Rent-A-Defense: Week 16

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 16 Sigmund Bloom Published 12/16/2025

© Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images waiver wire defenses

Week 15 Results

**Houston, Denver, and Seattle are assumed to be rostered**

Philadelphia (vs Las Vegas) - 4 sacks, 1 INT, 0 pts allowed

Kenny Pickett threw for 64 yards on 25 attempts. What did Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty do to deserve this?

A Look Ahead: @WAS @BUF - We'll stick with the Eagles this week.

San Francisco (vs Tennessee) - Nada. Zilch. Bupkis.

Sometimes the well runs dry on a good D/ST matchup. Cam Ward is playing better than the Titans' record and his stats indicate, so this wasn't a complete shock.

A Look Ahead: @IND CHI - Facing Philip Rivers wasn't as fun for a fantasy D/ST as we thought it might be.

Jacksonville (vs NY Jets) - 3 sacks, 3 INT

UDFA rookie Brady Cook out of Missouri acquitted himself quite well, considering his lack of experience, but he still threw three picks and learned a few lessons.

A Look Ahead: @DEN @IND - Bo Nix is heating up, and Philip Rivers wasn't bad. We'll drop the Jags D/ST even though it has served us well.

Kansas City (vs LA Chargers) - 4 sacks, 1 INT

It was a strong performance by the Chiefs' defense despite some key players getting banged up in the game. They really only had a handful of lapses in the deep passing game, but otherwise stifled the Chargers' offense for most of the afternoon. They were still the lesser of the two D/STs in this game.

A Look Ahead: @TEN DEN - All of a sudden, the Chiefs and Titans look like a pretty equal matchup. Pass.

Chicago (vs Cleveland) - 5 sacks, 3 INT, 3 pts allowed

What a week for the Browns to name Shedeur Sanders their starter for the rest of the season. He looked like a third-day draft pick rookie against a defense that is a bit more challenging than the Raiders and Titans.

A Look Ahead: GB @SF - The Bears D/ST isn't an ideal Week 16 play, but they could hit at home in a big game.

Pittsburgh (vs Miami)

A Look Ahead: @DET @CLE - Not an attractive matchup in Week 16, but Week 17 looks good.

Dallas (vs Minnesota) - 1 INT

Is the Dallas defense bad enough to make J.J. McCarthy look good and hit for fantasy? Yes. The answer was yes.

A Look Ahead: LAC @WAS - Get along, Cowboys D/ST

Tampa Bay (vs Atlanta) - 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery

Please forgive me, I forgot that Falcons Kirk Cousins owns the Bucs. The Falcons D/ST would have been a better play.

A Look Ahead: @CAR @MIA - The Bucs D/ST sword is dull; they will walk the plank.

Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda

Baltimore (at Cincinnati) - 3 sacks, 2 INT, 1 DEF TD, 0 pts allowed

The Ravens' defense picked a good week to summon up their best game of the season. They got a few breaks, but mostly made their own luck with intensity and instincts. 

Week 16 Candidates

Seattle, Houston, Denver, and Philadelphia are assumed to be rostered

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