Fantasy football defense rankings, Week 9: From elite (Chargers) to streamable (Titans)

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

1. Cincinnati Bengals (vs. Raiders)

2. Los Angeles Chargers (at Browns)

3. Cleveland Browns (vs. Chargers)

4. Washington Commanders (at Giants)

5. Philadelphia Eagles (vs. Jaguars)

Some usual suspects this week, but keep an eye on the Commanders at New York as they look to bury a division rival. The Browns and Chargers should make for a horribly boring game on offense.

Solid

6. Atlanta Falcons (vs. Cowboys)

7. Minnesota Vikings (vs. Colts)

8. Kansas City Chiefs (vs. Buccaneers)

9. Los Angeles Rams (at Seahawks)

10. Detroit Lions (at Packers)

It’s unfair to put this Lions unit in the “streaming” category considering how consistent they’ve been. Yet playing at Lambeau Field is incredibly daunting — especially in a division matchup. Start ’em if you have ’em, but don’t expect a stellar day.

Streaming Options

11. New Orleans Saints (at Panthers)

12. Tennessee Titans (vs. Patriots)

13. Seattle Seahawks (vs. Rams)

14. Chicago Bears (at Cardinals)

15. Denver Broncos (at Ravens)

A decent week for streamers, all things considered. The Bears should be eager to make up for last week’s Hail Mary fail while the Titans get to face a Patriots offense that doesn’t have much of an identity. The Broncos are the wild card here. If they played this matchup at home they’d be borderline elite.