When it comes to NFL defenses, everything can change in a year — and sometimes even in a week. Injuries, trades, and coaching changes can turn usually-reliable defenses into drop candidates, while other defenses figure things out and become viable streams. Our Week 10 fantasy defense rankings will reset the D/ST landscape and let you know where you stand as we motor toward the playoffs.
Two strong defenses, the 49ers and Lions, had Week 9 off — but we might have still witnessed the best of the best. The Browns racked up an NFL week-high 23 fantasy points en route to a 27-0 thumping of the Cardinals, while the Ravens smacked around the Ravens 37-3 and tallied 15 D/ST points in the process.
Other squads continued to prove their high-ceiling ability in plus matches, like the Colts at the Panthers, the Raiders vs. the Giants, and the Packers vs. the Rams. The Steelers got the weekly "TNF" boost over the Tiians and, of course, the Chiefs benefited from the Dolphins not being ready to knock off a contender and playing overseas.
Enough of Week 9, though. We're here to set the table for the fantasy D/ST position for Week 10. Can you still trust the defense you've been rolling with lately? Or, is it time to pivot and find a higher-upside option on the wire? Below, we will discuss the byes, the cream of the crop, the sleepers and potential waiver-wire gems, and our Week 10 fantasy defense rankings.
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Which fantasy defenses are on bye in Week 10?
Just like last week, we have four teams on bye in Week 10: the Eagles, Rams, Chiefs, and Dolphins. Like always, the Rams are half the fantasy defense they are in real life. Kansas City and Miami, meanwhile, faced each other in Germany on Sunday, so their rostered rates plummeted in Week 9. However, the folks who held onto the Chiefs were glad they did, as Steve Spagnuolo's unit stifled Mike McDaniel's Miami running game and carved out 15 fantasy points in the process
WEEK 10 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | Kickers
You might want to hold onto Kansas City's D if you can. It has two meetings with the Raiders remaining, as well as a date with the Packers in Green Bay and a home game against Mac Jones and the Patriots. That sounds a hell of a lot more alluring than Philadelphia's schedule over the next six weeks: BYE, @ KC, vs. BUF, vs. SF, @ DAL, @ SEA.
WEEK 10 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | Kickers
Who are the best fantasy defenses in Week 10?
After a difficult Week 9 game against the Chargers on Monday Night Football, the Jets (@ Raiders in Week 10) travel to Las Vegas to face Aiden O'Connell and a struggling Davante Adams. What's the delicious smell!? Turnovers! The Raiders led the NFL in giveaways entering Week 9, so expect some negative regression from their Week 9 beatdown of the Giants. Gang Green is a much different New York squad than the G-men.
Speaking of the G-men, the Cowboys (vs. Giants) welcome Brian Daboll's banged-up squad to Arlington this week. We've seen Daniel Jones, Tyrod Taylor, and Tommy DeVito under center for New York over its past three games, and all three have been terrible. No Darren Waller (hamstring) and a (seemingly) constantly hobbled Saquon Barkley serve as icing on the Dallas D/ST cake.
The already-strong Saints (@ Vikings) should bounce back against a banged-up Vikings' squad, and the Ravens (vs. Browns) make QBs look bad every dang week. Now they get to tee off against Deshaun Watson. The Bills (vs. Broncos) get a home date with a dysfunctional Denver offense, and the Browns (@ Ravens) just can't be benched against anyone.
Rounding out the top 10 are T.J. Watt and the Steelers (vs. Packers), the surprising Seahawks (vs. Commanders) in what they hope will be a bounce-back game full of sacks, the must-start 49ers (@ Jaguars) coming off their bye, and the high-ceiling Falcons (@ Cardinals) in what should be Kyler Murray's 2023 debut. Pass the turnovers, please! (and the Meat Loaf! C'mon, Ma!)
WEEK 10 FANTASY ADVICE:
Sleepers | Busts | Projections | Start 'em, sit 'em
Who are the best fantasy defense sleepers, waiver pickups in Week 10?
The Falcons (@ Cardinals) no longer qualify as a sleeper — they have been awesome lately, and they're owned in just over 50 percent of Yahoo leagues. The same can be said for the Patriots (vs. Colts) in Germany. However, the Colts (vs. Patriots) are just as intriguing as New England in that game. Mac Jones has an island of misfit toys for wide receivers, and we know how bad offenses get in Europe. Indy just ravaged the Panthers in Charlotte, so this unit is loaded with plus-matchup upside.
Speaking of upside, check out the motivated Raiders (vs. Jets) coming off a stomping of the Giants. Zach Wilson and Gang Green might not be nearly as bad as Tommy DeVito and the Giants, but that's a pretty low bar. Robert Saleh's squad entered Week 9 last in the NFL in first downs, third-down conversions, and red-zone TD rate. The Jets are the gift that keeps on giving.
After that, you're entering a territory of D/ST volatility, but the Jaguars (vs. 49ers) and Bengals (vs. Texans) probably have the most upside. Jacksonville is coming off a bye, but before that, it was averaging 11.4 standard D/ST points over its past five contests. That will play against a struggling 49ers' offense. Cincinnati has demonstrated dominant defense despite some tough matchups of late, and it could unleash its pass rush on red-hot rookie C.J. Stroud. As we often say to our kids when they first try video games, you could do a lot worse.
Speaking of doing worse, stay away from both sides of the Lions @ Chargers matchup — too much firepower, too little extinguisher in the form of secondaries. Don't get cute and try the Commanders (@ Seahawks) or Bears (vs. Panthers) just because Seattle and Carolina looked awful last week. These defenses still stink and cannot be trusted in a big week. The Buccaneers (vs. Titans) just surrendered an NFL rookie record amount of passing yards, and the Packers (@ Steelers) are entering the House of Tomlin. No, no, NEIN! (I had to translate for our German friends just in case.)
Be sure to check in throughout the week for updates and tweaks. Good luck and have fun in Week 10!
WEEK 10 DFS: DK lineup | FD lineup | Best values | Best stacks
Fantasy Defense Rankings Week 10: Who to start, sit at D/ST
Rank Player
1 New York Jets @ Raiders
2 Dallas Cowboys vs. Giants
3 New Orleans Saints @ Vikings
4 Baltimore Ravens vs. Browns
5 Buffalo Bills vs. Broncos
6 Cleveland Browns @ Ravens
7 Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Packers
8 Seattle Seahawks vs. Commanders
9 San Francisco 49ers @ Jaguars
10 Atlanta Falcons @ Cardinals
11 New England Patriots vs. Colts (Germany)
12 Indianapolis Colts vs. Patriots (Germany)
13 Las Vegas Raiders vs. Jets
14 Jacksonville Jaguars vs. 49ers
15 Cincinnati Bengals vs. Texans
16 Detroit Lions @ Chargers
17 Washington Commanders @ Seahawks
18 Chicago Bears vs. Panthers
19 Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Titans
20 Los Angeles Chargers vs. Lions
21 Green Bay Packers @ Steelers
22 Minnesota Vikings vs. Saints
23 Carolina Panthers @ Bears
24 Tennessee Titans @ Buccaneers
25 Arizona Cardinals vs. Falcons
26 Houston Texans @ Bengals
27 New York Giants @ Cowboys
28 Denver Broncos @ Bills
Week 10 D/ST fantasy projections, rankings from Draft Sharks
Draft Sharks projections for the new week will update every Tuesday and be constantly adjusted throughout the week
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