Rent-A-Defense: Week 8

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 8 Sigmund Bloom Published 10/21/2025

© Denny Medley-Imagn Images waiver wire defenses

Week 6 Results

Kansas City (vs Las Vegas) - 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery, 0 pts allowed

Just how big a hit you got from the Chiefs, who had as many first downs as the Raiders' number of offensive plays, depends on your scoring system.

A Look Ahead: WAS @BUF BYE - With the possibility of Marcus Mariota starting on Monday night, you'll want to stick with the Chiefs.

New England (at Tennessee) - 5 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 1 INT, 1 DEF TD

Cam Ward was actually coming close to matching Drake Maye blow for blow in the first half, with three drives that ended with points. Then he almost literally coughed up the ball to K'Lavon Chaisson for a Patriots touchdown, and it was all downhill from there. The Titans matchup is still there for us even without Brian Callahan.

A Look Ahead: CLE ATL TB - This is looking good for at least the next two weeks.

Seattle (vs Houston) - 3 sacks, 1 INT

The D/ST output doesn't reflect the difficulty that the Seahawks gave C.J. Stroud and the Texans offense in this home Monday night game.

A Look Ahead: BYE @WAS ARI - We'll come back to the Seahawks if Jayden Daniels is out for Week 9, and certainly again at some point this season.

Chicago (vs New Orleans) - 4 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 3 INT

Spencer Rattler had kept the Saints competitive with ball security and some effectiveness through six weeks. In Week 7, he was effective at times, but he was also responsible for four turnovers. We'll take a longer look at the Saints' matchup going forward.

A Look Ahead: @BAL @CIN NYG - If Lamar Jackson sits, we leave the Bears in. The Bears have been a top-three D/ST, so we'll be coming back to them a lot if Jackson plays.

Carolina (at NY Jets) - 6 sacks, 2 INT, 6 pts allowed

The Jets offense was bad as we could have hoped in this one. We'll keep picking on them even with Tyrod Taylor in at quarterback.

A Look Ahead: BUF @GB NO - We'll come back to Carolina in Week 10.

LA Rams (vs Jacksonville - London) - 7 sacks, 7 pts allowed

A Look Ahead: BYE NO @SF - The Rams D/ST has been good enough that you might consider carrying them through the bye for their Week 9 matchup against the Saints.

Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda

Cleveland (vs Miami) - 4 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 3 INT, 1 DEF TD

The Browns defense has been playing better than their D/ST scoring all season. It all came to fruition at the intersection of bad weather and Tua Tagovailoa basically giving up. Miami is a prime target going forward.

Houston (at Seattle) - 2 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 2 INT, 1 DEF TD

The Texans pressure did create a great D/ST game on an otherwise rough night in Seattle. Liam Anderson recovered a fumble in the end zone to put this play over the top.

Dallas (vs Washington) - 4 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 1 INT, 1 DEF TD

Marcus Mariota tried to get the Commanders back in the game after Jayden Daniels went down. Unlike Daniels, he's not adept at making plays while he is under pressure, and Da'Ron Bland jumped one of his floaters for a pick-six. The Cowboys D/ST might have some potential in the second half of the season.

Philadelphia (at Minnesota) - 2 sacks, 2 INT, 1 DEF TD

The Eagles' bend but don't break defense still posted a great D/ST day thanks to two bad Carson Wentz decisions, one of which was taken to the house by Jalyx Hunt when Wentz didn't read him dropping into coverage.

Week 8 Candidates

Indianapolis (vs Tennessee)

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