Rent-A-Defense: Week 11

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 11 Sigmund Bloom Published 11/11/2025

© Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images waiver wire defenses

Week 10 Results

Buffalo (at Miami) - 2 INT

Tua Tagovailoa rallied from an early interception, Josh Allen and the Bills offense turned the ball over three times, and De'Von Achane slammed the door shut with two long touchdowns in the upset of the week.

A Look Ahead: TB @HOU @PIT - We may come back to the Bills in cold-weather games during the fantasy playoffs.

Cleveland (at NY Jets) - 3 sacks, 1 INT

Two early return touchdowns on special teams changed the script of this game to allow the Jets to hide Justin Fields' deficiencies as a passer.

A Look Ahead: BAL @LV SF - You might want to hold the Browns for matchups against the Raiders in Week 12 and Titans in Week 14 if you can afford to carry two D/STs.

Atlanta (vs Indianapolis - Berlin) - 7 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 1 INT

The "704" first-round pick pass rush duo of James Pearce Jr. and Jalon Walker has sparked a Falcons pass rush renaissance. Too bad they keep losing, potentially pushing the first-round pick they gave the Rams into the top 10 of the 2026 draft.

A Look Ahead: CAR @NO @NYJ - We'll stick with the Falcons D/ST for the next three weeks.

Carolina (vs New Orleans) - 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery

Tyler Shough found his game in this one with three big downfield passes to account for the 17 points the Saints scored, and the Panthers couldn't keep up.

A Look Ahead: @ATL @SF LAR - The Panthers made smoke come out of Michael Penix Jr.'s ears in the first matchup, which Carolina won 30-0. It's tough to want to plug them in coming off a stinker, but they were just as cold coming into that Week 3 tilt.

Pittsburgh (at LA Chargers) - 5 sacks

The Steelers' pass rush found some cracks in the Joe Alt-less Chargers' line, but they forced no turnovers and trailed big in the second half, which put Justin Herbert out of harm's way.

A Look Ahead: CIN @CHI BUF - It won't be a surprise if the Pittsburgh defense rallies and forces Joe Flacco into multiple turnovers this week, but don't count on it.

Baltimore (at Minnesota) - 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery, 2 INT

J.J. McCarthy's interceptions were just as much on Justin Jefferson as they were on the quarterback. The young passer's accuracy was inconsistent, but he doesn't look like a player we will go out of our way to pick on with rent-a-defense selections down the stretch.

A Look Ahead: @CLE NYJ @CIN - We will keep the Ravens defense in for the next two weeks.

Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda

Seattle (vs Arizona) - 5 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 2 DEF TD

Demarcus Lawrence had two touchdowns on Jacoby Brissett fumble returns before the Cardinals put a point on the board. 

NY Jets (vs Cleveland) - 6 sacks, 2 ST TD

A kick return touchdown and punt return touchdown keyed the win for the Jets, who also got after a skittish Dillon Gabriel when he was trying to overcome a second-half deficit.

LA Chargers (vs Pittsburgh) - 1 safety, 3 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 2 INT

The Steelers offense is usually safe with the ball and conservative, but they couldn't afford to be once they fell behind the Chargers by multiple scores.

Jacksonville (at Houston) - 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 1 INT, 1 ST TD

Parker Washington's punt return touchdown was part of how the Jaguars built a 19-point lead... that they blew in the fourth quarter.

Week 11 Candidates

**Houston is assumed to be rostered**

New England (vs NY Jets) Thursday

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