Top 6 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups: Defenses (Week 8)

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 pickups for Week 8.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets: Defenses

Defenses

Written by Pat Fitzmaurice

Indianapolis Colts: 48% Rostered

• Next Opponents: TEN, @PIT, ATL
• True Value: $2
• Desperate Need: $4
• Budget-Minded: $1

Analysis: Picking on the Titans has been an effective strategy for streaming defenses this season. Tennessee rookie quarterback Cam Ward is getting increasingly sloppy about taking care of the ball. In a 31-13 loss to the Patriots on Sunday, Ward threw one interception and coughed up a fumble that was returned for a touchdown. Ward has thrown five interceptions and lost five fumbles this season, and he’s been sacked a league-high 30 times. The Colts entered Week 7 ranked No. 2 in defensive fantasy scoring. Indianapolis has notched 19 sacks and forced 11 turnovers.

Atlanta Falcons: 8% Rostered

• Next Opponents: MIA, @NE, @IND
• True Value: $2
• Desperate Need: $3
• Budget-Minded: $1

Analysis: The Falcons have been superb on defense this season, and they get a juicy home matchup against the Dolphins this week. Atlanta entered Week 7 ranked first in the league in defensive DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average) and 11th in defensive fantasy scoring. The 1-6 Dolphins are crumbling. A week after criticizing team leadership, Tua Tagovailoa threw three interceptions in a blowout loss to the Browns. He’s thrown 10 interceptions this season, with six in his last two games.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 9% Rostered

• Next Opponents: @NO, BYE, NE
• True Value: $1
• Desperate Need: $2
• Budget-Minded: $0

Analysis: After a Week 7 game against the high-flying Lions, the Buccaneers get an easier Week 8 matchup against the Saints in New Orleans. Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler hadn’t been lighting up the scoreboard this season, but he had been fairly conscientious about avoiding turnovers and sacks — until Week 7. Against the Bears on Sunday, Rattler threw three interceptions, lost a fumble and absorbed four sacks. Expect the blitz-happy Bucs to throw the kitchen sink at young Mr. Rattler in an attempt to (ahem) rattle him.

Buffalo Bills: 38% Rostered

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

Analysis: The Bills’ defense should be well-rested and relatively healthy coming off a Week 7 bye. Buffalo gets a Week 8 matchup against Carolina, which might have to start the venerable Andy Dalton at quarterback, depending on the severity of the ankle injury Bryce Young sustained on Sunday.

Houston Texans: 47% Rostered

• Next Opponents: SF, DEN, JAX
• True Value: $0
• Desperate Need: $1
• Budget-Minded: $0

Analysis: The Texans went into their Week 7 bye ranked sixth in defensive fantasy points per game. The Houston defense has allowed a league-low three touchdowns and is giving up just 4.7 yards per play. The Texans have a home matchup against the 49ers this week.

New York Jets: 11% Rostered

• Next Opponents: @CIN, BYE, CLE
• True Value: $0
• Desperate Need: $1
• Budget-Minded: $0

Analysis: With six teams on bye in Week 8, it’s going to be a feeding frenzy on waivers this week. If you want to add a defense as cheaply as possible, perhaps the Jets are for you. The Jets’ defense hasn’t been particularly effective thus far, but a matchup with the Bengals could make the Jets a sneaky-good option. Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco has pumped new life into the Cincinnati offense in his first two starts with the Bengals, but interceptions are part of the bargain with Flacco, who also takes his fair share of sacks.