You’ve got your fantasy football lineup all but set for the week, with a few tweaks to be made here and there as Sunday’s slate of games is ready to kick off.
But you’re trying to optimize your lineup to make sure you get the most points. And that’s why you have to make sure your D/ST position has the best possible squad to win you the week.
That’s what these rankings will help with: A look at the elite, solid, and streamable options that could win you some virtual games in your league.
Let’s break down the Week 9 D/ST tiers:
Elite
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
1. Cleveland Browns (vs. Cardinals)
2. New Orleans Saints (vs. Bears)
3. Atlanta Falcons (vs. Vikings)
4. Los Angeles Rams (at Packers)
5. Los Angeles Chargers (at Jets)
Any of these teams are an automatic start given the offenses they’ll be facing. Four of the five opponents above are going with a contingency plan at quarterback — meaning these D/STs should feast.
Solid
(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
6. Baltimore Ravens (vs. Seahawks)
7. Philadelphia Eagles (vs. Cowboys)
8. Buffalo Bills (at Bengals)
9. Dallas Cowboys (at Eagles)
10. New York Jets (vs. Chargers)
These would be elite defenses any other week, but each team here is facing an offense that could torch them. Consider this group a boom or bust play.
Streaming Options
Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
11. Houston Texans (vs. Buccaneers)
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at Texans)
13. Indianapolis Colts (at Panthers)
14. Minnesota Vikings (at Falcons)
15. Las Vegas Raiders (vs. Giants)
These should hold you over just fine if you’re looking to grab a D/ST at the last minute.
