raiders are second-worst in fantasy points per game. This game has all the makings of a blowout.
