Defense Rankings Week 8: fantasy D/ST projections for 2026
Defenses for Week 8, ranked on fantasy projections built from market-implied team scoring. A number, not an opinion.
Updated Oct 27, 2026 at 10:52 AM ET
Cincinnati Defense leads the Week 8 defenses at 9.2 projected fantasy points, because the TEN offense is projected for 18.0 points. Pittsburgh Defense is next at 9.2. 28 defenses ranked, refreshed through the week.
A defense scores off the offense it faces, so every defense is ranked on the points the market implies its Week 8 opponent scores. A lower opponent total means a better points allowed tier and more sacks and takeaways, scored with standard D/ST scoring.
Every team that plays is on the board. The opponent's projected points are printed beside each defense, so the reason for every rank is on the row.
Every position for Week 8 on one pageKicker rankings for Week 8This week's injury report
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| # | Player | Proj. pts | Matchup | Bye | Opp. proj. pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Cincinnati DefenseDEF CIN | 9.2 | vs. TEN | 6 | 18.0 |
| 2 |  Pittsburgh DefenseDEF PIT | 9.2 | vs. CLE | 9 | 18.0 |
| 3 |  Washington DefenseDEF WAS | 9.1 | vs. PHI | 7 | 18.2 |
| 4 |  New England DefenseDEF NE | 8.9 | @ MIA | 11 | 18.5 |
| 5 |  LA Rams DefenseDEF LAR | 8.6 | vs. LAC | 11 | 19.0 |
| 6 |  Jacksonville DefenseDEF JAX | 8.4 | vs. IND | 7 | 19.5 |
| 7 |  Kansas City DefenseDEF KC | 8.2 | @ DEN | 5 | 19.8 |
| 8 |  Denver DefenseDEF DEN | 7.5 | vs. KC | 10 | 21.2 |
| 9 |  Detroit DefenseDEF DET | 7.5 | vs. MIN | 6 | 21.2 |
| 10 |  Cleveland DefenseDEF CLE | 7.4 | @ PIT | 11 | 21.5 |
| 11 |  Tampa Bay DefenseDEF TB | 7.4 | vs. ATL | 10 | 21.5 |
| 12 |  Seattle DefenseDEF SEA | 7.3 | vs. CHI | 11 | 21.7 |
| 13 |  Green Bay DefenseDEF GB | 7.1 | vs. CAR | 11 | 22.2 |
| 14 |  NY Jets DefenseDEF NYJ | 7.1 | vs. LV | 13 | 22.2 |
| 15 |  Philadelphia DefenseDEF PHI | 7.0 | @ WAS | 10 | 22.3 |
| 16 |  Las Vegas DefenseDEF LV | 6.5 | @ NYJ | 13 | 23.3 |
| 17 |  Atlanta DefenseDEF ATL | 6.2 | @ TB | 11 | 24.0 |
| 18 |  Dallas DefenseDEF DAL | 6.2 | vs. ARI | 14 | 24.0 |
| 19 |  Chicago DefenseDEF CHI | 5.8 | @ SEA | 10 | 24.8 |
| 20 |  Minnesota DefenseDEF MIN | 5.8 | @ DET | 6 | 24.8 |
| 21 |  Buffalo DefenseDEF BUF | 5.7 | vs. BAL | 7 | 25.0 |
| 22 |  LA Chargers DefenseDEF LAC | 5.5 | @ LAR | 7 | 25.5 |
| 23 |  Carolina DefenseDEF CAR | 5.4 | @ GB | 5 | 25.8 |
| 24 |  Miami DefenseDEF MIA | 5.3 | vs. NE | 6 | 26.0 |
| 25 |  Indianapolis DefenseDEF IND | 4.8 | @ JAX | 13 | 27.0 |
| 26 |  Baltimore DefenseDEF BAL | 4.1 | @ BUF | 13 | 28.5 |
| 27 |  Tennessee DefenseDEF TEN | 4.1 | @ CIN | 9 | 28.5 |
| 28 |  Arizona DefenseDEF ARI | 3.2 | @ DAL | 14 | 30.5 |
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Week 8 game predictions
- Cardinals at Cowboys prediction
- Ravens at Bills prediction
- Panthers at Packers prediction
- Titans at Bengals prediction
- Colts at Jaguars prediction
- Bears at Seahawks prediction
- Vikings at Lions prediction
- Falcons at Buccaneers prediction
- Raiders at Jets prediction
- Patriots at Dolphins prediction
- Chargers at Rams prediction
- Chiefs at Broncos prediction
- Eagles at Commanders prediction
- Browns at Steelers prediction
- Every Week 8 projected score
Week 8 questions
What is the best defense to start in Week 8?
Cincinnati Defense is the top defense for Week 8 at 9.2 projected fantasy points, then Pittsburgh Defense at 9.2 and Washington Defense at 9.1. The projection comes from the opponent's market-implied points for the week.
Which defense is the best streamer in Week 8?
Past the 12 a 12 team league starts, Green Bay Defense ranks 13 at 7.1 projected points, the highest projection outside the top 12 this week.
Parlae start or sit calls this season: 7,105 right of 11,783 graded, 13,842 published. Misses stay up. See the record.
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