It’s becoming clearer every day that we are barreling through fall and headed toward winter. The leaves are dying, a Nor’easter is rolling through New England as we speak, and the Chiefs are on a winning streak while everyone else credits the refs. Winter is coming for sure.
Week 7 was another good one in the NFL, even without the primetime game that ended with a brawl at midfield — the Bucs and Colts both improved to 5-1 with home wins, the Chargers and Broncos both won close games to remain even at the top of the AFC West, and the Ravens continued to look like a shell of their former selves.
Our Week 6 picks, unfortunately, weren’t anything to write home about. All three teams won on Sunday but combined to average just over five fantasy points on defense; the Chargers led the way with eight, followed by New England with six and Green Bay with a disappointing two. Meanwhile, we had double digit point totals from the Raiders, Buccaneers, and Jets, who were all under 50% owned.
Looking to bounce back in Week 7, we’ve got a decent slate on the horizon — most notably, the 4-2 Chargers host the 5-1 Colts in the late window, and the Lions look to bounce back on Monday night at home against Tampa Bay.
As I watch the 40 mile per hour gusts out my window and hope all the trees in my yard can handle it, let’s take a look at the best fantasy football Week 7 defense streamers (D/ST) that should be available on the waiver wire.
TEAMS TO AVOID IN WEEK 7
Detroit Lions (69% rostered): After a goose egg in Week 1, Detroit’s defense had been on a tear, averaging just under 13 points per game over the Lions’ four-game win streak. That streak ended in Kansas City on Sunday night, as Detroit lost and put up just three points, with three sacks, no turnovers, and 30 points allowed — tied for their highest mark of the season.
Detroit will look to right the ship on Monday night at home as they host the Buccaneers. Baker Mayfield has Tampa Bay looking like Super Bowl contenders and has catapulted himself into the MVP conversation, currently sitting in fourth in passing yards, tied for third in passing TDs, and sixth in passer rating with just one interception on the season. Tampa has allowed less than four points per game to opposing fantasy defenses, and after the postgame fiasco that Brian Branch started in Kansas City, it’s likely Detroit will be shorthanded in their secondary when this game kicks off. They’re still one of my favorites to win the NFC, but I’m avoiding Detroit in this matchup.
Minnesota Vikings (51%): This one should be obvious, but the numbers can be deceiving. Minnesota is currently the DST6 for the 2025 season, but their numbers are heavily inflated by their 35-point outburst against the Bengals in Week 3. Outside of that game, they’re averaging just five points per game, and their two interceptions off Jake Browning in that blowout are their only two picks of the year. They’re coming off a bye that followed a win over Cleveland in London, but they only finished with three points in that contest, which was Dillon Gabriel‘s NFL debut.
The Vikings will host Philadelphia this week, who has dropped two straight after a 4-0 start. With everyone asking what’s wrong with their offense and a few extra days to prepare after a Thursday night game, Philly should be firing on all cylinders come Sunday. This feels like a get right game for them, so don’t get stuck with the Vikings defense in this one.
FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 7 DEFENSE STREAMERS (D/ST)
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (28% ROSTERED)
After an uncharacteristic 0-2 start, the Chiefs have won three of four with their lone loss coming at the last second against Jacksonville in Week 5. Their Super Bowl core is starting to age, and it’s showing — Travis Kelce is averaging just 53 receiving yards per game, while Chris Jones has one sack through six games. But when you have Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid, you’ll always be in position to win games, and the Chiefs now hold the second-best Super Bowl odds behind only Buffalo.
While the offense has been sorting things out through injuries and suspensions, the defense has kept KC afloat through the early part of the season. Their numbers don’t jump off the page, but they’re top ten against the pass and in sacks and ranked 11th in scoring defense, allowing just under 21 points per game.
Kansas City’s schedule has been tough and doesn’t get much easier, but they finally get a break this week as they host the Las Vegas Raiders. Geno Smith and the Raiders just improved to 2-4 with a win over the Titans, but they didn’t exactly make it look easy. Smith threw for just 174 yards with a touchdown and yet another interception, increasing his league-leading total to ten, and Ashton Jeanty finished the game with just 3.3 yards per carry against a poor Tennessee run defense.
The Chiefs have just four interceptions on the year, but I definitely expect that total to increase after four quarters against Geno Smith. The key matchup in this one will be in the trenches — Vegas’ offensive line has allowed the fifth-most sacks in the league through six games and Jeanty is second in the league in yards after contact, mostly because he’s fighting through tackles in the backfield more often than not. If Kansas City can win this matchup up front, they’ll limit Jeanty’s impact on the ground and get consistent pressure on Smith, which should lead to multiple interceptions if current trends continue.
KC will follow this game up with the Commanders and Bills before their Week 10 bye, so they may be a one-week stream, but they should show out in this matchup where they’ve won eight of the last nine dating back to 2020.
CLEVELAND BROWNS (24%)
At 1-5, the Browns are heading toward another season in the basement of the AFC North. Aside from a shocking 13-10 victory over Green Bay in Week 3, they’ve lost their other five contests by an average of over 13 points per game. They’ve shaken things up offensively with Dillon Gabriel now starting and Joe Flacco trying to keep Cincinnati above water until Joe Burrow returns, and while Gabriel has been solid in his two starts, they’ve yet to return to the win column.
However, as is often the case, Cleveland’s defense is coming to play in 2025. They’re third in total defense and run defense and seventh against the pass, and they’re in the top ten in the league with 14 sacks. Despite these solid marks, they’re the DST25 in fantasy, due in large part to just four takeaways on the year and a 22nd-ranked scoring defense.
With matchups still upcoming against the Jets, Ravens, Raiders, Titans, and Bengals, the Browns could actually find themselves with a decent record when this season is all said and done. However, we’ll take it one week at a time, and Week 7 brings a home matchup with the Miami Dolphins.
Despite a putrid 1-5 record and losing Tyreek Hill for the season, Miami’s offense has shown some flashes of competency in what’s otherwise been a lost season. Ignoring a Week 1 blowout at the hands of the Colts, they’ve scored 21 points or more in every other game they’ve played, most recently putting up 27 in a last-second loss to the Chargers in Week 6. Looking at the key fantasy stats, they’ve allowed just 13 sacks on the year, but they are tied for third in the league with seven interceptions thrown.
This one could honestly go any number of ways, but with a total for this game set at just 40.5, Vegas is clearly expecting a low-scoring slugfest in Cleveland. I’m also looking ahead and seeing some rain on the horizon for the weekend, which I would expect to lower that total even more if it sticks around. Myles Garrett and Maliek Collins have combined for 7.5 sacks so far this year, and they should be in for a few more against a lackluster Miami offensive line. Mix in a few turnovers and Cleveland could emerge the victor of this battle of 1-5 teams, with a solid fantasy day for the defense to boot.
CHICAGO BEARS (4%)
The Bears are coming off a Week 5 bye and will face the Commanders on the road tonight as this is being written. Regardless of how that contest plays out tonight, I’m eyeing the Bears for Week 7 as they return home to host the 1-5 Saints.
Chicago had a tough go of things in Week 2 against Detroit, allowing a whopping 52 points and recording no sacks or turnovers, but they’ve been a very solid fantasy defense otherwise. In three other games against the Vikings, Cowboys, and Raiders, they’ve averaged over 11 points per game with nine turnovers and about 21 points allowed per game. Sacks-wise they’re tied with Carolina for last place in the league with just five, but in most other areas of the game they’ve played like a top ten defense when not facing the Lions.
The Saints, to their credit and despite their poor record, have not been as generous to fantasy D/STs as you would expect from the league’s 28th-ranked scoring offense. They’ve allowed just six points per game to opposing defenses, which is exactly what the talented Patriots defense finished with against them in Week 6.
They’ve done this by limiting sacks and turnovers, with just 11 sacks allowed and four giveaways so far on the year. Spencer Rattler hasn’t been great, but he’s not careless with the ball, having thrown just two interceptions through six games. Rattler, Alvin Kamara, and Kendre Miller have combined for 155 carries without a fumble, although Kamara did lose one after a reception in Week 2.
Despite these trends, I think the Bears are in a good spot to make some noise in this matchup. They’ve proven they can create turnovers against below-average offenses, which is exactly what the Saints are, and are putting up good numbers in those contests even with low sack totals. You’ll be better off if you can lock up the Chiefs or Browns, but if neither are available, the Bears should put together a good day at home on Sunday.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
San Francisco 49ers (31%): The Niners will need to adjust to life without Fred Warner after his season-ending injury, but they’ll look to bounce back from a zero-point showing against Tampa Bay as they host the Falcons in Week 7.
Miami Dolphins (4%): The Dolphins have averaged over seven points per game in their last three, most recently putting up four against the Chargers with one sack and one turnover. They’ll head to Cleveland on Sunday to face the struggling Browns.
Washington Commanders (39%): Following a MNF matchup with Chicago, the Commanders will head on the road for a divisional matchup with the Cowboys.
