For the first time this season, the bye week is something you’ll have to deal with when setting your fantasy lineups.
Fantasy football rankings 2017: Defense/special teams for NFL Week 5
Check out our weekly rankings for the top fantasy football defenses and special teams.
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The Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, and Washington will all be out of action this week. Of those four, the Broncos aren’t just one of the most popular fantasy defenses, but they currently rank first in points allowed to running backs.
Not having Denver means many fantasy owners are scrambling to find a new defense for one week. Thankfully, there are several good matchups for defenses still on waivers, including the Jacksonville Jaguars, Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills, and Houston Texans.
Which of those units should you add as a one-week filler or even an upgrade over your current defense? Check out our rankings of the top fantasy defenses and special teams for Week 5 to find out.
Defense/Special Teams rankings, Week 5
(SK: Scott Kaliska; DG: Derek Gordon; KB: Kyle Bennett; ZS: Zach Senvisky; JM: Jason Marcum)
D/ST rankings, Week 5
Rk | Consensus | Opp | SK | JG | DG | AW | ZS | JM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pittsburgh Steelers | vs. JAC | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2 | Minnesota Vikings | @ CHI | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 3 | Houston Texans | vs. KC | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 2 |
| 4 | Buffalo Bills | @ CIN | 7 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 6 |
| 5 | Seattle Seahawks | @ LAR | 3 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 7 |
| 6 | Baltimore Ravens | @ OAK | 13 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 8 |
| 7 | Kansas City Chiefs | @ HOU | 6 | 6 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 12 |
| 8 | Detroit Lions | vs. CAR | 15 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 4 |
| 9 | Cleveland Browns | vs. NYJ | 21 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 17 | 5 |
| 10 | Arizona Cardinals | @ PHI | 8 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 14 | 10 |
| 11 | New York Giants | vs. LAC | 9 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 20 | 9 |
| 12 | Jacksonville Jaguars | @ PIT | 14 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
| 13 | Philadelphia Eagles | vs. ARI | 4 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 5 | 17 |
| 14 | Los Angeles Rams | vs. SEA | 17 | 9 | 13 | 16 | 12 | 13 |
| 15 | Oakland Raiders | vs. BAL | 12 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 |
| 16 | Cincinnati Bengals | vs. BUF | 11 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 15 |
| 17 | Tennessee Titans | @ MIA | 16 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 16 |
| 18 | Carolina Panthers | @ DET | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 8 | 18 |
| 19 | Green Bay Packers | @ DAL | 20 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | Dallas Cowboys | vs. GB | -- | 19 | 20 | 22 | 19 | 21 |
| 21 | Los Angeles Chargers | @ NYG | 19 | 22 | 23 | 20 | 22 | 23 |
| 22 | Chicago Bears | vs. MIN | 24 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 24 | 20 |
| 23 | New York Jets | @ CLE | 5 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 24 | Indianapolis Colts | vs. SF | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 24 |
| 25 | San Francisco 49ers | @ IND | 22 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 25 |
| -- | Miami Dolphins | vs. TEN | -- | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 22 |
| -- | New England Patriots | @ TB | 25 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
