Week 10 Defense (DEF) Streamers and Starts - 2025 Fantasy Tiers, Rankings

Joey Pollizze analyzes all 2025 fantasy football Week 10 defenses (DEF) -- streamers, sits/starts, and D/ST waiver wire pickups to add. His Week 10 rankings and tiers for all of the NFL defenses.

Welcome, RotoBallers, to our fantasy football defense streamers, starts, and tiered rankings for Week 10 of the 2025 season! This article will be your go-to stop for all defensive rankings and streamers for the entire season.

We will break down defenses into separate tiers in this article below. Fantasy managers should be starting one of the seven defenses listed in Tier 1. If all seven of those D/ST are taken, pivot to starting a defense in either Tier 2 or Tier 3. In most cases, Tier 4, Tier 5, and Tier 6 defenses should be avoided.

So, let's look at the best fantasy defenses for Week 10. Use our tiered fantasy football D/ST rankings to make the right start/sit decision every week. 

Editor's Note: Stay on top of your draft prep with RotoBaller’s fantasy football rankings, featuring expert analysis, ADPs, and draft insights for both PPR and non-PPR leagues.

Tier 1 Defenses – Fantasy Football Rankings for Week 10

1. Denver Broncos D/ST vs. LV

No Patrick Surtain II, no problem. Even without the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, the Broncos continued to play elite defense. They held the Texans to 15 points last week and added to their league-leading sack total by earning four more sacks. Denver has totaled 40 sacks through nine weeks, which is 12 more than any other team to begin the season.

NINE SACKS AND THE @Broncos SEAL THE WIN.

DENvsNYJ on @nflnetwork
Also streaming on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/hclAzrDdmM

— NFL (@NFL) October 12, 2025

Now, this D/ST will go up against a Raiders offense that has had its problems in the first half. Geno Smith ranks tied for first in interceptions thrown (11), and he has been sacked multiple times in six of eight games this season. Considering the Broncos rank top-5 in both pass rush win rate and pressure rate, that makes them the No. 1 fantasy D/ST for Week 10.

2. Cleveland Browns D/ST at NYJ

It is a bit surprising that not only are the Jets favored in this game, but New York is projected for 20 total points. That seems a bit too high for an offense that has been held under 12 points in two of its last three games. As a result, the Browns are a fantastic start in a favorable matchup against this Jets offense.

Cleveland has had one of the best defenses in the NFL through the first nine weeks. This unit has totaled at least three sacks in six of its eight games, and those sacks should come into play in this matchup against the Jets. New York's offense line has given up the fourth-most sacks this season. That's enough reason to start a Browns' D/ST that ranks first in pass rush win rate.

3. Seattle Seahawks D/ST vs. ARI

At this point in the season, Seattle's D/ST is a set-it-and-forget-it option. This defense is legit. The Seahawks have allowed only one team to score above 20 points against them this year (Buccaneers in Week 5), and they have held the Jacksonville Jaguars (12 points), Houston Texans (13 points), and Washington Commanders (14 points) to under 15 points in three straight games.

On top of that, the sacks are starting to pile up for this group. Seattle has 21 sacks since Week 4 (4.2 sacks per game) and has totaled at least three sacks in four of its past five games. It doesn't really matter whether Kyler Murray or Jacoby Brissett starts for the Cardinals in Week 10; fantasy managers should be starting this D/ST in every format.

4. Houston Texans D/ST vs. JAC

Fantasy managers should continue to play the Texans' D/ST in almost all formats. Only one team has scored above 18 points against this defense since Week 3 (Seahawks), and this secondary might be playing better than anyone in the NFL. Although Houston only scored five fantasy points against the Jaguars back in Week 3, this D/ST is still a top-5 play in Week 10.

Trevor Lawrence has been sacked 15 times over the last three games, and Jacksonville's offensive line ranks in the bottom five in pressure rate allowed since Week 5. Given that the Texans rank sixth in pass rush win rate and top-five in pressure rate, this game could get ugly for the Jaguars.

5. New York Jets D/ST vs. CLE

*With Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams being traded, this Jets defense will fall down to the bottom of Tier 2.  

The Jets have been a very up-and-down defensive group in recent weeks. They looked awful against the Bengals in Week 8 after allowing 38 points and totaling just one sack, but this is a unit that held the Broncos to under 14 points back in Week 6. So, it remains to be seen which New York defense will show up in Week 10.

Still, fantasy managers can start this defense in most cases this week. Cleveland has scored 17 points or fewer in three of Dillon Gabriel's four starts, and the rookie quarterback has been sacked 11 times in those four starts. Although the Jets don't generate pressure at a high level, they could get to the QB in this game. The Browns rank 26th in pass block win rate this year.

6. Detroit Lions D/ST at WSH

Some fantasy managers might look past the Lions' D/ST this week following a subpar performance against the Vikings. However, this defense totaled five sacks and managed to score at least seven fantasy points for the sixth time in seven weeks. Those sacks should play a massive role in this game against the Commanders.

With Jayden Daniels (elbow) out indefinitely, the Commanders will turn to Marcus Mariota once again. That makes this Detroit defense a top-6 play in Week 10. The Lions currently rank second in total sacks (28) this season, and Washington's offensive line ranks in the bottom 10 in sacks allowed through nine weeks. So, start this D/ST with confidence in Week 10.

7. Buffalo Bills D/ST at MIA

Things are definitely trending up for this Bills defense. This unit totaled seven sacks and allowed just seven points to the Panthers in Week 8, and then forced Patrick Mahomes to have his worst game of the season last week. Buffalo sacked Mahomes three times while holding Kansas City's offense to only 21 points.

What's changed with the #Bills defense over the last two and a half games?

Sean McDermott: "The attitude... You gotta be NASTY if you wanna play good defense. If you're not tough as a defense, what do you got?"#BillsMafia @BuffaloPlus pic.twitter.com/vDFSJSLnWK

— Dan Fetes (@danfetes) November 3, 2025

Now, this defense will go up against a Dolphins offense that has scored under seven points in two of its past three games. Considering Tua Tagovailoa has thrown 11 interceptions and has been sacked multiple times in four of the past five weeks, the Bills' D/ST is a nice play in Week 10. Buffalo pressured Mahomes on 52.9% of his dropbacks last week.

Tier 2 Defenses – Fantasy Football Rankings for Week 10

8. Carolina Panthers D/ST vs. NO

The Panthers' D/ST is one of the riskier options to start in fantasy this week. This group has definitely had some poor performances this year, like when it was embarrassed in Week 4 against the Patriots and then again in Week 8 against the Bills. But this defense has also shown out at times, playing well against the Falcons in Week 3, the Jets in Week 7, and the Packers last week.

Given the way this defense played last week against the Packers, fantasy managers can trust this unit in some leagues. The Saints will continue to start rookie QB Tyler Shough, and his game is certainly a work in progress. In his first career start, he threw two interceptions and led just two scoring drives. This matchup should give the Panthers' D/ST a high-enough fantasy floor.

9. Baltimore Ravens D/ST at MIN

The Ravens' defense is getting healthier, which is resulting in much better play on the field from this group. Baltimore has held the Rams (17 points), Bears (16 points), and Dolphins (six points) to under 20 points in three straight games. This unit has also forced three turnovers over the past three games.

As a result, the Ravens could be started in most leagues this week. The Vikings' offensive line is allowing the most sacks per game, and J.J. McCarthy was just brought down five times in last week's win. In three McCarthy starts this year, he has been sacked a total of 14 times. So, start this Baltimore defense with confidence.

10. Philadelphia Eagles D/ST at GB

The Eagles were one of the trickier defenses to rank for this week. However, the talent of that side of the ball makes them top-10 in most leagues for Week 10. Philadelphia has totaled multiple sacks in five straight games, including a season-high five sack effort the last time we saw this group back in Week 8.

SACK! The @Eagles defense gets home

PHIvsTB on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXnxV pic.twitter.com/LJZffoFIwb

— NFL (@NFL) September 28, 2025

Although the Packers don't allow many sacks, Philadelphia is playing well defensively at the right time. This group also held Jordan Love in check the last time these two teams played in the Wild Card Round last year. Given that the Eagles just traded for Jaelan Phillips -- who ranks 12th in total pressures and seventh in QB hurries -- this defense is a solid option for Week 10.

Tier 3 Defenses – Fantasy Football Rankings for Week 10

11. Jacksonville Jaguars D/ST at HOU

It remains to be seen if C.J. Stroud (concussion) will play in Week 10. Either way, though, Jacksonville could be started in some 12-plus team leagues. Houston's offensive line has allowed multiple sacks in seven of eight games, and this unit ranks 28th in pass block win rate. After the Jaguars totaled two sacks and forced three turnovers against the Texans back in Week 3, they could be a solid start.

12. Indianapolis Colts D/ST vs. ATL

You never know which Falcons offense will show up every week. However, the Colts' D/ST has a high enough fantasy floor this week to start them in some 12-plus team leagues. Indianapolis has totaled at least three sacks in six of its last seven games and currently ranks tied for sixth in total sacks (26). The only reason this defense isn't higher on this week's rankings is that Atlanta ranks 10th in pass block win rate.

13. New Orleans Saints D/ST at CAR

On paper, this might seem like a great matchup for the Saints. Carolina ranks 24th in pass block win rate, and the offense has scored under 17 points in back-to-back games. However, this New Orleans D/ST should only be started as a last resort. This group ranks 27th in pass rush win rate and has given up over 24 points in three of the past four games.

Tier 4 Defenses – Fantasy Football Rankings for Week 10

Most of the defenses in this tier should only be started in deeper leagues as a last resort. Some of these D/ST either have tougher matchups this week (Los Angeles Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Green Bay Packers) or have huge question marks surrounding their defense (Los Angeles Chargers and Chicago Bears). So, these defenses should be avoided for the most part.

If you absolutely need a defense from this tier, then the Chargers are likely your best choice. This Los Angeles defense has totaled nine sacks over the past two games and currently ranks top 12 in pass rush win rate. However, the sacks might be hard to come by in this game, considering Aaron Rodgers has the third-quickest average time to throw this season.

As for the Rams, Bears, Buccaneers, and Packers, it's best to avoid these defenses. Los Angeles was embarrassed on defense a few weeks ago against the 49ers, Chicago's defense just gave up 40-plus points last week, Tampa Bay is playing against a Patriots offense that can score at a high level, and Green Bay has a tough matchup against the Eagles.

Tier 5 and 6 Defenses – Fantasy Football Rankings for Week 10

The defenses in both Tier 5 and Tier 6 should be avoided in most cases. There is a ton of risk in starting any of these defenses, and there are 18 better fantasy D/ST to roll with for Week 10.

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