Welcome to the Week 9 edition of PFF’s streaming defense/special teams fantasy advice. The NFL season has passed its halfway point and that means that most fantasy leagues are merely weeks away from the start of their playoffs. Is it me, or has this season flown by?
Week 8 was another wild one as six defenses scored a touchdown (the Ravens led the way with two) and 11 defenses put up at least three sacks. Those numbers should continue to rise as we welcome back two top-five fantasy defenses from their bye weeks with the Los Angeles Rams and Jacksonville Jaguars returning to action.
Yes. It feels a little strange to be typing positive things about a pair of teams that struggled mightily last season. That’s why we love the NFL — anything can change in a year’s time. Things can actually change in a week’s time, so let’s see which defenses are on the streaming radar for Week 9.
Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. Cincinnati)
There’s the chance that the Jaguars defense was dropped due to their bye week. Savvy fantasy owner snatched them up. This is a dominant fantasy unit that leads the league with 33 sacks and has two games in which they’ve posted double-digit sacks. They are also producing big plays with 16 turnovers and four defensive touchdowns. Jacksonville also traded for defensive tackle Marcell Dareus, who is reunited with head coach Doug Marrone. If the change of scenery motivates Dareus then this defense will be even more dangerous.
Baltimore Ravens (at Tennessee)
The return of Brandon Williams has bolstered the Ravens defensive line and the unit as a whole. In the last two weeks, Williams has nine solo tackles along with a quarterback hurry and hit. Last week, Baltimore racked up three sacks and a pair of defensive scores against the Dolphins. With quarterback Joe Flacco dealing with the concussion protocol, Baltimore will need the defense to step up. The Titans have allowed nine sacks in their past three games as well as two defensive scores. This is a nice matchup for the Ravens despite playing on the road.
Seattle Seahawks (vs. Washington)
Yes. The Seahawks allowed 38 points last week in their victory over the Texans and that’s not good. What is good is that Seattle continued to produce the big plays that fantasy owners cover from their defense/special teams unit. Despite being gouged by rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson the Seahawks still managed to post five sacks along with three interceptions and a defensive touchdown. Even if Earl Thomas misses time with the hamstring injury he suffered late in the game this is still a potent defense for fantasy purposes. Kirk Cousins is playing behind a banged-up offensive line and has had at least one turnover in three straight games.
Arizona Cardinals (at San Francisco)
Let’s target another struggling offensive line this week, as the 49ers have lost offensive tackle Joe Staley to a fractured orbital bone. In their last three games San Francisco has allowed an average of four sacks per game and more importantly 24 quarterback hurries with 11 hits last week against Dallas. Quarterback C.J. Beathard has little time to get rid of the ball and has been taking a beating. (New addition Jimmy Garoppolo isn’t expected to play this early in his tenure.) A hurried Beathard has turned the ball over five times in the last three weeks including a pick-six last week against the Cowboys. The Cardinals are coming off their bye week and will be ready to feast on a floundering 49ers offense.
Green Bay Packers (vs. Detroit)
It’s a disturbing sign when an offense can feel good about only allowing two sacks and one turnover in a game. The Lions offensive line has been unable to protect Matthew Stafford for weeks and the two sacks allowed to Pittsburgh last week were their fewest in a game since Week 3. With an ineffective running game, the Lions are forced to take to the air and defenses have been teeing off on Stafford. The Packers have struggled to get to the quarterback through their first seven games, but this matchup could be a jump start for Clay Matthews and company. In the two meetings between the teams last year the Packers had five sacks and a pair of interceptions. Playing at home this defense will be able to get pressure on Stafford leading to big play opportunities.
New Orleans Saints (vs. Tampa Bay)
The matchup features an offense and defense heading in opposite directions. The Saints are putting up top-10 fantasy totals for the season and have been a big-play machine of late. In their last four games, New Orleans has racked up 12 sacks, eight turnovers, and three defensive touchdowns. On the flip side, the Buccaneers offense has been very sloppy with the football during their four-game losing streak. More alarming is that Jameis Winston has really had a hard time in the last two weeks, throwing three interceptions and losing a pair of fumbles. The Saints defense will continue to roll in this divisional matchup.
Los Angeles Rams (at NY Giants)
This is another matchup between teams that are having opposite seasons. The Rams have emerged as a playoff contender in the NFC, while the Giants are likely already looking forward to the 2018 season. The Rams defense/special teams is a fantasy owner’s dream, as they are rolling up points in all facets of the game. In the last four games, Los Angeles has 13 sacks along with seven turnovers and two special-teams scores. The special-teams scores are particularly interesting as one was a blocked punt for a touchdown while the other was a kick return. Versatility is always nice with a DST. The Giants have lost their top three receivers and will have no answer for the surging Rams defense.
Houston Texans (vs. Indianapolis)
The Texans gave the Seahawks all they could handle last week but ultimately lost in a shootout. It’s not often that I like a defense that’s just allowed 41 points and four touchdown passes, but this matchup is just too good to pass up. Andrew Luck has already been ruled out for Week 9 and that’s all we need to know. Jacoby Brissett has been doing all he can to keep Indianapolis in games but gets little help from his offensive line. In the past two weeks he has been sacked 14 times. In those games opposing defenses have also been credited with 36 quarterback hurries and seven hits. Even without J.J. Watt the Texans will be able to get pressure on Brissett and that will lead to big plays. On the season Houston has three defensive touchdowns and has a great chance to add to that total as Indianapolis leads the league with five defensive touchdowns allowed.
© 2025 PFF - all rights reserved.