Rent-a-Defense: Week 6

Identifying waiver-wire defenses with favorable matchups that deserve a spot in your starting lineup this week and beyond.

Sigmund Bloom's Rent-a-Defense: Week 6 Sigmund Bloom Published 10/07/2025

© Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images waiver wire defenses

Week 5 Results

Arizona (vs Tennessee) - 2 Sacks, 1 INT, 1 fumble recovery

This game was proceeding along as planned, with the Cardinals up big and Cam Ward struggling to move the Titans' offense, and then all hell broke loose. The Cardinals' defense even found a way to turn an interception into an offensive touchdown for the Titans on the way to one of the most "snatch defeat from the jaws of victory" games in NFL history.

A Look Ahead: @IND GB BYE - Let the Cardinals fly the coop.

Indianapolis (vs Las Vegas) - 4 sacks, 2 INT, 6 pts against

Mekhi Blackmon barely stepped out of bounds on an interception return, or you would have gotten a defensive score out of this big Week 5 rent-a-defense hit.

A Look Ahead: ARI @LAC TEN - Yes, we will keep the Colts D/ST in our lineup against a reeling Cardinals team.

Cleveland (vs Minnesota - London) - 3 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries

The Browns' defense lost a little bit in the currency exchange from the Dawg Pound to British Pound, but still ended up being a solid play.

A Look Ahead: @PIT MIA @NE - This unit's level of play hasn't translated into D/ST fantasy stats, so we'll let them loose this week.

Seattle (vs Tampa Bay) - 1 sack

It's time for us to start acknowledging Baker Mayfield as one of the best quarterbacks in the league.

A Look Ahead: @JAX HOU BYE - Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars are feeling good, so we'll probably move on from the Seahawks with a bye coming up in two weeks.

LA Rams (vs San Francisco) - 1 sack

It's time for us to start acknowledging Mac Jones as a starting-quality NFL quarterback.

A Look Ahead: @BAL @JAX BYE - Cooper Rush is not an NFL starting quarterback, so don't release the Rams despite the Week 5 letdown.

Kansas City (at Jacksonville) - 3 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 1 INT

We had the wrong side of this one, although the Chiefs D/ST still did enough against the Jaguars to avoid being a lineup liability.

A Look Ahead: DET LV WAS - The Chiefs defense is looking forward to a date with Geno Smith or Kenny Pickett in Week 8.

Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda

New Orleans (vs NY Giants) - 1 sack, 3 fumble recoveries, 2 INTs, 1 DEF TD

Jaxson Dart started hot and then the Giants went on a giveaway spree, including Dart literally dropping the ball on a scramble. We should have known that the Saints would come alive in the week Taysom Hill returned to the field.

Week 6 Candidates

**Denver and Philadelphia assumed to be rostered**

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