NFL Fantasy 2025 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Defenses for Week 9

Every defense that has faced the Titans this season has finished top 10 in fantasy points in that week. Five times in eight weeks, the opposing defense has finished top three in fantasy. Tennessee has taken sacks at the second-highest rate in the NFL and given the ball away at the fourth-highest rate. It is the best possible matchup for fantasy purposes. The Chargers, who are coming off a five-sack game, are the lucky winners this week. 

The Rams generate sacks at the fourth-highest rate. They create pressure at the sixth-highest rate. They can make life very difficult on QBs -- and as we saw last week, if you do that against the Saints, it can lead to big fantasy days. The Bucs went off for 26 fantasy points and forced the Saints to swap from Spencer Rattler to Tyler Shough at quarterback. The Rams are the second-highest scoring fantasy defense, but they were dropped in a number of leagues because of their bye week. Get them on your team and in your lineup. 

The Raiders have turned the ball over at the highest rate in the NFL. The opposing defense has scored 11-plus fantasy points four times in seven games. In total, the Raiders have allowed the second-most fantasy PPG to defenses. The Jags' D has been up and down, but the unit has scored 11-plus three times this season. Jacksonville brings a high ceiling this week.

Minnesota has taken sacks at the highest rate this season. It has not mattered who is under center -- the Vikings have had issues keeping the QB upright. They have allowed the third-most fantasy PPG to opposing defenses. The Lions have scored eight-plus fantasy points in all but one game since Week 2. They have scored in the double digits in three of their last four. They are a strong play against the Vikings.

The Panthers have given up the sixth-most fantasy PPG to opposing defenses. They have allowed pressure and sacks at above-average rates this season. The ceiling is even higher if it's once again Andy Dalton starting for Carolina. He took seven sacks, threw an interception and lost two fumbles against the Bills last week. Micah Parsons and Co. can get after the QB, putting Green Bay in play.

Crazy things tend to happen when these two teams get together. Both QBs are likely to get hot and go off. That would be mostly great for fantasy purposes ... but not for the defenses. Plus, the Bills have allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy PPG to opposing defenses. They tend to take care of the ball and take sacks at a below-average rate. 

I would avoid both defenses in this game. Just as I said above, both of these QBs and offenses have the ability to put up a ton of points. Plus, the Chiefs have allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy PPG to opposing defenses. They have allowed sacks at the fourth-lowest rate. The Bills always have trouble against Patrick Mahomes. 

The Steelers have been a very up-and-down fantasy defense. They have had three games with double digits and three with two fantasy points or fewer. I am expecting this to be one of the lower fantasy-point weeks, as the Colts have allowed the fewest fantasy PPG to opposing defenses. Jonathan Taylor should be the leading MVP candidate, and Indy's passing attack is firing on all cylinders. The Colts take care of the ball, score points and allow sacks at the third-lowest rate. 

Hey, another game in which I am avoiding both defenses! The Steelers are just outside the top 10 in fewest fantasy PPG allowed to opposing defenses. They also average the eighth-fewest giveaways per game, at fewer than one per outing. Plus, the Colts' defense has reached double-digit points once in its last five games.