Week 8 Defense (DEF) Streamers and Starts - 2025 Fantasy Tiers, Rankings

Joey Pollizze analyzes all 2025 fantasy football Week 8 defenses (DEF) -- streamers, sits/starts, and D/ST waiver wire pickups to add. His Week 8 rankings and tiers for all of the NFL defenses.

Welcome, RotoBallers, to our fantasy football defense streamers, starts, and tiered rankings for Week 8 of the 2025 season! This article will contain the best and worst defensive options for each week of the fantasy season. This will be your go-to stop for all defensive rankings and streamers for the entire season.

With six teams on bye this week, there are only 26 different defenses to pick from. The Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, and Seattle Seahawks will all be off this week.

So, let's look at the best fantasy defenses for Week 8. These are the defenses fantasy managers should be starting this week. Use our tiered fantasy football D/ST rankings to make the right start/sit decision every week. 

Tier 1 Defenses – Fantasy Football Rankings for Week 8

1. Indianapolis Colts D/ST vs. TEN

The Indianapolis Colts D/ST will come in as the best fantasy option in Week 8. Defenses playing against the Titans' offense this year have scored 14 points (Week 1), eight points (Week 2), 13 points (Week 3), 14 points (Week 4), seven points (Week 5), 16 points (Week 6), and 19 points (Week 7). Therefore, you are starting this Indianapolis defense in all formats.

The Chargers were threatening a comeback deep in the 4th Quarter. That is until each of the #Colts three Team Captains on defense took matters into their own hands.

1. DeForest Buckner timely sack
2. Zaire Franklin's best rep in coverage to date?
3. Kenny Moore II 4th Down stop pic.twitter.com/jswTRz3teX

— Noah Compton (@nerlens_) October 20, 2025

The Colts have tallied multiple sacks in five straight games and currently rank tied for fifth in total sacks (19). Given that Cam Ward has been sacked 30 times through seven weeks, Indianapolis should get to the quarterback plenty of times in this game.

2. New England Patriots D/ST vs. CLE

The Patriots have played well defensively in recent weeks. They haven't allowed more than 20 points in a game since Week 3, and are coming off a game in which they sacked Ward five times. For that reason, New England's D/ST is a must-start against the Cleveland Browns in Week 8.

The Patriots have four players who rank in the top 20 at their position in pass rush win rate (Milton Williams, Christian Barmore, K'Lavon Chaisson, and Harold Landry III), and all four pass rushers should help the Patriots' D/ST be a viable option. The Browns' offensive line has given up 10 sacks over the past three games while ranking 27th in pass block win rate on the season.

3. Atlanta Falcons D/ST vs MIA

The Dolphins look lost on offense right now. Tua Tagovailoa has thrown six interceptions in his last two games, and the offensive line has allowed multiple sacks in five of seven contests this season. That makes the Falcons' D/ST a top-3 play in Week 8.

Atlanta ranks in the top 10 in pressure rate through seven weeks, which should help this defense because Tagovailoa isn't the best quarterback when under pressure. Look at what he did last week against a Browns defense that ranks top-3 in pressure rate (100 pass yards and three interceptions). So, the Falcons' defense is a fantastic start this week.

4. Buffalo Bills D/ST at CAR

With Bryce Young (ankle) expected to miss this game, Andy Dalton appears in line to start for the Panthers in Week 8. While Young not starting does hurt Buffalo's defense a little bit, this unit is still a top-5 play this weekend.

In Dalton's five starts with the Panthers last year, opposing defenses averaged eight fantasy points per game. That included two defenses scoring over 15 fantasy points. So, the Bills' D/ST has a ton of potential in this game. Buffalo has totaled multiple sacks in five of its six games this season, and currently ranks 12th in pressure rate.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers at NO

The Buccaneers will come in as a top-5 play in Week 8 against the New Orleans Saints. The Saints rank 29th in points scored per game, and the offensive line ranks 31st in pass block win rate. As a result, Tampa Bay should be all over New Orleans' offense in this game.

The Buccaneers rank top-6 in both pressure rate and pass rush win rate to begin the season and had an incredible defensive performance two weeks ago against the San Francisco 49ers. In that game, Tampa Bay tallied a season-high six sacks and forced two interceptions. That's enough to start them in Week 8 against a Saints offense that let up a season-high four sacks in Week 7.

6. Philadelphia Eagles vs. NYG

The Eagles were the hardest defense to rank in Week 8. This group hasn't necessarily played well, and just two weeks ago, Philadelphia's D/ST scored only one fantasy point against the New York Giants. However, fantasy managers should still be able to trust this defense in most formats this week.

Jalyx Hunt pick-6 off Carson Wentz!

PHIvsMIN on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/K3NeX8XXOJ

— NFL (@NFL) October 19, 2025

Jaxson Dart has been sacked at least four times in two of his four starts, and the Eagles have tallied multiple sacks in four straight games. Even though the Giants dominated them the last time these teams played in Week 6, look for a bounce-back performance from this group. This Philadelphia defense ranks 13th in pass rush win rate through seven weeks.

7. Kansas City Chiefs vs. WSH

The Chiefs' D/ST being this high has to do with Jayden Daniels' recent injury. Daniels left last week's game early due to a hamstring injury, and he will miss this week's game against the Kansas City defense.

The Chiefs just shut out the Raiders' offense last week, marking the fifth time in six weeks that this defense has allowed 20 or fewer points in a game. With a top-10 pressure rate on the season, Kansas City will be a strong start with Marcus Mariota under center. This Washington offensive line has given up seven sacks across the past two weeks.

Tier 2 Defenses – Fantasy Football Rankings for Week 8

8. Los Angeles Chargers D/ST vs. MIN

There's no doubt that the Chargers' defense looked awful last week against the Colts. This unit gave up 401 yards and only sacked Daniel Jones one time. However, Los Angeles' D/ST should be a much better fantasy option in Week 8 against the Vikings.

Carson Wentz is expected to start his fourth straight game. He has thrown multiple interceptions in two of the past three games, and the offensive line ranks 30th in sacks allowed per game (3.8). That makes Los Angeles the eighth-best defense to roll with in Week 8. The Chargers will hope to get back on track against a Vikings offensive line that ranks bottom 10 in pass block win rate.

9. Houston Texans D/ST vs. SF

Brock Purdy (toe) will not be healthy enough to start for the 49ers in Week 8. So, this Texans defense is a top-10 play this week. Houston has only allowed one team to score over 20 points in a game this season (Seahawks), and this defense ranks third in the NFL in pressure rate in true pass sets.

Therefore, the Texans' D/ST is a solid play this weekend. This group ranks third in pass rush win rate, and the 49ers' offensive line just let up six sacks a few weeks ago against the Buccaneers. That's enough to start Houston's defense in most formats.

10. Green Bay Packers D/ST at PIT

The Packers' defense had a nice showing against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 7. This unit totaled a season-high six sacks while also forcing a fumble. However, this D/ST doesn't deserve to be any higher on this week's rankings.

Ball is loose and recovered by the Packers!

GBvsAZ on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/6uOWZijEMC

— NFL (@NFL) October 19, 2025

The Packers have only forced three turnovers this year, and sacks might be hard to come by in this game. Aaron Rodgers has the third-quickest average time to throw (2.63 seconds) this season, meaning he gets the ball out quickly. Considering the Steelers are averaging 25 points per game this year, the bottom of Tier 2 feels like the right spot for Green Bay's D/ST.

Tier 3 Defenses – Fantasy Football Rankings for Week 8

11. Cincinnati Bengals D/ST vs. NYJ

This game is a matchup between a poor offense (Jets) and a below-average defense (Bengals). Although this is a fantastic matchup for Cincinnati's defense, it's hard to trust them even in a game like this. This defense ranks 31st in points allowed per game (30.6) and has only tallied five sacks since Week 4. As a result, the Bengals' D/ST shouldn't be any higher on this list.

Nonetheless, this unit can be used in some 12-plus team leagues this week. No offensive line has allowed more sacks than the Jets (31) this year, and New York hasn't scored over 22 points in a game since Week 1. If Trey Hendrickson  -- who ranks 12th in pass rush win rate among all edge rushers -- is back for this game, that would tremendously help this defense.

12. Cleveland Browns D/ST at NE

The Browns have one of the best defenses in the NFL, but they are not a must-start in Week 8. The Patriots have scored above 24 points in four of their last six games, and Cleveland's defense has struggled against some top offenses this year. The Ravens, Lions, and Steelers all had efficient offensive days against this defense in recent weeks.

So, the Browns will come in as the 12th-ranked D/ST for this week. However, this group does have some potential in 12-team leagues. Cleveland ranks top-5 in both pass rush win rate and pressure rate through six weeks, and the Patriots have allowed the fifth-most sacks so far this season.

13. San Francisco 49ers D/ST at HOU

Even without Fred Warner and Nick Bosa, the 49ers played well defensively against the Falcons last week. They totaled multiple sacks for the first time since Week 2 and held the Falcons offense to just 10 offensive points. While the San Francisco defense has had a hard time generating pressure without Bosa, this unit can capitalize on a plus matchup in Week 8.

C.J. Stroud has been sacked multiple times in every game this season, and Houston's offensive line ranks 29th in pass block win rate. The 49ers might not be a very good defense overall, but they have enough of a fantasy floor to start them in some 12-team leagues.

Tier 4 Defenses – Fantasy Football Rankings for Week 8

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 (Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Denver Broncos) or have huge question marks surrounding their defense (Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets). So, these defenses should be avoided for the most part.

If you absolutely need a defense from this tier, then the Vikings are your best choice. Justin Herbert has been under constant pressure in the pocket this year, resulting in the offensive line allowing 21 sacks through seven weeks (tied for the sixth-most). Considering no team blitzes more than Minnesota, this D/ST could be used in some deeper formats.

As for the Ravens, Steelers, Broncos, and Jets, it's best to avoid these defenses. Baltimore has had one of the worst defenses to begin the season. Pittsburgh might not be able to generate much pressure against the Packers, considering Jordan Love doesn't take too many sacks. Denver is going up against the No. 1 offense in football, and the Bengals offense looks back with Joe Flacco under center.

Tier 5 and 6 Defenses – Fantasy Football Rankings for Week 8

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 8.

*Bears move up to the end of Tier 1 with Lamar Jackson out.

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