Top 4 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups: Defenses (Week 8)

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 article for Week 8.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets: Defense

DEFENSES

Written by Pat Fitzmaurice

Los Angeles Chargers: 40% rostered

• Next Opponents: NO, @CLE, TEN
• True value: $3
• Desperate Need: $5
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: The Chargers have delicious matchups coming up in each of the next three weeks, so spend a couple of extra bucks and spare yourself the trouble of having to find a new defense to stream in Weeks 8-9. First up: the Saints, who have struggled the last two weeks with starting QB Derek Carr out with an oblique injury. It’s possible Carr returns this week, in which case the Saints would be only an average matchup for an opposing defense. But if Carr is out again and either Spencer Rattler or Jake Haener gets the start, the Chargers will rank as one of the top fantasy defenses for Week 8. Then, the Chargers get a Week 9 date with the Browns, who in the wake of Deshaun Watson‘s season-ending injury will be quarterbacked by either the interception-prone Jameis Winston or the inexperienced Dorian Thompson-Robinson. And in Week 10, the Chargers draw a matchup with the Titans, who have committed 12 turnovers in their first six games and have been offensively inept. And by the way, the Chargers’ defense has been terrific, ranking third in DVOA and seventh in fantasy points per game going into Week 7.

Green Bay Packers: 47% rostered

• Next Opponents: @JAX, DET, BYE
• True value: $1
• Desperate Need: $2
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: The Packers weren’t able to force a turnover against the Texans on Sunday, but Green Bay had forced a league-high 17 turnovers over its first six games. Green Bay did harass Texans QB C.J. Stroud relentlessly, sacking him four times and holding him to just 86 passing yards. The Packers get a favorable Week 8 matchup with the Jaguars in Jacksonville.

Houston Texans: 48% rostered

• Next Opponents: IND, @NYJ, DET
• True value: $1
• Desperate Need: $2
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: After intercepting Packers QB Jordan Love twice and sacking him thrice on Sunday, the Texans get a Week 8 matchup against struggling QB Anthony Richardson and the Colts. Richardson is completing only 48.5% of his passes and has thrown six interceptions in five games. The Houston defense has scored 21 fantasy points in its last two games.

Detroit Lions: 19% rostered

• Next Opponents: TEN, @GB, @HOU
• True value: $1
• Desperate Need: $2
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: There’s no denying that the Detroit defense is less formidable now that it has lost DE Aidan Hutchinson to a leg injury. But the Lions still have some defensive playmakers, and they draw a Week 8 matchup with the hapless Tennessee offense. Entering Week 7, the Titans were giving up a league-high 14.4 fantasy points per game to opposing defenses. The Titans have committed 12 turnovers in six games.