Top 5 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups: Defenses (Week 2)

We will have you covered throughout the fantasy football season with our bevy of tools, including our Waiver Wire Assistant. Find the top available players and get detailed analysis on how potential fantasy football waiver wire adds will impact your team. Of course, our team of analysts will also have written advice each week. Check out some of our top fantasy football waiver wire defenses to target for the week below. And check out all of our fantasy football waiver wire advice for Week 2.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets: Defenses

DEFENSES

Written by Pat Fitzmaurice

Seattle Seahawks: 22% Rostered

• Next Opponents: @PIT, NO, @ARI
• True Value: $2
• Desperate Need: $4
• Budget-Minded: $1

Analysis: It’s a toss-up as to which is the best streaming defense to add this week — Seattle or San Francisco. We give a slight nod to the Seahawks since we believe they have a better defense than the 49ers — even though Seattle just lost to San Francisco. The Seahawks intercepted Brock Purdy twice and sacked him once in a 17-13 home loss to the 49ers on Sunday. Seattle visits Pittsburgh this week for a date with Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers. Rodgers threw for 244 yards and four touchdowns against the Jets on Sunday, but he was also sacked four times and looked completely immobile in the pocket. The Pittsburgh running game recorded 20 carries for 53 yards versus the Jets. In Week 3, the Seahawks get the dream matchup: A home date with the Saints. New Orleans committed zero turnovers in Week 1 but generated only 13 points in a home loss to the Cardinals. And speaking of Arizona, you might be tempted to hold onto the Seattle defense for a Week 4 matchup in Arizona.

San Francisco 49ers: 34% Rostered

• Next Opponents: @NO, ARI, JAX
• True Value: $2
• Desperate Need: $4
• Budget-Minded: $1

Analysis: We’re going to be targeting the Saints with streaming defenses all season, which is why San Francisco’s defense is an attractive waiver target this week. Not only is their Week 2 matchup juicy, but the 49ers’ defense was extremely sharp against the Seahawks in Week 1. San Francisco held Seattle to 14 points, 230 yards of offense and 4.6 yards per play. The 49ers also forced a pair of turnovers and sacked Sam Darnold once. San Francisco might not be just a one-week play, either. You can probably hold onto the Niners for home games against the Cardinals and Jaguars in Weeks 3-4, which makes the San Francisco defense worth an extra dollar in FAAB.

New England Patriots: 14% Rostered

• Next Opponents: @MIA, PIT, CAR
• True Value: $1
• Desperate Need: $2
• Budget-Minded: $0

Analysis: The Patriots’ defense has an appealing set of matchups ahead, with the Dolphins on the road, followed by the Steelers and Panthers at home. The Dolphins’ offense was a train wreck in Week 1, with Tua Tagovailoa throwing two interceptions and taking three sacks in a 33-8 loss to the Colts. The Patriots gave up 362 passing yards to Raiders quarterback Geno Smith on Sunday, but they sacked Smith four times, intercepted him once and held Ashton Jeanty to 38 yards on 19 carries. The Patriots played their opener without star cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who’s been dealing with a hamstring injury but could be back this week.

Los Angeles Rams: 27% Rostered

• Next Opponents: @TEN, @PHI, IND
• True Value: $1
• Desperate Need: $1
• Budget-Minded: $0

Analysis: After an excellent Week 1 showing in which they held the Texans to nine points, forced two turnovers and notched three sacks, the Rams now face rookie signal-caller Cam Ward and the Titans, who generated a meager 133 yards of offense in their 20-12 loss to the Broncos on Sunday. Ward absorbed six sacks in that game. The Texans are just a one-week play, however, as you won’t want to play them in a Week 3 road game against the Eagles.

Dallas Cowboys: 7% Rostered

• Next Opponents: NYG, @CHI, GB
• True Value: $1
• Desperate Need: $1
• Budget-Minded: $0

Analysis: The Cowboys’ defense held up surprisingly well in a road opener against the mighty Eagles, holding Philly to 302 total yards and 4.9 yards per play in a 24-20 loss. The Cowboys get a softer matchup this week, playing host to a Giants offense that sputtered in Sunday’s 21-6 loss to the Commanders. The Giants produced 231 yards and averaged only 3.7 yards per play.