Top 9 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets: Defenses (Week 9)

We will have you covered throughout the 2023 fantasy football season with our bevy of tools, including our Waiver Wire Assistant. Find the top available players and get detailed analysis on how potential waiver wire adds will impact your team. Of course, our team of analysts will also have written advice each week. Check out some of our top waiver wire targets for the week below. And check out all of our fantasy football waiver wire advice for Week 9.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets

Atlanta Falcons: 33% rostered

• Next Opponents: MIN, @ARI, BYE
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $2
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: We would normally be disinclined to recommend a defense that entered Week 8 ranked 25th in defensive fantasy scoring and just made Will Levis look like a future Hall of Famer in his first NFL start. But the Falcons have a Week 9 home date with the Vikings, who will be trying to pick up the pieces after losing QB Kirk Cousins to a torn Achilles. The likely replacement for Cousins is rookie fifth-rounder Jaren Hall. Expect a few rookie mistakes from the BYU product.

Las Vegas Raiders: 13% rostered

• Next Opponents: NYG, @NYJ, @MIA
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $2
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: The Raiders’ defense is averaging 4.4 fantasy points per game and ranks 25th in defensive DVOA, but Las Vegas is blessed with Frank Sinatra scheduling the next two weeks: “New York, New York.” First, the Raiders face the Giants, who were allowing a league-high 15.1 fantasy points per game to team defenses entering Week 8 and then cobbled together only 10 points Sunday in an overtime loss to the Jets. Daniel Jones could be back at QB for the Giants this week, but Jones has taken 28 sacks and thrown six interceptions and five starts. Then, in Week 10, the Raiders face Zach Wilson and the Jets. Although the Las Vegas defense isn’t actually good, you could roll with it in your fantasy league for the next two weeks.

Washington Commanders: 27% rostered

• Next Opponents: @NE, @SEA, NYG
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $2
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: The Commanders have collected 25 sacks this season, putting them inside the top 10 in that category. They get an appealing home matchup against Mac Jones and the Patriots, who were giving up an average of 12.1 fantasy points per game to team defenses going into Week 8.

New England Patriots: 27% rostered

• Next Opponents: WSH, IND, BYE
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $2
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: One of the highest-scoring team defenses in recent years, the New England D has produced very little fantasy value in 2023. The Patriots entered Week 8 ranked 29th in defensive fantasy scoring and haven’t turned in a double-digit point total all season. But the Patriots have a chance to get there this week against sack magnet Sam Howell and the Commanders. Howell has been sacked 41 times and has thrown eight interceptions in eight games. Although the New England pass rush has been more toothless than usual, the Patriots should be able to collect some sacks against Howell, and perhaps some turnovers as well.

Los Angeles Chargers: 26% rostered

• Next Opponents: @NYJ, DET, @GB
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $1
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: The Chargers’ defense ranked 29th in DVOA and 23rd in defensive fantasy scoring heading into their Week 8 matchup against the Bears, but this ugly duckling of a team defense could have a swan-like performance this week against Zach Wilson and the Jets. Wilson has taken 13 sacks in his last three games, and the Jets could muster only 13 points last week in an overtime victory against the Giants and their mediocre defense.

New York Giants: 6% rostered

• Next Opponents: @LV, @DAL, @WSH
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $1
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: Continuing the theme of below-average defenses that benefit from matchups against bad offenses, we present to you the New York Giants, who entered Week 8 ranked 23rd in DVOA and 28th in defensive scoring but get a friendly matchup against the Raiders this week. Las Vegas came into Week 8 having allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing defenses, and QB Jimmy Garoppolo has all the mobility of the Statue of David.

Tennessee Titans: 2% rostered

• Next Opponents: @PIT, @TB, @JAX
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $1
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: The Titans’ defense hasn’t scored a lot of fantasy points this season, but it’s a respectable unit that can really stuff the run and force opposing offenses to be one-dimensional. Tennessee faces Pittsburgh this week, and the Steelers probably won’t fare well on offense this week if they have to lean entirely on their popgun passing attack. It’s not clear who’ll be starting at quarterback for the Steelers in Week 9. Kenny Pickett injured his ribs on Sunday and was replaced by Mitchell Trubisky. Either one will make the Titans a viable streaming option

Indianapolis Colts: 8% rostered

• Next Opponents: @CAR, @NE, BYE
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $1
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: The Colts have scored five or fewer fantasy points in each of their last five games, but they get a nice Week 9 matchup against the Panthers. Carolina entered Week 8 having allowed the eighth-most fantasy points per game to team defenses, and Panthers QB Bryce Young has taken 20 sacks in his last five games.

Green Bay Packers: 18% rostered

• Next Opponents: LAR, @PIT, LAC
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $1
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: The Packers will only be an attractive streaming option this week if the Rams are without starting QB Matthew Stafford, who injured his thumb on Sunday, so check Stafford’s status before committing FAAB money to Green Bay. If Stafford is out, the Packers would face backup QB Brett Rypien, who completed 5-of-10 passes for 42 yards and was sacked once in relief of Stafford on Sunday.