Top 6 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups: Defenses (Week 9)

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 check out all of our fantasy football waiver wire advice for Week 9.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets: Defense

DEFENSES

Written by Pat Fitzmaurice

New England Patriots: 5% rostered

Next Opponents: @TEN, @CHI, LAR
True value: $1
Desperate Need: $1
Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: This is a terrible week to have to pick up and stream a defense. There aren’t many good defenses that are widely available, and the ones that are widely available have bad matchups. The widely available defenses with good matchups are of dubious quality. Like the Patriots, for instance. New England’s defense is averaging 3.9 fantasy points per game and ranked 30th in DVOA entering Week 8. This is most certainly not a vintage Patriots defense. But New England gats a favorable Week 9 matchup against Tennessee. The Titans rolled out Mason Rudoloph at quarterback last week, and he threw a pair of interceptions in a 52-14 loss to the Lions. Tennessee also lost a pair of fumbles in that game. The Titans have committed 16 turnovers in seven games. The Patriots’ defense is a reasonably decent matchup play this week.

New Orleans Saints: 33% rostered

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

Analysis: The Saints have not covered themselves in glory of late, giving up at least 26 points in five consecutive games. But the Saints get a tasty Week 9 matchup against the feeble Panthers, who are once again being quarterbacked by overmatched former No. 1 overall draft pick Bryce Young. With Andy Dalton dealing with a broken thumb, Young returned to the starting lineup and threw two interceptions in a 28-14 loss to the Broncos. In his three starts this season, Young has thrown five interceptions and has been sacked eight times, and the Panthers have averaged 9.0 points. One of those starts came against the Saints in Week 1. New Orleans sacked Young four times, intercepted him twice, and held him to 13-of-30 passing for 161 yards.

Cincinnati Bengals: 31% rostered

Next Opponents: LV, @BAL, @LAC
True value: $1
Desperate Need: $1
Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: The Bengals have a Sunday date with the Raiders, who entered Week 8 having given up 13.0 fantasy points per game to opposing defenses, second-most in the league. The Raiders have committed 17 turnovers and absorbed 25 sacks in eight games.

Washington Commanders: 12% rostered

Next Opponents: @NYG, PIT, @PHI
True value: $1
Desperate Need: $1
Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: After turning in a respectable performance in a last-second Week 8 win over Chicago, the Washington defense draws a Week 9 matchup against the Giants. Going into their Monday-night game against the Steelers in Week 8, the Giants were giving up 10.0 fantasy points per game to opposing defenses. In Week 7, the Giants produced only 119 yards of offense against the Eagles, and Giants QB Daniel Jones was sacked eight times. The loss of start left tackle Andrew Thomas to a season-ending foot injury was a huge blow to the Giants’ offense, which was completely dysfunctional against the Eagles without him.

Arizona Cardinals: 2% rostered

Next Opponents: CHI, NYJ, BYE
True value: $1
Desperate Need: $1
Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: Arizona has been a middle-of-the-pack fantasy defense, averaging 6.3 points per game. The Cardinals get a decent home matchup against an inconsistent Bears offense led by rookie QB Caleb Williams. The No. 1 pick in this year’s draft has thrown fine interceptions and taken 22 sacks in seven games.

Tennessee Titans: 2% rostered

Next Opponents: NE, @LAC, MIN
True value: $1
Desperate Need: $1
Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: The Tennessee defense hasn’t been scoring many fantasy points, but it’s a respectable unit that ranked 11th in DVOA before its Week 8 game against the Lions. Tennessee draws New England this week, and it’s not clear who’ll be playing quarterback for the Patriots. Rookie Drake Maye sustained a concussion in Week 8 and was replaced by Jacoby Brissett, who had been the starter earlier this season. Both New England quarterbacks have been sack magnets this season, taking a combined 27 sacks in eight games.