Week 8 Fantasy Football Defense Rankings: Top Picks and Matchups

As we enter Week 8 of the fantasy football season, several defenses stand out as top picks due to favorable matchups and strong performance trends. Here are some of the key defenses to consider:

The Denver Broncos are widely regarded as the top defense for Week 8. They face the Carolina Panthers, a team that has struggled offensively. The Broncos have been rock-solid, ranking second in the league in sacks with 28 and first in pressure rate and pass-block win rate. They have scored at least 11 fantasy points in four of the past five games, including a 20-point fantasy effort last week against the Saints.

The Kansas City Chiefs defense is another strong option, despite not being a high-scoring fantasy defense so far this season. They face the Las Vegas Raiders, who will be starting Gardner Minshew II due to Aidan O'Connell‘s injury. Minshew has thrown eight interceptions across six games, and the Raiders’ quarterbacks have been sacked 20 times this season. The Chiefs’ defense ranks fifth in pressure rate and is expected to have a strong outing.

The Baltimore Ravens defense is also highly recommended, as they take on the Cleveland Browns. The Ravens have scored at least eight fantasy points in six of seven games and rank tied for third in takeaways. They face a Browns offense that has been sacked frequently, with Daniel Jones being sacked 22 times through seven games.

The Pittsburgh Steelers defense continues to be a must-start option, facing the New York Giants. The Steelers have scored at least eight fantasy points in six of seven games and rank tied for third in takeaways. With the Giants’ offensive line issues, particularly the loss of tackle Andrew Thomas, the Steelers are poised for a strong defensive performance.

The Green Bay Packers defense, while somewhat inconsistent, remains a solid choice against the Jacksonville Jaguars. They have scored the third-most fantasy points through seven weeks and average 10.4 fantasy points per game. The Packers’ defense has been particularly effective in generating turnovers and sacks.

The San Francisco 49ers defense, despite numerous injuries, continues to perform well and is a top-12 option against the Dallas Cowboys. The 49ers rank tied for third in takeaways and eighth in pressure rate, and they face a Cowboys offense that has struggled with sacks and interceptions.

The Detroit Lions defense is also a strong streamer option, facing the Tennessee Titans. The Lions are favored by 11.5 points and face a Titans offense that has been one of the worst in the NFL, surrendering the most fantasy points to defenses this season.