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Week 8 Defense Rankings

32 defenses ranked · STD scoring · Updated Oct 6, 2026, 6:02 AM EDT

Projected — Week 5 is the current week

No betting lines yet. Sportsbooks have not posted totals for this week, so the scoring environment here is estimated from season scoring rates rather than taken from the market. Player roles and matchups are current; the point projections are less certain than a normal week's.

Cleveland Defense is the number one fantasy defense in Week 8 on the road against PIT, an offense implied for 19.8 points, projected for 6.6 points. 5 defenses project above six points this week, and everything below that line is a coin flip you should be streaming rather than rostering. The best streaming option outside the top eight is Los Angeles Chargers Defense at DST9 at LA (24.4 implied) at 5.8 projected points — the matchup, not the unit, is doing the work.

Past weeks are scored against actual results.

RankPlayerProjVerdict

Tier 1

DST1

Cleveland Defense

@ PIT

@ PIT · 19.8 opponent implied · high confidence· ▲ 3

PIT implied for 19.8, solid pressure and takeaway rate.

6.6Projstart

DST2

Jacksonville Defense

vs IND

vs IND · 17.8 opponent implied · high confidence· ▲ 28

IND is implied for just 17.8, solid pressure and takeaway rate.

6.6Projstart

DST3

Cincinnati Defense

vs TEN

vs TEN · 14.9 opponent implied · high confidence· ▲ 10

TEN is implied for just 14.9.

6.5Projstart

DST4

Denver Defense

vs KC

vs KC · 30.0 opponent implied · medium confidence· ▼ 2

KC is implied for 30.0, a tough draw, heavy sack and turnover production.

6.3Projstart

DST5

Las Vegas Defense

@ NYJ

@ NYJ · 17.3 opponent implied · high confidence· ▲ 1

NYJ is implied for just 17.3, solid pressure and takeaway rate.

6.1Projstart

DST6

Minnesota Defense

@ DET

@ DET · 20.8 opponent implied · high confidence· ▼ 1

DET implied for 20.8, solid pressure and takeaway rate.

6.0Projstart

DST7

Seattle Defense

vs CHI

vs CHI · 22.1 opponent implied · high confidence· —

CHI implied for 22.1, solid pressure and takeaway rate.

6.0Projstart

DST8

New England Defense

@ MIA

@ MIA · 13.5 opponent implied · high confidence· ▲ 8

MIA is implied for just 13.5.

6.0Projstart

DST9

Los Angeles Chargers Defense

@ LA

@ LA · 24.4 opponent implied · high confidence· ▲ 22

LA implied for 24.4, solid pressure and takeaway rate.

5.8Projstream

Tier 2

DST10

Pittsburgh Defense

vs CLE

vs CLE · 19.1 opponent implied · low confidence· ▼ 1

CLE implied for 19.1.

5.4Projstream

DST11

Los Angeles Rams Defense

vs LAC

vs LAC · 15.0 opponent implied · high confidence· ▲ 8

LAC is implied for just 15.0.

5.3Projstream

DST12

Washington Defense

vs PHI

vs PHI · 24.7 opponent implied · medium confidence· ▲ 20

PHI implied for 24.7, solid pressure and takeaway rate.

5.0Projstream

DST13

Chicago Defense

@ SEA

@ SEA · 18.5 opponent implied · high confidence· ▼ 10

SEA is implied for just 18.5.

4.8Projstream

DST14

Carolina Defense

@ GB

@ GB · 21.5 opponent implied · low confidence· ▼ 3

GB implied for 21.5.

4.5Projstream

Tier 3

DST15

Kansas City Defense

@ DEN

@ DEN · 15.4 opponent implied · high confidence· ▲ 8

DEN is implied for just 15.4, little big-play production.

4.1Projsit

DST16

Tennessee Defense

@ CIN

@ CIN · 21.8 opponent implied · high confidence· ▼ 4

CIN implied for 21.8.

3.8Projsit

DST17

Tampa Bay Defense

vs ATL

vs ATL · 24.9 opponent implied · high confidence· ▲ 7

ATL implied for 24.9.

3.6Projsit

DST18

Miami Defense

vs NE

vs NE · 17.8 opponent implied · high confidence· ▲ 2

NE is implied for just 17.8, little big-play production.

3.6Projsit

DST19

Detroit Defense

vs MIN

vs MIN · 29.0 opponent implied · high confidence· ▼ 4

MIN is implied for 29.0, a tough draw.

3.5Projsit

DST20

New York Jets Defense

vs LV

vs LV · 26.1 opponent implied · high confidence· ▼ 12

LV is implied for 26.1, a tough draw.

3.2Projsit

DST21

Atlanta Defense

@ TB

@ TB · 18.9 opponent implied · high confidence· ▲ 6

TB is implied for just 18.9, little big-play production.

3.0Projsit

DST22

Philadelphia Defense

@ WAS

@ WAS · 22.1 opponent implied · high confidence· ▲ 4

WAS implied for 22.1, little big-play production.

2.8Projsit

DST23

Green Bay Defense

vs CAR

vs CAR · 34.4 opponent implied · high confidence· ▼ 1

CAR is implied for 34.4, a tough draw, solid pressure and takeaway rate.

2.7Projsit

DST24

Indianapolis Defense

@ JAX

@ JAX · 29.3 opponent implied · high confidence· ▼ 3

JAX is implied for 29.3, a tough draw.

2.3Projsit

Tier 4

DST25

Baltimore Defense

@ BUF

@ BUF · 32.4 opponent implied · high confidence· ▼ 7

BUF is implied for 32.4, a tough draw.

1.8Projsit

Tier 5

DST26

Buffalo Defense

vs BAL

vs BAL · 33.6 opponent implied · high confidence· ▲ 3

BAL is implied for 33.6, a tough draw.

1.4Projsit

Tier 6

DST27

Dallas Defense

vs ARI

vs ARI · 26.4 opponent implied · high confidence· ▲ 1

ARI is implied for 26.4, a tough draw, little big-play production.

0.7Projsit

Tier 7

DST28

Arizona Defense

@ DAL

@ DAL · 38.6 opponent implied · medium confidence· ▼ 14

DAL is implied for 38.6, a tough draw.

0.0Projsit

DST29

Houston Defense

BYE

BYE · high confidence· ▼ 19

On bye this week — not ranked to play.

0.0Projsit

DST30

New Orleans Defense

BYE

BYE · high confidence· ▼ 5

On bye this week — not ranked to play.

0.0Projsit

DST31

New York Giants Defense

BYE

BYE · low confidence· ▼ 30

On bye this week — not ranked to play.

0.0Projsit

DST32

San Francisco Defense

BYE

BYE · high confidence· ▼ 15

On bye this week — not ranked to play.

0.0Projsit

Verdict

Tier 1

DST1▲ 3
start
Cleveland Defense
@ PIT
PIT implied for 19.8, solid pressure and takeaway rate.
@ PIT · 6.6 PROJ · 19.8 EST · high confidence
DST2▲ 28
start
Jacksonville Defense
vs IND
IND is implied for just 17.8, solid pressure and takeaway rate.
vs IND · 6.6 PROJ · 17.8 EST · high confidence
DST3▲ 10
start
Cincinnati Defense
vs TEN
TEN is implied for just 14.9.
vs TEN · 6.5 PROJ · 14.9 EST · high confidence
DST4▼ 2
start
Denver Defense
vs KC
KC is implied for 30.0, a tough draw, heavy sack and turnover production.
vs KC · 6.3 PROJ · 30.0 EST · medium confidence
DST5▲ 1
start
Las Vegas Defense
@ NYJ
NYJ is implied for just 17.3, solid pressure and takeaway rate.
@ NYJ · 6.1 PROJ · 17.3 EST · high confidence
DST6▼ 1
start
Minnesota Defense
@ DET
DET implied for 20.8, solid pressure and takeaway rate.
@ DET · 6.0 PROJ · 20.8 EST · high confidence
DST7—
start
Seattle Defense
vs CHI
CHI implied for 22.1, solid pressure and takeaway rate.
vs CHI · 6.0 PROJ · 22.1 EST · high confidence
DST8▲ 8
start
New England Defense
@ MIA
MIA is implied for just 13.5.
@ MIA · 6.0 PROJ · 13.5 EST · high confidence
DST9▲ 22
stream
Los Angeles Chargers Defense
@ LA
LA implied for 24.4, solid pressure and takeaway rate.
@ LA · 5.8 PROJ · 24.4 EST · high confidence

Tier 2

DST10▼ 1
stream
Pittsburgh Defense
vs CLE
CLE implied for 19.1.
vs CLE · 5.4 PROJ · 19.1 EST · low confidence
DST11▲ 8
stream
Los Angeles Rams Defense
vs LAC
LAC is implied for just 15.0.
vs LAC · 5.3 PROJ · 15.0 EST · high confidence
DST12▲ 20
stream
Washington Defense
vs PHI
PHI implied for 24.7, solid pressure and takeaway rate.
vs PHI · 5.0 PROJ · 24.7 EST · medium confidence
DST13▼ 10
stream
Chicago Defense
@ SEA
SEA is implied for just 18.5.
@ SEA · 4.8 PROJ · 18.5 EST · high confidence
DST14▼ 3
stream
Carolina Defense
@ GB
GB implied for 21.5.
@ GB · 4.5 PROJ · 21.5 EST · low confidence

Tier 3

DST15▲ 8
sit
Kansas City Defense
@ DEN
DEN is implied for just 15.4, little big-play production.
@ DEN · 4.1 PROJ · 15.4 EST · high confidence
DST16▼ 4
sit
Tennessee Defense
@ CIN
CIN implied for 21.8.
@ CIN · 3.8 PROJ · 21.8 EST · high confidence
DST17▲ 7
sit
Tampa Bay Defense
vs ATL
ATL implied for 24.9.
vs ATL · 3.6 PROJ · 24.9 EST · high confidence
DST18▲ 2
sit
Miami Defense
vs NE
NE is implied for just 17.8, little big-play production.
vs NE · 3.6 PROJ · 17.8 EST · high confidence
DST19▼ 4
sit
Detroit Defense
vs MIN
MIN is implied for 29.0, a tough draw.
vs MIN · 3.5 PROJ · 29.0 EST · high confidence
DST20▼ 12
sit
New York Jets Defense
vs LV
LV is implied for 26.1, a tough draw.
vs LV · 3.2 PROJ · 26.1 EST · high confidence
DST21▲ 6
sit
Atlanta Defense
@ TB
TB is implied for just 18.9, little big-play production.
@ TB · 3.0 PROJ · 18.9 EST · high confidence
DST22▲ 4
sit
Philadelphia Defense
@ WAS
WAS implied for 22.1, little big-play production.
@ WAS · 2.8 PROJ · 22.1 EST · high confidence
DST23▼ 1
sit
Green Bay Defense
vs CAR
CAR is implied for 34.4, a tough draw, solid pressure and takeaway rate.
vs CAR · 2.7 PROJ · 34.4 EST · high confidence
DST24▼ 3
sit
Indianapolis Defense
@ JAX
JAX is implied for 29.3, a tough draw.
@ JAX · 2.3 PROJ · 29.3 EST · high confidence

Tier 4

DST25▼ 7
sit
Baltimore Defense
@ BUF
BUF is implied for 32.4, a tough draw.
@ BUF · 1.8 PROJ · 32.4 EST · high confidence

Tier 5

DST26▲ 3
sit
Buffalo Defense
vs BAL
BAL is implied for 33.6, a tough draw.
vs BAL · 1.4 PROJ · 33.6 EST · high confidence

Tier 6

DST27▲ 1
sit
Dallas Defense
vs ARI
ARI is implied for 26.4, a tough draw, little big-play production.
vs ARI · 0.7 PROJ · 26.4 EST · high confidence

Tier 7

DST28▼ 14
sit
Arizona Defense
@ DAL
DAL is implied for 38.6, a tough draw.
@ DAL · 0.0 PROJ · 38.6 EST · medium confidence
DST29▼ 19
sit
Houston Defense
BYE
On bye this week — not ranked to play.
BYE · 0.0 PROJ · high confidence
DST30▼ 5
sit
New Orleans Defense
BYE
On bye this week — not ranked to play.
BYE · 0.0 PROJ · high confidence
DST31▼ 30
sit
New York Giants Defense
BYE
On bye this week — not ranked to play.
BYE · 0.0 PROJ · low confidence
DST32▼ 15
sit
San Francisco Defense
BYE
On bye this week — not ranked to play.
BYE · 0.0 PROJ · high confidence

Underlying NFL data via nflverse. Betting lines from Lee Sharpe's games file. Rankings are FantasyWeek.us originals.