Week 9 Defense (DEF) Streamers and Starts - 2025 Fantasy Tiers, Rankings

Joey Pollizze analyzes all 2025 fantasy football Week 9 defenses (DEF) -- streamers, sits/starts, and D/ST waiver wire pickups to add. His Week 9 rankings and tiers for all of the NFL defenses.

Welcome, RotoBallers, to our fantasy football defense streamers, starts, and tiered rankings for Week 9 of the 2025 season! This article will be your go-to stop for all defensive rankings and streamers for the entire season.

Picking the right defenses each week could sometimes be the difference between a win and a loss. Those fantasy managers who picked up and played the Buccaneers' D/ST last week likely won their matchup behind a 26-point fantasy day.

So, let's look at the best fantasy defenses for Week 9. Use our tiered fantasy football D/ST rankings to make the right start/sit decision every week. 

• 2025 fantasy football rankings
• Running back (RB) fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver (WR) fantasy football rankings
• Tight end (TE) fantasy football rankings
• Quarterback (QB) fantasy football rankings
• FLEX fantasy football rankings
• Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
• Kicker (K) fantasy football rankings
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings

Tier 1 Defenses – Fantasy Football Rankings for Week 9

1. Los Angeles Chargers D/ST at TEN

Starting any defense that plays against the Titans has worked wonders through the first half of the season. Five different D/ST have scored in double figures, and no defense has scored under seven fantasy points against Tennessee's offense. Therefore, the Chargers will come in as the No. 1-ranked D/ST.

RJ Mickens gets another INT for the @Chargers defense!

MINvsLAC on Prime Video
Also streaming on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/CL7woStMhA

— NFL (@NFL) October 24, 2025

No quarterback has been sacked more than Cam Ward (34) this season, and the Titans rank 32nd in points per game (13.8). Considering the Chargers rank 13th in pass rush win rate and are coming off a five-sack performance last week, fantasy managers should be starting this Los Angeles D/ST in every format.

2. Los Angeles Rams D/ST vs. NO

With Tyler Shough starting for the Saints in Week 9, this Rams D/ST will be a must-start unit this weekend. Los Angeles has totaled 11 sacks over its last two games and currently ranks second in total sacks (26) on the season. That sack upside should play a major role in this matchup.

The Saints' offensive line ranks 31st in pass block win rate, and this group has let up nine sacks over the past two games. Given the inconsistency of this Saints offense, the Rams defense should be in for a strong game. Los Angeles entered last week with the most pressures among all defenses in the NFL.

3. Denver Broncos D/ST at HOU

The Broncos simply have the best defense in the NFL. They rank first in sacks (36), first in pressure rate, and first in quarterback hits. Denver also ranks in the top 10 in pass rush win rate. For that reason, this D/ST will be a top-3 play in Week 9 against the Houston Texans.

While the Texans have been better offensively in recent weeks, the Broncos should get a ton of pressure on C.J. Stroud in this contest. Stroud has been sacked multiple times in six of the team's seven games, and this Houston offensive line ranks 30th in pass block win rate. So, starting a defense that has totaled at least four sacks in three of the past four weeks feels like an easy choice.

4. Green Bay Packers D/ST vs. CAR

The Packers' defense has definitely bounced back in recent games. This unit has totaled nine sacks over the past two weeks and has forced a turnover in back-to-back games for the first time this season. Now, this Green Bay D/ST will have a favorable matchup against a struggling Panthers offense.

The Carolina offensive line just allowed a season-high seven sacks in last week's loss, and this unit ranks 25th in pass block win rate. That means a big game could be in store for the Packers' defensive line, especially from Micah Parsons -- who leads the league in total pressures. Even though Bryce Young (ankle) is expected to return, Green Bay's D/ST is a strong start.

5. Detroit Lions D/ST vs. MIN

The expectation is that J.J. McCarthy (ankle) will be back for this game. However, that shouldn't scare any fantasy manager away from starting this Lions D/ST in Week 9. Detroit's defense has scored in double figures in fantasy in four of its last five games, and this unit is averaging 3.8 sacks per game since Week 2.

Among all @NFL teams through Week 7, the @Lions defense ranks:

- 1st in FFs (9)
- 2nd in PDs (42)
- t-3rd in sacks (23)
- t-6th in INTs (8)#OnePride pic.twitter.com/pEqHNusg5m

— Detroit Lions PR (@LionsPR) October 21, 2025

Those sacks should come into play against a Vikings offensive line that ranks 31st in sacks allowed per game (4.1). With a top-12 pressure rate in the NFL, the Lions' D/ST is a fantastic start in most formats. Detroit just held Tampa Bay's high-powered offense to just nine points the last time we saw this group in Week 7.

6. Jacksonville Jaguars D/ST at LV 

The Jaguars haven't exactly been a dominant defense recently. They have allowed over 27 points in two of their last three games and have only totaled four sacks since Week 3. However, this D/ST could be used in most formats this week against the Raiders.

Geno Smith ranks tied for first in interceptions thrown (10), and this Jacksonville secondary ranks tied for second in interceptions (10) through eight weeks. The Raiders' offensive line has also allowed at least three sacks in four of seven games this season. As a result, the Jaguars should have some sack opportunities in this game. They rank right around league average in pressure rate.

7. New England Patriots D/ST vs. ATL

We don't know which version of the Falcons offense will show up in Week 9. But given the way this Patriots D/ST has played since Week 4, this unit will be a top-7 play this week. New England hasn't allowed a team to score over 20 points in five straight games.

While the Patriots have only totaled 10 sacks during this five-game stretch, they have several players along their defensive line who rank toward the top of the league in pass rush win rate. Milton Williams,  Christian Barmore, K'Lavon Chaisson, and Harold Landry III rank top-20 at their respective positions in this category. That's enough to start this D/ST in most formats.

Tier 2 Defenses – Fantasy Football Rankings for Week 9

8. Houston Texans D/ST vs. Denver Broncos

The Texans have one of the best defenses in the NFL. This is a unit that ranks top-5 in pressure rate, top-10 in pass rush win rate, and has two pass rushers (Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr.) who rank top-4 among all edge rushers in pass rush win rate. That helps this D/ST come in at No. 8 on this week's rankings.

Now, this matchup against the Broncos isn't the best. Denver ranks first in pass block win rate, and Bo Nix has only been sacked five times over the last three weeks. However, this Houston defense has stopped some high-powered offenses this year, including the Rams in Week 1, the Buccaneers in Week 2, and the 49ers in Week 8. That's enough to start them.

9. Seattle Seahawks D/ST at Washington Commanders

It remains to be seen if Jayden Daniels (hamstring) will be healthy enough to start for the Commanders in Week 9. If he does, this Seahawks D/ST might move down a couple of spots. Nevertheless, most fantasy managers can still roll with them in most formats, given how well this defense has played this year.

Ernest Jones IV with the @Seahawks INT!

SFvsSEA on FOXhttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/LLPzjquZ9O

— NFL (@NFL) September 7, 2025

The Seahawks rank first in hurries, first in pressure rate on blitzes, fifth in pass rush win rate, and top-5 in pressure rate. So, fantasy managers can start this defense no matter who starts for the Commanders in Week 9. Washington's offensive line has allowed multiple sacks in four of its past five games.

10. San Francisco 49ers D/ST at New York Giants

The 49ers did not have a great defensive performance last week. They didn't total any sacks and allowed the Texans to score 26 points against them. That doesn't mean that this 49ers defense can't be started in some leagues this weekend.

The Giants' offensive line has given up nine sacks over the past two games, and this offense will be without Cam Skattebo (ankle) for the season. Given that Jaxson Dart has been sacked 18 times in his five career starts, the 49ers D/ST will come in at the bottom of Tier 2 this week. New York ranks below league average in pass block win rate.

Tier 3 Defenses – Fantasy Football Rankings for Week 9

11. Baltimore Ravens D/ST at MIA

The Baltimore Ravens defense appears to be turning a corner. They have allowed under 18 points in back-to-back games, and this unit is getting healthier and healthier each week. That makes this D/ST a potential start in Week 9. Tua Tagovailoa has thrown 10 interceptions through eight weeks while being protected by a Miami offensive line that ranks 23rd in pass block win rate.

12. Indianapolis Colts D/ST at PIT

It isn't always the easiest to bring down Aaron Rodgers. He has the third-fastest average time to throw (2.67 seconds) this season, and that has resulted in Rodgers being brought down just five times since Week 3. But the Colts' D/ST is still startable in 12-plus team leagues this week. Indianapolis has totaled 20 sacks since Week 3, and Rodgers was just sacked three times in last week's loss.

13. Las Vegas Raiders D/ST vs. JAC

It might be hard to trust the Raiders D/ST in most cases this weekend. This group has totaled one sack or fewer in four of its last five games, while ranking in the bottom half of the league in pressure rate. However, this Las Vegas defense could be started in some formats this weekend. The Jacksonville offensive line ranks dead last in pressure rate allowed since Week 5.

Tier 4 Defenses – Fantasy Football Rankings for Week 9

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 (Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders, and Atlanta Falcons) or have huge question marks surrounding their defense (New York Giants and Cincinnati Bengals). So, these defenses should be avoided for the most part.

If you absolutely need a defense from this tier, then the Giants are likely your best choice. This New York defense just totaled a season-high four sacks against the Eagles, and the 49ers' offensive line hasn't exactly been great. Just a few weeks ago, the San Francisco offensive line allowed six sacks against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

As for the Bears, Commanders, Falcons, and Bengals, it's best to avoid these defenses. Chicago will have a tough matchup against a Joe Flacco-led Bengals offense. Washington goes up against a Seahawks offensive line that doesn't allow many sacks. Atlanta's defense looked lost against the Dolphins last week, and Cincinnati's defense is not very good.

Tier 5 and 6 Defenses – Fantasy Football Rankings for Week 9

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 9.

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