Top Fantasy Football D/ST Rankings (Weeks 6, 7, 8, 9) - Defense Streamers and Starts (2025)

Joey's best fantasy football defense streamers and D/ST rankings for Weeks 6, 7, 8, 9 in 2025. NFL team defense streamers and starts based on strength of schedule.

Welcome, RotoBallers, to our fantasy football D/ST streamers and starts for Weeks 6, 7, 8, and 9 of the 2025 season. Every week of the fantasy football season, we will go through the best defensive streaming options that fantasy managers have to consider picking up for the coming weeks. 

This article is a perfect way for you to see which defenses you should be picking up for the next four weeks. Last week, defenses like the Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts were featured on this list. Both defenses then went on to have a solid fantasy day in Week 5.

For this week, we will look at several defense targets for the next four weeks of the fantasy season (Weeks 6, 7, 8, 9). If you want our D/ST fantasy football draft rankings, be sure to check out that link. So, let's dive in and look at the best defensive streamers and starts for the next four weeks.

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D/ST Strength of Schedule: Weeks 6-9

This weekly series will focus on defenses fantasy managers should consider picking up for the coming weeks. We will look at defenses fantasy managers should pick up for one week, and some defenses to pick up for the next four weeks. Sometimes, rostering two defenses isn't the worst strategy in most leagues that have a deeper bench.

So, we will break down the best defensive streamers into a few categories (Temporary, Part-Time, Recruit, and Fool's Gold) in this article below. You can see the description of each of those streamer types down below:

• “Temporary” Streamer: D/ST with a good matchup in Week 6
• “Part-Time” Streamer: D/ST with multiple nice matchups in a row
• “Recruit” Streamer: D/ST with an easy upcoming schedule that you pick up earlier to stash on your bench
• “Fool’s Gold” Streamer: D/ST that on paper looks like a good option, but should be avoided 

Week 6 D/ST Streamers

Since this is a streamer D/ST article, we will only look at defenses that are rostered in under 60% of ESPN leagues. There are other great D/ST matchups as well for this week, so check out our Week 6 defense streamers and tiered rankings article to see the full list:

Los Angeles Rams D/ST (Temporary Streamer)

• Week 6 Opponent: Baltimore Ravens
• ESPN Rostership: 49.1%
• Over-Under: 45.5 points
• Opponent’s Implied Total Points: 18.5

After last week's performance against the 49ers, fantasy managers might not want to pick up the Rams' defense. However, if you need a streaming option for Week 6, this defense is a fantastic choice. Los Angeles will go up against a Ravens offense that will likely be without Lamar Jackson (hamstring) for the second straight week.

The Ravens couldn't move the ball last week with Cooper Rush under center, and those struggles could continue into Week 6. Despite the rough defensive game in Week 5, the Rams have a perfect bounce-back opportunity in front of them. Los Angeles ranks tied for third in sacks (15) this season, while ranking in the top 12 in both pressure rate and pass rush win rate through five weeks.

With 5 pressures in Week 5, Jared Verse tied Nick Bosa as the second-fastest player to reach 100 career pressures (22 games). Only Joey Bosa reached the mark in fewer games (21 games). pic.twitter.com/M0ziFJN6K1

— Los Angeles Rams PR (@TheLARamsPR) October 6, 2025

As a result, this Los Angeles D/ST will be a top-7 play this week. After this matchup against the Ravens, though, the Rams will play the Jaguars in Week 7 before going on a bye in Week 8. So, they are only a temporary streamer for Week 6. Considering Jacksonville ranks in the top five in both pass block win rate and sacks allowed, Los Angeles won't be a top-12 play next week.

Green Bay Packers D/ST (Part-Time Streamer)

• Week 6 Opponent: Cincinnati Bengals
• ESPN Rostership: 45.9%
• Over-Under: 44.5 points 
• Opponent’s Implied Total Points: 15.5

Since the Packers were on bye last week, their defensive roster share dropped in all formats. If they are somehow available in your league, they should be picked up before Week 6. Green Bay has totaled multiple sacks in three of four games and ranks toward the top of the league in pressures this year -- thanks to Micah Parsons' 25 total pressures.

MICAH PARSONS' FIRST SACK AS A PACKER 🔥

DETvsGB on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/I5A5VNBchI

— NFL (@NFL) September 7, 2025

Now, this defense will go up against a struggling Bengals offense. Jake Browning should be under pressure all game long behind an offensive line that ranks 32nd in pass block win rate. Browning has been sacked multiple times in all three of his starts while throwing eight interceptions in four appearances this season. That makes Green Bay the top-ranked D/ST in Week 6.

Even if Joe Flacco -- who was traded to the Bengals on Tuesday -- starts this game, the Packers should be started in every league. Flacco has struggled for most of the year as Cleveland's starting quarterback and isn't a huge upgrade over Browning.

Following this game against the Bengals, the Packers' defense could also be used against the Cardinals in Week 7, the Steelers in Week 8, and the Panthers in Week 9. Arizona has allowed 16 sacks through five games, Pittsburgh's offensive line ranks 31st in pass block win rate, and Carolina has been a very inconsistent offense so far.

New England Patriots D/ST (Part-Time Streamer)

• Week 6 Opponent: New Orleans Saints
• Week 7 Opponent: Tennessee Titans
• Week 8 Opponent: Cleveland Browns
• Week 9 Opponent: Atlanta Falcons
• ESPN Rostership: 41.7%
• Over-Under: 45.5 points
• Opponent’s Implied Total Points: 21.25

For the third week in a row, the Patriots are featured on this list. Every week, we would remind fantasy managers to pick up this New England D/ST weeks in advance because its upcoming schedule was favorable. If this defense is somehow still available in your league, make sure to target this unit on the waiver wire this week.

The Patriots will play the Saints in Week 6, the Titans in Week 7, and the Browns in Week 8. All three of those matchups work in New England's favor. New Orleans ranks 29th in pass block win rate, Tennessee has given up the second-most sacks through five weeks, and Cleveland ranks 27th in pressure rate allowed. You could even use this defense in Week 9 against the Falcons, too.

Milt & Hawk getting home.@miltonw_12 | #NEPats

📺 NBC pic.twitter.com/DLjykKJgXJ

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 6, 2025

That makes the Patriots one of my favorite defenses to add this week. Despite only totaling two sacks combined over the past two games, New England ranks in the top 10 in pass rush win rate. With Harold Landry III and Milton Williams rushing the passer at an elite rate, this defensive line should tally plenty of sacks during this stretch.

Los Angeles Chargers D/ST (Recruit/Part-Time Streamer)

• Week 6 Opponent: Miami Dolphins
  
• Week 7 Opponent: Indianapolis Colts
• Week 8 Opponent: Minnesota Vikings
• Week 9 Opponent: Tennessee Titans
• ESPN Rostership: 35.5%
• Over-Under: N/A
• Opponent’s Implied Total Points: N/A

The Chargers' defense has the potential to be a part-time streaming option moving forward. First up is a matchup against the Dolphins in Week 6. Tua Tagovailoa has been sacked at least three times in three of five games this season, and Miami's offensive line ranks outside the top-15 in pass block win rate. That makes Los Angeles a top-12 defensive play in Week 6.

While the Chargers likely can't be used in Week 7 against the Colts, they could be started in most formats in both Week 8 against the Vikings and Week 9 against the Titans. Minnesota has given up the most sacks in the NFL through five weeks, and Tennessee has let up the second-most sacks up to this point.

Even if you don't need a D/ST for Week 6, Los Angeles could be worth stashing on your bench with two favorable matchups in Week 8 and Week 9. The Chargers just totaled six sacks back in Week 4 against the Giants and have allowed the eighth-fewest points per game this season. That's enough to trust them as a part-time/recruit streamer.

Fool’s Gold Streamers

Las Vegas Raiders D/ST vs. Tennessee Titans

• Week 6 Opponent: Tennessee Titans
• ESPN Rostership: 1%

Fantasy managers could be looking to pick up the Raiders defense for Week 6. After all, this unit will go up against the 32nd-ranked offense this week. However, expectations should be tempered for this Las Vegas D/ST. This group has totaled only two sacks over the past three games and just gave up 40 points to the Colts last week.

While this is a favorable matchup on paper for the Raiders, this defense will have a much lower fantasy floor this week. Las Vegas currently ranks in the bottom 10 in pressure rate and 25th in points allowed per game (27.8). As a result, there is a ton of risk in rolling with this D/ST in fantasy for Week 6. There are safer defenses to play in a pivotal week.

Recruit Streamers

If you have Week 6 already figured out, let's look ahead at some defensive options that you could start in Week 7:

• Kansas City Chiefs (17.6% rostership) - Week 7 opponent: Las Vegas Raiders
• Chicago Bears (4.1% rostership) - Week 7 Opponent: New Orleans Saints
• Miami Dolphins (3.8% rostership) - Week 7 opponent: Cleveland Browns

D/ST Streaming Action Plan

Planning out your fantasy D/ST might require some work, but it might be necessary to target the best matchups every single week. Here is how I would line up my defensive streams across the first four weeks.

• Week 6: Stream the Packers versus the Bengals
• Week 7: Stream the Patriots versus the Titans
• Week 8: Stream the Patriots versus the Browns
• Week 9: Stream the Chargers versus the Titans

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