Week 9 could prove to be the trickiest week thus far to find a defense for your fantasy team.
Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Not in action this week while on their bye include the Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers, Chicago Bears, and Los Angeles Chargers. The good news is there are plenty of great matchups with defenses that could be on your league’s waiver wire.
That includes the Tennessee Titans hosting a Baltimore Ravens team that may be without Joe Flacco, who is in the NFL concussion protocol. Baltimore has struggled mightily at times this year against competent defenses, especially on the road.
You’ve also got the Buffalo Bills facing an offensively-challenged New York Jets team on Thursday Night Football, which tends to produce some ugly games.
Now, it’s time for a fresh set of rankings for the top defenses and special teams heading into Week 9.
Defense/Special Teams rankings, Week 9
(SK: Scott Kaliska; JG Jeff Goldberg; DG: Derek Gordon; KB: Kyle Bennett; ZS: Zach Senvisky; JM: Jason Marcum)
D/ST rankings, Week 9
Rk | Consensus | Opp | SK | JG | DG | AW | ZS | JM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle Seahawks | vs. WAS | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| 2 | Jacksonville Jaguars | vs. CIN | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| 3 | Baltimore Ravens | @ TEN | 14 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 4 | Philadelphia Eagles | vs. DEN | 2 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| 5 | Los Angeles Rams | @ NYG | 6 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| 6 | Houston Texans | vs. IND | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| 7 | Detroit Lions | @ GB | 10 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 6 |
| 8 | Buffalo Bills | @ NYJ | 7 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 10 |
| 9 | Carolina Panthers | vs. ATL | 12 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 |
| 10 | Denver Broncos | @ PHI | 11 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 |
| 11 | Arizona Cardinals | @ SF | 5 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 15 |
| 12 | Cincinnati Bengals | @ JAC | 8 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 11 |
| 13 | New Orleans Saints | vs. TB | 9 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 17 |
| 14 | Kansas City Chiefs | @ DAL | 17 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 14 |
| 15 | Green Bay Packers | vs. DET | 21 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 13 |
| 16 | New York Giants | vs. LAR | 18 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 12 |
| 17 | Miami Dolphins | vs. OAK | 22 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 |
| 18 | Tennessee Titans | vs. BAL | 13 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 |
| 19 | New York Jets | vs. BUF | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 22 | 19 |
| 20 | Oakland Raiders | @ MIA | 16 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 22 |
| 21 | San Francisco 49ers | vs. ARI | 19 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 20 |
| 22 | Washington | @ SEA | 25 | 18 | 19 | 29 | 18 | 21 |
| 23 | Atlanta Falcons | @ CAR | 15 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 |
| 24 | Dallas Cowboys | vs. KC | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 |
| 25 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | @ NO | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
