Top 5 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups: Defenses (Week 6)

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 here is all of our fantasy football waiver wire advice for Week 6.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets: Defenses

Defenses

Written by Pat Fitzmaurice

Green Bay Packers: 42% Rostered

Next Opponents: CIN, @ARI, @PIT
True Value: $3
Desperate Need: $5
Budget-Minded: $2

Analysis: The vaunted Green Bay defense didn’t look that special the last time we saw it, with Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott picking apart the Packers in a 40-40 tie in Week 4. But after a bye week, the Packers should come out breathing fire at home against the hapless Bengals. Micah Parsons and Co. will bring the heat against Bengals quarterback Jake Browning, who’s thrown two interceptions and taken six sacks in his first two starts in place of the injured Joe Burrow. Cincinnati has scored just 13 points in its last two games.

New England Patriots: 16% Rostered

Next Opponents: @NO, @TEN, CLE
True Value: $2
Desperate Need: $4
Budget-Minded: $1

Analysis: The Patriots’ defense has been better in the fantasy realm than in reality so far this season. New England’s defense entered Week 5 tied for seventh in fantasy scoring but 28th in DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average). It might not be a top-shelf unit, but the Patriots’ defense should continue to produce fantasy points throughout October thanks to a string of soft matchups. The Pats face the Saints, Titans and Browns the next three weeks. Barring an unforeseen quarterback change, the most experienced quarterback the Patriots will face during that stretch will be second-year Saints signal-caller Spencer Rattler, who’s made 11 NFL starts. Consider spending an extra buck on the New England defense and riding it for the next three weeks.

Las Vegas Raiders: 2% Rostered

Next Opponents: TEN, @KC, BYE
True Value: $1
Desperate Need: $2
Budget-Minded: $0

Analysis: The Raiders are on a four-game losing streak and coming off a 40-6 obliteration at the hands of the Colts. Las Vegas has given up 106 points over its last three games. So, what’s appealing about the Raiders’ defense? It’s a Week 6 matchup against the Titans, whose offense has been an abomination so far this season. The Titans have scored 76 points over their first five games. Rookie quarterback Cam Ward has been sacked 19 times, has thrown three interceptions and has coughed up two fumbles. As mediocre as the Raiders’ defense has been, it’s a perfectly reasonable streaming option for Week 6.

Indianapolis Colts: 48% Rostered

Next Opponents: ARI, @LAC, TEN
True Value: $1
Desperate Need: $1
Budget-Minded: $0

Analysis: The Colts’ defense has been a surprisingly fantasy-friendly unit. It entered Week 5 ranked sixth in defensive fantasy scoring and then held the Raiders to six points on Sunday, sacking quarterback Geno Smith four times and forcing him into two interceptions. The Colts are a playable Week 6 option at home in a neutral matchup against the Cardinals.

Jacksonville Jaguars: 12% Rostered

Next Opponents: SEA, LAR, BYE
True Value: $0
Desperate Need: $1
Budget-Minded: $0

Analysis: Entering its Monday-night game against Kansas City, the Jacksonville defense has produced double-digit fantasy points in three of its first four games and entered Week 5 ranked second in fantasy scoring behind only Seattle, which happens to be Jacksonville’s opponent this week. The Seahawks haven’t been an especially great matchup for fantasy defenses since Seattle is so run-heavy. But the Jaguars have shown a knack for takeaways, forcing a league-high 13 turnovers through their first four games.