Fantasy football is basically a game of managing chaos. You spend all Tuesday morning staring at the waiver wire, trying to figure out if that one blowout win by a random defense was a fluke or a sign of things to come. By the time we hit the mid-season point, things get weird. Injuries pile up. Offensive lines start to crumble like wet crackers.
If you are looking at the week 9 fantasy rankings defense landscape for 2025, you've probably noticed that the "elite" units aren't always the ones winning people their matchups lately. It’s about the matchup, sure, but it’s more about the specific kind of misery an offense is currently enduring. This week, we have four teams on bye: the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Losing the Jets and Eagles stings, but honestly, it opens the door to some streaming options that most people in your league are too scared to touch.
The "Must-Starts" That Actually Live Up to the Hype
The Los Angeles Chargers are the obvious headliner this week. They are traveling to Tennessee to face a Titans team that has been a literal goldmine for opposing fantasy defenses. Every single D/ST that has played the Titans this season has finished in the top 10 for that week. That is an insane stat. Tennessee is giving up sacks at the second-highest rate in the league and they just can't seem to stop turning the ball over. If the Chargers are sitting on your wire—which they might be after some "meh" performances—you grab them. Now.
Then you have the Los Angeles Rams. They are coming off a bye and get to host the New Orleans Saints. The Saints' offense has completely fallen apart. They are starting Tyler Shough at quarterback, and while he’s got a big arm, he is raw as can be. The Rams generate pressure at the sixth-highest rate in the NFL. Jared Verse is playing like a man possessed. Watching what the Bucs did to the Saints a few weeks back (26 fantasy points!) tells you everything you need to know about the Rams' ceiling here.
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Week 9 Fantasy Rankings Defense: Why Everyone Is Wrong About the Lions
I keep seeing people hesitate on the Detroit Lions because they are playing the Minnesota Vikings. "Oh, the Vikings' offense is too explosive," they say. Look closer. The Vikings are actually turning the ball over to rookie J.J. McCarthy this week after Carson Wentz went down with a season-ending shoulder injury.
Minnesota's pass protection is a disaster. They rank 31st in sacks allowed per game. Detroit, meanwhile, is third in sacks per game. You've got a rookie quarterback playing behind a line that’s basically a revolving door, going up against a Lions defense that just got Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph back at full health. That is a recipe for three interceptions and five sacks. Don't overthink this one.
The Mid-Tier Mess
- Green Bay Packers (vs. Carolina): The Panthers might be starting Andy Dalton again if Bryce Young's ankle isn't 100%. Dalton took seven sacks against the Bills recently. Micah Parsons is going to have a field day.
- Jacksonville Jaguars (@ Las Vegas): The Raiders lead the league in turnovers. Even a mediocre Jags defense looks like the '85 Bears when they play a team that refuses to hold onto the football.
- New England Patriots (vs. Atlanta): This is a sneaky one. Atlanta wants to run the ball, but the Patriots are third in the NFL in rushing defense EPA. If they stuff Bijan Robinson, Michael Penix Jr. has to win it through the air. Penix has been shaky under pressure, and the Pats rank fifth in EPA per play allowed over the last month.
Stop Playing These Defenses Immediately
I don’t care if you drafted the Baltimore Ravens high. Stop starting them. They are playing the Miami Dolphins this week, and while the Dolphins' offense hasn't been perfect, the Ravens' secondary is giving up nearly 250 passing yards per game. They are "bend but don't break" until they actually break.
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Also, stay away from the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs matchup. When Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen play each other, the scoreboard usually looks like a basketball game. Neither defense is going to give you the "safe floor" you need in a tight fantasy race. The Bills have been great against the pass, allowing only 156 yards per game on average, but Mahomes is the ultimate outlier.
The Deep Sleeper: Denver Broncos
If you are in a 14-team league and everyone has rostered two defenses for some reason, look at the Denver Broncos. They are playing the Houston Texans. Now, the Texans' offense is good, but their offensive line is a mess. They are currently 26th in our offensive line rankings. Denver ranks third in pressure rate.
Most managers see "Houston" and run away. Smart managers see "C.J. Stroud running for his life" and realize the Broncos have a massive floor because of the sacks they are going to rack up. They lead the league in conversion rate allowed, meaning they get off the field on third down. That’s more opportunities for your defense to not get tired and give up late-game "trash time" touchdowns.
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What to Do Right Now
Check your waiver wire for the Los Angeles Chargers first. If they aren't there, the Los Angeles Rams are your next target. If you are truly desperate, the Jacksonville Jaguars have the highest ceiling of the basement-tier streamers because of how often the Raiders cough up the ball.
Don't hold onto defenses through their bye weeks unless they are the 2025 version of the 2000 Ravens. In today's NFL, the gap between the #5 defense and the #15 defense is mostly about who they are playing that Sunday.
Your Week 9 Action Plan:
- Drop: Any defense playing against the Colts or Bengals (they take care of the ball too well).
- Target: Units playing the Titans, Raiders, or Vikings.
- Monitor: The injury report for the Carolina Panthers; if Bryce Young starts, Green Bay moves from a "good" play to a "league-winning" play.
- Ignore: The "Total Yards Allowed" stat. It doesn't matter if a team gives up 400 yards if they get four sacks and two picks. Focus on Pressure Rate and Takeaway Percentage.
Getting the defense right is about predicting which quarterback is going to panic. This week, that's likely happening in Tennessee and New Orleans.