Rent-A-Defense: Week 17

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 17 Sigmund Bloom Published 12/23/2025

© Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images waiver wire defenses

Week 16 Results

Buffalo (at Cleveland) - 3 sacks, 2 INT

The Browns were in this game until the end, but a Quinshon Judkins drop and a defensive line deflection turned into two picks, and the Bills' pass rush was able to get home against Shedeur Sanders enough to post a top 10 Week 16 result

A Look Ahead: PHI - Let the Buffalo D/ST roam

New Orleans (vs NY Jets) - 8 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 1 INT, 6 pts allowed

The Saints' pass rush was relentless against Brady Cook as Cameron Jordan notched two of their eight in a possible farewell game to the Saints faithful.

A Look Ahead: @TEN - Cam Ward and the Titans have been improving, but the Saints are still a strong Week 17 candidate.

LA Rams (at Seattle) - 4 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 2 INT

The Rams' defense induced two poor decisions from Sam Darnold, and their pass rush took advantage of the Seahawks' left tackle, Charles Cross, being absent for four sacks. Yet somehow the Rams lost, and lost control of the #1 seed in the process.

A Look Ahead: @ATL - Kirk Cousins has strung together a couple of wins, but if the Rams can build a lead, their D/ST could pay off as a Week 17 play.

Minnesota (at NY Giants) - 5 sacks, 1 INT

Perhaps Mike Kafka reads this column. The Giants decided to abandon the pass in an odd decision. The Vikings still got to Jaxson Dart five times, and Theo Johnson dropped a ball that Byron Murphy II picked to still make this a good Week 16 play, but not as good as it could have been.

A Look Ahead: DET - We will not be finding the Vikings D/ST as a Week 17 play under the Christmas tree

LA Chargers (at Dallas) - 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery

Dak Prescott was very good in the first half, leading three scoring drives. The Chargers did open up a lead in the fourth quarter and even got backup quarterback Joe Milton III on the field, but this play did not work out.

A Look Ahead: HOU - The Texans offense underwhelmed against the Raiders in Week 16, but the Chargers D/ST is still not a preferred Week 17 matchup. 

Chicago (vs Green Bay) - 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery

Jordan Love left this game with a concussion, but the Packers have one of the best backup quarterbacks in the league in Malik Willis, so the Bears D/ST did not come through for us.

A Look Ahead: @SF - There's no gold in them thar hills for the Bears D/ST as a Week 17 play.

Detroit (vs Pittsburgh) - 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery

The Lions played from behind in the second half and never got the Arthur Smith offense out of its comfort zone.

A Look Ahead: @MIN - If Max Brosmer starts on Christmas, we'll give a long look at the Lions D/ST as our Week 17 choice.

Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda

NY Giants (vs Minnesota) - 4 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 1 INT, 1 DEF TD

The Vikings made the mistake of trying a screen pass when J.J. McCarthy was playing with a broken bone in his throwing hand, but he didn't realize it until he tried to throw the ball. Tyler Nubin scored on the Brian Burns strip/sack to boost the Giants D/ST to be one of the best plays of Week 16. They could have been even better, but Abdul Carter lined up in the neutral zone on a Jevon Holland pick-six off a Jalen Nailor drop.

Week 17 Candidates

Seattle, Houston, and Denver are assumed to be rostered

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