Nov 7, 2026, 2:37 PM ET

Another difficult matchup is on deck when the Minnesota Vikings' defense takes on the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football, though the unit's propensity to cause havoc for opposing offenses still makes Minnesota a fringe starting option. To be sure, Buffalo is among the league's best, leading the NFL in rushing EPA, yards per completion, and scoring percentage. Behind Josh Allen, who is both a rushing threat and the hardest quarterback to take down in the NFL, the Bills don't allow many sacks, but bouts of turnovers have been this offense's downfall at times. While Buffalo is always a threat to score 30-plus points, the Bills also rank 26th in turnover percentage, and the Vikings have excelled at forcing miscues. Through seven games, Minnesota has forced turnovers on 15% of its defensive possessions, one of the highest marks in the league. Playing the Vikings, RotoBaller's No. 12 defense this week, comes with risk, though there is also potential that they can swing the matchup by forcing turnovers.--Nick Piotrowicz
Source: RotoBaller

Nov 7, 2026, 2:18 PM ET

The Los Angeles Rams D/ST has been a relatively mediocre option in fantasy football this season, but the unit belongs back in starting lineups with the return of star pass rusher Myles Garrett (knee) ahead of Week 9 against the Washington Commanders. The Rams are coming off an impressive two-interception performance against the Chargers in which they surrendered just nine points. While the Commanders' offense has performed better than the Chargers, there's still a great chance for the Rams to impose their will, especially with Garrett back in the mix. Washington has dealt with several injuries on offense, and they'll be without Jacory Croskey-Merritt (groin, IR), Terry McLaurin (knee), and Treylon Burks (foot) for this week's game. The Commanders don't turn the ball over that much, but they're averaging a modest 2.3 sacks and 22.7 points allowed per game, giving the Rams an opportunity to rank as a top-12 D/ST unit in fantasy football.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

Nov 7, 2026, 12:04 PM ET

The Denver Broncos defense/special teams unit is a Week 9 start at Carolina after the Panthers allowed 11 sacks in their last two games. Green Bay sacked Bryce Young six times and intercepted him once last week. Tampa Bay recorded five sacks and forced three offensive turnovers the game before. Carolina left guard Damien Lewis (knee) missed Friday's practice and will sit again, leaving the line shorthanded against a Denver defense with 15 sacks over its last four games. The Broncos got to Patrick Mahomes twice in Week 8, though he still passed for 321 yards and three touchdowns. Denver safety Brandon Jones (hamstring) is out after missing practice all week, and Talanoa Hufanga (ankle) is questionable after limited sessions Thursday and Friday. They've accounted for four of the team's seven interceptions, so Hufanga's status matters to the secondary. RotoBaller ranks Denver D/ST8 for Week 9. The pass rush gives the Broncos a route to a strong fantasy day in 12-team leagues even if the secondary gives up some production.--Bruno Mulé
Source: RotoBaller

Nov 7, 2026, 11:26 AM ET

The New Orleans Saints Defense recorded three sacks against the Steelers in Week 7 but otherwise had a quiet game from a fantasy perspective. New Orleans has consistently generated pressure, led by Chase Young, who ranks third in the league with 7.0 sacks. The defense as a whole has struggled, however, allowing 27.7 points and 372.7 yards per game, both among the five highest marks in the league. This week, the Saints face a Cleveland offense that has allowed a league-high 33 sacks through eight games and will be starting second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who has thrown at least one interception in five of his seven career starts. The favorable matchup, combined with the Saints' impressive defensive line play, makes them an appealing streaming option and pushes New Orleans to DEF10 in RotoBaller's rankings this week.--Dakota Legg - RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller

Nov 7, 2026, 10:51 AM ET

The New York Giants' defense enters Week 9 as a top option against the injury-plagued Philadelphia Eagles. In their first seven games this season, the Giants D/ST have allowed 23.0 points per game (15th in the NFL) and 267 total yards per game (first in the NFL), and have recorded nine takeaways (16th in the NFL). Despite the massive losses of Brian Burns (ACL) and Tremaine Edmunds (shoulder), the defense has stayed afloat and helped the Giants lead the NFC East at 4-2-1. They face the Eagles, who have scored the third-fewest points (17.1) and the second-fewest yards (271.8) this season. They are going with Joe Milton as their starting quarterback in Week 9. He will not be afraid to push the ball downfield, which could create more turnover opportunities. As long as the Giants D/ST can slow down running back Saquon Barkley, they should be able to produce and be starting options in Week 9.--Nathan Harvey
Source: RotoBaller

Nov 7, 2026, 10:45 AM ET

The Detroit Lions defense got off to a terrible start to the 2026 season, allowing 31.8 points per game through the first four weeks. However, Detroit's defense has started to turn things around lately, holding the Green Bay Packers to 17 points in Week 7 and the Minnesota Vikings to 15 points in Week 8. In Week 9, the Lions will take on the Miami Dolphins. Miami has struggled offensively so far this year, ranking 31st in the NFL in points per game (16.7). The Lions will be without several key defensive players on Sunday, as linebacker Jack Campbell (neck), cornerback D.J. Reed (hip), and edge rusher D.J. Wonnum (concussion) have all been ruled out. Still, fantasy managers could look to the Lions defense as a viable streaming option in Week 9.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

Nov 7, 2026, 7:56 AM ET

The Houston Texans D/ST is one of the best options available this week as they return from a bye week and visit the Chargers in Week 9. The Chargers are the last winless team in the NFL at 0-7 and have yet to reach 100 total points this season, averaging just 14.1 points per game. The Bolts have turned the ball over 17 times in seven games and allowed 23 sacks, making them one of the best D/ST matchups available, even though they have not allowed a D/ST touchdown yet. The Texans had 21 sacks and six takeaways in their seven games before their bye week. They haven't been quite as dominant as they were last year, but the unit is still stuffed with playmakers and has the ability to take advantage of this favorable spot in Week 9. In RotoBaller's Week 9 rankings, the Texans are the No. 2 D/ST, so start them with confidence this week in all formats.--Zach Thompson
Source: RotoBaller

Nov 7, 2026, 6:20 AM ET

The San Francisco 49ers defense has not been kind to fantasy managers in 2026. The team has produced double-digit fantasy points in just one game this season, has recorded an interception in only two games, and has allowed 25 points per game in their last three contests. In Week 9, the 49ers host the Raiders, whose offense is putting up the sixth-most points per game. Quarterback Kirk Cousins has also thrown just five interceptions to 19 touchdowns and is getting sacked at the third-lowest rate in the league. The 49ers' low-pressure defense and the Raiders' tendency to make the most of garbage time set this up to be a trap for streamers. The return of Nick Bosa (calf, knee) after a five-game absence could change things, but fantasy managers who are streaming defenses should be aware of the surprising risks in a matchup against Las Vegas.--Dan Stephens
Source: NFL.com

Nov 7, 2026, 12:28 AM ET

The New England Patriots D/ST can be left on the bench or waivers in most fantasy leagues ahead of Week 9 against the Green Bay Packers. The Patriots have a solid defense on paper, and they hold a respectable #11 rank in fantasy scoring at the D/ST position so far this year. However, after facing teams like the Jets, Raiders, and Dolphins in the last four weeks, their schedule gets tougher midseason with back-to-back games against the Packers and Lions. Facing the Packers this week will be a tough test for this Patriots defense. Green Bay is averaging a modest 1.4 turnovers and 21.4 points scored per game this season. Green Bay's passing attack -- led by quarterback Jordan Love, tight end Tucker Kraft, and receivers Matthew Golden and Christian Watson -- has been remarkable since Week 1, and the offense has looked more well-rounded lately with the return of running back Josh Jacobs. New England's D/ST, which has just two turnovers over the last three weeks, ranks as the #16 option in RotoBaller's Week 9 fantasy football rankings. The Patriots can be avoided in most leagues.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

Nov 6, 2026, 11:43 PM ET

The Chicago Bears D/ST is on an upward trajectory heading into a Week 9 meeting with the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Chicago is coming off an excellent team win against the reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks a game ago. The offense excelled in the toughest matchup, though the defense did its part again as well. The addition of defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons paid immediate dividends, as he recorded a team-high six tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and two tackles for loss. It was a stellar debut, and he now significantly boosts a defensive unit that was already top three against the rush (86.8) and improved on the back end. Tampa Bay has surged recently via their ground attack, but they'll be forced to compete through the air this Sunday night against a high-octane Chicago offense. The Bears unit ranks as RotoBaller's D/ST8 for the weekend's slate.--Alex Ciulla
Source: ESPN

Nov 6, 2026, 7:57 PM ET

The Seattle Seahawks D/ST is coming off a tough outing in Week 8 against the Chicago Bears. However, that should change in Week 9 against the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals have turned to quarterback Gardner Minshew II and traded Jacoby Brissett to the Raiders, turning over a new leaf in the offense. While Minshew has played solid ball for stretches throughout his career, the last time we got an extended look at him, he threw nine interceptions in 10 games for the Raiders in 2024. Say what you will about Brissett, but he was protecting the ball and producing plenty of yards in this offense. Minshew galvanized this offense in Week 8, but that came against the Dallas Cowboys' defense, which has been one of the worst in the league in 2026. Seattle's defensive unit is expected to make life much more difficult for Minshew in Week 9. Expect plenty of sacks and turnover opportunities, particularly strip sacks. The Seahawks D/ST checks in at No. 4 in RotoBaller's ranking this weekend. Fire them up with confidence.--Quincy Milton III - RotoBaller
Source: Seattle Seahawks

Nov 6, 2026, 4:53 PM ET

The Philadelphia Eagles have been depleted by injuries on both sides of the ball and currently sit with a record of 2-6 on the 2026 campaign. The Eagles are in the middle of a six-game losing streak and are looking to turn things around with a Week 9 divisional matchup against the New York Giants. According to RotoBaller, the Philadelphia defense/special teams is the worst unit in fantasy football. The Eagles have recorded just 16.0 total fantasy points and average 2.0 fantasy per game, which both rank dead last in the NFL. Philly is tied with the Indianapolis Colts for the fewest takeaways in the league with four (three interceptions and one fumble recovery). The Eagles have recorded just 10 sacks in 2026 thus far, which ranks 29th in the league. Philadelphia allows 367.3 total yards per game (27th in the NFL), 235.4 passing yards per game (24th), 131.9 rushing yards per game (28th) and 25.3 points per game (21st). Meanwhile, New York's offense ranks 11th in the NFL in total yards per game (346.0), 15th in passing yards per game (229.3), 15th in rushing yards per game (116.7) and 13th in points per game (23.3). The special teams for the Eagles have not made a fantasy impact either, as Philadelphia does not have a punt or kickoff return touchdown in 2026. The Eagles rank as RotoBaller's No. 20 defense/special teams for Week 9. Philadelphia is currently rostered in 43% of Yahoo leagues and can stay on the bench or the waiver wire this week against the Giants.--Ryan O'Bleness
Source: RotoBaller NFL Stats Page

Nov 6, 2026, 4:21 PM ET

The Kansas City Chiefs defense will take on the New York Jets at home in Week 9. The Chiefs have been struggling to stop opposing offenses lately, ceding 20 or more points to opposing teams in five of their last six matchups. This is also a unit that struggles to sack quarterbacks, so a lot of their production will have to rely on generating turnovers. The Jets offense has been much improved this season with Geno Smith at the helm, meaning that this contest could turn into a back-and-forth affair. The good news is that New York could be without their star WR1 Garrett Wilson, who is currently in concussion protocol. The bad news is that L'Jarius Sneed will be on IR for three more games and Mansoor Delane has been ruled out for this contest. The Chiefs defense is ranked sixth in our RotoBaller Week 9 rankings, making them a unit worth starting this weekend.--Joshua Costello
Source: Chiefs.com

Nov 6, 2026, 3:47 PM ET

The Cincinnati Bengals defense will face the Atlanta Falcons in Madrid this Sunday. After being one of the most improved units to begin the season, the Bengals defense took a step back in last week's 43-36 win over the Tennessee Titans. The Cincinnati defensive unit just gave up its most points of the season in Week 8 and now heads into a matchup with the highest over/under of the week. Even if this game turns into a back-and-forth affair, the Bengals defense has racked up 23 sacks, seven recovered fumbles, and four interceptions this season. With the turnover-prone nature of Atlanta quarterback Michael Penix and the aggressiveness of this defense, they will probably force a few turnovers and get the QB to the ground multiple times. This unit will be without safety Kyle Dugger again, but should be able to make do in his absence. The Bengals defense is ranked seventh in our RotoBaller Week 9 rankings, making it a top-10 unit this week.--Joshua Costello
Source: ESPN.com