Top 7 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups: Defenses (Week 5)

We will have you covered throughout the 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 fantasy football 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 Defense fantasy football waiver wire targets for the week below. And also be sure to check out our full fantasy football waiver wire advice for the week.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets: Defense

DEFENSES

Written by Pat Fitzmaurice

Denver Broncos: 16% rostered

• Next Opponents: LV, LAC, @NO
• True value: $2
• Desperate Need: $3
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: The Broncos’ defense has been unexpectedly tough so far, holding opponents to an average of 13.8 points a game and racking up 16 sacks. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph’s unit is a top-10 fantasy defense. The Broncos get an appealing Week 5 matchup against the Raiders, followed by a playable Week 6 matchup against the injury-riddled Chargers. In fact, you could continue to use the Broncos in Weeks 7 and 8 vs. the Saints and Panthers. This is a good week for streaming defenses, but it’s still worth going an extra buck on the Broncos when placing your FAAB bids.

Seattle Seahawks: 25% rostered

• Next Opponents: NYG, SF, @ATL
• True value: $1
• Desperate Need: $2
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: Daniel Jones has been turnover-prone for much of his NFL career, and the Seahawks will host Danny Dimes and the Giants this week. Jones has thrown three interceptions in his first four games and has been sacked nine times. The Seahawks ranked 11th in defensive fantasy scoring entering Week 4.

New England Patriots: 3% rostered

• Next Opponents: MIA, HOU, @JAX
• True value: $1
• Desperate Need: $1
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: This is not a star-studded New England defense, but the Patriots are no pushovers either, and they have an appealing home matchup against the Dolphins this week. Miami is trying to figure out a solution at quarterback while Tua Tagovailoa recovers from a concussion, with the recently signed Tyler Huntley getting his first start Monday night against the Titans. In 10 career starts (including playoffs), Huntley has thrown seven interceptions and absorbed 25 sacks.

Green Bay Packers: 31% rostered

• Next Opponents: @LAR, ARI, HOU
• True value: $1
• Desperate Need: $1
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: Green Bay has forced three turnovers in each of its first four games. The Packers have already recorded more interceptions (eight) than they had during the 2023 regular season, and Packers safety Xavier McKinney has intercepted a pass in each of his first four games with his new team. The Packers get a Week 5 matchup against the Rams, who have been hit hard with injuries at wide receiver and along their offensive line.

Washington Commanders: 1% rostered

• Next Opponents: CLE, @BAL, CAR
• True value: $1
• Desperate Need: $1
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: Washington’s defense went into Week 4 ranked 32nd in DVOA, but the Commanders turned in a strong performance in a 42-14 road win over the Cardinals on Sunday, holding Arizona to 296 yards of offense and sacking Kyler Murray four times. This week, the Commanders face a sputtering Browns offense that could muster only 241 yards Sunday against a Raiders defense that was missing star DE Maxx Crosby. Browns QB Deshaun Watson has already been sacked 19 times and has thrown three interceptions.

Las Vegas Raiders: 26% rostered

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

Analysis: The Raiders entered Week 4 ranked dead last in defensive fantasy scoring, having accumulated just three points in their first three games. But streaming defenses is more about the opponent than the defense itself, and the Raiders get a Week 5 date with rookie QB Bo Nix and the Broncos. Nix has thrown four interceptions in his first four games, and the Broncos are averaging 15.5 points. One word of caution here: Regardless of matchup, the Raiders are still a low-level streaming option this week, and you probably shouldn’t bid on them unless there’s an indication early in the week that star DE Maxx Crosby will return in Week 5 after missing Week 4 with an ankle injury.

Jacksonville Jaguars: 4% rostered

• Next Opponents: IND, @CHI, NE
• True value: $1
• Desperate Need: $1
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: The Jacksonville defense hasn’t exactly been airtight this year, but the Jags are in play as a Week 5 streaming option if Anthony Richardson is forced to miss Week 5 with a hip injury and the Colts start Joe Flacco. Last year, Flacco was an interception machine, throwing 10 INTs in six starts for the Browns (playoffs included). Richardson has been interception-prone himself this season, though we don’t recommend using the Jacksonville defense if Richardson is able to face the Jags this week.