Heading into Week 7 and looking over the slate of Sunday games, I had a feeling we may be headed for a bit of a snoozer.
Of course we had some interesting games and storylines — Miami got their first win, the Giants won outright in overtime as ten-point dogs, and the Lions beat the Packers on a last-second field goal in a game that was much lower-scoring than anyone expected.
Unfortunately, along with the week itself, our streamer picks were also a bit of a disappointment. The Browns with six points were our best pick of the day, accumulating a sack and two turnovers as they overcame an early 14-0 deficit to fend off the Titans. The Saints had four points in a loss in Paris, sacking Aaron Rodgers three times but failing to force any turnovers, while the Jets mustered up just a point as they gave Miami their first win of the year.
Week 8 appears to be poised to bring us a higher quality week of football, starting with Green Bay hosting Carolina on Thursday night with both teams coming off a divisional loss. We have two games (Arizona/Dallas and Baltimore/Buffalo) with current Vegas totals at 53 or higher, and some sure-to-be exciting divisional contests in Browns/Steelers, Lions/Vikings, and Chiefs/Broncos.
And between tough matchups (Baltimore against Buffalo and Denver against Kansas City) and bye weeks (Houston, San Francisco), we’ve got a handful of highly-rostered defenses that may need replacing in Week 8. So who are the top options to stream as we approach the tail end of the first half of the NFL season?
Let’s find out as we take a look at the best fantasy football Week 8 defense streamers (D/ST) that you should be keeping an eye out for on the waiver wire.
BEST FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 8 DEFENSE STREAMERS (D/ST)
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (28% ROSTERED)
After two games with 15+ points through Week 3, Jacksonville fell out of the top ten in DST scoring heading into their Week 7 bye. Over their last two games — a last-second win against Philly and a high-scoring loss to Houston — they’ve scored just three total fantasy points with one sack and one turnover.
Luckily for the Jags, they’re primed for a turnaround. Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker are still one of the strongest edge rushing duos in the league, and Travis Hunter has started to look like a lockdown corner that is worthy of the high pick they used to get him.
And it’s not just their roster — their schedule is set up for a big mid-season push as well.
At 4-2 and firmly in command of the AFC South, the Jaguars have the easiest remaining schedule in the league. Four of their next five games will come against teams in the top 12 in points allowed to fantasy defenses, starting this week with the 2-5 Colts.
Since improving to 2-2 in Week 4, the Colts have embarked on a three-game skid, fired their GM, and moved squarely into the conversation of trade deadline sellers. Jonathan Taylor is still JT, but otherwise, Indy’s offense has been a major disappointment. Over their last two games against Tennessee and Minnesota, they’ve let up ten sacks, surrendered four turnovers, and scored just 15 points per game.
This one seems pretty obvious — Jacksonville is the top dog in the division, well-rested off a bye, and gearing up for a playoff push. The Colts, meanwhile, are in complete disarray and headed toward yet another disappointing finish.
And with Jacksonville having the Ravens, Titans, Giants, and Titans again over their next four weeks, you’ll want to snap them up now while you still can.
CINCINNATI BENGALS (20%)
Once upon a time after Week 2, the Bengals were the DST1, racking up eight sacks, four turnovers, and a touchdown over their first two games while allowing less than 14 points per game.
Even for a much-improved unit from the one that finished as the DST24 last season, this early domination wasn’t sustainable. They fell back to Earth with just eight points across Weeks 3 and 4, but put up ten points in each of their last two games — wins against Miami and Baltimore — putting them in their current spot of DST5 through seven weeks.
While Joe Burrow and Cincy’s offense are having a good start, finding themselves in the top ten in both passing and scoring, the Bengals defense has proven to be the determining factor in their success so far. In their four wins, they’re scoring over 13 fantasy points on average with 15 sacks and eight turnovers and allowing 16 points per game; in their two losses, they’re scoring an average of four points with six sacks, one turnover, and 26 PA per game.
Despite a 4-2 record, the Bengals currently sit in third place in a very strong AFC North, so every week is a must-win as they work to keep pace with the Browns and Steelers. Luckily for them, they’ve already collected one win this week, as they are the newest winners of the “Get to Face the Titans” sweepstakes.
Attempting to win two straight games for the first time since November 2022, the Titans scored 24 points behind Tony Pollard‘s 129 yards and three TDs but ultimately lost to Cleveland at home. Cam Ward had another tough day under center for Tennessee, throwing for just 181 yards and getting picked off for the fifth straight week.
Despite trotting out an offense that’s dead last in yardage and scoring in 2026, the Titans haven’t been as generous to opposing fantasy defenses as you’d think, allowing the 12-most points through seven weeks — less than teams like Chicago, New England, and Seattle. They’ve managed to curb sacks and turnovers for the most part, limiting the fantasy scoring prowess of their opponents so far in what’s been another lost season, but have little to show for it.
Ultimately, I think the win/loss trends for Cincinnati tell the story here; I see few scenarios in which the Bengals don’t win this game, so history tells us they’ll be a double-digit scoring unit this week. With Atlanta and Pittsburgh on deck, Cincinnati isn’t too tantalizing of an option beyond Week 8, but they’re one of my favorite picks this week.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (10%)
The Raiders have had two distinct streaks so far in 2026. In the first one, they went 3-0, scoring over 15 fantasy points per game with ten sacks, nine turnovers, and 18 points allowed per game. In the second, they went 0-4, scoring six total fantasy points with six sacks, three turnovers, and allowing over 35 points per game.
While it could be a case of early-season energy followed by fatigue setting in, Vegas’ schedule tells a clearer story. Their opponents from Weeks 1-3 (the Dolphins, Chargers, and Saints) are a combined 3-16 through seven weeks, while their four most recent opponents (Kansas City, Buffalo, New England, and the Rams) are 17-9.
Unfortunately for the Raiders, Weeks 9-12 bring matchups with San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, and Cleveland before their bye week. However, before that stretch, they’ll head out on the road this week to face the 2-5 Jets.
There was a bit of healthy optimism around the Jets when they beat the Browns to improve to 2-3. Since then, however, they’ve lost two straight in the division, including this past week to the previously-winless Dolphins, and we are reminded that the more things change, the more they stay the same.
The Jets are right in the middle of the league in DST scoring allowed, letting up a decent amount of sacks but limiting turnovers. They haven’t been the most lucrative streaming target this year, but after losing to the Dolphins, they may just roll over and let the rest of the 2026 season have their way with them.
Vegas is a one-week option due to their upcoming schedule after this week, but I like them a lot against the Jets.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Atlanta Falcons (2%): The Falcons take their top five rush defense to Tampa this week to face the Bucs, who leaned heavily on the run game in a beatdown of the Panthers in Week 7.
Washington Commanders (2%): Coming off a bye, the Commanders head back home to host the banged up Eagles on Sunday Night Football.
Detroit Lions (13%): The Lions limited the damage against Green Bay in Week 7, finishing with one sack and one turnover in a 20-17 win, and will stay home and stay in the division this week as they host Minnesota.
