X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

Week 7 Defense (DEF) Streamers and Starts: 2015 Fantasy Tiers & Rankings

Below are RotoBaller's Week 7 defense tiers and rankings, or which defenses to stream and start for Week 7 of the NFL and fantasy football season. Our tiered defense rankings are your guide to making waiver wire pickups and adds to improve your lineups, and to decide which defenses to start, sit, target, avoid or stream for Week 7.

Are you looking for some assistance with your lineups? Not sure which defenses have good matchups for Week 7? Can't decide which defenses to target off the waiver wire, or whether you should stream a different defense for this week? No worries, we are here to help every week of the fantasy football season.

Starting the right defense every week can be a difference maker, so we have broken out our defense rankings into tiers with analysis on each matchup. Some of these Week 7 defenses have good matchups and are not widely owned, representing sleeper opportunities if they are available on your league's waiver wire for a Week 7 pickup or add. Good luck in Week 7 RotoBallers!

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

Week 7 Defenses To Start & Stream: Tiers & Rankings

Bye Weeks: Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Cincinnati Bengals, Chicago Bears

Tier 1 Defenses: Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Atlanta Falcons

The Cardinals have been a top-tier defense in 2015 thanks in large part to a very soft schedule. They've feasted in matchups against the Bears, 49ers, and Lions, but struggled against more capable opponents. This week they get the Ravens at home, and I'm chalking them up as a softer opponent. Joe Flacco doesn't put the fear of God in anyone, and with Justin Forsett and Steve Smith still likely at less than 100%, I think the Cardinals are due for another big day on defense.

The Rams have been quietly and consistently above-average on defense all year, thanks in large part to their 19 sacks, which is good for third in the NFL. I think they'll be able to get to Josh McCown a few times this week, and while the Browns offense has been better of late they are still very beatable. I expect the Rams to be able to stop Duke Johnson and Isaiah Crowell, and as long as they can keep Travis Benjamin in check they should put up solid fantasy numbers.

Dan Quinn has the Falcons defense fired up and playing well, and with a tasty matchup against the lowly Titans I'm christening them a top-tier defense. Marcus Mariota has impressed in the early stages of his professional career, but he's still turning the ball over at a rookie clip. He also suffered a knee injury in Week 6, and if he were to miss the game then it would be up to Zach Mettenberger to get the job done. I don't see that going well for Tennessee.

 

Tier 2 Defenses:  Seattle Seahawks, Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants, Washington Redskins

Hey so, the Seahawks kind of suck in the fourth quarter. If not for that Calvin Johnson fumble in Week 4, they would be riding a three-game streak of blow fourth-quarter leads. With that being said, they are still putting up solid fantasy numbers each week. They've been rejuvenated since Kam Chancellor ended his holdout, and I expect them to do well against Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers in Week 7. Carlos Hyde's Week 1 outburst looks like an anomaly, and Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin have been hit-or-miss so far. Fire up the Seahawks and hope they don't blow it late again.

The Panthers just keep finding ways to win despite a general lack of talent on offense. Cam Newton is getting the job done with a scrub squad, and the defense is holding up their end of the bargain. With 13 sacks and eight picks already on the season they are typically a top-tier defense, but I'm knocking them down a peg with the resurgent Philadelphia Eagles coming to town. Sam Bradford has been playing much better lately, and the running game is beginning to hit its stride with DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews both carrying the ball well. Expect a solid yet unspectacular performance in Week 7.

Those same Eagles will need to find a way to stop Newton and Jonathan Stewart if they are to continue their recent run of success. With 11 sacks and 11 turnovers in the first five weeks, I like their chances to be a serviceable fantasy D/ST in Week 7. There is always the threat of Darren Sproles in the return game, which always needs to be factored in when considering D/STs to stream.

The Steelers have been shockingly great in the last couple of weeks without Ben Roethlisberger, and their last two victories are thanks in large part to outstanding defensive performances against two very good teams (the San Diego Chargers and the Arizona Cardinals). They've forced five turnovers in the last two weeks, and while they may not be so fortunate against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7, they're keeping opponents off the scoreboard. Alex Smith is too careful with the football to think the Steelers will have multiple interceptions, but I don't think they'll have trouble stopping Charcandrick West and Knile Davis.

The Giants have been the best run defense in the league so far, and I like their chances against the Cowboys in Week 7, who will have to lean on the run with Matt Cassel now under center. No Tony Romo or Dez Bryant means a healthy dose of Joseph Randle, Darren McFadden and apparently Christine Michael, who the Cowboys are apparently going to "let off the leash". Cassel can definitely turn the ball over and none of those running backs are studs, making the Giants a great streaming option.

The Redskins make the second tier thanks to a great matchup--they'll get the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home in Week 7. The only real task they'll have is stopping Doug Martin, as Jameis Winston hasn't been able to use Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson effectively so far this year. I think the Redskins are up to the challenge, and can bottle up Martin while forcing Jameis Winston into some bad throws.

 

Tier 3 Defenses: Detroit Lions, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns

The Lions have 13 sacks and ten turnovers through their first six games, and while those are decent numbers they have been giving up a healthy amount of points each week (avg. 28.67 per game). However, in a matchup against the Vikings, I don't think they'll allow more than 21, as Teddy Bridgewater only has three passing touchdowns on the season and Adrian Peterson looked very mortal against an average Kansas City run defense in Week 6. They're a streamable option, but one with a low ceiling.

The Jets are tied for second in the NFL in fumble recoveries and third in interceptions, which would put them towards the top of the rankings most weeks. However, in Week 7 they're tasked with stopping Tom Brady, Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski, and I don't like their chances. They're the second-best run defense in the NFL and shouldn't have any trouble stopping LeGarrette Blount and Dion Lewis on the ground, but the Patriots are just too good through the air. I'm benching them if I own them and I'm avoiding as a streaming option if possible.

The Bills have been supremely disappointing in 2015, with just nine sacks through six games after posting a whopping 54 in 16 games last season. What looked like a solid matchup on paper in the preseason is all of a sudden something to be wary of, as they'll have to take on Blake Bortles and the potent Jaguars passing attack in London in Week 7. I don't think the Bills will be able to stop Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns and Julius Thomas, making them one of my "avoids" this week.

The Vikings get the Lions in Week 7, and I actually like their chances. I'm not buying Matthew Stafford's four-touchdown, 400-yard outburst last week, as it came against an atrocious Bears defense. Ameer Abdullah and the rest of the Lions' run game has been absolutely awful so far, meaning the only real challenge for Minnesota will be containing Megatron and Golden Tate. Stafford is always good for a couple of interceptions, and I wouldn't be shocked if there is a defensive touchdown in this game. I like the Vikes as a high-ceiling streaming option.

The Dolphins are officially back. New head coach Dan Campbell has them fired up, and they showed it against the Titans in Week 6, forcing four turnovers and scoring their first defensive touchdown since Week 1. I expect more good things to come as the season progresses, but their Week 7 matchup against the Texans feels like a trap game to me. DeAndre Hopkins is the best fantasy wide receiver in the NFL, and a fully healthy Arian Foster should give any defense goosebumps. I'll be streaming them in the future, but not this week.

Give the Browns credit--they hung in there against the Broncos for a good long while in Week 6. They were able to pick off the shockingly bad Peyton Manning three times, and did it without Joe Haden and Tashaun Gipson. They'll get Nick Foles and the Rams in Week 7, and I think they can haul in at least two more interceptions. The only real problem will be stopping Todd Gurley, which I'm not sure they can do.

 

Tier 4 Defenses: New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Patriots defense has been average at best this season, and I don't like their chances against a very good Jets offense in Week 7. Ryan Fitzpatrick and Brandon Marshall are fantasy gold, and Chris Ivory is establishing himself as a top-10 back. The Patriots won't be able to hold any of these studs in check, and I'm avoiding them if possible.

My ranking of the Chiefs is based entirely on the fact that Ben Roethlisberger is likely out for at least one more week. If Big Ben plays, the Chiefs should be avoided like the plague. If it's Mike Vick or Landry Jones under center though, they're a decent streaming option. Jones actually looked pretty great in the second half, connecting with Martavis Bryant for a pair of scores late in the game. I don't see how the Steelers can turn back to Vick, but even if it is Jones at the helm the Chiefs can expect a heavy dose of Le'Veon Bell in Week 7.

The Chargers are one of the more boring defenses in football. They are middle-of-the-pack in almost every defensive category, and are almost a lock to give up between 20 and 30 points per game. They'll take on the Raiders at home in Week 7, and I don't see them being able to hold Derek Carr, Amari Cooper and Latavius Murray under 21 points. I'm passing on them in all but the deepest of leagues.

The Buccaneers will get the Redskins in Week 7, and they make the list based entirely on that matchup. Kirk Cousins has been turning the ball over at an alarming rate (eight interceptions through six games) and Alfred Morris and Matt Jones have been below average more often than not. The ceiling is low here, but if you only need a few points the Bucs should get the job done.

 

NFL & Fantasy Football Chat Room

[iflychat_embed id="c-0" hide_user_list="yes" hide_popup_chat="no" height="400px"]


Check out RotoBaller's famous fantasy football draft sleepers and waiver wire pickups list, updated regularly!


Check out all of RotoBaller's fantasy football rankings. Staff rankings are updated regularly for all positions and include standard formats, PPR scoring, tiered rankings and dynasty leagues.




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Trey Yesavage

Sets Franchise Strikeout Record On Monday
Yordan Alvarez

To Receive MRI For Sprained Left Ankle On Tuesday
Willson Contreras

Exits Early Monday With Right-Biceps Tightness
Yordan Alvarez

Exits With Ankle Sprain
Brock Bowers

Officially Active on Monday Night
Jauan Jennings

Day-to-Day With Ankle Injury
Logan O'Hoppe

Activated Off Seven-Day Injured List
CBJ

Denton Mateychuk Dealing With Groin Issue
Bo Horvat

Fine for Training Camp
Kirby Dach

on Track to Be Ready for Opening Night
Jose Altuve

Returns Against Rangers
J.J. McCarthy

Expected to Miss 2-4 Weeks With High-Ankle Sprain
J.J. McCarthy

Likely Out for Week 3 With High-Ankle Sprain
Jean Silva

Gets Finished For The First Time In His Career
Aaron Jones Sr.

Unlikely to Play in Week 3 Due to Hamstring Injury
Diego Lopes

Returns To The Win Column
Jayden Daniels

' Week 3 Status in Doubt
Rob Font

Outclassed In The Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
David Martinez

Wins His Second UFC Fight
Jared Gordon

Suffers Brutal TKO Loss At Noche UFC 3
Rafa Garcia

Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Brian Thomas Jr.

Dealing with Wrist Injury
Dustin Stoltzfus

Drops A Decision At Noche UFC 3
Kelvin Gastelum

Gets Back In The Win Column
Diego Ferreira

Suffers Second-Round TKO
Alexander Hernandez

Extends His Win Streak With A Brutal TKO
Quang Le

Suffers First-Round Knockout
Santiago Luna

Shines In His UFC Debut
Christopher Bell

Earns his First Bristol Cup Series Victory
Alex Bowman

Falls Short of Advancing Through Cup Series Playoffs
Chase Briscoe

Collects his Third Top-10 Finish at Bristol
Ryan Blaney

Strong Top-Five Bristol Performance Advances him to the Playoffs
Corey Heim

Earns his First Career Cup Series Top-10 Finish at Bristol
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Leads Greece to Bronze Medal
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Drops 28 Points in EuroBasket Finals
CFB

Indiana's Lee Beebe Jr. Out for Season with Knee Injury
Dennis Schröder

Dennis Schroder Named EuroBasket MVP
Bryce Eldridge

Giants to Promote Bryce Eldridge
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Progressing in Recovery
Jonathan Kuminga

Receives New Offer From Warriors
Kenneth Walker III

Bounces Back with Big Week 2 Performance
Bijan Robinson

Rushes for 143 Yards in Week 2
Justin Fields

Currently in Concussion Protocol
Cincinnati Bengals

Bengals Calling Around to Available Free-Agent Quarterbacks
Joe Burrow

to Undergo Surgery, Out at Least Three Months
Emil Heineman

Aiming to Take the "Next Step" This Season
Braeden Cootes

Good to Go for Camp
Ivan Fedotov

Blue Jackets Acquire Ivan Fedotov From Flyers
Aaron Jones Sr.

Injures Hamstring During Sunday Night Football
Darren Waller

Not Expected to Play in Week 3
Garrett Crochet

Punches Out 12 in Win
Cole Ragans

to Return on Wednesday
Jameson Williams

Records Long Touchdown in Week 2, Still Limited to Downfield Role?
George Kirby

Strikes Out 14 in Win
Jayden Daniels

Considered "Day-to-Day" with Knee Injury
Carlos Estévez

Carlos Estevez Exits with Back Tightness
Jonathan Taylor

Tops 200 Yards From Scrimmage in Week 2 Win
Joe Burrow

Could Miss Three Months if he Requires Toe Surgery
Davante Adams

Headlines Rams Receiving Corps Sunday
Wan'Dale Robinson

Explodes for 142 Yards, Touchdown in Overtime Thriller
Joe Flacco

Browns Not Considering Benching Joe Flacco After Week 2
Quentin Grimes

Still Not Close to a New Contract Agreement
Joel Embiid

"Looking Slender, Spry and in Positive Spirits"
Ty Gibbs

Has Arguably his Best Career Drive, but Only Finishes 10th
Chase Elliott

Despite Crashing Out at Bristol, Chase Elliott Advances to Round of 12
Austin Dillon

Misses Round of 12 After Extremely Mediocre Bristol Run
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen Fails to Advance to Round of 12
Josh Berry

Finishes Last in All Three Round of 16 Races to Fail to Advance
Luis Arraez

Takes a Seat on Sunday With Head Injury
Adolis García

Adolis Garcia Activated, Starting on Sunday
CFB

Ryan Williams Explodes In Return To Field
CFB

Drew Allar Plays Mediocre Game In Blowout Win
CFB

LaNorris Sellers Exits Game In Blowout Loss
CFB

DJ Lagway Tosses Five Interceptions In Loss
CFB

Garrett Nussmeier Plays Game Manager in Saturday's Win
CFB

CJ Carr Remains Poised In Narrow Loss
CFB

John Mateer Leads Oklahoma In Rout
CFB

Arch Manning Struggles Against UTEP
CFB

Jeremiah Smith Impresses In Win
Bryan Woo

Records Career-High 13 Strikeouts
Max Muncy

Exits Early on Saturday
CFB

Sam Leavitt Shines As Arizona State Rebounds From Week 2 Loss
Salvador Perez

Reaches 300 Home Runs, 1,000 RBI
Jose Altuve

Exits Early With Foot Discomfort
Trey Yesavage

Heading to Big Leagues
Will Smith

Placed on 10-Day Injured List
Ivan Demidov

Turning Heads in Rookie Camp
NHL

Calvin de Haan Signs With Swedish Team
Samuel Girard

Skates With Non-Contact Jersey
Mackenzie Blackwood

Dealing With Injury Ahead of Training Camp
Spencer Knight

Signs Three-Year Extension With Blackhawks
Chris Buescher

May have Another Solid Run at Bristol
Corey Perry

Out 6-8 Weeks Following Surgery
Kyle Busch

Should DFS Managers Roster Kyle Busch at Bristol?
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

Is Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Too Risky to Consider Rostering at Bristol?
Michael McDowell

Could be A Solid Value Option For Bristol DFS Lineups
Chase Elliott

Probably Won't Factor in for Bristol Win
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Not as Strong at Bristol as Other Short Tracks
Alex Bowman

Needs to Win to Make Round of 12
Ross Chastain

has Never Led at Bristol but Has Been Pretty Consistent
Austin Dillon

Richmond Speed Unlikely to Carry Over to Bristol
Josh Berry

Might Run Well at Bristol, but Almost Certainly Won't Win to Advance
Justin Haley

Bristol One of Justin Haley's Few Recent Bright Spots
Tarik Skubal

Avoids Serious Injury, Expected to Make Next Start
CFB

Austin Simmons Listed As Game-Time Decision Against Arkansas
CFB

Nico Iamaleava Struggles In Fourth Straight Loss
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Dealing With a "Tweak"
BUF

Alexandar Georgiev Joins Sabres on One-Year Deal
Corey Perry

Injured During Pre-Camp Skate
Tanner Bibee

Fans 10 in Two-Hit Shutout
CFB

Antonio Williams Out Against Georgia Tech
CFB

CJ Bailey Flashes Again in Win Over Wake Forest
CFB

Jaxson Moi a Game-Time Decision for Tennessee on Saturday
Jean Silva

A Favorite At Noche UFC 3
Diego Lopes

Set For Noche UFC 3 Main Event
Rob Font

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
David Martinez

Set For Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
Rafa Garcia

An Underdog At Noche UFC 3
Jared Gordon

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Dustin Stoltzfus

Looks To Return To The Win Column
Kelvin Gastelum

In Dire Need Of Victory
Diego Ferreira

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Malcolm Brogdon

Heading to Knicks on One-Year Deal
CFB

David Sanders Jr. Won't Play Against Georgia
Landry Shamet

Staying with the Knicks
CFB

Dylan Edwards Slated to Return on Friday
Adam Lowry

Aims for Early-Season Return
CFB

Ryan Williams Expected to Play Against Wisconsin
CFB

Billy Edwards Jr. Unlikely to Play on Saturday
P.J. Washington

Officially Signs Contract Extension
CFB

David Sanders Jr. Questionable to Make Debut Against Georgia
Lauri Markkanen

Big at Both Ends as Finland Books Place in EuroBasket Semis
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Notches 39 Points in Losing Effort
NBA

Cam Reddish Expected to Move to Europe
NBA

Trey Lyles Joins Real Madrid
Charles Bassey

Signs Exhibit 10 Deal With Hawks
Sacramento Kings

Terence Davis Waived by Kings
Matthew Knies

Ready for Bigger Role With Maple Leafs
Jack Eichel

Unbothered by Lack of Extension
Sidney Crosby

Not Thinking About Leaving Pittsburgh
SJ

Michael Misa Signs Entry-Level Contract With Sharks
Rutger McGroarty

Nursing an Injury
Cameron Champ

the Ultimate Wild Card at Procore
Cameron Young

Looks to Extend Momentum in Napa
Davis Thompson

Searching for a Spark at Procore
Sahith Theegala

Looking to Reignite Form at Procore
Mackenzie Hughes

Aims for Another Strong Showing at Procore
Luke Clanton

Brings Ball-Striking Upside to Napa
Seamus Power

Looking to Overcome Poor Course History at Procore
Joe Highsmith

Hoping to Find Form in Napa
Kristaps Porzingis

Reportedly Still Not Completely Healthy
Kelly Oubre Jr.

Reportedly on the Trade Block
Andre Drummond

Future in Philadelphia in Doubt
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Helps Greece Reach Semis at EuroBasket
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Posts Historic Triple-Double

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP