Note: After publishing, the Commanders became the league’s most prominent sellers at Tuesday’s trade deadline, shipping out Montez Sweat and Chase Young for mid-round draft picks. They’re still a streaming option against a bad New England offense, but aren’t as promising as currently constructed.
It pains me to say it, but we’re officially coming up at the midway point of the NFL season. It seems like just yesterday that the Lions stunned the Chiefs on Opening Night, but alas, we are heading into Week 9. And for us fantasy players with an even shorter season, crunch time is upon us, and every week could make or break your championship hopes.
While you get your fantasy lineup set to perfection, don’t make the mistake of forgetting to evaluate the D/ST slot — especially this week. There are six defenses currently that are owned in over 90% of leagues; San Francisco is on a bye, and the other five go up against offenses that yielded an average of 2.6 points to fantasy defenses last week. So before you “set it and forget it,” take a good look at the available defensive options in your league.
And who are the best units on the Week 9 Waiver Wire to replace these top defenses? I’m glad you asked.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (14% ROSTERED ON YAHOO!)
VS NEW YORK GIANTS | 4:25 PM
The Raiders defense was in bad shape over their first four games, scoring just six fantasy points in Weeks 1-4 and failing to generate a single turnover until Week 4. But in four games since, they’ve tallied nine sacks, seven turnovers, and put up over nine fantasy points per game, including 13 against Detroit in Week 8.
They’re not world-beaters by any means, but they’re heading in the right direction… something that can’t be said for their Week 9 opponent.
The Giants have yielded the most fantasy points to opposing defenses in 2023, and last week was bad even for them, as they finished the game with -9 passing yards. Yes, NEGATIVE NINE passing yards. In their defense, they were forced to thrust undrafted rookie Tommy DeVito into action with Daniel Jones inactive and Tyrod Taylor knocked out in the second quarter, but how does a team feel comfortable going into a game with a backup QB who isn’t ready to play? Especially when they’re trotting out the worst offensive line in football?
Daniel Jones has reportedly been cleared for contact and appears in line to return to action this week, which could change their outlook a bit, but even before Jones was injured in Week 5, New York was struggling to score points and giving up sacks at a record pace. Maxx Crosby and Vegas’ front is salivating at the thought of this matchup regardless of who’s under center, and I like them a lot as a defense that’s available in over 85% of leagues.
ARIZONA CARDINALS (1%)
AT CLEVELAND BROWNS | 1 PM
Heading into this year, the only conversations about the Cardinals centered on whether they would be pretty bad or historically bad.
They have just one win through eight games, but the brunt of the criticism for Arizona can be directed at its offense, that’s scored less than 19 points per game so far. Defensively, they’ve been respectable, putting up just over five fantasy points per game over the past four weeks with five turnovers and 12 sacks, including four of Lamar Jackson last week.
The Cardinals head to Cleveland this week to face a 4-3 Browns team that’s statistically been solid, scoring 22 points per game and going 2-1 over their last three games, which have included a 39-point outburst against Indianapolis, and a win over the then-undefeated 49ers.
Despite a decent record, Cleveland is dealing with a QB situation as Deshaun Watson remains out, and PJ Walker threw two interceptions against Seattle in last week’s 24-20 loss. It could conceivably be Watson, Walker, or fifth-round rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson under center in Week 9. Regardless, Arizona is a solid option if you need a productive defense in a deep league.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (27%)
AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | 1 PM
The Patriots are currently 2-6 and sitting in sole possession of last place in the entire AFC, and things got even worse last week when Kendrick Bourne tore his ACL in a 31-17 loss to Miami. New England’s offense has already been stagnant, and now with Bourne out, I don’t see any scenario in which they have much success moving the ball through the air on Sunday. Their 27th-ranked rushing attack doesn’t provide much additional hope, either, especially against Washington’s talented defensive front.
The Commanders’ defense only scored two fantasy points against Philadelphia last week. Still, they did notch two sacks and two turnovers against an Eagles team that’s committed the same amount of turnovers (13) as New England through eight weeks. I see a few more turnovers on the horizon this week, and likely a handful of sacks against a Patriots offensive line that played well last week but has been inconsistent overall — even after Washington traded away Montez Sweat and Chase Young before Tuesday’s trade deadline.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
New England Patriots (28%): New England’s defense has been hit by the injury bug as of late, which has lowered their ownership rate considerably, but they will host a Commanders team that’s yielded the 5th-most points to fantasy defenses and given up 41 sacks, which ties them for the league lead.
Houston Texans (10%): Houston was one of our top streaming options last week as they put up seven points with six sacks in a loss to Carolina; they host Baker Mayfield and Tampa Bay’s inconsistent offense on Sunday afternoon.
Indianapolis Colts (8%): The Colts have averaged less than three fantasy points per game on defense over the past five weeks, but a matchup with 1-6 Carolina could be exactly what they need to get right.
